Regulatory Compliance Guide
Navigate business, privacy, and industry regulations with confidence
This guide provides general information only. Consult qualified legal and tax professionals for advice specific to your situation.
What StartupVision can generate for you
AI-assisted templates and checklists to speed up compliance prep—review everything with your counsel or auditor before relying on it.
Risk Assessments
Threat modeling, likelihood/impact scoring, and mitigation plans across product, infrastructure, vendors, and people.
ISMS-style Documentation
Policies, procedures, and control mappings aligned to ISO 27001-style expectations, plus BCP/DR outlines.
Compliance Playbooks
Privacy readiness (GDPR/CCPA), SOC 2 and ISO prep checklists, vendor risk templates, and security awareness guidance.
Designed to be faster and often more affordable than traditional consultants, but not a substitute for legal, tax, or compliance advice. Always review with qualified professionals.
2025 Critical Deadline: BOI Filing Due March 21, 2025
Most LLCs and corporations must file Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reports with FinCEN. Companies formed before 2024 have until March 21, 2025. New companies formed in 2025 have 90 days from formation.
Penalties: Up to $591/day civil penalties and criminal penalties up to $10,000 and 2 years imprisonment.
Business Registration Essentials
Foundation requirements every startup needs to complete
Federal EIN
"Your business's Social Security Number"
- Required for hiring employees
- Opening business bank accounts
- Filing federal tax returns
- Free from IRS - apply online
State Tax ID
"Collect and remit state taxes"
- Sales tax collection permit
- State income tax withholding
- Unemployment insurance account
- Requirements vary by state
Business Licenses
"Legal permission to operate"
- General business license (city/county)
- Professional licenses if applicable
- Zoning and land use permits
- Health department permits (if food)
DBA Registration
"Doing Business As - your trade name"
- Required if operating under different name
- Filed at county clerk or state level
- May require publication in newspaper
- Typically costs $10-$100
BOI Filing (NEW 2025)
"Beneficial Ownership Information Report"
- Deadline: March 21, 2025
- File with FinCEN (free)
- Report all 25%+ owners
- Update within 30 days of changes
Registered Agent
"Official point of contact"
- Required for LLCs and corporations
- Receives legal/tax documents
- Must have physical address in state
- Services cost $50-$300/year
Business Registration Checklist
Data Privacy Regulations
Protect user data and avoid costly violations
GDPR
European Union
Applies if: You have EU customers, even if you're based elsewhere
- Explicit consent required for data collection
- Right to access, delete, and port data
- 72-hour breach notification required
- Data Protection Officer may be required
Penalties: Up to 20M EUR or 4% of global annual revenue
CCPA/CPRA
California
Threshold: $26.6M+ revenue, 100K+ consumers, or 50%+ revenue from selling data
- "Do Not Sell My Info" link required
- Right to know what data is collected
- Right to delete personal information
- Equal service regardless of opt-out
Penalties: $2,500 per violation, $7,500 for intentional violations
State Privacy Laws Comparison (2025)
| State | Law | Threshold | Key Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | VCDPA | 100K consumers or 50% revenue | Data protection assessments |
| Colorado | CPA | 100K consumers or 25K with revenue | Universal opt-out recognition |
| Connecticut | CTDPA | 100K consumers or 25K with revenue | Consent for sensitive data |
| Utah | UCPA | $25M revenue + 100K consumers | 30-day cure period |
International Data Transfer Rules
Transferring data outside the EU/UK requires specific safeguards:
- Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) - EU-approved contract terms
- EU-US Data Privacy Framework - Self-certification for US companies
- Binding Corporate Rules - For multinational organizations
Ready to Launch Your Compliant Startup?
Get comprehensive AI-powered validation that includes regulatory considerations for your specific industry and location.
This guide is for informational purposes only. Always consult qualified professionals.