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Starting a Business: The Great Big Checklist of Everything

This checklist (available in a downloadable version here) breaks down everything you must and should do when starting a business.
Mandatory tasks are required under the law in order to operate a valid and compliant business.
Recommended tasks, although not strictly required under the law, are tasks that should be undertaken in order to grow and protect a new business.

Ideation & Protecting Ideas
Mandatory
•           Pick a company name and check any potential trademark infringements on Trademarkiaor KnowEm.
•           Determine whether your business name needs to be trademarked, and if does Trademark it at the USPTO.
•           Protect your written works and code through the Copyright Office.
•           If you are inventing or creating a product, understand patents and register for one at theUSPTO.
Recommended
•           Vet your idea with the idea checklist.
•           Protect your ideas when sharing them with others by using an NDA.
•           Search your state’s corporation and LLC name registration database to ensure your business name has not been taken.
•           Check Google, Yellow Pages, and local directories to ensure your business name is not taken.
•           Learn how to select a good business name.

Forming Your Entity
Mandatory
•           Pick a structure (Sole Proprietorship, Corporation, S-Corp, LLC, Partnership, LP, LLP, Non-Profit) and ensure that you comply with business formation requirements.
•           Creating a corporation? File Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws with the Secretary of State’s Office.
•           Forming an LLC? File the Articles of Organization and an Operating Agreement with the Secretary of State’s Office.
•           Get the necessary licenses and permits to operate legally.
•           Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN).
•           If you are incorporating, appoint a Board of Directors.
•           For a corporation and LCC, you must register a service agent.
Recommended
•           Going into a Partnership? Create a Partnership Agreement.
•           Check your state government’s website for other state-specific registration, taxation and employment rules.
•           Get your DBA (Doing Business As) which allows a business to operate under a fictitious name (this is required for sole proprietorships that want to operate under any name other than the name of the business owner).
•           Open your company bank account.

Identity and Branding
Recommended
•           Design a logo (99designs).
•           Search for and register a unique online domain name (GoDaddy, 1and1, Register).
•           Create your website (Wordpress, Intuit, Weebly, Wix, SiteKreator, GoDaddy).
•           Ensure your business name is available on a wide variety of social networking websites in order to develop consistent branding (KnowEm).
•           Create and manage your social media presence.
•           Get business cards and other physical collateral (Vistaprint).
•           List your business online with MerchantCircle, Manta, Yelp and DandB.com.

Financing and Business Planning
Recommended
•           Prepare for and create a Business Plan (if you need one).
•           Find sources of capital— friends & family, business bank loans, angel investment, venture capital or even crowdfunding (Crowdfunder, Fundable).
•           If seeking investors, create a business pitch deck.
•           For those issuing stock to finance the company (corporations), use a Shareholder’s Agreement.

Operations
Mandatory
•           Find a retail space, set up a home-based office or find an office space on LoopNet,OfficeFinder or ShowCase.
•           Choose a broker to help find an adequate business space on TheBrokerList.
•           For corporation, keep record of Meeting Minutes.
Recommended
•           Set up an online phone system (Ring Central, Google Voice, Onebox) or set up a traditional land line (Verizon, AT&T).
•           Set up your computer and network.
•           Pick an internal email system (Gmail, Outlook).
•           Choose an email system to connect with customers (Constant Contact, MailChimp,Sendgrid).
•           Set up a collaboration method for business documents, spreadsheets and presentations (GoogleApps).

Financial Planning & Accounting
Mandatory
•           Choose a tax year.
•           Determine which type of federal business taxes you will be responsible for.
•           Determine state tax obligations.
•           Create and maintain the top 3 financial statements: income statement, balance sheet and cash flows on at least a quarterly basis.
Recommended
•           Set up an accounting system (Quickbooks).
•           Find the right accountant.
•           Set a budget for the coming year.
•           Create a sales forecasts and financial projections regularly.
•           Get a business credit card and
•           Register with Dun & Bradstreet to build business credit and obtain a D-U-N-S Number to accurately gauge and share your creditworthiness.
•           If a corporation, decide whether to elect S Corporation tax status.

Business Mentors
Recommended
•           Speak to entrepreneurs and leaders in your industry and consider asking them to be your mentor.
•           Ask mentors to join your Board of Advisors (for the overall benefit of the company).

