Question

You are ready to establish your new business, and now you need to check the legal requirements of your municipality and state. In this activity, you’ll need to create a checklist of those requirements.

Step 1: Select Your Business
Select either a business concept you used in a prior activity, or a come up with a new concept.

Step 2: Name and Summarize Your Business
Create a new word processing document.
Enter the name of your business at the top and center it. the buisness is a coffee shop in Oregon
Below the name, create a description of your business, including what product or service it offers. The description should be very simple, no longer than 3 sentences.
Step 3: Create Your Checklist
Below your business summary, create a three-columned table. Insert the headers: Topic, Resources, and Comments for each of the three columns.
In the Topic column, add the following into individual rows:
Business Name
Domain Name
Local, State, and Federal Taxes
Employee Identification Number
Local Licenses and Permits
Step 4: Research and Complete Your Checklist
Research your checklist and update it with the following data:

Business Name – Check and see if your proposed name for the business is available in your state. If it’s not, brainstorm a new one. Enter your findings in two simple sentences in the Comments. In the Resources column, enter the URLs and names of the resources you used to check this information.
Domain Name – Brainstorm what you think will be the best URL for your business. Research to see if that URL is available, and note any costs associated with it. If it’s unavailable or too costly, research a second choice. Add your findings in two simple sentences in the Comments. In the Resources column, enter the URLs and names of the resources you used to find this information.
Local, State, and Federal Taxes – Research to see what taxes your business is responsible for at the local, state, and federal level. Add your findings in four simple sentences in the Comments. In the Resources column, enter the URLs and names of the resources you used to find this information.
Employee Identification Number – Research what resources to use to find information about registering for an employee identification number. In the Comments column, enter what IRS publications or other resources you found. In the Resources column, enter the URLs and names of the resources you used to find this information.
Local Licenses and Permits – Research what local licenses and permits your business will require to start up. In the Comments column, enter your findings, including costs of permits. In the Resources column, enter the URLs and names of the resources you used to find this information.

make a simple slideshow

Answer 1

Below is a ready-to-use business-summary document and checklist for a coffee shop in Oregon, plus a simple slideshow outline you can copy into PowerPoint, Google Slides, or another slide tool. Note: I can’t perform live internet checks from here, so I list the exact state and federal resources you should use and I show sample, clearly labeled results and approximate costs. Please run the checks at the links I provide to confirm current availability and fees.

Document content (copy this into a word-processing document)

Title (centered)
Cascade Perk Coffee

Business description (2 sentences)
Cascade Perk Coffee is a neighborhood coffee shop serving espresso drinks, brewed coffee, light pastries, and grab-and-go breakfast items. We focus on responsibly sourced beans and a welcoming community space for customers.

Checklist table (three columns: Topic | Resources | Comments)

1) Topic: Business Name
- Resources:
- Oregon Secretary of State — Business Name Search: https://sos.oregon.gov/business/Pages/search-business-name.aspx
- Oregon Secretary of State — Starting a Business: https://sos.oregon.gov/business/Pages/starting-business.aspx
- Comments (2 sentences):
- I could not perform a live lookup from here; use the Oregon SOS Business Name Search page above to see if “Cascade Perk Coffee” is available in Oregon. If the name is already registered, consider variations such as “Cascade Perk Coffee Co.” or “Cascade Perk Café” and re-check availability.

2) Topic: Domain Name
- Resources:
- ICANN WHOIS: https://whois.icann.org/en
- Namecheap domain search: https://www.namecheap.com
- Google Domains: https://domains.google
- GoDaddy: https://www.godaddy.com
- Comments (2 sentences):
- Suggested primary domain: CascadePerkCoffee.com; check availability and price at Namecheap, Google Domains, or GoDaddy. Typical cost for a .com is about $10–20/year; if taken or too costly, consider CascadePerk.coffee, CascadePerkCo.com, or CascadePerkCoffeeShop.com as alternatives.

3) Topic: Local, State, and Federal Taxes
- Resources:
- IRS — Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed
- IRS — Business Taxes overview: https://www.irs.gov/businesses
- Oregon Department of Revenue (business taxes, withholding): https://www.oregon.gov/dor/Pages/index.aspx
- Oregon Corporate Activity Tax (CAT): https://www.oregon.gov/dor/programs/businesses/Pages/corporate-activity-tax.aspx
- Your city revenue/business license page (example — City of Portland): https://www.portland.gov/revenue/business-tax-registration
- Comments (4 sentences):
- Federally, the business will be subject to income tax on profits and must withhold and remit payroll taxes for employees (federal income tax withholding, Social Security and Medicare (FICA), and FUTA as applicable). At the state level, Oregon has no general sales tax, but the business may be subject to Oregon’s Corporate Activity Tax (CAT) if gross receipts pass the threshold and must register for Oregon withholding and other employer obligations. Local city or county taxes and business license fees vary by municipality (some cities have business registration or gross-receipts taxes). Employers must file required federal and state returns (quarterly payroll filings, annual returns) and pay employer-side payroll taxes and unemployment insurance.

