About FirstBearing
FirstBearing finds where money is getting stuck, figures out why, works on the problem, measures what happened, learns, and keeps going.
We believe small businesses are the backbone of the economy. When a plumber, a cleaner, or a baker owns something of their own, their family wins, their town wins, and the country is stronger for it. We want everyone to have that shot.
Millions of people want to start a business but never begin because the process feels complicated. Forms. Licensing. Taxes. Business plans. Funding. Websites. Marketing. Sales. FirstBearing exists to make that path easier to understand and easier to follow — we help you figure out what you need, what you do not need, and what to do next, based on your business and your location.
And we don't stop at the paperwork. After you open, FirstBearing keeps working — a plan to grow, one clear move a week, your real numbers, your deadlines. One low monthly price for all of it, not a cut of what you earn. Cancel any time.
We are built for ordinary people who want to own something of their own. You do not need a business degree. You do not need to already know every filing. You need a clear place to start and someone to keep you moving.
Who's behind it
I'm William Caraway. I spent five years in the Army infantry, I'm a disabled veteran, a new dad, and a born-and-raised Texan finishing a degree in marketing. When I was a kid, my mom worked for our apartment complex and I cleaned units alongside her after school — that's where I learned what real work looks like.
I don't think anyone should spend their one life clocking in for a company that would replace them tomorrow. Mom-and-pop shops are how regular people take back control of their time, and starting one isn't actually hard — it's just unclear, and that unclear part stops good people before they ever begin.
FirstBearing is the guide I wish those people had: the exact next step, in order, and someone still in your corner after you open. I train MMA — I know precisely how much a good corner is worth.
William Caraway · Founder, FirstBearing LLC
Being straight with you
- We are not a law firm, a CPA, a lender, or a government agency. We explain the steps in plain English and point you to the official source for your state. When something needs a professional, we tell you.
- We do not file for you and we do not mark up state fees. You file directly with your state and pay the state's real fee — we show you the exact page and the exact number. No middleman upcharge.
- Free to build, no credit card. One flat price if you want FirstBearing to keep running it for you. FirstBearing LLC, billed monthly through Stripe when you choose to subscribe. Cancel any time from your billing page or one email to support@firstbearing.org.
- Your card and your data. Payments run through Stripe; we never see or store your card number. See our Privacy Policy and Trust Center for how guidance is generated and sourced.