Table of Contents
Do you have a commercial idea that lights you up? Or maybe you want the freedom of being your own boss? Either way, once you’ve made the decision to create your own business, there are three key areas you’ll need to cover if you want to make your dream a thriving reality.
Starting a small business from scratch can easily become overwhelming. Many startups make the mistake of rushing in with guns blazing, only to come crashing down in two to three years because they didn’t build the right foundation.
This guide explains all the need-to-knows that will get your startup successfully off the ground, setting you up for unlimited long-term growth.
And if you’re dreaming of being your own boss, but haven’t fully decided yet what type of business is the right fit, this guide is for you: Most future-proof small business ideas you can start today.
Pillar 1: Mindset
The core foundation for new business owners is often overlooked, but as any successful entrepreneur will tell you, having the right perspective is the bedrock that can make or break your success levels.
While skills and strategies are crucial, mindset ultimately determines your ability to navigate difficulties and seize opportunities. Let’s explore the factors that will help you to smoothly overcome the inevitable challenges you’ll face as a startup:
Entrepreneur Insights
This wisdom covers the hard won experiences of high achievers, who started with an idea and made a major impact on the world.
Resilience
As with all growth, every startup will face unforeseen difficulties and failures, so it’s crucial to be able to bounce back from setbacks. This is one of the key aspects that differentiate startups which become established, and those that fold within two years.
Tips:
- Fail Fast to Learn Fast — see failure as part of the process, and a valuable tool for growth. Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, said: “It’s not the failure that defines you, it’s how quickly you learn from it.”
- Embrace Uncertainty — accept from the beginning that uncertainty is baked into the journey, and learn to roll with it. Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx, said: “You’ve got to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.”
- Manage Stress — develop good coping routines that help you unwind and find balance, like exercise, meditation, and mentorship. Arianna Huffington, CEO of The Huffington Post, said: "Stress is not a badge of honor. It’s a sign that something in your life needs to change."
Risk vs. Caution
Entrepreneurship is inherently risky, but successful startups understand when and how to take calculated risks that offer the highest potential rewards, while minimizing losses.
For example, startups can take longer than expected to turn a profit, so instead of putting all your eggs in one basket, as a Phase 1, it’s a good idea to keep your current job to cover the bills while you setup your new business. That way you’re not stressing out about putting food on the table, and can keep your focus on growth.
Tips:
- Be Strategic Not Reckless — when taking a risk, take time to weigh the impact of failure, and have contingency plans in place. Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, said: “The key to risk-taking is to protect the downside.”
- Start Small & Scale Up — test the waters with low-risk experiments, such as a minimum viable product (MVP), before you devote full resource to it. Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, said: “Start with what you can control, and grow from there.”
- Know When to Let Go — sometimes, the main risk is refusing to pivot from an idea that isn’t working. Recognize when it’s time to adapt. Reed Hastings, co-founder of Netflix, changed his original business model from DVD rentals to streaming, which ended up revolutionizing the entertainment industry.
Growth Mindset
In today’s fast-paced world, successful entrepreneurs need to be committed to continuous learning and skills improvement.
One of the top speakers in the business leadership space, Simon Sinek, sums this up: “The mindset with which we approach situations is what separates high performers from everyone else. The ability to embrace an infinite mindset, and view every challenge as an opportunity to grow, is the key to lasting success."
Tips:
- Seek Different Perspectives — successful entrepreneurs have the broadness of mind to understand that gathering fresh perspectives are invaluable, both as a sanity check and to cover their blind spots. Elon Musk said: "I think it’s very important to have a feedback loop, where you’re constantly thinking about what you’ve done and how you could be doing it better."
- Don’t Be Afraid of Mistakes — conversely, go your own way when you’re certain about a decision, even if everyone disagrees with you. And if you fail, you will still learn a lot, for better innovation in the future. Mark Zuckerberg said: "The biggest risk is not taking any risk. In a world that’s changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks."
Thinking Outside the Box
Being an effective problem solver is another key skill. Developing the ability to focus on creative solutions instead of limitations is essential for turning obstacles into opportunities.
Tips:
- Focus on Customer Pain Points — many of the most successful startups began with an innovative idea on how to better solve people’s problems. This will immediately give you a leading edge. Prime examples of this are Airbnb and Uber. Tony Robbins said: “Find a problem that is universal, that affects people every day.”
Another respected entrepreneur, Tim Ferris, said: “Scratch your own itch”, meaning if you create a solution for yourself, it’s very likely there will be many people looking to solve the same problem.
- Be Resourceful — another factor that will instantly give you a boost is learning to do more with less, especially as a startup. Barbara Corcoran, real estate mogul, said: “I’ve learned that resourcefulness has more to do with success than intelligence.”
- Be Adaptable — to effectively problem solve, you’ll often need to think in new ways, where there is less restriction. Creative solutions also mean being adaptable to new situations. Steve Jobs said: ""You have to be willing to pivot, or else you're going to be left behind. You have to be able to take what you've learned and adapt to new realities."
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The WHY
Your reason or purpose for starting a business is going to be the driving force that carries you through when things get tough. While the goal is often financial success, the most successful entrepreneurs have a strong interest in their work, sustained by deeper personal meaning.
This is the rocket fuel that stands the test of time, giving you the determination to really smash it. So it’s worth taking the time to really think on your WHY. For example, helping people who are experiencing something you once struggled with is far more rewarding that simply making money.
Tips:
- Persevere — diving deep with your deeper reason for starting a business, and reaffirming it daily, is the magic sauce that what will keep you going when many other startups fold. Steve Jobs said: "I'm convinced that about half of what separates successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance."
- Balance Enthusiasm with Practicality — meaning is vital, but it needs to be grounded in clear planning and consistent action steps. Also make sure that your passion aligns with market needs and customer demand.
Barbara Corcoran, who built a real-estate business that she sold for $66 million, said: "Don't you dare underestimate the power of your own instinct. But make sure you're working from a smart plan, too."
Discipline & Focus
These two qualities are also essential ingredients for success. Once you have your WHY, discipline and focus need to be developed like a muscle, or your business will never get off the ground.
Tips:
- Define Clear Priorities — break your bigger goals into more bite-sized, actionable steps, and focus on accomplishing them daily. Entrepreneur leader Gary Vaynerchuk said: “Focus on the few things that actually matter. Don’t get distracted by the noise.”
Learn more about setting SMART goals for your small business.
