If you are thinking about starting a new business in DC, Maryland or Virginia, there are several things you will need to do to get started. Here is a checklist of tasks for most businesses: Register the business. You will need to decide what legal form the business will take (ie sole proprietor, LLC, corporation) and register it with the government. Obtain a tax ID. If you decide on anything other than a sole proprietorship, you will need to obtain a new tax ID number from th