Lehigh Valley Business Startup Checklist
A local-first checklist for registering a Pennsylvania business, getting tax accounts in order, and checking city-level requirements in Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton.
Built for: New founders and local operators starting a business in the Lehigh Valley.
Public guide
A startup sequence with official state, IRS, SBDC, and Lehigh Valley municipal links.
This page gives you the working version: sequence, checklist, and official resources. The full kit adds prompts, a deeper worksheet, and implementation notes for your inbox.
Keep reading for the public guide, or send the kit when you want the worksheet and prompt pack.
- Choose the registration path before paying vendors
- Find the official PA, IRS, and local city resources
- Build the first digital checklist for website, CRM, booking, and follow-up
- Create a source log you can share with an accountant, attorney, or SBDC advisor
Run the guide
Work through it in order.
Handle the official setup
Start with official state and federal systems before buying software, domains, ads, or branding packages.
- Use PA Business One-Stop Shop to review registration steps and create a working checklist.
- Register the legal business through Pennsylvania's official filing path when the entity decision is made.
- Apply for an EIN directly through the IRS after the entity is formed, if the business needs one.
- Register state tax accounts through myPATH if you need sales tax, employer withholding, or other business tax accounts.
Check the local layer
Local requirements vary by city and business type, so treat the municipality as a separate checkpoint.
- Check Allentown, Bethlehem, or Easton requirements if you operate, sell, hire, or maintain an office there.
- Book time with Lehigh University SBDC before signing long leases, hiring, or buying a large software stack.
- Create a folder for registration documents, tax confirmations, licenses, insurance, bank records, and lease documents.
- Write the first customer path: how someone finds you, books, pays, gets follow-up, and leaves a review.
Build the first operating baseline
A registered business still needs a simple way to capture demand, follow up, and keep proof organized from the first week.
- Create one source log with every official page, account, confirmation number, filing date, and unanswered question.
- Set up one lead capture path before promotion starts: website form, booking link, phone number, or intake form.
- Define the first follow-up sequence for new inquiries, missed calls, quotes, paid customers, and review requests.
- Pick a small software stack you can operate for 30 days before adding automation or paid traffic.
Final pass
Before you call it done
- Business structure selected
- PA filing path confirmed
- EIN need checked
- State tax accounts reviewed
- Municipal requirements checked
- Source log started
- Digital customer path written
- First follow-up sequence drafted
Useful resources
Current links to verify the details.
- PA Business One-Stop Shop registrationOfficial state starting point for Pennsylvania business registration steps.
- Register a business in PennsylvaniaDepartment of State filing path for Pennsylvania entities.
- IRS EIN applicationOfficial free EIN application from the IRS.
- PA myPATH business tax registrationPennsylvania tax account registration and management portal.
- Lehigh University SBDCLocal consulting and training resource for Lehigh Valley founders.
- Allentown business licensesCity of Allentown business license information and revenue contact.
- Bethlehem Business Privilege and Mercantile TaxCity of Bethlehem licensing and business privilege tax requirements.
- Easton business license documentCity of Easton business license reference and filing direction.
Why this guide exists
Every guide is pulled from a live client engagement. If it is in here, we have run it, measured it, and watched it hold up in the field.
Prefer to walk through it live?
Book a working call. Thirty minutes, mapped to your situation.