- Manage Your Time — effective time management is vital when running your own business. Tim Ferriss, who authored the popular 4-Hour Workweek, said: "Focus on being productive instead of busy." He advises adopting techniques like batching tasks, and blocking out time with no distractions to improve productivity and focus.
- Know When to Rest — discipline also includes knowing when to take a time-out to recharge your batteries, so you can maintain long-term productivity. Arianna Huffington, founder of The Huffington Post, said: "We think, mistakenly, that success is the result of the amount of time we put in at work, instead of the quality of time we put in."
Long-Term Vision
Successful startups are good at balancing immediate business needs with future growth needs. You need a strong vision of where you want to go, or it’s very easy to lose sight of ‘the wood for the trees’. With practice, you’ll build discernment about what matters and what doesn’t, in serving your end-game.
Tips:
- Don’t Run Before Your Can Walk — one of the main reasons startups fail is they bite off more than they can chew by trying to grow too quickly. It’s better to go slower, step by step, to make sure your business doesn’t cut corners on quality. Jeff Weiner, CEO of LinkedIn, said. “You have to have a long-term vision, but also execute in the here and now in a sustainable way.”
- Prioritize Strong Values — if you maintain strong core values, you’ll be like a tree with deep roots that can’t be blown over, compared to fly-by-night companies that are just trying to make a fast buck. Tony Hsieh, who created Zappos and LinkExchange, said: “Our belief is that if you get the culture right, most of the other stuff, like great customer service or building a great long-term brand, will happen naturally on its own."
Supportive Network
Building a reliable network of advisors, collaborators, and suppliers is vital for long term business success. You’ll need guidance from people you trust to help you make the right decisions, gain new perspectives, and get moral support when things are difficult..
Tips:
- Find a Mentor — build relationships with key people who have experience in areas you lack. Steve Jobs mentored Mark Zuckerberg for example. There are a number of courses and online coaches these days where you can find the right fit.
Denzel Washington said: "Show me a successful individual and I’ll show you someone who had real positive influences in their life. I don’t care what you do for a living, if you do it well, I’m sure there was someone cheering you on or showing the way."
- Establish Trusted Advisors — invest in a team of people who can guide you in areas like legal, financial, and technical matters. Warren Buffet said: "Pick out associates whose behavior is better than yours and you’ll drift in that direction."
- Collaborate — bouncing feedback and support with other entrepreneurs will really help you stay motivated, as well as gain valuable knowledge. Michael Jordan, business man and former NBA player, said: "Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships."
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Common Startup Mistakes
- Not Doing Your Research — you may have a great idea for an awesome new product, but if the market is already saturated with competitors, or if there’s no demand for at your price point, you’ll be in for a huge waste of time and money.
- Sketchy Planning — it may be tempting to focus on the creative stuff when you’re just getting started and skip the boring Business Plan. But that will only cause needless problems further down the road. Make sure you work on your long term vision, not just the short term.
- Poor Financial Management — it’s common for startups to overspend in the beginning, and dig themselves into a hole they can’t climb out of. On the other hand some companies under-price themselves, and also end up unable to cover costs. Another big mistake is failure to separate your business and personal finances from the get-go.
- Ignoring the Legal Stuff — no-one likes tackling the fine print, but failing to tie up loose ends like registering your business, signing formal contracts, getting licenses, and following local regulations can land you in hot water later. Best to bite the bullet at the start.
- Consistency — if you’re starting a business thinking you can have an easier time than being employed, think again. For at least the first year, you’ll need to fully dedicate yourself to getting your startup off the ground. Especially with your marketing, you need to consistently take action to grow your business.
- Weak Marketing — consumers rely on websites, search engines, and social platforms more than ever to decide what to buy, and they’re spoilt for choice like never before. So it’s important to get this right. Find out how in the Marketing Checklist section below.
- Overreach — a major pitfall for many startups is getting too enthusiastic and unfocused. They offer too many products or services at the same time, which can dilute your brand and stretch your resources too thin.
Likewise rushing your launch or trying to scale up too quickly can put you in an overwhelming situation and lead to customer complaints, which will damage your brand reputation.
- Ignoring Customer Feedback —speaking of unhappy customers, make sure you keep an eye on what people are saying about your brand. And bear in mind that negative feedback is actually a great opportunity to show you care. Learn more: How to write review replies like a pro.
- Bad Team Management — the two main things that inexperienced business owners get wrong when building a team are hiring people that don’t fit the skill requirement, and micromanaging staff. This leads to low morale within your team, and burnout for you as the business owner.
- Inflexibility — it's vital for any startup to be adaptable. You’ll encounter many road bumps or surprises along the way, and you’ll need to be flexible enough to pivot when needed to turn them to your advantage.
- Neglecting Networking — failing to build relationships in your industry can limit opportunities for invaluable guidance, and even lucrative future partnerships.
- Burnout — this is a tricky one, since it’s really easy to overwork when you’re the owner of a new business. But burning the candle at both ends can lead to poor decision making, and poor health. It’s important to take time off to recharge.
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Pillar 2: Logistics Setup
From planning, funding, and accounting, to data backup and security, any cracks in your business operations can lead to big problems as you grow your startup.
Here is a checklist of the critical admin To-Dos that every business needs to cross off their list so they don’t end up making things much more complex than they need to be, or in the worst case derail their business.
1. Strong Business Plan
You might be tempted to first focus on product research or brand creation, but nailing down a Business Plan as your first step is the wisest move for startups, because it will give you a solid structure to lean on.
A good Business Plan will help you organize all the moving parts, and is also crucial if you intend to seek funding. Here’s what you need to know:
Business Plan Writing Tools
Wondering where to start? There are a number of Business Plan software tools these days to help you. Some popular platforms to check out while shopping around for the best fit are:
- Free — Bplans will give you templates and basic guidance.
- Best for tight budgets — Cuttles and Upmetrics.
- Best balance between ease of use, comprehensive features, and reasonable pricing — Enloop and LivePlan.
Management System Tools
A small business management system (SBMS) is crucial for streamlining your operations, productivity, and customer service to increase overall efficiency.
You'll want to clarify and define your processes for efficiently managing these logistical essentials:
- Calendars and scheduling of workflows
- Budgets, invoices, and other financial documents
- Purchasing and order fulfillment
- Team organization and responsibilities.
It’s a good idea to invest in tools that will help you stay on top of customer management, inventory, and payroll to keep things headache-free from the start. Do your own research to explore what suits you best, but here are some of the most popular examples for small business owners, based on affordability, ease of use, and scalability:
Inventory Management
- Company — Zoho Inventory
- Pricing — free for up to 50 orders per month; paid plans start at $59/month.
