The most common question asked by all new entrepreneurs wanting to strike out and launch a business is “where do I start and is there some sort of a startup checklist that I can follow?”
Starting a business can be a daunting and even overwhelming task. Fortunately, there have been millions of businesses that have gone before us and they have left a trail of “breadcrumbs!”
I know quite a few people who have started businesses and I have worked with a few startup companies over the last 10 years and I have learned that:
- No matter how similar two businesses may look, they are all different with very different and very real challenges.
- Every business owner has unique experiences and a unique worldview and this dramatically impacts their startup strategy.
- Every business owner has different levels of risk tolerance and this dramatically impacts their startup strategy.
But, the one common element shared by everyone I know who has started a business is that they wish they would have “known that” when they started.
“That” is different for each person and this is where a Business Start Up Checklist can provide some value.
Business startup checklist
I have created a business startup checklist that you can download from my website. Although this checklist is quite long and touches on many different aspects of a business, it is by no means all-inclusive or complete.
A business startup checklist cannot be all inclusive because:
- Every business is different
- Every market and industry is different
- Every jurisdiction has different rules and laws
- Every owner has different expectations and goals
- Every owner is starting from a different point
Consequently, this checklist is best used as a starting point for a new business. Take the list and customize it for your startup.
Do a little brainstorming by yourself or with some business associates. Take out the content does not apply to your business and add-in items specific to your business that are missing.
If you are planning on starting a business at some point in the not-to-distant future, don’t start without a good plan and a good checklist.