Starting a business in Nevada is easy, just follow these 11 steps
Step 1: Make A Plan For Your Business
- Procedures for Obtaining BUSINESS LICENSE within Village Limits The following these steps will assist a new business to obtain a license: Step 1: APPLICATION The license application must be completely executed including your signature and the date. Do not leave any blank spaces as this will delay application approval Step 2: BUSINESS PLAN.
- The New Business Checklist provides a preview of required registrations to do business in Nevada, estimated costs to help you plan financially and an interactive road map to help guide you in starting your business. Plan Your Business. A business plan will help you prepare to register for a license and avoid costly refiling fees. For help wth planning, click the road map.
Business Licenses. Permits & Licenses. Street Performer Lottery. Meetings & Agendas. Report A Problem. Permit/Project Status. Back To Business Licenses Find Business.
You might be thinking if it’s all just chance and nothing really guarantees success, isn’t going into business a lot like playing the roulette table? Sort of, yeah. But, that being said, there’s one thing above all that increases your odds and that’s professional business planning. First and foremost, it structures your approach, gets financial forecasts in line, nails your pitch and optimizes your executive summary. Kick things off the right way.
Take Action: Check out our 100% free Business Planning Guide designed to get you from A-to-Z as pleasantly as possible. Plus, we provide access to tons of other great tools along the way.
Don’t know what kind of business to start?
Our friends over at howtostartanllc.com have compiled a massive list of business ideas, ranging from personal styling to axe-throwing businesses.
If you’re having trouble finding the perfect business idea for you, we encourage you to check them out!
Step 2: Register Your Nevada Business
Your next major task is going to be registering your business with the state of Nevada. Before you can do that, though, you have to figure out what type of business structure you want to form: an LLC, S corp, C corp, or sole proprietorship. Then, you can read our detailed guide on naming your business. Let’s take a quick look at each of the business structures:
Most entrepreneurs form an LLC because it has all the benefits of a corporation without the disadvantages like double taxation, board of directors or corporate officers. However if you're trying to take your company public or raise substantial outside capital, you should probably form a corporation.
Take Action: Since this step is so important and expensive if it's not done correctly, we highly recommend investing 10 minutes to go over your options through our business structure comparison guide. You'll get a better idea of the advantages and disadvantages of each while building a solid legal foundation for your business.
Step 3: Determine Your Tax Obligations
Few states are mentioned more than Nevada in terms of building new brands in terms of tax/privacy-friendly areas. But there are some complexities and nuances you wouldn’t expect unless you happen to be a trained tax professional. Are there tons of upsides? Absolutely! But there’s fine print as well. To get an idea, check out this article from Stephen Fisherman on saving money by incorporating in Nevada.
Take Action: Bookmark the Nevada Dept. of Taxation because the website will come in handy in understanding your business tax obligations.
Step 4: Obtain Necessary Business Licenses And Permits
Your business will need to get licensed and obtain a retail sales permit if applicable (keep in mind the U.S. Government owns nearly 90% of Nevada land). And yes, you can apply online or order the forms be sent to your home using the website linked below. If you aren’t opening a restaurant or a casino or anything along those lines, it should be very easy to navigate their regulatory environment.
- For DYI’ers use the Dept. of Business and Industry’s Step by Step Guide to get started.
- If you need help with this step, a Business License Service is what we recommend. They determine everything required on Federal, State, County and Municipal levels, get the forms, and provide step-by-step filing instructions.
Step 5: Separate Your Personal and Business Assets
Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.
Now that you’ve made it through registering and setting up taxes and licensing for your business, you’ll need to take steps to protect your personal assets and establish your business as an independent entity.
When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.
You can go a long way in protecting your assets with these five steps:
- Open a business bank account.
A business bank account separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection. A designated business bank account also makes accounting and tax filing easier.
To open up a bank account for your business, you’ll need to obtain an EIN (Employer Identification Number). You’ll use your EIN in place of your social security number so that this account is completely separate from your personal finances. After this, start doing your research on various business bank accounts. Local options and national banks, like Chase, both have their perks.
Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Startups and Entrepreneurs review to find the best online bank, eCommerce banks, the best for tech startups, real estate investment banks, and more.
- Get a business credit card.
A business credit card helps you separate personal and business expenses. A business credit card will also build your company's credit history, which can be useful to raise capital later on.
- Designate an authorized representative.
Make sure all documents are signed by a representative of your LLC and not by you (or other LLC members) directly. This will help separate you from liability incurred by the LLC.
- Keep your accounting and bookkeeping up to date
Make sure to sync up your banking and credit card accounts with an accounting software like QuickBooks as soon as you get the chance. It’s never too soon to start organizing your business’ finances!
- Learn how to build business credit
A good business credit score will help establish your business’s fundability. It can help with many things, including credit cards that are issued in your business’s name and score instead of depending on your personal credit score, better interest rates on loans, higher lines of credit, and more.
Step 6: Choose A Location For Your Business
Of course there’s Vegas and the astounding nightlife, but beyond that you’ve got wonderful areas around Battle Mountain to the north, Reno and Carson City next to the green hills of California, with Phoenix and Salt Lake City not too far away. Over the last decade many wonderful areas have opened up and expanded throughout the state to cater to such business growth and expansion. Dig in and don’t be shy!
Take Action: We know picking a spot can be tough if it doesn’t somehow happen naturally through your personal/professional networks. If you’d like to brush up on everything that goes into making this decision, refer to our friendly guide on How to Choose the Perfect Location.
Step 7: Fund Your Business
Well, there’s always gambling to fund your startup, right? Why not? When it comes to funding your dreams, nothing should be off the table. As long as it’s legal and wont ruin any of your personal/professional relationships…the sky’s the limit. To say you have plenty of access in Nevada would be an understatement of the century though, honestly. All that matters is how much you’re needing to leverage.
Take Action: The email course we mentioned in Step 1 really comes in handy here because planning and finances go together like Lake Tahoe and hiking boots. You can also browse our guide on How to Finance a Business to start generating ideas.
Step 8: Create Your Business Website
No one’s saying your business website needs to be as well-designed as Stratosphere Tower, but to be taken seriously your brand needs a digital presence. Maybe all you require is a responsive one-pager, or landing page, or maybe a sleek ecommerce theme, which are much easier and less expensive to design these days.
Take Action: If you could use some help in this department the first step is finding the right platform. We highly recommend checking out Wix or Weebly since they are the easiest to use while having the best prices. Zero tech-skills required.
Step 9: Market Your Business
Both online and in-the-flesh, it’s fun marketing products and services in Nevada because the culture’s so start-friendly. Your only real challenge is establishing real connections with your niche. Just look at the way Casino’s use incentives to get people in the door and partaking in the food, drink, and entertainments.
Take Action: Along with your core offering, what types of incentives are in place to do business with you instead of your competitors? Remember, this has tons to do with your brand story, where you came from and where you’re going.
Step 10: Build Your Business's Brand
Now that you’ve taken care of all the essentials above, it’s time to work on building your brand!
There are an abundance of factors that impact your brand image, but two of the significant ones are your business logo and website. When you're ready to design your brand logo, keep the following ideas in mind:
- Capture the essence of your business. When thinking about a design, you should choose something that reflects the nature or mission of your company.
- Differentiate yourself. Check out the colors and shapes used by your direct competitors and consider heading a different direction to help you stand out in the market.
- Make it memorable. Select a sleek, bold design that will leave a lasting impression in people’s minds.
- Hire a professional. This is a very important step for your business, so it’s worth investing a few bucks to get your logo professionally done. (Sites like Fiverr can be great for this.)
You can also use our free logo maker tool to make one yourself! No design experience necessary!
Resource Recommendation:
Another hugely important aspect of your brand image is your business website — but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to build a website from the ground up. A simple way to craft a professional, inviting website is to use an existing web-building platform. These services can save you a ton of time and money involved in building a website from scratch.
Step 11: Continue Learning And Stay Inspired
Now don't forget about Startup Savant when you become a big shot. As the saying goes, 'Success makes for a stale ending.' It's the journey towards success that has all the bread and butter. To stay on top of your game and motivated, we've got a steady stream of useful insight from fellow change-makers and universe-gamblers we like to call entrepreneurs.
Take Action: Join thousands of entrepreneurs by following us on Facebook and Twitter to tap into our daily feed filled with tips, lessons, and inspiring stories.
General GuidelinesTop ↑
Several separate Nevada Departments and Divisions are responsible for vehicle-related regulation. Please review this section and the Nevada Regulatory Agencies table, then contact each agency which might affect your business.
Out-of-state business vehicles
You must obtain a DMV permit to operate an out-of-state business vehicle in Nevada. See Movement Permits.
Businesses which operate in-state, operate vehicles under 10,001 pounds and transport only their own employees or property typically do not fall under any special vehicle-related regulation. An exception is Employer Van Pools, which are regulated by the Nevada Transportation Authority. |
Persons using their own private passenger vehicles for delivery purposes (newspapers, food, runners, etc.) do not fall under additional regulation as long as they are under contract with only one business or a limited number of businesses. Nevada has higher liability insurance requirements for this type of service but the business typically carries the extra coverage. Contact your insurance agent or DMV Motor Carrier. |
Persons or businesses offering pick-up and delivery services to the general public fall under state and federal Motor Carrier regulations. Higher liability insurance coverage is required. Household Goods movers must contact the Nevada Transportation Authority. All other goods carriers must contact DMV Motor Carrier. |
Any person or business offering to transport people should contact both the Nevada Transportation Authority and DMV Motor Carrier. Businesses which transport people or property as an ancillary function of their main business may or may not be exempt from vehicle-related regulation. |
Interstate Motor Carriers, Intrastate Goods Carriers and any business which transports placarded hazardous materials should contact both DMV Motor Carrier and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The Nevada Highway Patrol issues hazardous materials permits. |
Any business which rents or loans vehicles to the public for any reason must contact DMV Occupational and Business Licensing. Vehicle dealers, garages, driving schools and nearly all vehicle-related businesses are licensed by DMV. Towing services are regulated by the Nevada Transportation Authority. |
All fuel suppliers, dealers, transporters and exporters should contact DMV Motor Carrier. This includes propane, CNG, aviation fuel, etc. |
Commercial Driver LicenseTop ↑
You must have a Commercial Driver License to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Vehicles with a Gross or Combined Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 26,001 pounds or more.
- Vehicles which transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver.
- Vehicles which transport any amount of placarded hazardous materials.
A CDL may be desirable if you operate interstate or have vehicles with a weight rating greater than 10,001 pounds. See Commercial Driver Licensing and FMCSA CDL Overview.
Nevada does not issue any type of Chauffeurs License; however, the Nevada Taxicab Authority issues permits to drive taxis in Clark County.
Vehicle RegistrationTop ↑
Be sure to obtain the proper liability insurance for your vehicle and business use. Proof of Insurance from a Nevada-licensed carrier is required for all registrations.
Vehicles 26,000 pounds or less, which do not operate in interstate commerce, are registered at DMV Full Service offices. See Vehicle Registration. If you have 10 or more business vehicles, larger DMV offices have Fleets counters to make registration easier and you may qualify as a self-insurer. See Fleet Registration.
Vehicles 26,001 pounds or more and all vehicles which are used in interstate commerce are registered with DMV Motor Carrier.
Manufactured Homes are titled by the Manufactured Housing Division and taxed by County Assessors. Boats are registered with the Nevada Division of Wildlife. Nearly all trailers must be registered and titled through the DMV.
Nevada Regulatory AgenciesTop ↑
Nearly any Nevada business which transports people or property for hire or is part of the motor vehicle industry is subject to regulation.
This table lists various vehicle-related regulatory agencies and the specific industries they regulate. Be sure to contact each agency which may affect your business.
Nevada Transportation Authority 1755 East Plumb Lane, Suite 216 | Charter Limousines, Charter Buses, Transportation Network Companies, Taxicabs outside Clark County, Non-Emergency Medical Transfer, Special Services, Airport Transfer and Tours. | |
Taxicab Authority | Taxicabs within Clark County. | |
Motor Carrier | Interstate Motor Carriers (Trucking and Bus Lines) | |
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration | Any business which operates interstate and has vehicles over 10,001 pounds, vehicles which transport 15 or more passengers or vehicles which transport placarded hazardous materials. | |
Compliance Enforcement Division | Vehicle Dealers and Brokers, Rental Agencies, Manufacturers, Rebuilders, Transporters, Wreckers, Salvage Pools, Repair Shops, Body Shops, emission inspection Stations and Driving Schools. | |
Manufactured Housing Division | Manufactured Housing Dealers and Titles | |
Notes: |
Other ContactsTop ↑
Small Business Procedures Manual
Silver Flume | SilverFlume - www.nvsilverflume.gov - is a valuable tool to start and expand businesses, guiding you through State Business Licensing, Workers’ Compensation, Taxation and much more. The New Business Checklist can provide you a quick summary of which licenses you’ll need, estimated cost, and time to obtain licensing. |
Nevada Governor's Office of Economic Development 555 East Washington Ave., Suite 5400 | Demographics and resources. Links to regional development authorities. |
Nevada Department of | Motorist, Road and Weather Information, Maps, Overdimensional Permits |
Nevada Highway Patrol | Commercial Enforcement |
Nevada Division of Wildlife | Water Vessel Registration |
Department of Taxation | General Business, Sales and Use Taxes |
Nevada Law | Online access to: |