For New and Aspiring Business Owners
SMALL BUSINESS LAUNCH PROGRAM
Your Idea Is Ready. Let's Make It Official.
Starting a business involves more decisions than most people expect — and the choices you make in the first few weeks can shape your taxes, liability exposure, and cash flow for years. The Small Business Launch Program at The Reliant Group handles the formation paperwork, files your EIN, helps you choose the right tax structure, and hands you a personalized roadmap for your first 12 months. Then we stay with you. From day one through year one and well beyond, you have the same team handling your bookkeeping, payroll, and tax preparation as your business grows.
What the Small Business Launch Program Covers
The program is built around four components, each designed to move you from idea to operating business without gaps or guesswork.
Step 1
LLC & Business Entity Formation
We handle the formation paperwork for your LLC, S-corp, or sole proprietorship — filing directly with the state of Ohio so you don't have to navigate the process alone. Where an operating agreement or other legal document is needed, we coordinate with attorneys to make sure every piece is in place.
Step 2
EIN Filing
Your Employer Identification Number is the federal ID that lets you open a business bank account, hire employees, and establish your business identity with the IRS. We file it for you — quickly — so you can move forward without waiting.
Step 3
Business Structure & Compliance Guidance
Choosing between an LLC and an S-corp isn't just a legal question — it's a tax question. We help you understand how each structure affects what you owe, when you owe it, and what Ohio state and federal obligations come with it. The right structure from the start means fewer surprises and more money staying in the business.
Step 4
Your First-Year Business Roadmap
This is where the program goes beyond formation. We build a personalized roadmap covering the financial and operational milestones of your first 12 months — estimated tax payments,
payroll setup timing,
bookkeeping systems, and the checkpoints most new business owners don't know to plan for until they miss them.
Should You Form an LLC or an S-Corp?
This is the question we hear most from new business owners, and the answer depends on your revenue projections, how you plan to pay yourself, and your long-term goals. At a high level: an LLC offers flexibility and liability protection when properly maintained, while an S-corp election can reduce self-employment tax once your income reaches a certain threshold. The right answer isn't universal — it's specific to your situation. We walk through this with every client in the program and help you choose the structure that fits your business, not just the one that sounds right. For a deeper breakdown, our blog covers the LLC vs. S-corp question in detail.
What We Offer
The Setup Is Handled — Not Homework
Most new business owners spend hours researching what to file, in what order, and with which agency — and still aren't sure they got it right. The Small Business Launch Program removes that entirely. We know what Ohio requires, what the IRS expects, and what sequence of steps gets your business open and compliant without delays. You focus on the business. We handle the paperwork.
- Entity formation filed with the Ohio Secretary of State
- EIN obtained directly from the IRS on your behalf
- Tax structure selected with your input and our guidance
- Ohio state and federal compliance requirements mapped for your entity type
- First-year financial roadmap delivered before you open your doors
- Warm handoff to ongoing bookkeeping, payroll, and tax services as you grow
What We Offer
One Team From Day One Through Year One and Beyond
The Small Business Launch Program isn't a one-time transaction. Once your business is formed and your roadmap is in hand, The Reliant Group continues as your accounting team — handling monthly bookkeeping, payroll processing, quarterly estimated tax filings, and year-end tax preparation. You don't start over with a new firm when you outgrow the startup phase. The same people who set you up are the ones who know your numbers, your structure, and your goals when it's time to grow.
We serve clients in person at our Middletown and Loveland offices, and virtually for business owners anywhere in Ohio or across the country through our secure client portal.
Who This Program Is Built For
The Small Business Launch Program is the right fit if you are:
- Starting a new business and unsure which entity type to form
- Ready to make your side income or freelance work official
- Transitioning from a sole proprietorship into an LLC or S-corp
- Opening a business in Ohio and need state registration handled correctly
- Launching in any state and want virtual support from a team that knows small business inside out
If your business is already formed but your books are behind or your tax structure has never been reviewed, we have services for that too — our bookkeeping and tax services are available as standalone engagements.
Common Questions About Starting a Business in Ohio
Do I need an accountant to start a business, or can I file everything myself?
You can file an LLC yourself through the Ohio Secretary of State's website, and you can apply for an EIN directly through the IRS. What most new business owners miss is the layer underneath: choosing the wrong tax structure, skipping estimated tax payments, or setting up bookkeeping incorrectly from the start. Those mistakes are expensive to fix. Working with an accountant from the beginning means the structure is right, the compliance calendar is set, and you're not paying to undo decisions made in a rush.
What's the difference between an LLC and an S-corp for taxes?
An LLC is a legal structure that provides liability separation when properly maintained. An S-corp is a tax election — often made by an LLC — that can reduce self-employment taxes once your net income reaches a level where the savings outweigh the added administrative costs. Which one is right for you depends on your income level, how you plan to compensate yourself, and your growth timeline. We cover this in every Launch Program engagement.
How long does it take to form an LLC in Ohio?
Standard processing through the Ohio Secretary of State typically takes one to three business days for online filings. Once your LLC is approved, we file your EIN with the IRS, which is usually issued the same day. From there, you can open a business bank account and begin operating. The full Launch Program process, including your first-year roadmap, is typically completed within one to two weeks of your initial consultation.
What does "help starting a new business in Ohio" actually include with this program?
The program covers entity formation, EIN filing, tax structure selection, Ohio and federal compliance orientation, and a personalized first-year business roadmap. It also includes a warm handoff to ongoing services — bookkeeping, payroll, and tax preparation — so you have a single team supporting the business from launch through growth.
Can I work with The Reliant Group if I'm not located in Ohio?
Yes. We serve clients virtually nationwide through our secure client portal, video meetings, and phone and email support. The Small Business Launch Program is available to new business owners anywhere in the country, and we handle Ohio-specific filings for clients forming entities here regardless of where they live.
What happens after the Launch Program is complete?
Once your business is formed and your roadmap is delivered, you have the option to continue with The Reliant Group for ongoing bookkeeping, payroll processing, quarterly tax filings, and annual tax preparation. Most Launch Program clients do — because the same team that set up the business already knows the structure, the goals, and the numbers. There's no re-explaining your situation to someone new.
Start with the Right Structure
Get Started Today
The decisions you make when forming your business are easier to get right the first time than to fix later. The Reliant Group is ready to walk through your situation, answer your questions, and get your business formed correctly — with a plan for what comes next. Schedule a free consultation and let's get started.
