Starting your first business
You have the idea. Now you need the foundation: the right entity, the right paperwork, and a plan a bank will take seriously.
- Business structure
- State filings and EIN
- Business plans
Where are you right now?
Three tracks. One goal: a business built to last.
Every business owner starts somewhere different. So we meet you where you are, then build from there.
Growing a business that runs on your personal credit
You're operating, but every card and loan is in your name. Which means your personal credit carries all the risk. Let's change that.
- Understanding business credit
- Building business credit
- Funding readiness
Rebuilding after a setback
A closed business, a bad partnership, debt, bankruptcy. It happens. Starting over isn't failure. It's experience, and now you need a plan.
- Business credit repair
- Restart strategy
- Established entities and trusts
How it works
A clear path from first call to funding-ready.
Free discovery call
10 minutes. You tell us where you are and where you want to go.
Strategy session
$150 for a 45-minute deep dive and a written plan. Your fee is applied to any service you start within 7 days.
We build it together
Filings, credit profile, business plan. We do the work and explain every step.
You're ready
A compliant, credible business, plus check-ins so you stay that way.
What this looks like
Same skills. Second chance. Better foundation.
Here's an example of the kind of client we serve. A general contractor ran a solid business for eight years as a sole proprietor. Then a partnership went bad, the company closed, and his personal credit took the hit.
He didn't need a hack. He needed a plan. So we started over the right way.
Illustrative example. Every client's situation and results are different.
- The problem
- Business debts tied to his name, no separation between personal and business, no business credit file.
- The fix
- A new LLC with a clear operating agreement, an EIN, a business bank account, and a business address and phone.
- The build
- An Experian (EXP), Dun & Bradstreet (DUNS), and Small Business Financial Exchange (SBFE) profile built, and disputed errors removed from an old business report.
- The result
- A business that stands on its own credit, and a lender-ready plan for an equipment loan.
Start
Build it right the first time.
Most business problems start on day one: the wrong entity, missing paperwork, personal and business money mixed together. We fix that before it starts.
Business structure consulting
LLC, S-Corp election, C-Corp, or nonprofit? Each one changes how you're taxed, how you're protected, and how lenders see you. We walk through your goals and recommend the right fit, and we bring in your CPA where taxes are involved.
You walk away with: a written structure recommendation you actually understand.
Business filings
Articles of organization or incorporation, registered agent, operating agreement or bylaws, and your annual report calendar. Done correctly and on time.
You walk away with: a properly formed, state-registered business.
EIN guidance
Your EIN is your business's federal tax ID, issued by the IRS. We make sure it's done right: the right entity type, the right responsible party, and a name that matches your state filing exactly.
You walk away with: your EIN confirmation letter, on file and correct.
Business plans
A plan a bank will read. Market, operations, and financial projections, written in your voice and built around real numbers.
You walk away with: a lender-ready and investor-ready business plan.
Compliance setup
Lenders and credit bureaus look for signs that a business is real: a business address, phone, domain email, website, licenses, and a business bank account. We set them up with you.
You walk away with: a business that looks legitimate because it is.
Build
Give your business its own credit.
If every loan and card is in your name, your family's credit carries your business's risk. Business credit changes that, and it opens doors to better funding.
Understanding business credit
Business credit works differently from personal credit. Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business, Small Business Financial Exchange, and Equifax Business each keep their own file on your company. We show you what lenders see, how scores like the Paydex work, and what moves them.
You walk away with: knowing exactly where your business stands.
Building business credit
A step-by-step credit ladder: your DUNS/Paydex, Intelliscore, and SBFE numbers and accounts established, starter vendor accounts that report your payments, then store and fleet accounts, then bank credit. Pay on time, and your profile grows.
You walk away with: an active business credit profile and a roadmap for the next rung.
Funding readiness
SBA loans, lines of credit, equipment financing, revenue-based funding. Each one has its own requirements. We match your business to what fits and get your documents ready.
You walk away with: a funding roadmap, not a guess. We are not a lender.
Start Over
Rebuild with honesty and a plan.
A setback doesn't define you. However, how you rebuild matters. We do it the legal way, because shortcuts in this space can cost you everything.
Restart strategy session
A full review after a closure, debt, or bankruptcy: what to close out, what to keep, and what to rebuild, in what order.
You walk away with: a written comeback plan.
Business credit repair
We review your business credit reports, dispute information that's inaccurate or outdated, help resolve collections, and rebuild with positive payment history.
You walk away with: an accurate report and a rebuild plan.
Established entity acquisition
Some owners want to buy an existing company, sometimes called a seasoned corporation. It's legal, and it's also heavily abused. We help you evaluate a purchase, check its filings and history, and disclose everything honestly to lenders. A company's age is never a substitute for real credit history.
You walk away with: a transparent purchase with no surprises.
Business trust education
Trusts can help protect business assets and plan for the future. We explain how they work and can assist with the drafting.
You walk away with: a clear understanding and help putting your trust in place.
