Starting a Business in Nevada: Your First 90 Days Checklist

In your first 90 days as a new business owner, start by choosing the right entity type, registering your business with the State of Nevada, setting up clean bookkeeping, and making a plan for payroll and sales tax. Those early decisions shape how confidently you can grow, stay organized, and avoid last-minute tax surprises.

At Hartmann & Associates, we have served Northern Nevada businesses for 48 years. From our Sparks, NV office, our in-house team helps owners in Reno, Carson City, Fernley, Fallon, and surrounding communities build a practical financial foundation from day one.

What should I do in my first 30 days?

The first month is about getting the basics in place. It is tempting to focus only on your product, customers, or opening date, but a little work behind the scenes now can prevent major headaches later.

Begin by writing down the essentials: what you sell, who owns the business, where you will operate, whether you expect to hire, and how you will accept payments. This information will guide your entity choice, registrations, bank setup, bookkeeping system, and tax planning.

Also separate personal and business spending immediately. Even if you are starting small, treating the business like a business from the beginning makes your records more reliable and your financial decisions easier to understand.

Do I need an LLC or an S-corp?

This is one of the most common questions new owners ask. An LLC, corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship can each make sense depending on ownership, risk, growth plans, industry, and tax situation.

It is important to understand that an LLC is a legal entity choice, while “S-corp” usually refers to a federal tax election for an eligible entity. Some business owners form an LLC first and later explore whether an S-corp election makes sense. Others may need a different structure from the beginning.

Do not choose an entity simply because a friend used it or because it sounds more official. Talk with qualified legal and tax professionals about liability protection, ownership rules, compensation, recordkeeping, and expected profitability. Hartmann & Associates can help you understand the accounting and tax-planning considerations, but this article is not legal advice.

How do I register my Nevada business?

Once you have chosen a structure and business name, complete the registrations that apply to your business. Nevada entities generally register through the Nevada Secretary of State, and many businesses will also need a Nevada State Business License. Depending on your entity type, the filing process may include formation documents, an initial list, and business-license information.

Before filing, check that your preferred name is available and confirm whether you need a registered agent. You may also need local licensing, zoning approvals, or industry-specific permits. Requirements can differ for a storefront in Sparks, a contractor serving Reno, or a mobile business working in Carson City, Fernley, and Fallon.

Rules, forms, fees, and deadlines can change, so confirm current requirements directly with the State of Nevada and the local jurisdiction where you operate. Keep copies of every approval, registration number, and renewal date in one secure place.

When should I open a business bank account?

Open a dedicated business checking account as soon as you have the documents your bank requires. Deposit business income there, pay business expenses from there, and avoid using it for personal purchases.

A separate account creates a clean audit trail. It also makes it much easier to see whether the business is generating cash, what it costs to operate, and how much should be reserved for taxes. Consider a separate savings account for tax reserves so money that belongs to future obligations is not accidentally spent.

Use a business credit card carefully if it helps you track expenses, but make sure every charge is categorized and supported by receipts. The goal is not simply to have more accounts; it is to have records you can trust.

How should I set up QuickBooks from the start?

Good bookkeeping is more than entering transactions. Your setup should reflect how your business actually operates. Start with a chart of accounts that separates income streams, direct costs, operating expenses, owner contributions, payroll, loans, and taxes.

Connect your bank and credit-card accounts to QuickBooks, establish a process for saving receipts, and reconcile accounts every month. Set up invoicing and payment workflows that make it easy to track what customers owe and when cash arrives. If you sell products, give extra attention to inventory, cost of goods sold, and sales-tax reporting.

For many new owners, the best investment is getting this structure right before transactions pile up. Our Bookkeeping & Accounting Services are designed to provide consistent records, useful monthly reporting, and hands-on support without sending work overseas. All client work at Hartmann & Associates is handled by our in-house team.

When do I need to hire employees and run payroll?

Hiring is exciting, but payroll adds responsibilities. Before bringing on your first employee, think through the role, wage rate, schedule, overtime rules, onboarding paperwork, workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, and payroll-tax deposits.

Do not wait until the employee’s first day to decide how payroll will work. Set up a dependable payroll process in advance, determine who will approve hours, and establish a pay schedule. Nevada employers may also have Modified Business Tax obligations, depending on their circumstances and payroll. Confirm the current rules with the appropriate state agencies before you hire.

Be thoughtful about worker classification, too. Calling someone a contractor does not automatically make them one. Classification has legal and tax consequences, so get advice tailored to your facts.

Do I need to collect Nevada sales tax?

If you sell, lease, or transfer taxable tangible personal property in Nevada, you may need a sales and use tax permit and may need to collect and remit sales tax. Some services and transactions can have different treatment, so do not assume every business follows the same rule.

Set up your point-of-sale system or invoicing process to collect the right amount from the start. Track taxable and non-taxable sales separately, retain exemption documentation when applicable, and calendar filing deadlines. Businesses that do not make retail sales may still have consumer use-tax responsibilities when they buy taxable items without paying Nevada sales tax.

When might Nevada Commerce Tax apply?

Most brand-new businesses will not be near the Nevada Commerce Tax threshold right away, but it is still worth knowing about as you grow. The tax generally applies to businesses with Nevada gross revenue above the state’s threshold for the fiscal year; the published threshold has been $4 million. Requirements and exemptions can change, so confirm the current threshold, filing requirements, and deadlines with the Nevada Department of Taxation.

Strong financial statements help you monitor growth long before a filing becomes urgent. That is where ongoing business accounting, tax planning, and fractional CFO guidance can be valuable.

What should I review by day 90?

At the end of your first 90 days, review your registrations, bookkeeping, cash flow, payroll setup, and tax calendar. Ask whether your books are current, invoices are being collected promptly, and your pricing covers your real costs.

Hartmann & Associates helps Nevada owners turn that early momentum into a manageable financial routine. Whether your business is based in Sparks, Reno, Carson City, Fernley, or Fallon, our in-house team can help you build clear books and make informed decisions.

Ready to start with a stronger financial foundation? Book a free consultation with Hartmann & Associates through our scheduler today.