Jargon
EIN, decoded
Employer Identification Number: the nine-digit number the IRS gives your business for federal tax. Most banks want it before they'll open an account, and you can't hire anyone without it.
The gist
The short of it- Also known as
- Employer Identification Number, federal tax ID
- Related
- Member and on top of that Operating agreement and on top of that Articles of organization
Why you care
You can apply straight to the IRS for free, or pay somebody to do it.
Where this comes up
You'll run into it here: What it takes to form an LLC, state by state, Who needs a registered agent, state by state, What a second state wants, state by state.