Business Start-up Checklist
Planning and Research
- Brainstorm potential business ideas
- Identify target market demographics
- Evaluate market demands and trends
- Gather information about the industry
- Analyze market size and potential
- Research customer preferences and needs
- Outline company mission and vision
- Define business objectives and strategies
- Create financial projections and budgets
- Research direct and indirect competitors
- Analyze competitor strengths and weaknesses
- Identify opportunities to differentiate from competitors
- Identify unique features or benefits of the business
- Highlight competitive advantages
- Craft a compelling value proposition
- Define short-term and long-term goals
- Establish specific, measurable objectives
- Ensure goals align with the business plan
Legal and Regulatory Compliance
- Consider a name that is unique, easy to remember, and relevant to your consulting services.
- Research if the desired name is already taken or trademarked.
- Ensure the chosen name complies with local laws and regulations.
- Research the specific registration requirements for your location.
- Complete the necessary forms and provide the requested information.
- Pay any required fees and submit the registration documents to the appropriate government agency.
- Identify the permits and licenses required for your consulting business.
- Research the application process and requirements for each permit or license.
- Complete the necessary applications and provide any supporting documentation.
- Pay any required fees and submit the applications to the appropriate authorities.
- Research the different legal structures and consider the advantages and disadvantages of each.
- Consult with a legal professional or business advisor to determine the most suitable legal structure for your consulting business.
- Complete the necessary paperwork and file the appropriate documents to establish your chosen legal structure.
- Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
- Research if any additional tax identification numbers are required for your specific location or industry.
- Complete the necessary applications and provide the requested information.
- Submit the applications and wait for approval.
- Research the zoning and building regulations applicable to your location.
- Ensure your consulting business activities are allowed in the chosen area.
- Obtain any necessary permits or approvals for your business location or office setup.
- Adhere to all applicable building codes and regulations for safety and accessibility.
Financial Management
- Research and calculate all the costs associated with starting your consulting business
- Identify potential sources of funding such as personal savings, loans, or investors
- Create a detailed funding plan to secure the necessary funds
- Estimate your monthly expenses including rent, utilities, salaries, marketing, etc.
- Forecast your expected revenue based on market research and client projections
- Create a budget that aligns your expenses with your projected revenue
- Research different banks and compare their business account offerings
- Gather the necessary documents such as business license, EIN, and identification
- Visit the chosen bank and complete the application process to open a business bank account
- Choose an accounting software suitable for your consulting business
- Set up your chart of accounts, including revenue, expenses, assets, and liabilities
- Create a system to record and categorize all financial transactions accurately
- Research and select a payment processing provider that meets your business needs
- Set up merchant accounts to accept credit card payments
- Integrate payment processing methods into your website or invoicing system
- Identify the insurance coverage required for your consulting business such as professional liability insurance
- Research insurance providers and compare their coverage and rates
- Purchase and secure the necessary insurance policies
Operations and Infrastructure
- Research and identify potential office spaces or locations
- Evaluate and compare rental or purchase options
- Negotiate lease terms or purchase agreements
- Finalize legal documents and contracts
- Identify the required equipment and supplies for your consulting business
- Research and compare prices and suppliers
- Purchase or lease the equipment and supplies
- Ensure proper installation and setup
- Assess IT requirements for your consulting business
- Purchase or lease computers and necessary hardware
- Install required software and applications
- Set up internet connectivity and network security
- Identify key operational areas requiring policies and procedures
- Research best practices and industry standards
- Develop policies and procedures documents
- Train employees on policies and procedures
- Determine required roles and responsibilities for your consulting business
- Create job descriptions and post job openings
- Review resumes and conduct interviews
- Select and hire qualified candidates
- Provide comprehensive training to new employees
- Identify potential vendors and suppliers for your consulting business
- Evaluate and compare vendor options
- Negotiate contracts and pricing terms
- Establish clear communication channels and order processes
Marketing and Branding
- Identify target market and customer segments
- Set marketing objectives and goals
- Research competitors and industry trends
- Determine pricing and positioning strategies
- Outline marketing tactics and budget
- Define brand values, personality, and voice
- Design a unique and memorable logo
- Choose appropriate colors, fonts, and imagery
- Create brand guidelines for consistent use
- Register a domain name and choose a hosting provider
- Design a user-friendly and visually appealing website
- Optimize website for search engines (SEO)
- Include relevant content, services, and contact information
- Optimize website for search engines (SEO)
- Run targeted online advertising campaigns (SEM)
- Create and manage social media accounts
- Publish relevant and engaging content regularly
- Design professional and branded business cards
- Create informative and visually appealing brochures
- Design other marketing collateral as needed
- Identify customer acquisition channels (referrals, advertising, etc.)
