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 Launch Planner walks you through the planning side of this checklist step by step.
If you want the checklist filled in for your specific business rather than a blank template, AI Business Solutions generates a startup checklist from your idea alongside the plan and financials.
Frequently asked questions
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.
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.
Business Launch Planner
Get the checklist filled in for your business
AI Business Solutions turns this generic checklist into a specific one, with your costs, prices, marketing plan and launch dates.
One-time payment · Lifetime access to the version you purchase · 14-day money-back guarantee
Is Your Business Idea Actually Worth Pursuing?
Answer a few quick questions and discover your idea's strengths, weaknesses, and what you should do next.