Check out the Business Startup Checklist below to see what needs to be done to start your own business! Great opportunity to get the ball rolling to have your own business located at the Business Incubator building that will be built in 2020!
Business Startup Checklist
Starting your own business may sound like an undertaking of epic proportions. The truth is, it’s not. Yes, you’re going to have to work hard, and commit to working on it at all hours of the day, but actually getting set up is simply down to making sure you’ve “checked all the boxes,” which is exactly what this business startup checklist aims to help you do.
1) Find a good business idea
A good business idea isn’t just one that turns a profit. It’s one that’s a good fit for you personally, for your target market, and for your location. You’re going to be in business for the long haul, so you really should pick something you can live and breathe.
Conduct a SWOT analysis to identify your strengths and weaknesses
Come up with a business idea that caters to your strengths
Define what success looks like for you
Do your research: What are popular businesses today?
2) Test your business idea and do market research*
The adage goes, “ideas are a dime a dozen”—but what about good ideas? How do you really know you’ve hit upon something that’s going to work on all levels? We use the lean planning methodology to figure this out. Of course, you may also want to start by getting out and talking to real people—do they really want a fancy Basque restaurant in their neighborhood or is another donut shop going to be more to their taste?
Define the “problem” your business is solving
Summarize the “solution” your business offers
Define your target market and ideal customer
Figure out the best place to set up shop
What advantages does your solution have over your competitors?
Outline the team that will help you execute your idea
Create a basic financial plan (estimate your basic expenses and forecast sales to ensure that you can make a profit with your business)
Map out business milestones or goals and when you plan to achieve them Validate your idea: Interview potential customers to ensure that they have the problem you are trying to solve
Validate your idea: Interview potential customers to validate that your solution is something your customers will pay for.
Validate your idea: Determine if your initial price points will work for your customers
* While we advise students and new entrepreneurs to do market research before they start, we’d like to clarify that you should not let “doing market research” hold you up if you already know your market. The reality is, the vast majority of real startups are driven by people who know their market from experience and who are ready to bet the farm on it! Market research does not have to be a part of the business planning process. According to Tim Berry, “If you know your market, move on!”
3) If you’re seeking funding, you may need a formal business plan
While you don’t need a 40-page business plan in order to get your business up and running, if you’re seeking funding, institutions like banks may ask for one. In this case, you can ask if a “one-page pitch” (also known as a one-page business plan) will suffice, or if they’d like a traditional business plan with a detailed financial section (this is the part they pay most attention to).
Complete each of the plan’s sections, as listed below:
Write your executive summary
Write the company overview
List your products and services and the problems they are solving or needs they are fulfilling
Flesh out your target market details
Create a marketing and sales plan
Outline key milestones and metrics
List your management team
Create a financial plan
Include an appendix
Create an elevator pitch
4) Brand your business
A strong brand is the key to customer loyalty and higher sales. If you think it’s just for big business, think again; a brand is critical for businesses of all shapes and sizes. This is where all the hard work pays off. Now that you know a bit more about your target audience, you’ve got the opportunity—through your brand—to grab their attention. And of course, to have fun doing it!
Choose a name for your business or choose a brand name you know you can trademark
Decide on your “brand message,” also known as your unique selling proposition or value proposition
Develop a tagline
Identify your brand’s “tone of voice”—the heart and soul of all your written communication, your voice is what you say and how you say it
Define what your brand looks like (choose a color scheme and fonts)
Create a logo
5) Make it legal
Before you can open shop and comfortably start doing business, you’ve got to make sure you’ve checked all the necessary boxes. Have you registered your business name? Applied for local and state licenses? Obtained an Employer Identification Number? You are going to have to do some things “by the book.”
Decide on a legal structure or business structure
Register your business name
Register for a domain name that matches your business name
File for trademark protection if you will use your business name to identify a product orservice
Obtain any federal and state licenses or permits that you need
Obtain your federal business tax ID number (also called your Employer Identification Number)
Find an attorney if you think you may need help
6) Get financed (only if you need it)*
While not every startup needs outside funding, most businesses do require some help, at least at the beginning. If you’ve worked through your business plan and have a sound handle on your financials, pitching for funding should be a breeze, whether it’s to a banker, a VC, or your family.
Estimate your startup costs
Decide whether you will use personal finances, loans, investor money, money from friends and family, crowd-sourced finances, or perhaps something alternative
Prepare the relevant financial statements
Sales forecast
Profit and loss statement
Cash flow statement
Balance sheet
Refine your elevator pitch for investors
Apply for financing
Open a business bank account
Set up an accounting system
Know your exit strategy
* It’s worth noting at this point that not all startups need financing. The vast majority of service startups can use planning to stay on track, but don’t really need funding. If you’re a freelance writer, a designer, a management consultant, a business plan writer, or anyone else making use of a skill that doesn’t need a lot of money behind it, just get started.
7) Set up shop
You’re almost ready to go; just a few more details to work though. Once you’ve found your business or office location and set the hiring motions in process, you’ll be ready to begin marketing.
Find a business location
Decide whether or not to extend credit to your customers
Purchase insurance (the type of insurance you’ll need will vary depending on your business)
Workers’ compensation insurance
General liability insurance
Property or casualty coverage
Life insurance
Disability insurance
Define your staffing needs (do you need full-time, part-time, or freelance employees?)
Draft job descriptions
Post advertisements for the jobs
Interview and hire employees
Set up your technology
Point of sale (POS) systems
CRM
Billing and payment systems
Accounting
Email
Phone systems
8) Market and launch your business
It’s time to start getting people hyped up about your opening day. This is your opportunity to get things going with a bang! If you give yourself enough time, the press may ask to run a story on you; of course, you’ll also be able to spread the word yourself, as well as asking others to do their bit getting word out.
Create a marketing plan
Network, network, network (talk to people!)
Create your marketing materials
Shop signs
Stationery, invoices, and PowerPoints
Brochures and flyers
Create a website
Register a domain name (if you didn’t do this when you first registered your business name)
Purchase hosting
Build your site
Get your site listed on key directories
Get set up on social media platforms
If necessary, create t-shirts or uniforms
Let the press know when you’re opening
Organize an opening day