- Why It’s Popular — a robust suite of features.
- Key Features — order management, tracking across multiple warehouses, integration with online sales platforms like Amazon and eBay, barcode scanning, multi-channel inventory management, integration with other useful apps like Zoho CRM, and Zoho Books.
Payroll Management
- Company — Gusto
- Pricing — starting at $40/month + $6 per employee
- Why It’s Popular — ease of use, and comprehensive features.
- Key Features — automated payroll runs, tax filing, compliance, employee benefits like health insurance, time tracking, paid time off, direct deposit for contractor payments.
Customer & Sales Management
- Company — Square
- Pricing — free with transaction fees
- Why It’s Popular — flexible and highly rated point-of-sale (POS) system that integrates sales and customer management with ease.
- Key Features — in-person and online sales POS system, inventory tracking and reporting, customer profiles, CRM functionality, sales reports.
Management Process Tips
Keep these factors in mind when setting up your small business management system:
- Tailor — make sure the software and platforms you select can be well tailored to your individual business needs. Cloud-based tools are a good option for scalability and access from anywhere.
- Integrate — your management software should be seamlessly integrated, so you don’t run the risk of manual data entry errors, not to mention time waste.
- Automate — as a business owner you’ll have more than enough on your plate without having to spend valuable time on repetitive tasks like invoicing, payroll, and inventory updates. Go hands-free where you can to work smart.
- Track — stay on top of key performance indicators (KPIs) like cash flow, customer acquisition cost, inventory turnover, and sales revenue. Good management software should make this type of information easily available from your Dashboard, with real-time updates and insight reporting.
- Standardize — if you have employees, define the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for your management process so that everyone is on the same page for optimal efficiency.
- Scale — choose systems that are capable of flexibly growing with your business, so you can handle more customers, employees, and products without the nightmare of a complete overhaul further down the road.
- Safeguard — to protect your business and customer data, you’ll want reliable cybersecurity, regular backups, and recovery options.
- Review & Update — get into the habit of scheduling regular audits of your management procedures to make sure they’re effectively serving your business growth, as well as your customers, and the broader industry trends.
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2. Financial Planning
As with the Business Plan, financial planning may seem like a boring step that you can put off until later, but it’s a vital part of laying a strong, sustainable foundation.
First be sure to calculate your startup operating costs, to make sure you don’t stall at a crucial stage of growth. Bear in mind that it takes most startups at least a year to become profitable, so it may not be your main source of income for some time.
That said, the advantages of bootstrap financing are that you get to keep full ownership of your venture and finances. Here are some tips to help you tighten your purse strings: How to save money as a small business.
Financing Tips
The majority of startups need some sort of outside financing. Careful financial planning, along with a good Business Plan, will be the key that unlocks this door. Follow these steps:
- Research — figure out which funding sources are most aligned with your industry, business model, and stage of growth.
- Reach Out — look into networking platforms, go to industry events, and attend any other network opportunity you can think of that will have potential investors.
- Get Polished — put together a pitch deck, which summarizes your Business Plan, financial projections, and a strong value proposition.
Investment Options
There are a number of avenues you can look at to help finance and grow your startup. It’s also common for business owners to use a mix of options.
- Personal Savings
Pros: full control, no debt, no ownership dilution.
Cons: risk of losing personal savings, limited by personal financial capacity.
- Friends & Family
Pros: relatively easy, flexible terms.
Cons: potential strain on personal relationships, informal agreements could lead to misunderstandings.
- Angel Investors (wealthy people who invest their personal funds into ventures they’re interested in, for shares/equity in your business)
Pros: potential mentorship and industry connections, flexible terms compared to institutions.
Cons: dilution of ownership, sometimes substantially.
- Reward-Based Crowdfunding (e.g.Kickstarter, Indiegogo, GoFundMe, Patreon)
Pros: demonstrates demand for your offering, builds a customer base, no repayment or ownership loss.
Cons: marketing effort, all-or-nothing models may result in no funding if the goal isn’t met.
- Equity Crowdfunding (e.g. Republic, Wefunder, SeedInvest)
Pros: broad base of investors, potential for significant funding.
Cons: dilution of ownership, regulatory compliance, marketing effort.
- Accelerators & Incubators (e.g. Y Combinator, Techstars, 500 Startups)
Pros: mentorship, networking opportunities, potential investors; structured growth support.
Cons: competitive selection process, ownership dilution, time commitment.
- Competitions & Grants (e.g. SBIR/STTR (US), Innovate UK, government grants)
Pros: no ownership loss, non-repayable, recognition, credibility.
Cons: competitive and time-consuming application process, restrictions on how funds can be used.
- Non-Profit Organization Microloans (e.g. Accion, Kiva)
Pros: minimal credit history, favorable terms.
Cons: small loan amounts.
- Online Peer-to-Peer Lending (e.g. Funding Circle, LendingClub)
Pros: easier to qualify than traditional banks, faster approval process.
Cons: higher interest rates, inflexible repayment, personal liability potential.
- Strategic Partnerships (joining forces with other businesses to gain access to capital, resources, market channels, and audiences)
Pros: resources without immediate capital outlay, potential for long-term growth.
Cons: loss of autonomy, conflicts of interest.
- Bank Loans & Lines of Credit
Pros: no dilution of ownership, predictable repayment terms.
Cons: good credit history needed, interest fees, collateral sometimes needed, repayment regardless of success.
- Venture Capital (investment funds managed by firms that pool money from investors to fund projected high-growth startups)
Pros: large amounts of capital, industry expertise and connections, potential for rapid growth.
Cons: significant dilution of ownership, pressure for high growth and eventual exit, loss of some control.
- Corporate Investors (e.g. Google Ventures, Intel Capital)
Pros: industry expertise, potential for partnerships or acquisitions.
Cons: limits on business strategy, dilution of ownership.
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Budget Tracking
Tracking expenses and efficient budget management can make or break small businesses, especially when you first start out. So it’s a good idea to use a software tool to keep this side of things tightly managed.
There are a variety of options, but to get you started in exploring what will best suit your needs, here are some of the most popular platforms for their affordability, ease of use, and useful features:
- Wave — it’s free for accounting and invoicing, making it perfect for freelancers or small businesses that have simple needs.
- Xero — starter monthly price is $13. They’re popular for managing expenses across multiple currencies, so are a good choice if your startup has global clients and needs flexible workflows.
- QuickBooks — starter monthly price is $30. Not cheap, but they have a comprehensive range of features. Best for businesses that need flexible scalability, robust reporting, and good integration.
Liability Insurance
Liability insurance protects you against potentially crippling financial costs that can suddenly spring up. Ultimately it gives you peace of mind, knowing that you’re covered against potential lawsuits or claims, so you can focus on growing your business.
Here’s a summary of the advantages:
- Legal Claims Protection — cover for any legal costs, settlements, or judgments if your business is sued for causing injury or harm to others.
- Property Damage — if your business accidentally causes damage to someone's property, your insurance will pay for the cost of repairs or replacement.
- Personal Injury Claims — covers for legal defense and potential settlements related to accusations of defamation, libel, or slander.
- Signing Contracts — liability insurance is often required by clients, landlords, or businesses before they’ll formally work with you.
- Business Reputation — any legal dispute without insurance can mean a blow to your bank balance, and in a worst case scenario, bankruptcy. This could make people wary of doing business with you.
- Employee Actions — if one of your employees accidentally harms a customer or damages property, your business is covered against claims.
- Settlement Negotiations — insurance companies often handle negotiations on behalf of your business, which can help settle claims out of court and save you the hell of expensive litigation.
You can opt for general liability insurance, which protects you if someone is injured on your property, or as a result of your company's activities. And there are additional policies to choose from depending on your specific needs, such as:
- Professional Liability — protection if you make an error or omission that costs your clients money.
- Worker Compensation — covers medical expenses and lost wages if any of your employees are injured while working.
- Business Interruption — helps replace lost revenue if your business is forced to close temporarily, because of a natural disaster or other unplanned event.
- Property insurance — comprehensive cover for your physical business property, including equipment.
With the rise of hackers attacking smaller platforms these days, cyber insurance is a good idea. It will give your startup comprehensive cover against technology-based threats — IT infrastructure risks, systems failure, cyber attacks, data breaches, liability, legal costs, and more.
3. Business Registration
Registering your business, otherwise known as Business Formation, gives your startup a strong foundation, including legal, financial, and operational perks.
Summary of Benefits
Going legit puts your startup on track for sustainable growth:
- Legal Protection — as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or Corporation (CORP), your business becomes a legal entity. This protects your personal assets from any business liabilities.
- Brand Protection — your business name will be officially registered, protecting your brand. You can trademark your brand name, logo, and other intellectual property, so no other company can use them. You’ll also be able to apply for patents and copyrights to protect your product innovations and creative works.
- Credibility — as a legally established company, clients, customers, and suppliers are more likely to trust you. It demonstrates professionalism and commitment.
- Continuity — LLCs and CORPs continue to legally exist even when ownership changes. This is important for long term planning.
- Ownership — having a formal structure makes it easier to transfer ownership, bring in new partners, or eventually sell your business.
- Legal Contracts — with a registered business name, you can enter into legally binding agreements. Many suppliers and clients insist on this, because if there’s a dispute later down the road, it’s easier to enforce in court.
- Funding Access — banks, investors, and grant programs commonly require proof of business registration before they offer funding, because you’re seen as a more reliable investment.
- Business Accounts — as mentioned you’ll want to have a separate business account for clear cut taxes, and in most cases opening a business bank account requires you to show your business registration details.
- Potential Savings — registered businesses tend to get credits and tax deductions that are not available to individuals. Deductions include operating expenses, employee wages, and more.
- Building a Team — a registered business gets an Employer Identification Number (EIN), which is needed for employee payroll, taxes, and labor law compliance. You’ll also make working for you appealing, as you can then offer employee benefits like health insurance and retirement plans.
- Scalability — you’ll need to be registered if you plan to expand into new market locations, or franchise.
- Licenses & Permits — in many industries, there are mandatory certifications and regulations to follow, only available if you’re legally registered.
Business Formation Options
- Sole Proprietorship — this is the simplest type of business setup, but also the riskiest. You won’t get any legal protection as a separate entity, so any potential liabilities of the company are yours. So you'll be personally under the gun for all business obligations, like lawsuits or unpaid debts.
- Partnership — similar to sole proprietorships, except there's more than one owner. You’ll split the company's legal and financial obligations, and also share in the profits. Co-owners typically structure their business relationship with a Partnership Operating Agreement.
- Limited Liability Company/Partnership (LLC/LLP) — there are differences between an LLC and LLP, but in a nutshell, LLCs offer broader protection and flexibility, while LLPs are more for professionals like lawyers or accountants. In either case, if the company goes into debt or gets sued, your personal assets will be protected.
- Corporation (CORP) — when you incorporate, you create a separate legal entity that owns all of the business assets and liabilities, and you can raise money by selling stock in the company.
Simplifying Business Formation
Whatever type of business structure you choose, know that you can always change it later as your needs evolve. Here are some tips to make going legit easier.
4. Business Licenses & Permits
When starting a small business in the US, there are various licenses and permits you may need to obtain depending on your industry, location, and operations.
Unfortunately these days, it seems like you need them for just about everything. Here are the common types of licenses and permits:
- Business License — most cities or counties require you to have a general business license to operate legally. It's a basic permit that gives you the official authority to conduct business in the local jurisdiction.
- State Business License — some states may require a separate state-level license in addition to your local business license.
- Federal License — required for businesses involved in activities regulated by federal agencies, such as broadcasting, manufacturing tobacco, alcohol, firearms, transportation, and investments.
- Professional License — for businesses in specific fields like healthcare, law, accounting, real estate, or cosmetology. These are regulated by state boards and commissions.
- Health Permit — for businesses in the food and beverage industry like restaurants, cafes, and catering, a Health Department permit is typically required to comply with local health and safety regulations.
- Sales Tax Permit — if your business sells goods or services subject to sales tax, you'll need to apply for a state sales tax permit, which allows you to collect sales tax from customers and send it to the state.
- Home Occupation Permit — if you operate your business from home, many localities require a home occupation permit to ensure the business complies with residential zoning laws.
- Fire Department Permit — for businesses that deal with flammable materials, or have high public traffic volumes like restaurants and large venues, to ensure safety standards.
- Building Permit — if you're constructing or renovating a commercial space, you’ll likely need building permits to ensure the construction complies with local codes and safety standards.
- Zoning Permit — zoning laws regulate where certain types of businesses can operate. You'll need to verify that your business location is properly zoned.
- Alcohol & Tobacco Licenses — if your business involves selling alcohol or tobacco products, special licenses from both state and federal agencies are needed. Tobacco licenses include vape products that contain nicotine.
- Environmental Permit — if your business activities involve environmental factors like waste disposal, air emissions, or chemical use, you may need environmental permits from state or federal agencies.
