Foundations

Starting a Business Entity

Choose the right structure, form a real online business, get its federal tax ID number, and understand how to file taxes for the new company.

This is a practical, follow-along course. You'll watch me work through the decisions, paperwork, and setup process I use when starting an online business from scratch and then watch me form an actual company.

Buy This Course - $49 Get Total Membership

See What You'll Build

Purchase this course for $49, or get it with every current and future course in the ElderAcademy Total Membership.

Compare Structures Understand the practical differences among common business structures.

Make the Decision Know which questions matter before choosing how your business will operate.

Form the Company Follow the real registration process instead of working from theory alone.

Handle EIN And Taxes Obtain the federal tax ID, understand the LLC's tax responsibilities, and see the filing process.

Build The Foundation

Don't just learn the definitions. Set up the business.

LLC, C corporation, S corporation election. The terminology gets confusing quickly, especially when every article seems to recommend something different.

This course gives you a clear framework for thinking through the choice, then takes you beyond comparison charts and into the actual formation process.

Identify the practical questions that should guide your entity decision.
See how liability, taxes, ownership, and administrative work affect the choice.
Gather the information you need before beginning a registration.
Follow along as a real online company is formed step by step.
Obtain an EIN and understand what the business needs next.
Understand the LLC's tax responsibilities and follow the company tax filing process.

Inside The Course

What we'll work through together

Each stage moves from decision to action, using a real business setup so you can see what the process actually looks like.

Understand Your Options

Learn how sole ownership, LLCs, corporations, and S corporation tax treatment differ in practical terms.

Choose a Structure

Work through the questions that affect liability, taxes, ownership, complexity, and future growth.

Register the Business

Watch the company formation process from the information required through the actual registration steps.

Get the Federal Tax ID

Follow the EIN application and organize the core records needed for banking, accounting, and operations.

Understand and File the Company Taxes

Learn how the new LLC is treated for tax purposes, what records and forms matter, and watch me work through the company's tax filing process.

This Is For You

You have an idea, but no real company yet.

You want to start correctly, understand the decision you are making, and see the process before spending time or money in the wrong direction.

The Outcome

A business foundation you can build on.

You will leave with a clearer entity decision, a working formation checklist, firsthand knowledge of the registration and EIN process, and a practical understanding of the LLC's tax filing responsibilities.

Your Instructor

Learn from someone who's been building online businesses for 30 years.

I'm John Elder. I've built and sold online companies, created software used by millions of people, operated an affiliate network of more than 4,000 websites, and taught 20 million people through Codemy.com.

In this course, I am not giving you a lecture from the sidelines. I am walking through the same practical process I use to put a new online business on solid footing.

This course provides general educational information. It is not individualized legal, tax, or accounting advice. Consult qualified professionals about your specific circumstances.

Choose this course.
Or get everything.

Purchase Starting a Business Entity for $49, or get every current and future ElderAcademy course with the Total Membership.