How to Start a Business in 24 Simple Steps
One of the most effective ways to increase one’s financial standing is to launch one’s own company.
However, figuring out how or where to begin may be an extremely challenging undertaking.
Millions have launched successful enterprises before you, including myself. Don’t recreate the wheel or spend hours studying. Our experience may serve as a guidance.
After deciding on a company, there are at least 24 things to do. This tutorial explains each stage.
This list’s length shouldn’t scare you. Many steps may be done simultaneously. LegalZoom can handle certain cases.
Ready? Start your company here.
Top Business Start-Up Services
Company formation services are needed to establish a business. Best choices are listed.
LegalNature manages business formation paperwork
Incfile: Low-cost formation services
Popular business creation service LegalZoom
Rocket Lawyer for continuing legal counsel
Best registered agent services at Northwest Registered Agent
ZenBusiness: Simple LLC filing
Best free LLC setup: Inc Authority
Incorporate (C-Corps, S-Corps)
Best customer service at Swyft Filings
MyCompanyWorks: Fast setup
MyCorporation: Free EIN
24 Business Steps
Start-up steps:
Create a simple business strategy.
Name it
Domain name purchase
Social media security
Brand yourself
Open Google Workspace
Build a simple website
Get cards
Find a CPA and lawyer
LLC formation
EIN-up
Operating agreement
State filings
Business account opening
Pay workers and contractors
QuickBooks installation
Set up basic accounting
Start with a project management solution
Start with a wiki
Join Slack
Conference call number
1Password
Track subscriptions
Make a 12-month plan.
Define your business first. Create a simple business strategy.
A lengthy road trip should be planned. You wouldn’t want your company to suffer.
First, answer two questions:
How can you become profitable?
How will you pay for profitability-related expenses?
Avoid overthinking. Realize what’s required.
Do your study, know your figures, and plan. Put everything on paper, and the business plan will be a great tool for the first 6–12 months.
Start by using our business plan template or writing tutorial.
#2 Name it
It’s tough. Names are important. Rememberable and brandable. It doesn’t have to be flawless or made-up like Google or Yahoo. This name will be used often and may be your URL.
How to Buy the RIGHT Domain Name is a tutorial I created. What matters:
Trust the name. This probably matters most. It’s the most crucial part of naming. Without passion, you can’t sell. 24/7/365 for a while. Planned.
Uniquely choose. When searching Google for the name, there shouldn’t be a similar company or product.
Your name should be simple and memorable. You shouldn’t make being discovered and recognized tougher.
Name your.com. Important! Many individuals take their domain name for granted. Having a.com will help people take your company seriously.
Here’s a nice business name generator:
Words, thoughts, ideas, beliefs, adjectives, etc. that match your image, vibe, feel, or product/service.
Step 1: Brainstorm beginning names. Free company name generators may assist.
Try Google. Delete any recognized businesses, particularly in your area.
Ensure you can buy the domain. Here’s how to get a domain name. Expect to pay more than $7/year for a domain name. Your company needs a domain name. Get inventive on a budget. If you work hard, you can obtain an excellent brand around $1,500.
Here are other naming tips:
Imagine your name and logo on a giant office sign.
Imagine a T-shirt with your name.
Pronounce your name. “Hello, I’m Business Name’s Name.” Feelings? Sound good? Try answering like a business call.
Discuss possibilities with others.
Let it sit and think about it. Repeat the same name?
Create marketing and commercial materials.
#3 Domain name purchase
Important domain name.
That requires buying your domain. Our evaluation of the top domain registrars explains why I prefer Domain.com.
homepage.domain.com
Depending on your firm, you may speak the URL as frequently as the name. More domain name funding means more options.
#4 Securing social media
It’s hard enough to find a good.com-buyable name. Internet is 30 years old. “Good” domain names are scarce.
If you locate one that works, you won’t obtain accurate social media handles.
If you fail, become inventive. Social media handles/URLs are less crucial than your website, but they’re nonetheless vital.
You may select how much effort to put into your social media right now— you can just grab the name and hold them, or you can go all out. Yes. First, check the handles.
#5 Brand yourself
Branding is crucial. Your brand’s colors, graphics, and logos.
You can always adjust your brand identity later, so the first run merely has to be excellent. 99 Designs offers brand identification packages. A design contest gives you hundreds of alternatives.
Your brand identity isn’t fixed like your company name. It’s OK to use a “beginning approach”; it doesn’t need to be flawless (or costly), just done. Most companies repeat design rounds.
#6 Create Google Workspace
Our company uses Google Workspace (previously G Suite). Workspace is my life. Google handles my team’s emails, calendars, Drive, and Docs.
Once you have your domain name, set this up. Set your company accounts effortlessly. An individual Basic account costs $6.
A domain you own (like you@yourdomain.com) is more professional than a free account. This helps build future partnerships.
Google Workspace syncs your calendar and communication platform.
Create a simple website
Your website’s size is up to you. If you’re a freelance writer, you may just need one page with links to your work and contact details.
As an ecommerce firm, you’ll require a larger website.
