Everything you need to launch and fund a new business — from LLC to first credit card.
Prioritize tools that build lender-readiness from day one. The sequence matters: form your LLC and get an EIN first, then open a business bank account, then get accounting software — lenders verify entity status, bank history, and financials in that order. Avoid tools that lock you into expensive subscriptions before you have revenue.
Flat-rate pricing, registered agent included for the first year, and a compliance calendar that reminds you of annual filing deadlines — the friendliest onboarding for first-time founders.
Built for startups: FDIC-insured, no fees, virtual cards on day one, and a clean API for finance automation. Venture-backed teams and bootstrapped founders both use it.
Bank-ready financial projections, industry benchmarks, and SBA-formatted output. The tool lenders and investors actually recognize when they open a business plan.
Logo, pitch deck, social media, and print collateral in one tool. The free tier is genuinely useful for pre-revenue startups that need to look professional on a tight budget.
No personal guarantee required — approval is based on the startup's funding and cash balance, not the founder's FICO. Protects personal credit while building business credit history.
Starting with QBO from day one means your first year of financials are already in the format lenders and CPAs expect. Lender-readiness starts at the first transaction.
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Form a legal entity (LLC or corporation) and get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. Lenders verify entity status and require a business EIN before processing any application. Without a separate legal entity and EIN, your business has no credit file and no separation of personal liability.
Mercury and Bluevine are the most common choices for startups. Both are FDIC-insured, charge no monthly fees, and offer virtual cards on day one. Mercury is popular with venture-backed and tech startups; Bluevine suits revenue-generating businesses for its high-yield APY.
Yes. Brex Corporate Card approves based on the startup's funding and cash balance rather than the founder's personal FICO score. This protects personal credit while building a business credit history. It reports to business credit bureaus from the first billing cycle.
For SBA microloans and most startup-stage financing, yes. Lenders and CDFIs require a business plan with financial projections. LivePlan produces SBA-formatted plans that lenders and investors recognize. The SBA recommends having a written plan before seeking outside capital.
The SBA's official 10-step launch guide, including entity formation, EIN, and licensing requirements.