EIN / Tax ID
The IRS gives you this free, in minutes. Read that again.
What it actually is
An Employer Identification Number is the federal tax ID for your business — the entity equivalent of a Social Security number. You need one to open a business bank account, hire anyone, and file most business tax returns.
Do you need it?
Almost certainly yes. Nearly every business that is not a single-member LLC with no employees ends up needing one, and plenty of those get one anyway so they can open a bank account without handing their SSN to a vendor.
What changes if you’re in uniform
Nothing military-specific about the EIN itself — but it is the item on this list most often bundled into a package that a first-time owner does not price out. Getting one takes about as long as filling in a leave form.
Doing it yourself
You file with
The IRS, directly, at irs.gov
- Have your formation documents and responsible-party information ready.
- Use the IRS online application during its operating hours.
- Save the CP 575 confirmation notice — replacing it later is more annoying than getting it.
Cost: Free. In the IRS's own words: "Use this tool to get an EIN directly from the IRS in minutes for free."
Our call
Do it yourself. This is the clearest do-it-yourself item on the page — the federal government provides it at no cost, immediately, online. Anything you pay for this is paying someone to fill in a form on your behalf.
If you’d rather pay someone
Bizee lists ein / tax id at $70 as of 11 August 2026. You still pay any state fee on top of that.
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