Ask a local CPA. They'll know what's required where you live. My state doesn't require any kind of license or filing from sole proprietors, nor does the federa

Ask a local CPA. They'll know what's required where you live. My state doesn't require any kind of license or filing from sole proprietors, nor does the federal government. Income from the business is reported on your personal tax return. In other words, there's no startup cost in terms of money or paperwork here, or in many other places. Once I decided to form a separate business entity, an LLC, I had 3 pages to fill out and $150 in fees to pay: a 2-page certificate of organization with the state, and a 1-page business license application from the township. Each form took a couple minutes to fill out: all they asked was the business name, office address, and list of organizers/officers. I'm rather curious what city you're in that it would take weeks to organize a small business.