Find Your Way Around

New here? The guides on Next Stop STL can be read in any order, but they make the most sense if you follow them roughly in the order a business takes shape. Pick the stage you are at and start there.

Stage one: you are still thinking it over

Before any paperwork, it helps to know the ground you are building on. Start with the St. Louis economy for founders, which sketches the industries and neighborhoods that shape local demand. Then browse Local Economy for a closer look at specific districts and what they mean for a new venture.

Good to settle at this stage: who your customers are, and whether you will be based in the city or the county.

Stage two: making it official

Once you are committed, the next job is registering the business properly. How to start an LLC in Missouri takes you through state filing step by step. The rest of Starting Up covers local licenses, tax registration and what changes when you hire your first person.

Good to settle at this stage: your business structure, your registered name and which licenses apply to you.

Stage three: sorting out the money

With the business formed, work out how you will pay for the launch and the first lean months. SBA microloan vs 7(a) loan compares two common federal-backed options side by side. The Funding section adds guides on cash flow and keeping your numbers readable.

Good to settle at this stage: how much you need, where it comes from and how long it has to last.

Stage four: finding a place to work

Not every business needs a storefront, but if yours does, read the lease before the floor plan. Triple net lease, explained shows how taxes, insurance and maintenance can land on the tenant. Commercial Space covers the other lease types and the questions worth asking a landlord.

Good to settle at this stage: your real monthly occupancy cost, not just the advertised rent.

Stage five: open and growing

When the doors are open, attention shifts to being found and staying busy. Local SEO for small business explains how nearby customers find you in search and on maps. Growth collects the rest of our marketing and day-to-day growth guides.

Still not sure where to begin?

Read about Next Stop STL for an overview of every section, or send us a note describing where you are stuck. Questions like that often become the next guide.