Downtown Pittston Partnership

Starting a Business


Downtown Pittston is home to many restaurants, stores, and offices.

We would love to have you join our wonderful City. We are here to help you.

Business Checklist

This checklist is a good starting point for you as you begin your business. It is in no way meant to be a substitute for professional advice or counsel.

For more information about starting a business, contact your local SBDC. Our local SBDC is located at Wilkes University, at 85 South Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pa 18701.  Please call (570) 408-4340 or visit their website by clicking here.

Also contact The Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce for more specific information by clicking here.

Formalize Your Idea​

Formally select a business idea, product, or service that you will sell. This may sound like an easy step but think hard about what exactly you will be selling.

This is also a good time to start thinking about the feasibility of making your business idea profitable.

Research and Planning

Research the business industry. ​

  • What will you sell? Is it legal? Who will buy it? How often?
  • Are you willing and able to do what it takes to sell your product?
  • Who are the competitors?
  • What will your product cost to produce, market, sell, and deliver? Can you make a profit? How long will it take for your business to make a profit?
  • What compliance issues do you need to address?

Write a business plan. Make sure it includes your management, marketing, production, and financial strategies. If you are going to have a website, be sure to register the domain name. ​

  • Using a domain registry service, see if the business name is available for use as an Internet domain name. Visit any of the innumerable domain providers--even if you aren't ready to use it yet. Your dream URL might already be taken.

If you are going to have a brick-and-mortar presence, research possible locations for your business. Where appropriate, analyze that location for traffic, parking, customer, and delivery access. ​

Learn more about the differences in business structure and determine the best one for your venture. The most common choices are sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation. ​

  • If your business will be a sole proprietorship and you will be using an assumed name, you must check the availability of the name you have chosen and register it.
  • If your business will be a partnership, draw up your partnership agreement. If the partnership will be using an assumed name, register the fictitious name.
  • If your business will be a corporation, file Articles of Incorporation.

For registration help, visit the Pennsylvania Department of State, Corporation Bureau, or the Online Business Registration Interview (OBRI), a step-by-step wizard that guides users through the process of registering an enterprise with the Departments of Labor & Industry, Revenue, and State. It is designed for users who are unfamiliar with Pennsylvania taxes, services, and business registration requirements. Also, Enterprises that have not registered their Limited Liability Company, Corporation, Limited Partnership, Limited Liability Partnership, or Fictitious Name with the Department of State.

Register with the Proper Authorities

Register for state taxes with the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.

  • Complete the PA 100, an online fill-in form that allows users to register an enterprise with the Departments of Labor & Industry and Revenue, but does not register the enterprise with the Department of State. It is designed for users who are familiar with the PA-100 process and know the taxes and services for which they need to register.

 Register for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) through the IRS.

  • Can apply by calling Toll-Free Telephone Service (800) 829-4933.

  • Can apply by mail - Complete SS-4 form.

  • Can apply online.

  • Contact the Internal Revenue Service for information on filing your federal tax schedules.

Tax ID

Apply for contractors registration through Attorney General.

Apply for Sales Tax ID through the Department of Revenue.

If you will have employees:

Operations

Install a business phone or extra residential phone lines, if necessary.

Get adequate business insurance or a business rider to a homeowner's policy.

Square away financial and tax issues.

  • Get tax information such as recordkeeping requirements, facts about estimating taxes, forms of organizations, etc.

  • Open a bank account for the business.

Purchase equipment and/or supplies.

Order inventory, signage, and fixtures.

Marketing and Branding

Establish a marketing presence and visual identity

  • Have business cards and stationery printed.

  • Get an e-mail address.

  • Find a Web hosting company and have your Web site designed and set up. If you want people to take you seriously, you need a professional web presence. Unless you’re a designer, don’t design your own site. Hire someone or use a service.

  • Determine whether you need sales literature (brochures, flyers, etc) created and printed.

  • Research how to advertise your business for free online with services such as Google Places, Bing Business, Yahoo! Local, or the Yellow Pages. Also if appropriate, consider establishing a presence on social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.