Talk to any entrepreneur or small business owner and you’ll quickly learn that starting a business requires a lot of work. Generating a business idea is a great starting point, but an idea doesn’t become a business without effort. Some budding entrepreneurs understand the effort necessary to create a business, but they might not be familiar with the many steps required to launch a business venture. If you’re willing to put in the effort to build a business, you’re going to want to know the steps needed to reach your goals.

Tasks like naming the business and creating a logo are obvious, but what about the less-heralded, equally important steps? Whether it’s determining your business structure or crafting a detailed marketing strategy, the workload can quickly pile up. Rather than spinning your wheels and guessing at where to start, follow this 10-step checklist to transform your business from a lightbulb above your head to a real entity.

In this article…

  • Refine your idea.
  • Write a business plan.
  • Assess your finances.
  • Determine your legal business structure.
  • Register with the government and IRS.
  • Purchase an insurance policy.
  • Build your team.
  • Choose your vendors.
  • Brand yourself and advertise.
  • Grow your business.

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