To self-publish or not. If you do, here is how you do it.
☐ Pick a Publisher Name
Choose between using your personal name or forming a business entity. An LLC offers two key advantages: (1) legal protection in the event of defamation suits related to your book's content, and (2) the ability to transfer your publishing assets to family members as part of your estate.
To register a business name, search: "business name search state of [yourstate]"
☐ Open a Bank Account
Separate your business and personal finances. Use any local or online bank. Having an EIN (see below) lets you open an account same-day and makes tax time much cleaner.
☐ Get an EIN (Tax Number)
An EIN is your business's equivalent of a social security number. You need it for banking and for publishing on platforms like Amazon KDP.
Apply free online: IRS EIN Application
☐ Establish an LLC
I used MyNewCompany for LLC formation — it cost about $200 plus state fees. They also provide a service that reminds you when annual paperwork needs to be filed, which is worth it alone.
☐ File Taxes
I'll defer to professionals here. A good starting point: A Tax Cheat Sheet for Kindle eBook Self-Publishing from TurboTax.