Start with the customer
The first decision is who will buy what, rather than where to incorporate. Record the customer problem and evidence of willingness to pay. If interviews or a small experiment have not happened, waiting can be reasonable. Budget for accounting, returns, product compliance and eventual closure as well as registration.
Separate entity country and tax position
Owning a UK LTD or US LLC does not remove reporting duties where you live. Management location, stock location and customer location are separate questions. Ask a qualified adviser for a written assessment. A suggested route from the check is not legal clearance to incorporate.
Define proceed and pause criteria
A proceed decision needs a product hypothesis, a sustainable budget and partner acceptance. Do not treat a company name as sufficient for banking or payment access. Pause before paying if a required partner or provider cannot accept the case. Record the missing condition and its verification owner.
Checklist
- Write the customer and product hypothesis
- Separate all first-year cost categories
- Obtain partner acceptance and sanctions review
Working template
Copy the headings into your own working document. Do not enter identity data.
Customer Evidence Route compared Unknown Reviewer Proceed/pause