New Business Checklist
Starting a new business? Congrats! Let’s ensure you have the BIG picture when it comes to launching, running, and sustaining a profitable business. Here’s our round-up of the most important things you’ll need (in priority order!)
Planning
Create a Business Plan that includes your vision, mission, business model, and revenue streams.
Create a Marketing Plan outlining how you’ll find, reach, and market your target audience.
Create a Finance Plan outlining your services, pricing, and projected expenses.
Legal & Insurance
Select a Business Name after carefully researching similar names, domains, and social media handles.
Consider working with an attorney to perform a Trademark Search.
Secure your Legal Entity (LLC, S-Corp, etc.) with your Secretary of State (be cautious of “lookalike” .gov websites that will scam you into paying extra!) Save your Articles of Organization somewhere you can access them easily.
Set up your Business Banking Accounts under your new legal entity.
Register for a Federal EIN Number. Save it somewhere you can reference it easily.
Obtain your Local Business License
Identify and consult a Small Business Lawyer to assist with your Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and other legal contracts.
Research and purchase the appropriate Business Liability Insurance for your business.
Finance
If you plan to have employees or run an S-Corp, research and select your Payroll Company.
Identify and consult a Small Business Accountant to assist with your bookkeeping and taxes.
Select and configure your Accounting Software (for example, QuickBooks).
Operations
Identify and configure all software systems, apps, and subscriptions you’ll need to run your business daily. This could include, but not be limited to: Scheduling, Proposal Development and Tracking, Invoicing, Calendar Management, Project Management, Learning Management Systems (LMS), etc.
Purchase your Website Domain and Hosting
Set up your Business Email Address and Email Signature
Create HR materials like team roles, job descriptions, onboarding, and training materials.
Marketing
Draft all Key Messaging like your Founders Story, Elevator Pitch, Tagline/Hook, and Why Statement.
Hire a Creative Agency to design your Brand Style Guide that includes your core logo, logo variations, color palette, and fonts (at a minimum).
Hire a photographer and conduct a Branded Photo Shoot.
Secure Social Media Handles (even for the platforms you don’t plan to activate) and configure all channels with branded profile images, cover photos, and launch content.
Hire a web design agency to launch your website.
Set up and configure Google Console and Google Analytics.
Claim and configure your Google Business Profile.
Select and configure your Email Marketing Platform or CRM. Design all email templates needed for launch.
Create valuable content or lead magnets for email list building.
Configure automated emails for sales funnels, nurture campaigns, client onboarding, etc.
Create Sales Materials like a pitch deck and 1-pager.
