Free, open source AI guide that helps anyone start a business — from legal formation to first day of operations.
Starting a business shouldn't cost $2,000 in lawyer fees before you've made a dollar. OpenFounder walks real people through the real steps: choosing an entity, drafting an operating agreement, filing with the state, getting an EIN, opening a bank account, setting up email, building a website, and knowing what licenses they actually need.
Completely free. No upsell. No account required. Built by the community, for the community.
OpenFounder is a conversational AI agent powered by Claude. You tell it what you're building and where, and it guides you through four phases:
Phase 1 — Legal Foundation
- Recommends the right business entity (LLC, S-Corp, sole proprietorship, C-Corp)
- Drafts a complete operating agreement tailored to your situation
- Walks you through exactly what to file, where, and what it costs — with direct links
Phase 2 — Financial Infrastructure
- Recommends the right business bank account for your stage
- Explains your tax obligations plainly (quarterly estimates, SE tax, what you can deduct)
- Sets you up with basic bookkeeping from day one
Phase 3 — Digital Presence
- Domain registration and professional email setup
- Website builder recommendation matched to your type of business
- DNS setup walkthrough
Phase 4 — Operations & Compliance
- Local business license identification
- Minimum viable insurance guidance
- Personalized launch checklist with time and cost estimates
- A first-generation entrepreneur opening a cleaning business
- A freelancer formalizing what they've been doing informally
- A tradesperson (plumber, electrician, contractor) going solo
- Two friends starting a business together who need an operating agreement
- Anyone who can't afford $500/hour for a lawyer to answer basic questions
# 1. Clone the repo
git clone https://github.com/openfoundr/openfoundr.git
cd openfoundr
# 2. Install dependencies
pip install -r requirements.txt
# 3. # 3. Get a free Groq API key (no credit card required)
# Sign up at https://console.groq.com and create an API key
cp web/.env.example web/.env.local
# Edit web/.env.local and add your OPENAI_API_KEY=gsk_...
# 4. Run the agent
python main.pyThat's it. The agent starts a conversation and guides you from there.
openfoundr/
├── agent/
│ ├── agent.py # Core agent loop and conversation management
│ ├── tools.py # All tool implementations (entity rec, doc gen, etc.)
│ └── prompts.py # System prompt — the agent's personality and knowledge
├── data/
│ └── states/ # State-specific filing data (JSON)
│ ├── new-york.json
│ ├── california.json
│ ├── texas.json
│ ├── florida.json
│ └── delaware.json
├── outputs/ # Generated documents saved here (gitignored)
├── main.py # CLI entry point
├── requirements.txt
└── .env.example
This project lives or dies by community contributions. Here's where help is most needed:
We currently have data for NY, CA, TX, FL, and DE. Every other state needs someone who knows it.
Copy data/states/new-york.json and fill in your state's:
- LLC filing fee and link
- Processing time
- Publication requirements (if any)
- Annual report requirements and fees
- Registered agent rules
- State-specific gotchas
Submit a PR. That's it. You don't need to be a developer — it's just a JSON file.
Are you a lawyer? Review the operating agreement logic in agent/tools.py and suggest improvements. Flag clauses that need state-specific variation.
We want to add permit requirements by industry type. If you know what a food truck needs in Texas, or what a contractor needs in New York, that knowledge belongs here.
We need a Next.js web app that wraps this agent so anyone with a browser can use it — no terminal, no API key. See CONTRIBUTING.md for the spec.
State requirements change. If you spot outdated information, open an issue. Accuracy is everything for a project like this.
OpenFounder is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Information provided is for educational purposes and as a starting point. For complex situations — multi-member LLCs with unusual structures, regulated industries, fundraising — consult a licensed attorney. OpenFounder helps you know what questions to ask and how to take action on the straightforward parts.
- Anthropic Claude — the AI model powering the agent
- Python 3.9+
- Love for small business owners everywhere
MIT License — use it, fork it, build on it.
OpenFounder is an independent open source project. If it helped you start your business, pay it forward: contribute your state's data, review a PR, or just tell someone else about it.
