You have a killer idea. You have heard Governor Sandoval when he says Nevada is business-friendly, and you want to open your Nevada business. Where do you start? Being "legal" by getting the necessary licenses is a good place to start.
Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller has set up what his office calls the "SilverFlume",which describes itself as Nevada's business portal. Clicking through to the SilverFlume's new business checklist will get you started in the right direction about what you will need to do to start up your business. The SilverFlume and Clark County's business portal will not tell you what kind of a business you should start (sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, or other possibilities), and may leave some other questions unanswered, but it's a good starting point. (Last month, the Secretary of State's office issued a press release indicating that the SilverFlume website had raised more than $100,000,000 in state revenue since it began operating in 2012, so by at least one measure it has been a success.) The SilverFlume website can even help prepare a digital operating agreement for your limited liability company, discussed in this six minute YouTube video (which repeatedly mispronounces "Nevada", but that's beside the point).
Clark County, home to the vast majority of Nevadans and Nevada businesses, has a helpful website to walk you through some of the first step to forming your Clark County business. It will link you through to the SilverFlume and other websites that you may need to access for information or approval. It lists several prerequisites to starting a business: obtain a Nevada state business license, register with the Nevada Secretary of State, register with the Nevada department of taxation, obtain a fictitious firm name (if necessary), and then secure a local business license. Depending on where your business will be located, you may need to register in a specific county or city. Clark County will tell you what jurisdiction you are located in with this handy jurisdiction locater tool (and just because your mailing address is "Las Vegas" does not mean you are in the city of Las Vegas.)
Washoe County has a similar website discussing licensing requirements, a guide for whether you need a business license in the first place, and has published a "10 steps" guide to starting a business.
Depending on your type of business, you may have some special hoops to jump through (read: certain types of professionals, contractors, selling/producing alcohol, and gaming, to name just a few). Contact the licensing agency or another professional that can assist you with those issues. The SilverFlume checklist may give you an idea of what regulatory agency you may have to go through for your unique business.
These tools may not get you to the finish line, but they will at least get you started in the direction of making your Nevada business legal.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
