Starting a Business Checklist Things To Consider....

1. Validate Your Idea
  • Identify the problem you're solving
  • Research competitors and market trends
  • Talk to potential customers (interviews, surveys, feedback)
  • Test demand (pre-orders, signups, landing page, etc.)
2. Do Market Research
  • Define your target audience
  • Analyze market size and opportunity
  • Study competitors (strengths, weaknesses, gaps)
  • Understand pricing in your industry
3. Develop a Business Plan
  • Executive summary
  • Product or service overview
  • Target market
  • Marketing and sales strategy
  • Operational plan
  • Financial projections (3–5 years)
  • Funding requirements (if any)
4. Choose a Business Structure
  • Sole Proprietorship
  • LLC (Limited Liability Company)
  • Corporation (C-Corp, S-Corp)
  • Partnership
  • Research pros/cons for taxes, liability, and admin work
5. Register Your Business
  • Choose a business name
  • Check name availability (local & domain name
  • Register with your state or country
  • Get your EIN (Employer Identification Number - for U.S.)
  • Register for taxes and business licenses
  • Open a business bank account
6. Plan Your Finances
  • Estimate startup costs (equipment, software, etc.)
  • Create a budget and financial plan
  • Set up accounting system or hire a bookkeeper
  • Separate business and personal finances
  • Explore funding options (bootstrapping, loans, investors)
7. Set Up Operations
  • Choose suppliers/vendors (if needed)
  • Buy necessary tools/equipment/software
  • Set up a workspace (home office, coworking, retail, etc.)
  • Define workflow or processes
  • Set up customer support system
8. Build Your Brand & Online Presence
  • Design a logo and brand identity
  • Buy a domain name
  • Build a website (or landing page)
  • Set up social media accounts
  • Claim your Google Business Profile (if local)
9. Marketing & Sales
  • Define your marketing channels (social media, SEO, ads, etc.)
  • Build an email list or customer database
  • Create a launch plan
  • Set up analytics (Google Analytics, Meta Pixel, etc.)
  • Track key metrics (CAC, LTV, conversion rate, etc.)
10. Team & Support
  • Identify roles you need (now or later)
  • Hire or contract help (freelancers, virtual assistants, agencies)
  • Set up payroll (if hiring employees)
  • Create an employee or contractor onboarding system
11. Legal & Risk
  • Get business insurance (liability, property, etc.)
  • Create client/customer contracts or terms of service
  • Set up privacy policy and disclaimers
  • Protect intellectual property (trademarks, copyrights, patents)
12. Launch!
  • Finalize product or service
  • Do a soft launch or beta test
  • Launch publicly (with marketing push)
  • Collect customer feedback
13. Iterate & Grow
  • Track revenue, expenses, and profit
  • Adjust pricing or product based on performance
  • Refine marketing strategies
  • Look for new opportunities (partnerships, new segments)
  • Set short-term and long-term goals