Start here
Two ways to get started.
So, you're not sure which package fits? That's what these are for. Start with a quick call, then go deep with a strategy session.
Discovery call
$0 10 minutes
Tell us where you are and where you want to go. We'll tell you honestly whether we can help and which track fits.
Book a Free CallStrategy session
$150 45 minutes
- A full review of your business, credit, and goals
- A written plan with your next steps, in order
- A short intake form before we meet, so we use every minute
Your $150 is applied to any service you start within 7 days of your strategy session.
Book a Strategy SessionPackages
Pick the package that fits where you are.
Every package starts with a strategy session, and your $150 is applied to any package you start within 7 days. State filing fees are passed through at cost and shown separately.
Foundation
$780 starting at
- Structure consultation
- Entity filing and operating agreement
- EIN guidance
- Compliance checklist
Launch Pro
$1,950 starting at
- Everything in Foundation
- Lender-ready business plan
- Bank and compliance setup
- 30-day follow-up call
Credit Builder
$1,150 starting at
- Business credit education
- DUNS and vendor roadmap
- 90 days of monthly check-ins
- Funding readiness review
Starting over? The Second Chance Reset is built around your situation, starting at $1,200. Credit repair services follow federal and state law, and your right to cancel within three business days.
Our story
Executive knowledge. Everyday language.
Too many business owners learn the rules the hard way. They pick the wrong structure, mix personal and business money, or pay someone for a "credit hack" that leaves them worse off. And the people who do know the system often talk over everyone's head.
We built 2nd Chance Pros to close that gap. We bring the knowledge you'd get from a seasoned executive and explain it the way you'd explain it to family. What happened, how it affects you, and what you need to do next.
With that being said, we don't do shortcuts. Every filing, every credit step, every recommendation is done by the book. Which means what we build with you holds up when a lender, a bureau, or the IRS takes a closer look.
What we stand for
Four promises we keep with every client.
Plain language
If you don't understand it, we haven't done our job. We explain every step before we take it.
By the book
No hacks, no fake credit histories, no guarantees we can't keep. Legal and compliant, every time.
No judgment
A past setback is experience. We focus on where you're going, not where you've been.
Stronger communities
When a family business stands on solid ground, it hires locally and builds wealth that stays in the neighborhood. Get involved and grow with us.
Common questions
Straight answers.
Do I have to pay for an EIN?
No. The IRS issues EINs for free, and you can apply online and get your number the same day. The IRS itself warns people about websites that charge for this.
So why do people hire help? To make sure the entity type, responsible party, and business name are right the first time, because fixing a wrong EIN later is a headache. Make sure you form your LLC or corporation with your state first, then apply.
LLC or S-Corp: which one do I need?
An LLC is a type of business you form with your state. An S-Corp is a tax election you make with the IRS. Which means an LLC can also be taxed as an S-Corp.
Many owners start as an LLC and consider the S-Corp election once profits grow, because it can lower self-employment taxes. Talk with a CPA about your numbers before you elect.
What is business credit, and why does it matter?
Business credit is a credit file on your company, separate from your personal credit. It's kept by business bureaus like Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business, Small Business Financial Exchange, and Equifax Business.
It matters because it lets your business borrow on its own strength. Over time, that can mean less personal risk, better terms, and more room to grow.
How do I start building business credit?
First, get the foundation right: a registered business, an EIN, a business bank account, and a business address and phone. Then establish your DUNS, Experian, and SBFE profiles.
Next, open vendor accounts that report your payments to the business bureaus or obtain seasoned tradelines, and pay on time or early. Build from there, one account at a time.
Can bad information be removed from a credit report?
Information that's inaccurate, incomplete, or can't be verified can be disputed and corrected. Accurate negative information cannot be legally removed, by anyone.
I closed a business. Can I start a new one?
Yes. Close the old business properly first: file dissolution with your state, file final tax returns, and settle or document what's owed. That protects you and keeps a clean record.
Then form the new business with clean separation from day one. We help you do both in the right order.
Protect yourself
Red flags to walk away from.
This industry has real help and real scams. If you hear any of these, protect your money and your name.
- "Guaranteed funding" or "guaranteed approval"Nobody can guarantee what a lender decides.
- "Use a CPN instead of your SSN"Using a CPN to apply for credit can be fraud. Never do it.
- "Buy an aged company and get instant credit"A company's age doesn't create credit history, and lenders check.
- "Pay us everything up front to fix your credit"For personal credit repair, that's illegal under federal law.
Glossary
Words you'll hear, in plain English.
- EIN
- Employer Identification Number. Your business's federal tax ID, like a Social Security number for your company.
- DUNS number
- A unique ID from Dun & Bradstreet that starts your business credit file there.
- Paydex
- Dun & Bradstreet's payment score, from 1 to 100. A score of 80 means you pay your bills on time.
- Tradeline
- Any account that reports your payment history to a credit bureau.
