Business Startup Checklist
4.8/5 with 367 votes
Table of Contents
Introduction
Launching a business can be daunting, but our Business Startup Checklist simplifies the process by guiding you through essential tasks, from crafting a solid business plan to ensuring compliance with regulations. This template is designed to help you stay organized and focused as you navigate the complexities of starting a business. Click Save to customize your checklist and leverage our Checklist App's features like syncing across devices and collaborating with partners or team members to ensure you don’t miss a step in your entrepreneurial journey.
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- The Business Plan
- Conduct a proper market research analysis
- Know the trends, forecasts, developments, opportunities, risks, competitors, etc.
- Decide whether you will pursue this venture full-time or part-time.
- If you are in a relationship, discuss this lifestyle change with your partner.
- Write a business plan.
- Choose your company name
- Register company with the appropriate authorities.
- Choose the hours and days of operation for your business.
- Outline a monthly and annual budget.
- Make plans how to get funding / financing
- Find investors and consult with your bank.
- Investigate business startup courses and seminars
- Getting started
- Obtain required business licenses and permits.
- Choose a legal form for your business: limited liability, sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation.
- Form a legal entity
- Acquire an Employer Identification Number.
- Obtain company contact information: telephone and fax number, email address, post address.
- Open bank account
- Get a merchant account.
- Find a financial advisor.
- Find business insurance.
- Find a lawyer.
- Find a tax advisor.
- Find an accountant.
- Find a notary.
- Become familiar with regulations and compliance requirements.
- Register trademark, copyrights, logos, patents, etc.
- Find a real estate agent to help you source a property.
- Sign a lease contract for your new office or production space.
- If you're moving to new office, find a moving company.
- Consider using mail box rental services.
- Find office equipment supplies
- Make sure your office has a high speed Internet connection.
- Create a floor plan for your new office space.
- While starting to run
- Select your accounting software
- Write a sales and marketing plan.
- Create a customer service policy.
- Register domain name for your website.
- Hire or outsource IT services.
- Post available jobs
- Find a recruitment company.
- If you have staff, find payroll services.
- If you will have employees, become familiar with labor laws.
- Find a web hosting company.
- Create a website
- Find a web designer.
- Find a graphic designer.
- Short-Term Preparations
- Find a search engine optimization SEO company to increase your presence on the web.
- Create marketing material
- Think of signs if you have a storefront, sales literature, stationery or business cards.
- Take advantage of networking opportunities to build your business
- Write and distribute a press release announcing your new business.
- Find an answering service solution for when you can't take phone calls.
- Look into telemarketing companies
- Explore virtual office options for added services at a low cost.
- If you have an office, look into professional cleaning companies
- Make sure you set up a green business!
Download or Print this Business Startup Checklist
Get a printable version of this checklist in your preferred format: PDF, Word, Excel, or print directly from your browser.
Presented by:
Jake R Brady
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Views: 1,359
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Uses: 247
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Tasks: 61
Who it's for
This Business Startup Checklist is for teams that want consistent execution, less rework, and clear ownership.
- Standardize quality - run the same Business Startup steps every time, regardless of who executes
- Save time - reuse a proven Business Startup workflow instead of rebuilding processes from scratch
- Improve accountability - assign owners and see what's done vs. what's pending
- Onboard faster - use the Business Startup checklist as the SOP and training guide
- Coordinate across roles - handoffs are clear and everyone works from the same source of truth
How to use it
How to use this Business Startup Checklist:
- Start by saving it - save as a Template if you'll reuse it, or as a Checklist if it's a one-off project.
- Customize it once for your workflow - remove what doesn't apply and add your team-specific steps.
- Assign ownership and execute - set owners/due dates where needed and track completion as work happens.
- Reuse without rebuilding - when Business Startup comes up again, start from your saved version and run it with clear ownership.
Rate this Checklist
5 stars
Scores 4.80 with 367 votes