Determine which state's 529 plan you wish to join. Savingforcollege.com states you do not have to be a resident of the state in which you open a 529 plan. This means you can shop around for the best investment. Savingforcollege.com and Collegesavings.org have searchable databases for each state's 529 plan options.
Contact the company, via website or phone, that administers the 529 plan of your choice. Typically, in each state, only one or two financial companies have the ability to administer the state's 529 plans. The website of that financial company will provide the information you need on how to get started.
Open an account by filling out the information online, printing the enrollment form and mailing it in, or over the phone with a representative. The procedures for opening the account may vary by state, but the information you will need to provide will be similar. To open the account you will need the child's full name and Social Security number and your full name and Social Security number as the owner of the account.