- Net-30 account
- A vendor account where you buy now and pay within 30 days. Many report to business bureaus.
- Registered agent
- The person or company that receives official legal mail for your business in your state.
- Operating agreement
- The rulebook for your LLC: who owns what, who decides what, and what happens if someone leaves.
- Intelliscore
- Experian's business credit score. It traditionally uses a scale from 1 to 100, where a higher score means lower credit risk and a greater likelihood of paying bills on time.
- Small Business Financial Exchange (SBFE)
- A trade association for small business credit lenders and a commercial data repository.
- Personal guarantee
- A promise to repay a business debt with your personal assets if the business can't.
Ready to book? Skip the form and pick a time now.
Or send us a message below and we'll reach out within one business day.
Office
2102 Business Center Dr, Ste 130
Irvine, CA 92612
info@the2ndchancepros.com
Hours
Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Evening sessions by appointment
Serving
Southern California, and clients nationwide online
Your information stays private. We never sell it, and we never pull your credit without your written permission.
We will never ask for your Social Security number, EIN, or account numbers on this form. Please don't include them. Fields marked * are required.
Who we are
2nd Chance Pros ("we," "us," "our") helps entrepreneurs with business structure, filings, business plans, and business credit. We are located at 2102 Business Center Dr, Ste 130, Irvine, CA 92612. You can reach us at info@the2ndchancepros.com.
Information we collect
- Contact form: your name, email, phone number, the service you're interested in, your message, and your email and text message choices.
- Strategy session intake form: your contact details, business details (name, industry, structure, state, revenue range, team size, website), what your business already has in place, general credit and funding information (such as an approximate credit score range), and your goals.
- Booking and payments: when you book through Calendly or pay through Stripe, those companies collect the details needed to schedule and process your payment. We do not see or store your full card number.
- Basic website data: our hosting provider may automatically log technical information such as your IP address, browser type, and pages visited, for security and performance.
We never ask for your Social Security number, EIN, or account numbers through our website forms. We never pull your credit without your written permission.
How we use your information
- To respond to your questions and schedule your calls and sessions
- To prepare for and deliver the services you request
- To send invoices and receipts and to process payments
- To send you marketing emails or text messages, only if you opted in
- To keep our website secure and improve it
- To meet our legal and tax obligations
How we share your information
We do not sell your personal information. We share it only with service providers that help us run our business, and only as needed for them to do that work. These include our website host (Netlify), scheduling (Calendly), payment processing (Stripe), email and productivity (Google Workspace), and our email and text messaging provider. We may also share information when the law requires it, or to protect our rights or the safety of others.
Text messaging consent: we do not share or sell your mobile number or text messaging opt-in consent with any third parties or affiliates for their marketing purposes. Text messaging originator opt-in data and consent will not be shared with any third parties.
Your choices
- Email: click "unsubscribe" in any marketing email, or email us.
- Text messages: reply STOP to any message to opt out, or HELP for help. See our SMS Terms.
- Access, correction, or deletion: email info@the2ndchancepros.com to ask what information we have about you, to correct it, or to delete it. We may keep some records when the law requires it, such as invoices.
California residents
If you live in California, you may have additional rights under California law, including the right to know what personal information we collect and how we use it, the right to request deletion, and the right not to be discriminated against for using these rights. To make a request, email info@the2ndchancepros.com. Our website does not currently respond to browser "Do Not Track" signals.
How long we keep information
We keep your information as long as we need it to serve you, and as long as required for legal, tax, and accounting purposes. After that, we delete it or make it anonymous.
How we protect information
We use reasonable safeguards, including secure (encrypted) connections on our website and trusted service providers. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, so we can't guarantee absolute security.
Children
Our services are for adults. We do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 18.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. When we do, we'll change the effective date at the top of this page.
Contact us
2nd Chance Pros
2102 Business Center Dr, Ste 130
Irvine, CA 92612
info@the2ndchancepros.com
Program description
The 2nd Chance Pros text program sends business tips, workshop invitations, offers, and updates about our services. If you book with us, we may also text appointment reminders.
How you join
You join by checking the text message box on our website form and providing your mobile number. Consent is not a condition of purchase. You don't have to agree to receive texts to use our services.
Message frequency
Message frequency varies.
Cost
Message and data rates may apply. Check with your mobile carrier for details about your plan.
How to stop
Text STOP to cancel at any time. After you text STOP, we'll send one message to confirm you've been unsubscribed, and you won't receive any more messages from this program. To join again, sign up the same way you did the first time.
How to get help
Text HELP for help, or email info@the2ndchancepros.com.
Carriers
Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.
Eligibility
You must be 18 or older and the account holder or authorized user of the mobile number you provide.
Privacy
We do not share or sell your mobile number or text messaging consent with third parties for their marketing purposes. See our Privacy Policy for details.
Contact us
2nd Chance Pros, 2102 Business Center Dr, Ste 130, Irvine, CA 92612. info@the2ndchancepros.com