- Create lead generation campaigns and landing pages
- Implement customer relationship management (CRM) system
- Develop strategies for customer retention and loyalty
Sales and Customer Service
- Set specific and measurable sales goals for your consulting business.
- Determine target revenue and number of clients you aim to acquire within a given period.
- Outline a strategic approach to generate leads, qualify prospects, and close deals.
- Define your unique selling proposition and competitive advantage.
- Create a step-by-step sales process to guide your team.
- Design professional brochures, case studies, and other marketing materials to showcase your consulting services.
- Develop persuasive sales presentations highlighting the benefits and value your business offers.
- Identify the skills and knowledge required for your sales team.
- Provide comprehensive training on your service offerings, sales techniques, and objection handling.
- Ensure your team is equipped to effectively communicate your consulting solutions.
- Select and implement a CRM system to manage contacts, track sales activities, and analyze customer data.
- Customize the CRM to align with your sales process and capture necessary information.
- Define service protocols to ensure consistent and high-quality customer experience.
- Set response time standards for inquiries, complaints, and support requests.
- Establish guidelines for handling customer feedback and resolving issues.
Risk Management
- Conduct a thorough analysis of potential risks specific to the consulting industry
- Assess the likelihood and impact of each identified risk
- Develop strategies to mitigate or eliminate risks
- Document risk management strategies for reference and implementation
- Research and understand the health and safety regulations relevant to the consulting industry
- Implement necessary measures to comply with the regulations
- Regularly review and update health and safety protocols
- Train employees on health and safety procedures
- Identify all intellectual property assets of the consulting business
- Implement measures to protect intellectual property, such as copyrights, trademarks, or patents
- Monitor and enforce intellectual property rights
- Consider consulting with legal experts to ensure proper protection
- Assess the data protection and cybersecurity needs of the consulting business
- Implement robust security measures, including firewalls, encryption, and access controls
- Regularly update and patch software and systems
- Train employees on data protection and cybersecurity best practices
- Identify potential disasters or disruptions that could impact the consulting business
- Create a comprehensive disaster recovery plan outlining steps to restore operations
- Develop a business continuity plan to ensure minimal disruptions during crises
- Regularly test and update the plans based on changing circumstances
- Identify the legal and liability insurance requirements for the consulting business
- Research and choose appropriate insurance policies, such as professional liability and general liability insurance
- Ensure adequate coverage to protect against potential risks
- Regularly review and update insurance policies as needed
Launch and Post-Launch Activities
- Identify key activities and milestones for the launch
- Establish deadlines and assign responsibilities
- Set realistic timelines and allocate resources accordingly
- Develop a comprehensive marketing strategy
- Implement digital and traditional marketing campaigns
- Utilize various promotional channels to reach target audience
- Regularly review business processes and identify areas for improvement
- Make necessary adjustments to optimize efficiency
- Implement new tools or technologies to streamline operations
- Collect feedback through surveys, interviews, and social media monitoring
- Analyze customer feedback to identify pain points and areas of improvement
- Implement changes based on customer feedback to enhance customer satisfaction
- Identify relevant KPIs for measuring business performance
- Regularly track and analyze KPI data
- Use KPIs to assess progress and make data-driven decisions
- Regularly assess market trends and competitor analysis
- Review and update business strategies based on changing market dynamics
- Ensure alignment between business goals and strategies
Use in Manifestly