If your business will be organized as an incorporation, a limited partnership, or a limited liability corporation, you will need to first register your business with the Secretary of State's Bureau of Corporations, which can be reached at (207) 624-7740. If the business is going to be organized as a sole proprietorship, you do not have to register with the state of Maine, but you may need to register with your county or local government, depending on where you live.

Depending what type of business you will be engaged in, you may need to obtain a business license as well. You can determine whether you will need to be licensed by contacting the Office of Licensing and Regulations at (207) 624-8603, or you may contact Maine's Business Answers hot line at (800) 872-3838. You must also contact your county or local government to see if your particular type of business should be licensed locally as well.

Nearly all businesses must obtain a Sales Tax Identification number, if you plan on selling tangible goods or providing certain services. The forms for obtaining a Sales Tax Identification number can be found through Maine Revenue Services at (207) 624-9693.

If you are planning on employing anyone, you will need to report that and obtain the proper certifications from both the federal and Maine governments. You will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the federal government. The paperwork for this can be obtained from the Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov). You will also need to register with the state of Maine to ensure that you are withholding the proper amount of taxes and contributing to the state's unemployment insurance program. In order to do this, you must file an application for Tax Registration with the Maine Department of Labor, which can be reached at (207) 287-2338.

Your business should obtain the proper amount and types of insurance to shield you and your principal officers from potentially damaging liability in a variety of circumstance.