File for a business license with your county.
File for a fictitious business name statement with your city or county. If you plan on using a name for your business that does not include your family name, you will need to file a fictitious business name statement in most cases.
Open a business bank account. This is an important first step for any business. If you want to accept payment in the name of your business, you will need to open a business bank account using your fictitious business name statement.
Determine exactly what type of production business you will be targeting. It is important to critically evaluate your initial combination of equipment, experience and capital to determine who your ideal target clients will be. Will you start off by going after local commercial business or pitching your services to high-end corporate clients? Do you have the connections to pursue high-end movie projects or will you initially seek to produce low-end independent and student films? You will need to determine your direction right off the bat.
Create a Web site. Like most businesses today, it is vital to have a Web site on which to sell your services as a production company.
Create your demo reel; this is you video resume. Your demo reel will tell your prospective clients whether your skill set will suit their needs or not. To that end, it's advisable to put together a demo reel highlighting a vast degree of shooting situations, genres and locations. Try to keep your reel to no more than three or four minutes.
Write your business plan. It is always a good idea to draft a business plan when entering into a new business venture. Should you seek a small business loan at any point, it will be vital to have one.
Network both on and offline. Once again, as in most businesses, networking is vital in video/movie production. You never know where your next job will come from, and the more doors you open, the better your chances are for steady work.