11 Things to Do Before Starting a Business

11 tasks to complete before starting a business

If you’re not sure where to start when planning and launching your new business, these 11 steps can help you get moving in the right direction. 

1. Do your research.

You won’t launch your business in a vacuum, so take some time to research the market you’ll operate in. This means becoming familiar with the other companies in the space, the customers they serve, the trends that are developing, and important regulatory considerations companies face. 

By developing a clear understanding of the landscape as it exists today (as well as where you think it’s going) you’ll be better positioned to find ways to offer additional value that companies currently in the space aren’t delivering. Even if you think your business idea is unique, you should be aware of what your soon-to-be competitors are doing, said Ian Wright, founder of British Business Energy.

“Just because you have a brilliant idea does not mean other people haven’t also had the same idea,” said Wright. “If you can’t offer something better and/or cheaper than your competitors, you might want to rethink starting a business in that area.”

2. Determine your audience.

You can’t earn a profit without your customers, so understand who they are and make them your priority. Understanding who needs your product or service can help fine-tune your offerings and ensure your marketing and sales strategies are reaching the right people.

“It is crucial to make sure you are delivering what your customer wants, not what you want,” said Sonia Lakhany, attorney at Lakhany Law. “This will give you insight into your customer’s buying decision and save you lots of experimenting down the road.”

Consider whether your business is a business-to-consumer (B2C) or business-to-business (B2B) enterprise. A target audience for a B2C company will be made up of individuals, but the audience for a B2B company will be other businesses. The way a business speaks to individuals is necessarily different from the way it speaks to other businesses, so take this into account when considering your target audience.

3. Develop a strong mission.

The most successful businesses start with a strong sense of purpose. You should be able to articulate your business’s mission – it’s reason for existence – in a sentence or two. 

Spend some time thinking about why you’re bringing this business into the world — what purpose does it serve? What value does it provide? By recognizing your business’s strengths, differences and purpose, you can make informed choices to expand your services and markets down the line in a way that is harmonious.

4. Choose a structure.

A key initial step to take when starting your business is choosing its legal structure, said business attorney Mason Cole of Cole Sadkin LLC. “[Your business’s structure] will dictate the taxes, paperwork, liability of the owner(s) [and] other legal aspects, as well as whether or not the company can have employees,” he said. 

Additionally, you must acquire the proper local and state registration required to open your business.

“This means the entrepreneur will need to create the articles of incorporation, obtain an employer identification number and apply for necessary licenses, which will vary by state and industry,” Cole said.

5. Map your finances.

Starting a business requires money that you likely won’t have right away. This is why you need to seek out ways to acquire capital.

“Most entrepreneurs start a business with a very limited amount of capital, which is a large hurdle to many,” said Cole. “However, plenty of options are available to a budding business owner. The first and most common place to seek capital is with friends and family. 

If that is not enough, expand the search to angel investors and venture capitalists. Should these options not provide the amount needed, then apply for business loans through banks and small business associations.”

6. Understand your tax burden.

Travis Sickle, a certified financial planner at Sickle Hunter Financial Advisors, advises entrepreneurs to be organized with taxes and fees. There are multiple payments to make, and filing any of them late could result in severe consequences.

“You have to figure out how much your payroll will be to make your tax payments timely,” said Sickle. “The timing can vary depending on your payroll. You must also figure out other business taxes, such as city, county and state.”

7. Understand the risk.

Of course, launching a new business venture will always involve a level of risk. Calculating, understanding and planning for risk is an important step to take before you start working on your business. This means assessing your industry’s risks before developing a business plan.

“Entrepreneurs should know their industry’s risks before purchasing business insurance,” said Jeff Somers, president and COO of HouseCanary. “For example, accountants will want to consider professional liability insurance if a client files a lawsuit, claiming a costly error on their tax return. Restaurant owners are more likely to need general liability for slip-and-fall accidents and liquor liability insurance, which can pay for lawsuits.”

8. Put together a business plan.

A business plan outlines the steps you need to take for a successful launch and continued growth. This document is important for establishing a focus for your business, attracting C-level professionals to work for you and seeking and retaining capital. 

A business plan ensures you put your best foot forward with other professionals who are evaluating your company, so be sure to have this document on the back burner and ready when requested. [Looking for help putting together a business plan? Check out our tips on how to write a business plan.]

Take the time to put together the main components, including:

• Your mission statement
• A description of your business
• A list of your products or services
• An analysis of the current market and opportunity
• A list of decision-makers in the company, along with their bios
• Your financial plan so those who review can understand the opportunity

9. Time it right.

Timing is an important element of building a business. Sure, you want to start your business at a time when the economy is healthy and your prospective industry is expanding, but there’s also a flow to decision-making that’s important to be aware of. Kevin MacCauley, founder and CEO of Upper Hand, said it’s important to be decisive when building a business.

“I wish I understood how detrimental the role of time [can be] in building a business,” he said. “You only have so much time to find out if you’ve made the right business decisions. 

“As I once read, if you’re 70 percent of the way to making a decision, make the decision. If you try to get to 90 percent, you’ve waited too long,” MacCauley added. “If I could have had that mindset from day one, I would probably have had fewer sleepless nights when I was going through tough times.”

10. Look for a mentor or advisor.

Starting a business should not be an independent journey, no matter how tempting that sounds. Finding those who have made this journey before can help set you up for success. Network with other professionals in your industry, attend industry-specific workshops and events, and reach out to thought leaders in your industry to learn their approach. Alternatively, you may want to consider hiring a coach who can give you pointed advice.

11. Bring in the professionals.

Entrepreneurs can’t know everything about running their new venture. Tapping into seasoned professionals’ experience can ensure you’re starting on the right foot.

It’s especially important to have legal assistance to ensure you are protected and going about the process correctly.

“We often assume that legal counsel is for when we get ourselves into trouble, but preventative and proactive legal preparation can be the best way to set your business on the path to long-term success,” said Katy Blevins, CEO of Season of Katy. “When you call on legal counsel after you’ve run into a problem, it’s often too late or could critically impact your business in both the short and long term. Investing in their insight at the start of your business can pay a huge return later on by keeping you out of trouble before you even get into it.”

Another smart hire is an accountant. It’s nearly impossible for one person to handle every aspect of a company, and above all, your finances should not be put at risk.

“I had a full-time job as I considered starting my own business in 2009, but I did a lot of groundwork before I started, and bringing on an accountant was an important step,” said Sarah Burningham, president and founder of Little Bird Publicity. “It helped me understand what I needed to do to make this work from a profit standpoint, [as well as] the ins and outs of state, federal and local taxes.”

Starting a business right can lead to success

Starting a business is a lot of work, but if you do it the right way, you can set yourself up for a successful entrepreneurial journey. By following the tips in this guide and taking advantage of the resources we’ve included, you can build a strong foundation upon which to grow your business. Remember, becoming a small business owner is a journey filled with ups and downs, but if you develop a flexible plan and adapt to changing conditions, you can meet any challenge that comes your way!