Starting a business
Starting a business and don't know where to begin? Start here.
Most people who want to start a business get stuck in the same place: not on the idea, but on what to do first. Do you need an LLC before a logo? A website before a Facebook page? A business plan before anything?
This guide puts it in order. You don't need to do everything at once, and you don't need to be good with computers. You just need to do the next right thing.
Step 1: Make sure people will pay for it
Before you spend money on a name or a website, check that real people want what you're selling. Talk to five or ten people who would be your customers. Ask what they use now, what they pay and what bugs them about it.
If you already do this work for friends, family or an employer, you're ahead. You know there's demand. Your job now is to turn it into a business people can find.
Step 2: Pick a name, and check that it's free
Choose a name that says what you do or is easy to remember. Then check three places before you fall in love with it:
- Your state's business name search, usually on the Secretary of State website.
- A web address (domain) like yourname.com. If the .com is taken, think twice.
- Social pages, so you can use the same name everywhere.
Step 3: Set up the business on paper
This is the part people dread, but it's mostly forms. In most states you'll decide whether to run as a sole proprietor or form an LLC, get a free EIN (tax ID) from the IRS if you need one, check for local licenses, and open a separate bank account for the business. Rules differ by state and by trade, so check your state's website or ask an accountant. Keeping business money separate from day one makes taxes much easier.
Step 4: Look like a real business
People decide in seconds whether to trust you. A clear logo, consistent colors, business cards and a sign on your truck or door tell them you're serious. You don't need a fancy brand. You need one look, used the same way everywhere.
Step 5: Get found online
When someone hears your name, the first thing they do is search for it. You need to show up. That means:
- A simple website that says what you do, where, and how to reach you.
- A free Google Business Profile, so you appear on Google Maps.
- A business email at your own web address.
- One or two social pages you'll actually keep up.
See what a new business needs online for the full list.
Step 6: Make a simple plan to get customers
A business without customers is a hobby. Write down who your best customer is, where they spend time, and two or three things you'll do every week to reach them. A 90-day marketing plan keeps it from becoming another thing you mean to do.
Or let someone build it for you
Steps 4, 5 and 6 are where most new owners lose weeks. Our business package does them for you: your website, logo and brand, cards and signs, a 90-day marketing plan and a step-by-step guide to set it all up in your own name.