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Business Plan

Decide whether you want to use your own name or a business name.

✔️ If you use your own legal name, like “Alexis Ortiz Bookkeeping,” you can usually start right away.

If you use something like “Golden Ledger” or “Emris Books,” you will likely need to file a DBA/trade name with your county. In Georgia, DBAs are filed with your county’s Clerk of Superior Court.

Get a free EIN from the IRS.

Even as a sole proprietor, it is smart to get an EIN so you do not have to put your Social Security number on W-9s and client paperwork. It is free and only takes a few minutes on the IRS website.

Open a separate business bank account.

Even if you are still a sole proprietor, keep business money separate from personal money from day one. This will make bookkeeping, taxes, and client payments much easier.

Create simple business basics.

You do not need a fancy website immediately. Just start with:

professional email

simple logo or text-based brand

invoice template

contract template

bookkeeping software access

business PayPal, Stripe, or bank transfer setup

Learn your core bookkeeping skills.

Before getting clients, become comfortable with:

categorizing transactions

bank reconciliations

invoices

profit and loss reports

balance sheets

payroll basics

monthly cleanup and catch-up bookkeeping

Build practice experience.

You can use sample companies in QuickBooks Online to practice before working with real clients. You can even create fake bookkeeping projects for photographers, salons, musicians, or small creative brands since those are likely good future niches for you.

Check whether your city or county requires a business license.

Many cities and counties in Georgia require a local business license, even for home-based businesses. Atlanta rules may be different from nearby cities, so check your local city or county website.

If you use a business name, file a DBA later.

In Georgia, filing a DBA usually means:

filing with your county

paying a filing fee

publishing notice in a local newspaper for two weeks

You do not need to do this unless you want to operate under a business name that is different from your own legal name.

Start getting clients.

Good first clients for you could be:

artists

photographers

musicians

cleaners

salons

coaches

contractors

small wellness brands

local service businesses

You could start by offering simple monthly bookkeeping packages and cleanup services.

Upgrade to an LLC later if the business becomes more serious.

Once you are making steady money, have recurring clients, or want more protection, you can form an LLC later without having to start over. Many people begin as sole proprietors first because it is cheaper and simpler.

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