- Music License — if your business plays music (live or recorded), you may need a license from performance rights organizations (like ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC) to legally broadcast copyrighted music.
- Vendors License — if you’re selling taxable goods or services.
- Peddlers License — if you’re selling goods door to door, or at an event.
Each state and local jurisdiction may have specific requirements, so you’ll want to check with your city or county office to confirm their most current regulations.
Getting Help
If you don’t want to deal with this bureaucratic headache, let’s explore your options. In a heavily regulated sector, the assistance of an experienced professional could be well worth the extra price.
- Business Attorney — one of the best options for navigating legal and regulatory requirements. They can advise you on what licenses and permits are necessary for your industry and location, help you prepare and file the necessary paperwork, and ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
- Business Consultants — many business consultants specialize in helping small businesses get started, including obtaining the necessary permits and licenses. They often have expertise in dealing with local government agencies and can streamline the application process.
- Certified Public Accountants — CPAs can help ensure you have the correct tax-related permits (like sales tax permits) and guide you through any financial implications of certain licenses. They might not specialize in all kinds of permits, but can help you understand the tax-related ones.
- Professional Licensing Services — companies that offer specialized services in handling business registrations, permits, and licenses. These services typically handle the entire process for you, including research, form preparation, submission, and follow-up with the appropriate government agencies. Some well-known examples include Incfile, LegalZoom, MyCorporation, and Rocket Lawyer.
- Small Business Development Centers — SBDCs or other local economic development agencies sometimes offer free or low-cost help with licensing and permit processes. They may not handle the entire process for you, but can guide you through it.
- Zoning Consultants — if your business requires complex zoning or land use permits, a zoning consultant can help navigate the approval process and ensure compliance with local land-use regulations.
- Permitting Services — in some industries, like construction, food service, or hospitality, there are firms that specialize solely in obtaining the necessary permits for specific types of businesses.
While using professionals is an extra cost, if you weigh that with the stress and time involved in trying to figure it out yourself, not to mention the potential cost of mistakes and delays, they might be well worth their fees.
Pillar 3: Marketing
In a nutshell, marketing means attracting and retaining customers. Before we get a handle on the how-to’s, let’s clarify exactly why good marketing is crucial for any small business:
- Visibility — the online marketplace is increasingly crowded, so you need to find a way to get seen by potential customers, and appeal to their tastes. Strategies like social media campaigns, SEO, and advertising will ensure your target audience knows who you are and what you offer. Building brand awareness is key for startups.
- Standing Out — get noticed by honing and highlighting your unique value proposition. Aim to differentiate your brand by showcasing why your business is better suited to solve customer pain points than your competitors.
- Trust — consistent, professional marketing builds a good impression. A polished brand image and clear messaging creates a sense of credibility, which is essential for people to want to try out an unknown business.
- Revenue Growth — other than building brand awareness, the goal of marketing is to convert consumers into paying customers. By creating targeted campaigns, your small business can promote its products or services to the right audience, leading to more sales, and an upward profit trajectory.
- Customer Loyalty — good marketing is about more than just making a sale, it's about building long-term relationships with your customers. By engaging with them through personalized email campaigns, social media, and great customer service, you’ll be encouraging them to choose you over your competitors, as well as recommend your business to their friends and family.
- Compete with Larger Businesses — smart marketing can level the playing field with bigger businesses that have more budget spend, if you target your audience effectively. You could even angle yourself as an underdog who cares more about the personal touch, compared to the corporates who take their customers for granted.
- Longevity — a consistently strong marketing strategy will support your long-term growth by driving brand recognition, customer acquisition, and customer retention. Marketing will sustain your growth momentum.
- Good Value for Money — for small businesses with limited budgets, savvy digital marketing can deliver strong value from every dollar spent. By targeting the right audience, and making cost-effective choices with the channels and tools you use, you can optimise your return on investment (ROI).
- Customer Insights — surveys, social media feedback, and analytics are invaluable resources for small businesses to understand their customers. This information lets you tailor your offerings to better suit their needs, as well as helping you strengthen your blind spots to improve. This is the secret of long term success.
Common Marketing Mistakes
These are the main main pitfalls that cause road bumps for startups, so you can be sure to avoid them. For solutions to these problems, see the Checklist section below.
- Failure to Target — overly broad, unfocused marketing that tries to appeal to everyone is not going to make an impact in the noisy digital marketplace. You want to look for niches by understanding your customers, and addressing their needs in your messaging.
- Being Too Sales-Focused — it’s understandable that as a startup, your priority is earning revenue as fast as possible. But coming across as too aggressively sales is not a good long-term approach, it can alienate potential customers.
Instead you want to build a strong foundation of brand trust, by focusing on engaging your audience, building relationships, and providing value.
- Mimicking Competitors — it’s also understandable when you first start out that you’d want to do what your most successful competitors are doing, as a sure way to success. But that destroys the point of good marketing, which is to make you stand out from the crowd.
- Trying to Be Everywhere at Once — remember that old saying: ‘Jack of all trades, master of none’. This warning about choosing quantity over quality applies to tackling too many marketing channels from the get go. First build strong traction on two channels, before branching out.
- Neglecting Your Website — these days, it’s no longer acceptable to have a poorly designed or outdated website. At best it screams ‘amateur’, at worst it could make you look shady. You also need to have regular fresh content, easy navigation, and be optimized for search engines.
- Ignoring Mobile Optimization — people increasingly use their phones for researching and shopping. A website that looks great on desktop could be a messy turn-off on smaller screens. Make sure your website is just as appealing and user-friendly on mobile devices.
- Inconsistent Social Media Posts — social platforms are all about engaging your audience to build brand loyalty. This can’t be accomplished if you’re sporadic with your posts. The solution for busy small business owners is to plan a content calendar and use a social media manager to auto publish the posts. That way you can set it up and move onto other things.
- Ignoring Customer Feedback — people rely heavily on the social proof of positive reviews when choosing a business. And how you handle negative comments play a big part in building brand trust. In fact negative feedback can be really valuable in showing you where your company has weak spots. It’s important to take the time to respond to reviews, and engage with your customers to show you care.
- Relying Solely on Paid Advertising — paid ads are great for guaranteeing clicks and traffic (website visitors), but it’s also important to build a long-term strategy based on delivering value to your customers. Content marketing, SEO, and organic social media growth are vital for sustainable success.
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- Neglecting to Set Goals — without setting key performance indicators (KPIs) and goals, it’s easy for your marketing to become aimless. The success of any startup relies heavily on tracking performance, measuring success, and having clear goals to work towards. It’s vital to keep adjusting and improving.
Top Marketing Tips for Startups
Let’s take a look at a summary of marketing musts, distilled from hard lessons learned by experienced small business owners:
- Know Your Audience — never stop wanting to learn about your customers, by using email surveys or social media polls. If you offer prize incentives, you’ll get higher value feedback. But think of this as an ongoing, phased approach. To start with, focus on good messaging that will appeal to a broad demographic.
- Develop a Unique Value Proposition (UVP) — this is key, as it will make you stand out to potential customers. Your UVP should clearly communicate why your product or service is better or different from the competition. It should spotlight the benefits that people will gain by choosing your business, and how it solves your audience’s problems
- Post Regularly on Social Media — pick channels where your target audience are most active. Sporadic posts aren’t going to make people remember your brand or engage your audience. Think in terms of building a community of like-minded people. Social media is a low cost way to build brand appeal and get people interested in your products or services.
Learn more:
Easy way to create a social media content calendar
Social media content ideas 101
- Invest in SEO and Quality Content — optimizing your website and creating regular useful content may take some time to gain traction with search engines, but eventually it will pay off with higher website rankings in search results. Organic traffic is the gift that keeps on giving.
Likewise, taking time to put out regular quality blogs/guides will establish you as a trusted thought leader over time. It’s a good investment.
- Think Engagement Not Sales — if you focus on building relationships with your target audience, the brand trust and sales will naturally follow. Whereas aggressively pushing sales over quality and care is short term thinking, you can’t earn loyalty or stand out that way.
Engage with your followers on social media, respond to comments, and offer helpful advice. People ultimately like to shop where they’re treated well.
- Run Promotions — offering incentives like discounts, freebies, or contests are a great way for startups to catch the attention of consumers when first breaking into the marketplace.
- Encourage Customer Feedback — social proof is super important these days, as most people look at online reviews before deciding whether to buy from a company. Even negative reviews are gold, as they give you the opportunity to demonstrate that you care about your customers if you handle them right.
Learn more:
What is Reputation Management and why is it so important?
Reputation Management — how to write review replies like a pro
- Collaborate with Influencers & Other Businesses — contacting people who put out content that has a good sized following, and who align with your business, is another great way of growing your customer base, as is affiliate marketing. If an influencer likes and promotes your product to their followers, the trust is already there.
It’s also a good plan to partner with like-minded businesses. Cross-promotions and joint ventures are a win-win.
- Build Your Subscriber List — email marketing will never be replaced by social media, because it allows you to own your subscriber list, it can’t be wiped away by an algorithm. If email marketing is done right, you can effectively build trust for high conversion rates.
To get people to subscribe, offer something of value like a guide that addresses common pain points. And be sure to personalize your emails, to build a relationship.
- Be Strategic With Paid Advertising — first dip your toe in with a small advertising budget on the two most popular platforms, Google and Meta. The great thing about paid ads is they allow you to test our different target demographics. This in itself is a great return on investment, as it will steer you on where to focus your marketing.
- Keep On Keeping On — it can’t be stated enough, the key to good marketing is consistency. That’s what builds engagement, trust, and ultimately sales. Also be sure to be consistent in your branding, across every customer touchpoint, so your brand becomes instantly recognizable.
This is the To-Do list that every startup needs to tick off, if you want to reach potential customers, effectively target the right audience, build brand awareness, and increase your revenue.
It’s important to stay focused on startup priorities, to avoid getting overwhelmed by trying to take on too much. So we’re only including the information you need to know right now.
For a comprehensive guide walking you through all the marketing strategies you can use to grow your business, read: Need-to-know marketing strategies for small business startups.
To make this Checklist even more useful, we’re including suggestions for related helpful tools that will make things much easier. These tools are either free or low cost, so they won’t make a dent in your budget.
1. Develop a Brand Identity
It’s vital to create a brand that distinguishes you from the crowd, and that communicates an instant good impression which resonates with the type of audience your product or service is aimed at.
If your target audience is very broad, think about the emotion you want them to feel as their first impression. For example, if you’re selling high end clothing, you’ll want to convey a feel of sleek style. Or if you’re selling a financial service, it will be important to convey reliability.
Follow these steps:
1.1 Choose Your Business Name
Give this some serious thought as a rebrand later on would be costly. The free Business Name Generator will help you with ideas.
Learn more: How to come up with a business name: 10+ useful tips.
1.2 Create a Professional Logo
It’s important to have a stand-out logo that represents your brand, as it will become the immediate way that customers recognise your business. Try the free Logo Maker, it gives you templates that you can easily edit, even if you don’t have design experience.
Learn more: How to find the best color combination for your logo design.
1.3 Identify Your Brand Style
It may seem trivial, but the colors and fonts you choose will have an immediate impact on how people feel about your business. Font Generator lets you easily stand out with personalized style in your messaging.
Learn more: 8 tips for choosing and using brand colors.
1.4 Clarify Your Brand Values
These days customers are more fussy about who they buy from, so it’s important to explain what you stand for. Your website should include well crafted explanations of your brand’s mission, values, and unique selling proposition. This will help you stand out from the crown, and allow customers to resonate with you.
Learn more: How to write an effective mission statement for your business.
2. Build a Website
The following steps cover you getting started. But to dive deeper on this subject, read: Create a successful website – Simplified tips for small businesses.
2.1 Choose Your Domain Name
Ideally you’ll want your domain name to match your business name. It used to be all about .com domains, but now you have many more options to choose from, like .shop if you’re doing ecommerce. Explore your options.
Learn more: How to choose a domain name: recommendations & tips.
2.2 Find a Website Platform
It’s essential to have an online presence as most people shop online, or at least want to find out more about the business they buy from. And it needs to look good on mobile devices, especially for the younger generations.
These days you’re spoilt for choice, here are some options:
If you just want to get something simple up fast, Site Maker lets you do that in minutes. And it’s very affordable. While there are lots of other, ‘more sparkly’ web builder platforms like Wix or Squarespace, be warned that they tend to raise their costs significantly after year one, and you’re tied-in because your site can’t be migrated to another platform, it has to be rebuilt from scratch.
For a more advanced ecommerce website, Wordpress is a good choice. This platform is super popular for a reason, as it comes with tons of flexibility and plug-ins to suit specific needs. And if you get managed Wordpress which you can try for free, you don’t need to worry about security, downtime, or any of the usual hassles. It’s all done for you.