Building a Team
Mandatory
•           Determine the company founders and leadership (partnership, owners, CEO, etc.).
•           Clarify who gets equity, and how much.
•           Conduct job interviews—look out for red flags.
Recommended
•           Find team members through personal connections, recruiters or job boards (Ziprecruiter,Craigslist, Monster, Indeed, SimplyHired).
•           Run a background check on new hires.
•           For one-off or task based activities, use AmazonTurk or Odesk.

Human Resources
Mandatory
•           Make sure workers are properly classified (employee, independent contractor, part-time employee, intern, etc.).
•           Have employees fill out Form I-9 and Form W-4.
•           Familiarize yourself with the Department of Labor laws and regulations regarding

employment.
•           Put up the necessary labor law posters to meet federal and state requirements.
•           Familiarize yourself with federal discrimination laws and heed them
•           Terminate employees properly to avoid discrimination claims.
Recommended
•           Create job descriptions.
•           Understand the definition of an "At Will" employee.
•           Have workers sign the proper Employment Agreement.
•           Protect the inventions employees create for you with an Employee Non-Compete and Confidentiality Agreement.
•           Give all new employees an Employee Handbook.
•           Lay out the employee benefits you will provide (paid leave and holidays, health insurance, bonuses).
•           Choose a payroll service (ADP, Trinet, Paychex).
•           Set up a system for employee discipline.

Sales
Recommended
•           Determine a pricing system for your product(s).
•           Execute the 5 Step Sales Process.
•           Learn the art of persuasion.
•           Hire and train salespeople.
•           Use a sales management service (one that fits your business size, from smaller to largercompanies).
•           Pick a Customer Relationships Management System (CRM).
•           Make a Customer Service Plan to standardize procedures for complaints and refunds.
•           Track which products perform better, and which have the best margins.
•           Decide on possible discounts, specials and coupons to attract new customers.
•           List your products on online marketplaces.

Marketing & PR
Recommended
•           Plan your marketing strategy.
•           Decide on a target market and conduct a market analysis.
•           Determine your Key Performance Indicators.
•           Get free online traffic.
•           Improve SEO.
•           Get paid online ads, such as Google AdWords and Facebook Advertising.
•           Master social media marketing.
•           Look into relevant trade shows and conventions to market your product.
•           Print flyers, brochures or catalogs.
•           Leverage current customers with email marketing.
•           Decide if you want to hire a PR Agency.
•           Go mobile and consider app development.
•           Reach out to relevant newspapers and press.

Insurance
Mandatory
•           Decide which types of business insurance you need.
• Common: workers' compensation, unemployment and disability insurance.
• Others: property, liability or business overhead insurance.
Recommended
•           Check any potential insurance providers here

Legal
Recommended
•           Find an attorney you trust.
•           Use waivers and contracts to prevent litigation.
•           Prepare for when your company is sued.

CHECKLIST FOR YOUR SPECIFIC BUSINESS
Service-Based Businesses
Mandatory
•           Determine the price of your services.
Recommended
•           Don’t forget to clarify the deliverable, deadline and cost in your service agreement.

Retail/Brick and Mortar Businesses 
Mandatory
•           Check zoning laws.
•           Secure a lease.
•           Decide on days and hours of operation.
•           Determine staffing needs (for prime hours, slower times, closing an inventory).
•           Secure the correct permits and licenses for your city and state.
•           Set up lighting and utilities.
•           Acquire furniture, register, racks, tables and wall displays, a register, etc.
•           Get a state-specific Seller’s Permit or Resale Permit to properly collect sales tax.
Recommended
•           Choose a location with good foot traffic, size and appearance.
•           Speak with a commercial realtor to get an idea of what to look for and what to expect.
•           Establish agreements with your manufacturer, distributor or wholesale supplier.
•           Set up inventory tracking (understand a Stock Keeping Unit).
•           Set up your Yelp page.

Online Business
Mandatory
•           Purchase computers.
•           Find images for your website.
•           Set up your e-commerce or online store (Shopify, FlyingCart, Goodsie).
•           Choose a shipping or delivery system (FedEx, UPS, USPS).
•           Set up a system for payment processing (PayPal, Google Checkout).
Recommended
•           Track and improve traffic through Google Analytics.
•           Determine storage options, such as cloud computing (Box, DropBox).
•           Set up a system for IT bugs and tickets (Jira).
•           If outsourced development is needed, use Guru or Elance.


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