4) Topic: Employee Identification Number (EIN)
- Resources:
- IRS — Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) Online: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online
- Form SS-4 and Instructions: https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-ss-4
- IRS Publication 15 (Employer’s Tax Guide): https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-15
- Comments:
- To register for an EIN, use the IRS online “Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN)” page; you can complete the SS-4 online and receive an EIN immediately if eligible. Useful IRS resources include Form SS-4 (application), the instructions for SS-4, and Publication 15 (Circular E) for payroll tax withholding and employer responsibilities.

5) Topic: Local Licenses and Permits
- Resources:
- Oregon Health Authority / Food Safety: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HEALTHYENVIRONMENTS/FOODSAFETY/Pages/index.aspx
- Local county environmental health (example — Multnomah County Food Safety): https://multco.us/health/food-safety
- Oregon Business Xpress / local city permit pages (search your city’s business licensing page)
- Local building and fire department permit pages (search your city/county)
- Comments (3–4 sentences, including costs):
- You will need a food service/restaurant permit from your county or local health department and must meet local food safety and food handler training requirements; many counties require at least one certified food manager (ServSafe or equivalent). Expect plan review and inspection fees (examples range widely: plan review $100–$1,000 depending on jurisdiction and scope; initial food service permit $100–$1,200 annually — verify with your county). You will also likely need a city business license or registration (typical fees $50–$300 annually depending on city) and building/occupancy permits and possibly fire department inspection fees (costs vary by project size). Check the specific city and county websites for exact fees and requirements before signing a lease or starting construction.

Simple slideshow (one slide per item — copy text into slides)

Slide 1 — Title
- Cascade Perk Coffee
- Neighborhood coffee shop serving espresso, brewed coffee, pastries, and grab-and-go breakfast.

Slide 2 — Business Name
- Action: Check Oregon SOS Business Name Search.
- Resource: https://sos.oregon.gov/business/Pages/search-business-name.aspx
- Note: If taken, choose alternate name and re-check.

Slide 3 — Domain Name
- Primary suggestion: CascadePerkCoffee.com
- Check availability at Namecheap / Google Domains / GoDaddy.
- Typical .com cost: $10–20/year.

Slide 4 — Taxes (Local / State / Federal)
- Federal: income tax, payroll taxes (withholding, FICA, FUTA).
- State: Oregon withholding, unemployment, possible Corporate Activity Tax (CAT); no statewide sales tax.
- Local: city business registration/fees may apply.
- Resources: IRS and Oregon DOR links.

Slide 5 — EIN
- Apply online via IRS: receive EIN immediately if eligible.
- Key forms/resources: SS-4, Publication 15.
- Resource link: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online

Slide 6 — Local Licenses & Permits
- Health/food service permit, food handler/manager certification, building/occupancy permit, fire inspection, city business license.
- Estimated fees: food permit and inspections $100–$1,200; city business registration $50–$300; building/fire permits vary.
- Check county health and city permit pages.

Slide 7 — Next Steps / Checklist
- 1) Run SOS name search and reserve name if needed.
- 2) Check domain availability and register chosen domain.
- 3) Determine business entity (LLC, S corp, sole proprietor) and register with Oregon SOS.
- 4) Apply for EIN with IRS.
- 5) Register with Oregon Department of Revenue; set up payroll withholding and unemployment accounts.
- 6) Contact county health for food service permit and schedule plan review/inspections.
- 7) Apply for city business license and building/occupancy permits; schedule fire inspection.

Slide 8 — Useful Links / Contacts (copy the links below)
- Oregon Secretary of State (business): https://sos.oregon.gov/business
- Oregon Department of Revenue: https://www.oregon.gov/dor
- IRS Small Business & EIN: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed
- Oregon Health Authority — Food Safety: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HEALTHYENVIRONMENTS/FOODSAFETY/Pages/index.aspx
- Domain registrars: https://www.namecheap.com | https://domains.google | https://www.godaddy.com
- City/county business license and health department pages — search “[Your city] business license” and “[Your county] environmental health food service.”

If you’d like, I can:
- Generate the Word document (.docx) text or a simple Google Slides outline you can paste into a slide deck.
- Tailor the local-licenses section to a specific Oregon city (e.g., Portland, Eugene, Bend) if you tell me which city the coffee shop will be located in — I’ll list the exact city web pages and more specific fee examples you’ll need to check.