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Startup checklist
Venture into business - take the adventure.
We'll take you through the following basic steps in turn. At each stage, use the links to find more information on a topic, or click on the buttons to get the relevant practical help or services you need. Click here for a copy of the checklist, or use our Business Workbook.
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What products or services will you sell, to what customers? (Needs product design?)
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Your story. Why are doing this? What are your relevant experiences, skills etc.?
- Vision for your business: values, ethos, goals. What is your overall 'value proposition'?
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Create your brand (name, logo, slogan, style, colour, font etc. to represent values)
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Identify behaviours to develop and protect reputation (good customer service).
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Marketing plan. (Offline and online - social medial, SEO etc.)
copyright, etc.
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Protect your ideas (creations, technology, brand) with intellectual property rights.
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Share with care (keep your valuable ideas confidential until clear on protection).
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Look before launch (check you won't infringe other people's IP rights).
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Sales plan to convert leads (set up customer relationship management system).
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Where will you sell? (Offline vs online; wholesale vs retail etc.)
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Trading structure? (Sole trader vs limited liability company vs partnership.)
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Buy domain name(s) to link your website to.
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Create website (design, terms and conditions, IT support).
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Set up online marketplace shops.
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Office space/premises
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Services, equipment and supplies you need (IT, utilities, materials, stationery etc.)
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Employees & other staff (contracts, payroll, pensions)
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Funding (set-up, operational, growth)
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Accounts & Tax (income, VAT etc. - appoint adviser)
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Bank account(s) and payment
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Contracts (sales, buy or sell a business, website, procurement, employees etc.)
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Compliance (data protection, competition rules, licences, certification etc.)
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Licences and permits.
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Pull all this together in a business plan.
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Realistic financial projections and how you will implement in practice.
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Think about a plan on a page as well as a full business plan.
launch
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Start your venture, put that business plan into action and be awesome.
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Enjoy the adventure. After all, you're the boss now, right?
Ready? First, The Big Idea: