Hiring your first employee is a big step and introduces new complexities. As an employer, you must consider labor regulations and payroll taxes at the local, state, and federal levels.

Rather than start from scratch, consider purchasing an existing business. Plan, research, and choose wisely – it takes just as much prep work to buy a business as it does to start one.

Once you’ve developed your business plan, you should have a clear understanding of the amount of money (or capital) you need to start and run your business. If you need to raise or borrow money there are several options.

Where should you set up shop? That all depends on your business type and needs. Choose between a home-based business (also called home-occupancy business) and a commercial location and assess other important factors like demographics, safety, traffic, and zoning and building requirements.

Planning to expand or build something new? You've found a space zoned for your business, but before you break ground, you'll need a building permit. During your project, prepare for inspections and verify you meet the building code, fire code, and other requirements, like ADA access.

Almost any company can do business with the City and County of San Francisco. From paper clips and chemicals to business consultants and landscaping services, the government buys goods and services like any large organization. But first you must become a certified City vendor.