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Starting a small business is a lot of hard work and can be overwhelming. That’s why we created this small business startup checklist to help as you get going. This list can help make sure you’re giving your business a good foundation and starting it off on the right foot.
Small Business Startup Checklist: 10 Things To Do
From creating a business plan to getting the right type of small business insurance, our small business startup checklist can help make sure you’re giving your company the best opportunity for success.
1. Determine the Viability of Your Business Idea
Before you start your small business, it’s important to make sure you have a strong foundation. To do so, make sure you have a business idea that meets customers’ needs. Base your business idea on market research to help you:
- Identify customer habits, trends and needs
- Determine the best way to market your product and service
- Get feedback on your idea or proposal
Doing your due diligence can help you save time, energy and money before opening a business.
2. Decide on Your Business Structure
Your business structure is an important decision that can impact other areas of your company, like:
- Taxes
- Licenses
- Insurance needs
Some common small business startup structures include:
- Sole proprietorship, which means one person serves as the business owner and runs the operations.
- Limited liability company (LLC), which helps protect the personal assets of its members. With an LLC, your personal and professional assets are kept separate.
- General partnership where partners are co-owners of the business and equally share rights and responsibilities.
- Limited partnership, which means partners don’t have a say in running the company.
- C corporation, a time-tested business structure providing the best protection against liability.
- S corporation in which you don’t have to pay taxes on profits at the corporate level and on dividends at the individual level.
3. Write a Business Plan
There are many ways to write a business plan, but it’s a good idea to include these five components:
- Executive summary. Think of this as your elevator pitch. It can include a table of contents, background, market opportunity and competitive advantages.
- Business description and structure to explain why you want to start a business and what you’re selling.
- Market research and strategies, which can include sales forecasts and how your business compares to the competition.
- Management and personal bios to explain who is leading the company.
- Financial documents to back up everything you’ve described in your organization and marketing sections.
4. Obtain Licenses and Permits
Depending on the industry you’re in, you may have to get certain business licenses and permits. For example, if you operate an agriculture business that can impact the environment, federal law requires you to get a license. Or if you set up a retail business, you may have to get a sales tax permit in your state.
With laws varying between states, it’s important to know what’s required of your small business before you ever open.
5. Register Your Business
Registering your business gives you more credibility with customers and clients.
When you register your business, you’ll file paperwork with your state and the IRS. Be aware that you may have to get the appropriate permits and licenses before you can register your company.
6. Get Your Finances in Order
Before you start your business, it’s essential that you have your finances in order. While financing a startup requires time and effort, it’s equally important to set up a business banking account to separate your company’s funds from your personal money.
If you’ve already registered your business with the IRS, you should have gotten an employer identification number (EIN). You’ll use your EIN to file your business’ taxes each year. it easier when the business tax deadline gets closer.
7. Find an Office or Retail Space
There are plenty of options to consider for your business location. Depending on the type of business you plan on running, you can:
- Work from home
- Lease or buy an office or brick-and-mortar location
- Create a virtual office
Whether you have a physical or virtual location, it’s essential to get commercial property insurance. This coverage can help protect your owned or rented building and the equipment you use to operate your business.
8. Get the Word Out
Marketing your business plays a key role in your success. You can increase your small business’ visibility by:
- Creating a website
- Starting social media accounts and engaging with the public
- Handing out business cards
Marketing for startups doesn’t have to be intimidating. It can help you create your own brand and have a strategy to expand and grow.
9. Find a Mentor
Opening and running a small business is a big investment and will require a lot of work. If this is your first time starting a company, you’ll likely face challenges and questions that you don’t know the answers to. A good way to help you stay on the right track is to find a mentor.
There are a variety of organizations that pair new business owners with experienced mentors. SCORE, for example, has over 10,000 volunteer mentors who can help small business owners thrive.
10. Follow Our Insurance for New Business Checklist
When you open your doors for business, you’ll immediately face all different types of risks. Some of the most common claims are from customers who claim bodily injury or property damage against a business. These claims happen often, and that’s why small business insurance is so important.
We’re here to help make sure you check off all the boxes when it comes to getting the right coverage. We offer different types of business insurance based on your unique needs. Common coverages that many small business owners choose include our:
- Business Owner’s Policy (BOP), which includes a general liability, commercial property and business income insurance coverage in one policy.
- General liability insurance to help cover claims that your business hurt someone or damaged another person’s property.
- Workers’ compensation insurance to give your employees benefits if they get a work-related injury or illness.
- Commercial auto insurance, which helps protect you and your employees on the road if you use a business-owned car for work.
- Data breach insurance to help cover your costs to respond to a breach if personally identifiable information gets lost or stolen. Some insurers call this coverage cyber liability insurance.
- Professional liability insurance, which helps cover your legal costs, judgments and settlements if your business gets sued for mistakes in the professional services provided.
When Starting a New Business, The Hartford Has Your Back
We know starting a small business takes a lot of work. It’s why we created this small business startup checklist to help you open with a strong foundation. And we understand you may face unique risks when you open. We can help answer questions like, “What does compensation mean?”
We are an admitted insurance company. We’ve helped over 1 million small business owners, so we know the challenges you face. Our specialists are here to help you and answer questions you have about coverage.
Whether you need help getting the right small business insurance coverage or are looking to file a claim, we’ve got your back. Get a small business insurance quote today to learn how much insurance is for a startup business.