2.2 Create Key Web Pages
To build trust with potential customers and convince them that they should choose you over their competitors, these are the four must-have pages for startups:
- Home: your branding needs to pop so that it immediately appeals to your target audience, and makes them want to read more.
- Product/Service: if your site is simple, this page could also be your Home page. It needs to clearly explain what you’re selling, and how it solves your target audience pain points. Ideally you should add an FAQ section at the bottom, so people are clear about what they’re getting, and how it will be delivered.
- About: explain how your business started, your goals, and your values.
- Contact: it’s essential for credibility that customers know how to get hold of you if they have questions or a problem with their purchase. If you’re a local business, adding a map is important so customers can find you easily.
Learn more: How to write a brand story: Tips and advice for your brand.
2.3 Add Basic SEO to Your Web Pages
This means adding keywords and meta descriptions for each page, so that search engines know what you’re selling and can display your site when people do related searches. In your web platform’s content management system, you’ll find a field where you can add the meta descriptions.
For the keywords that best match what people search for and more, RelateSEO makes it super easy, even for total newbies, by giving you a list of SEO tasks tailored to your website, with video guides to walk you through it.
To learn more about optimizing your website to get found online, read: Make sure your new website gets found: SEO need-to-know.
3. Set Up Social Media
3.1 Setup Accounts
You’ll want to have separate business accounts from your personal ones. It’s best to start with the two most popular social media channels for now, which are Meta and X. Linkedin is important too if you’re wanting to reach a business audience.
3.2 Create Consistent Branding
Be sure to have consistent branding across all your channels, so they’re integrated and instantly recognisable.
3.3 Don’t Skip Profile Pages
Take the time to explain your business, provide contact info, and website links. This builds brand trust.
3.4 Post a Welcome — this gives you a professional touch, like having a champagne mixer for the opening of a new physical store. While making people feel welcome, you’ll also want to give an introduction to what you’re offering to generate initial interest.
4. Phase 1 Content Marketing Plan
4.1 Create a Social Media Content Calendar
It’s important to make regular posts on your social channels, to keep your target audience engaged. RelateSocial is a good tool for this, as it gives you AI that writes posts. You can easily edit them to match your brand, and auto-publish posts in bulk. Try it out for free.
4.2 Kickstart Your Website Blog
Writing useful articles regularly is a great way to get ranked higher in search results, and will build trust with your audience.
If you already have too much on your plate to do this yourself, you can affordably hire a copywriter on freelance platforms like Fiverr, or spend some time getting comfortable with using AI to write blog content. Either way, you’ll definitely want to review and edit the blogs that you outsource, because if they’re low quality you’ll lose both SEO juice and customer trust.
Learn more: AI Know-How for Small Business Marketing.
5. Create Marketing Materials
5.1 Design Real-World Marketing
Assets like business cards, brochures, flyers, and other print materials are still good for boosting your brand presence. You never know when you’ll bump into a great business contact, and handing out branded merch is a great way to develop customer loyalty.
Check out Business Card Maker, which gives you templates to edit so you can easily create swanky looking cards to make a lasting impression.
5.2 Create Instant Appeal
Be sure to use colorful, stylish images in your marketing, whether it’s web pages, social posts and blogs, or flyers and brochures. Stencil is a good tool to try out, because it puts pro design skills in your hands, without the usual costs.
6. Setup Email Marketing
6.1 Choose an Email Marketing Platform
There are lots of platform providers to choose from, but not all of them are flexible or affordable. Many only give you good prices if you have high volumes of subscribers, which doesn’t work for startups.
Professional Business Email is worth taking a look at, because it caters to both newbies and larger companies so you can scale. The features are comprehensive, and the prices affordable.
6.2 Create a Branded Email Template
Be sure to add the same logo and font to your email template as you have on your website. A seamless customer experience is key to differentiate your brand.
6.3 Build Your Subscriber List
Take the time to incentivise signup to your email newsletter, by creating and giving away a free ebook on your website, or running special promotions on your social channels.
6.4 Plan an Introductory Email Campaign
Once people sign up to your email list, be sure to keep them engaged with a series of emails, sent out weekly or monthly, with interesting content. This is a prime way of building brand presence for future sales. But don’t overdo it with too many emails, or people will get annoyed and unsubscribe
7. Start Paid Advertising
This step can be daunting for many startups, because it;s easy to fall into the trap of a runaway budget, and the analytics side of things isn’t in everyone’s wheelhouse. RelateAds is highly recommended for startups, because it gives you full budget control, and makes performance monitoring easy.
Learn more about paid advertising:
8. Get Found Locally
8.1 Register On Business Directories
If you own a local brick and mortar business, it’s important to sign up to all relevant directories so people can find you online when they’re planning to visit your area. The main ones are Google My Business, Yelp, and local-specific directories.
8.2 Keep Your Profiles Updated
Adding relevant keywords to your Google My Business listing will ensure you get found in search results. So will up to date information. Be sure to keep current with your contact information, opening hours,.appealing images, and other key info (like menu links if you’re a restaurant).
Keeping on top of all this information on all relevant directory platforms can be time consuming. RelateLocal does this for you, at the touch of a button. This tool gives local startups everything you need to impress customers online, so they walk through your doors.
9. Manage Your Brand Reputation
9.1 Encourage Customers to Leave Reviews
Ask customers to leave feedback when you send them a purchase confirmation, as well as building this into your marketing campaigns. It’s a good idea to offer a discount code to incentivise this.
But the catch is you need to stay on top of customer feedback, as ignoring comments, especially bad reviews, will damage your brand reputation. RelateReviews is a good tool to handle this, it can even write replies for you.
9.2 Create a Press Kit
To get the word out more efficiently and effectively, create a brochure (digital and paper) that summarizes who your company is, your values, your products/services, and your contact info.
9.3 Find the Spotlight
Look for websites or channels on streaming platforms that align with your brand, and that have a good amount of subscribers. Reach out to them with either giveaways, paid offers, or reciprocal promotion offers.
Do this not only for your main launch, but every time you have a new product/service release or special event. And of course you’ll want to be promoting new offers on your social media channels as well as email marketing.
10. Network
10.1 Develop a Small Business Community
There are lots of ways to do this. Get active with business networks on social platforms, answer questions, and contribute to discussions relevant to your expertise. Also meet people through your local chambers of commerce, and seek out industry-related events.
It’s also a good idea to build partnerships by leaving supportive comments on the social platforms of complementary businesses, and making an effort to meet them if local. Small businesses supporting each other is a great way to get ahead.
