What do I need to start a business?

A validated offer, a named customer, a price that covers costs, a funding plan for the first months, the registrations and licences your location requires, and a way for customers to find and buy from you.

What order should I do startup tasks in?

Validate demand first, then work out the numbers, then handle registration and setup, then brand and marketing. Doing brand work before validation is the most common wasted spend.

The Complete Business Startup Checklist

Before You Spend Any Money

Write down your idea in one sentence
Talk to 10 real potential customers
Check what competitors already charge
Decide your rough starting budget

Making It Official

Choose your business structure (sole proprietor, LLC, etc.)
Register your business name with your state, if required
Get an EIN (free, on the IRS website)
Open a separate business bank account
Check for required city/state licenses or permits

Setting Up to Get Paid

Set up a payment processor (Stripe, PayPal, Square, etc.)
Decide your pricing, with reasoning behind the number
Set up basic bookkeeping

Getting Ready to Launch

Build a simple website or landing page
Set up at least one social media account
Write your one-sentence pitch and use it everywhere
Make a list of your first 10 people to reach out to

Launch Week

Message your list of 10 people directly
Post about your launch in 1-2 relevant communities
Ask your first customer for feedback and a referral
Set a reminder to check in after 2 weeks

After Launch

Track what's actually bringing customers
Set aside money for taxes as you earn (rule of thumb: 25-30% of profit, confirm with a tax professional)
Revisit your plan every month

Where to Start Today

Novenni's Business Plan Template walks you through the planning side of this checklist with guided prompts.

If you want the checklist filled in for your specific business rather than a blank template, BusinessOS AI generates a startup checklist from your idea alongside the plan and financials.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to start a business?: A validated offer, a named customer, a price that covers costs, a funding plan for the first months, the registrations and licences your location requires, and a way for customers to find and buy from you.
What order should I do startup tasks in?: Validate demand first, then work out the numbers, then handle registration and setup, then brand and marketing. Doing brand work before validation is the most common wasted spend.

Get the checklist filled in for your business

BusinessOS AI turns this generic checklist into a specific one, with your costs, prices, marketing plan and launch dates.

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