StartING a Business
Business Roadmap Details
Follow the steps below to get the help you need so your business can thrive in Fauquier County.
1. Market Research Analysis
Understanding your position in the marketplace is your first step to establishing a business. Learning market dynamics, from customers to competitors, prototyping to price points, plots the journey ahead. Learn more.
2. Business & Financial Planning, Education, & Workforce
Business Plan
Articulating your strategy is key to starting a business and obtaining financing. Establish short and long-term goals and project your growth over a three-to-five-year period. Learn more.
Financing
Identifying financing is a pivotal step in your journey. Explore the federal, state, and local resources available to your business.
Education and Training
Knowledge is market power. Offering online entrepreneurial courses and personalized business coaching, local business resources are value driven. Learn more.
3. Establishing Legal Structure
Choosing the right structure benefits your business from the start. Consult with an attorney or a tax professional to establish the structure suited to your business. Learn more.
4. Zoning, Land Use & Site Selection-Comply Before You Buy
Zoning and Land Use
Fauquier County has eight Service Districts, which help the County balance agricultural and recreational uses, environmental and historic preservation. Learn more.
Site Selection
From available, affordable sites in business and industrial parks to Class A office space, Fauquier County has real estate suited to your phase of growth. Explore available properties here.
5. Registering Your Business, Business Licensing, State & Local Taxes
Registering a Business
Register a business name that reflects your brand and offerings. Provide your trade name, or “Doing Business As” (DBA) name. Then, select a Registered Agent, which allows you to transact business from a legal perspective. Finally, obtain a tax identification number from the IRS. Learn more
Obtaining Business Licenses and Permits
Fauquier County’s licensing, zoning, and permitting resources provide a clear framework for establishing a business
Registering for State and Local Taxes
Registering for a state tax identification number is required to start a business in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Learn more about registering in Virginia and Fauquier County tax forms.
6. Obtaining Business Insurance
Business insurance protects your property, assets, and workforce. Liability, workers compensation insurance, and unemployment insurance are some of the protections to consider. Learn more.
7. Understanding Employer Responsibility
From understanding labor laws to hiring employees, there are many elements to consider when starting a business. The Virginia Employment Commission details the requirements. Learn more.