10.2 Get Referrals
Do this by offering incentive programs. Loyalty schemes are a great way to bring in new customers that already trust your business.
Wrap Up
This guide explores the Three Pillars that give a startup an unshakeable foundation for unlimited growth. We cover mindset, logistical setup, and marketing setup. All three of these vital areas need to be cemented in place to successfully get your startup off the ground.
So as not to overwhelm, we’ve focused purely on what you need to know in the early stages of starting your small business. But we link to more advanced guides throughout, so you can learn more when you feel ready.
We’ve also given you suggestions for digital tools that will make your startup journey much easier. They’re designed with small businesses in mind — affordable, user friendly, and simplifying complexity. The aim of this guide is to help you to keep your focus on growing your business, instead of trying to become an expert in a thousand different areas.
If you want more of a steer on what the right tools are for you, including a short Quiz that offers recommendations based on what stage your business is at, check out the Build & Grow Hub.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most successful startup business ideas?
Find out which skills are going the way of the dinosaur because of AI. Explore startup ideas you can try in your spare time to see if you want to take them full time. Also discover the two most booming industries to build a business around.
Read: Most future-proof small business ideas you can start today.
How to create a successful startup?
Startups that have long term success are built on core principles or pillars:
- Mindset — as an entrepreneur, you’ll need resilience, a balance between risk and caution, be able to think outside the box to overcome challenges, stay focused on why your startup has meaning for ongoing motivation, have a clear vision of your long term goals, and a support network to bounce ideas off or learn from.
- Logistics — you’ll need to setup a solid practical foundation to build on, like a strong Business Plan, financial planning, business registration, and any relevant business licenses.
- Marketing — you could have the best products or services on the planet, but it means little without good marketing to let the world know, and to continue attracting customers to grow your profits. This guide gives you a startup marketing checklist.
This guide comprehensively covers all three pillars. To dive deeper than the essentials, and learn about all the marketing strategies you can use to monetise your startup, read: Need-to-know marketing strategies for small business startups.
How to build resilience?
As with all growth, every startup will face unforeseen difficulties and failures, so it’s crucial to be able to bounce back from setbacks. Resilience is an entrepreneurial muscle you’ll build over time.
Key mindset insights that build resilience are:
- Fail Fast to Learn Fast — see failure as part of the process, and a valuable tool for growth.
- Embrace Uncertainty — accept from the beginning that uncertainty is baked into the journey, and learn to roll with it.
- Manage Stress — develop good coping routines that help you unwind and find balance, like exercise, meditation, and mentorship.
How to develop a growth mindset?
A growth mindset is all about being committed to continuous learning and skills improvement. All the most successful entrepreneurs embrace this.
Two of the main things to keep in mind for building a growth mindset are:
- Seek Different Perspectives — get feedback and information from a broad range of people to make sure you’re getting the big picture.
- Don’t Be Afraid of Mistakes — once you’ve considered all perspectives, trust your gut and go your own way. If you fail, you’ll have learned a lot.
What are the benefits of writing a Business Plan?
Nailing down a strong Business Plan as your first step is the wisest move for startups, because it will give you a solid structure to lean on. If done right, it will help you organize all the moving parts, prevent misunderstandings with people that work for you, and help you gain funding if you need it.
Wondering how to start writing a Business Plan? There are a number of software tools these days to help you. This guide will give you some of the most popular and affordable options
Why is financial planning important for startups, and what is the first step?
As with a Business Plan, financial planning plays a vital part of laying a strong, sustainable foundation, so your startup can sustainably grow over the long-term.
First be sure to calculate your startup operating costs, so you don’t stall at a crucial stage of growth. Bear in mind that it takes most startups at least a year to become profitable, so it may not be your main source of income for some time.
This guide walks you through the crucial financial planning steps, including saving money, investor options, budget tracking, and liability insurance.
What is business formation?
Also called business registration, this is the process of establishing your business as a company with a separate legal entity, by registering it in your state.
This guide gives you the know-how and tools to make it easy, including further guides to help you choose between different forms of company, such as an LLC or CORP.
Do I need a business license, and how much does it cost?
When starting a small business, there may be licenses and permits you’ll need to obtain depending on your industry, location, and operations. The cost will vary accordingly. This guide gives you a list of the most common ones, as well as who you can turn to for help if the bureaucracy gets too complicated.
How to create a brand identity?
If done right, your brand identity will make you stand out from the crowd, communicating an instant good impression that resonates with the type of audience your product or service is aimed at.
This guide covers the essential know-how and tools to get started the easy way, including choosing your business name, creating a professional logo for free, identifying your brand style, and clarifying your brand values.
How to build a website?
This guide covers the basic know-how and tools to quickly get your website up and running, including choosing your domain name, finding a website platform, creating key web pages, and basic SEO so your site gets found in search results.
To go next level with your website, these two guides will make things clear and easy:
How to create a social media campaign?
This guide covers the basics of setting up social media for your startup. To learn more, read these supporting guides, designed to make social media marketing easy for small businesses:
How to create a content marketing plan?
The Phase 1 Content Marketing Plan for startups is to create a social media content calendar for regular posts to develop brand awareness, and kickstart your website blog to establish your business as an industry expert (building trust).
To learn more read: Need-to-know marketing strategies for small business startups.
How to setup an email marketing plan?
These are the starter steps:
- Choose an Email Marketing Platform — there are lots of options out there, choose a provider that is flexible and affordable for your volume of subscribers.
. - Create a Branded Email Template — add the same logo and font to your email template as you have on your website.
- Build Your Subscriber List — incentivise signup to your email newsletter, such as giving away a free ebook on your website, or promotions on your social channels.
- Plan an Introductory Email Campaign — keep subscribers engaged with a series of emails, sent out weekly or monthly. Don’t overdo it with too many emails, or people will get annoyed and unsubscribe.
How to launch paid advertising?
One of the easiest ways for small businesses that are new to paid advertising to get up and running, is the RelateAds tool. It even writes ads for you, and gives you transparent flexibility on your campaigns so you don’t overspend for small results.
To learn more, read:
How to increase local visibility for my business?
One of the best tools for strengthening your online presence if your business has a physical address is the RelateLocal. It lets you add your details to all relevant local directories with one click of a button, while giving you a bunch of other features to make sure you’re sending more customers through your doors.
To learn more, read: How to boost your local business.
How to manage brand reputation?
One of the best tools to make managing your brand reputation easy is RelateReviews. It even gives you writing suggestions for fast replies to customer feedback, so you can get more positive reviews.
To learn more, read:
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