Last updated: October 3, 2026
OwnBiz publishes practical guides on how to start a business in the United States, from legal structures and business models to restaurants, stores, trades, farms, manufacturing, healthcare practices, and nonprofits. This policy explains the standards our guides follow, how we use sources and technology, and what the dates on each page mean.
1. Our purpose
Our guides are written for people deciding whether and how to start a business. Each guide aims to give a reader enough clarity to take the next concrete step: what the business involves, what it costs, which licenses and agencies matter, what to check before spending money, and where to confirm the rules for their own location.
Our guides are general information, not professional advice. See our Disclaimer.
2. What every guide includes
Each guide follows a consistent structure adapted to the type of business:
- A direct answer to the main question at the top of the page.
- A scope statement explaining who the guide is for and what it covers.
- The stages of starting the business in the order they depend on each other.
- Costs and economics, including how the business makes money, where the guide addresses cost.
- Legal and compliance requirements, with pointers to the agencies that regulate the activity.
- Working checklists the reader can use while doing the work.
- Common mistakes, myths, and traps.
- A launch plan or formation timeline.
- Frequently asked questions.
- A Further reading section with links to official and reputable resources.
3. Sources
We prioritize primary and official sources: federal, state, and local government agencies, regulators, statutes and regulations, and official programs. We also use industry associations, official program materials, and established reference resources. Community discussions are used only for practical context, never as the sole basis for a factual claim.
Guides speak in one editorial voice, so the body text does not name publications as sources. The most useful official and reputable resources are listed in the Further reading section at the end of each guide.
4. How we handle facts and numbers
- Stable federal rules that change rarely, such as federal licensing requirements for certain activities, are stated specifically.
- Rules that vary by state or change often, such as state fees, thresholds, deadlines, lists of states where something is allowed, tax rates, and incentives, are not listed as specifics. Instead, we explain that the rule exists, that it varies or can change, and which type of agency to check with.
- Costs and prices are presented as general ranges or estimates, not quotes or benchmarks. Fast-changing figures, such as platform fees, are dated.
- Worked examples are illustrations. We check their arithmetic, and they are not projections of what any reader will earn.
- Claims we avoid: guaranteed income, “passive income” without describing the work, risk-free outcomes, and unsupported statistics.
5. What the dates mean
Last fact-checked is the date on which the guide’s facts were last reviewed against sources. It tells you how current the information was when reviewed. Laws, fees, and requirements can change after that date, so always confirm current rules with the relevant agency.
Last updated is the date of the most recent substantive change to the guide’s content. Formatting fixes, typo corrections, and link repairs may not change either date.
6. Editing standards
Every guide is edited against a written editorial manual before publication. Editing covers factual consistency within the guide, arithmetic in examples and tables, the order of steps, the presence of required compliance pointers, clarity of language, and the format of checklists and tables.
We write in plain American English, define industry terms on first use, and avoid jargon where plain words work.
7. Use of AI and other technology
We use technology tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), in our editorial process. These tools may help with research, outlining, drafting, editing, and checking content for consistency. They support our work and do not replace editorial judgment.
People guide our editorial process. Our editors choose the topics we cover, set the standards our guides are expected to meet, and oversee how content is prepared and published. Guides are edited against our editorial manual, as described in Section 6.
All images on the Website are created with AI image-generation tools. They are illustrations only. They do not show real people, businesses, premises, products, or equipment, and they are not accurate depictions of any setup, layout, or requirement.
8. Tone and sensitive topics
We write with respect for readers and for the people a business serves. Guides on death care, healthcare, senior and disability care, childcare, religious organizations, and other sensitive subjects use a respectful, neutral tone. Guides on heavily regulated activities, such as cannabis, firearms, tobacco, and gambling, take a compliance-first approach and do not describe ways around the law.
We do not present first-person experiences, testimonials, quotes, or case studies that we cannot verify.
9. Independence and advertising
The Website is supported by advertising. Advertisers do not review, approve, or influence our editorial content, and advertisements are displayed separately from article content. Mentions of brands, products, or platforms are made for editorial reasons, as examples or subjects, and are not endorsements unless a page clearly says otherwise.
10. Updates and corrections
We review guides over time and update them when we learn that information has changed or is incorrect. If you find an error, please tell us. Our Corrections Policy explains how to report it and how we handle it.
11. Contact
Questions about this policy can be sent to [email protected].