For now, a simple website is the goal. If required, you may expand your website.
Your firm needs a one-page website. Then proceed.
Squarespace lets you start quickly. When you’re ready for a complete website, move to WordPress utilizing our tutorial.
#8 Get cards
99 Designs’ brand identification bundle includes business cards. Vista Print can print them online.
This may seem old-fashioned, but trust me. Every individual you speak to discuss your company should be given a business card. I like to hand-write my phone number on cards for those I wish to contact. It’s simpler to hand out cards, and it lets folks know I’m serious.
Get legal #9 Find a CPA and lawyer
It’s easy to put off, but you should do it quickly.
Getting ahead of this might rescue your company. Prepare legal and tax experts. Your accountant and lawyer can work remotely.
UpCounsel has gotten favorable reviews from people I know.
Create an LLC
Two ways:
Legalize it
Legal services online
Setting up an LLC is easy. Using LegalZoom may save you money.
11 EIN
Get your EIN along with the LLC. They’re often related.
You’ll need it for everything, including business banking. You’ll need it to file taxes, so write it down.
#12 Make a business contract
Even you need an operating agreement. You may use LegalNature unless others are engaged in your company.
You’ll probably amend your operating agreement as things change. If others are involved, consult a lawyer.
#13 Submit state papers
All of this may be done by a lawyer. Otherwise, you’ll need to examine your state’s requirements, which differ by company kind.
Check out our guide to online legal resources if you need assistance.
Open a business bank account
EIN required. Using the same bank as your personal accounts is handy.
Many large banks upsell, so beware. Bank of America offered Intuit Payroll, which I accepted.
Poor user experience.
Intuit advised I open a new account since they couldn’t address our difficulties. Bank of America was criticized.
Instead of Intuit Payroll, I discovered Gusto, which is superior.
Use your bank account for banking, not other services or offers.
Register for operating tools
#15 Pay workers and contractors
Gusto is awesome. They make payroll easy and entertaining.
(What’s better than money?)
I prefer them over Intuit Payroll.
Until you pay staff or contractors, don’t worry about this. It’s good to be prepared. The service automates payroll, taxes, and paperwork.
Install QuickBooks
Starting off, you need QuickBooks. This is how you’ll keep decent books.
Importing old data is tedious. Set it up ASAP. Now!
#17 Implement basic accounting
Work with your accountant. Ask your accountant what you should do throughout the year to make tax season simpler and to meet quarterly requirements.
QuickBooks handles the hard job, but you still need to be vigilant. Shopify put created a fantastic guide on small company accounting.
Without an accountant, learn the essentials. QuickBooks helps you keep organized, but you must understand what the monthly figures represent for your company.
Don’t wait until tax season to organize. Setting up your accounting system wisely won’t be regrettable.
#18 Start utilizing project management software immediately
Track your progress. Even if you’re the only employee, you must function like a firm.
Working like way from day one also creates historical knowledge and data. You’ll know your past to plan your future.
New employees benefit greatly from being able to review prior work. Context will help them (and your company) succeed.
No tool matters. You’ll modify it anyhow. Trello. Great tools abound.
#19 Start with an internal wiki
Just as you should utilize a project management tool early on, start documenting everything immediately.
You’ll need a bigger brain to grow your business. Internal wikis are like brains. Accessing your brain instantly is huge. Your team will follow your rigorous approach to wiki documentation.
It’s not enjoyable to evaluate a wiki 3 years and 50 individuals afterwards. You’ll wish you’d written many papers as you went.
Using Confluence. Our business practices are clear. You’ll have to make difficult choices and manage sensitive circumstances as a company owner. When issues are gray, it’s helpful to have methods everyone can use.
#20 Get Slack
Slack is popular. Works perfectly. Mobile is crucial. Start with the Free plan. The next level offers visitor access to other channels, extra storage, and app connections for $7 per user each month.
Set up a conference call
GoToMeeting simplifies conference calling for companies. Join, host, or manage a video, audio, or online meeting from a conference room, your desk, or a distant location. GoToMeeting registration takes minutes.
Install 1Password
You notice the pattern: Headache prevention. Set up your processes today to concentrate on growth afterwards.
1Password is a great password manager. Centrify estimates that lost passwords cost $416 in productivity per worker. This makes it simple to securely exchange logins with your team.
#23 Track subscriptions
Simple yet frequently ignored. 1Password keeps subscription logins organized. You still need a means to view what you have and what you’re paying for, particularly as you expand and more people sign up for tools and subscriptions.
Simply use a spreadsheet. Track the subscription, cost per month or year, conditions (if applicable), payment method, and renewal date.
Plan your first-year business objectives #24 Make a 12-month plan.
Your strategic strategy doesn’t need to be difficult.
How to develop a one-year startup business plan:
Set a 12-month target.
Plan how to attain your objective. What tasks must you complete?
Determine progress metrics or criteria. Track them.
Monthly review/challenge. Make changes.
Even in a one-person business, this forces strategic thought and action. It will assist you avoid reacting arbitrarily.
When a team needs guidance, it’s much more crucial. They require context for their tasks.
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