Think it takes weeks to start a business? Think again! With the right tools and resources, you can launch a business within the timeframe of a single 8-hour workday. Of course, it helps if you already know what kind of business you want to start and which audience groups you intend to target with your offers. Regardless of how much thought you?ve put into your business, the following step-by-step guide from Just Get Blogging will help you get your company set up in one day!
9:00 am to 9:30 am ? Set Business Goals
The Balance Small Business explains that setting goals will provide you with direction, motivation, and a method to measure success as you move forward with your business plans. Start by establishing your major lifestyle and business goals. Then, work your way backward to map out the different paths you could take to get there. Create smaller, short-term goals to transform your abstract ideas into specific, measurable, and attainable steps.
9:30 am to 10:30 am ? Outline Your Business Plan
Once you have a clear idea of your business goals, get started on your business plan. You can complete an informal business plan in less than an hour as long as you already have a business idea and target audience in mind. Outline a simple business plan to discover your ideal business strategy. In this plan, include your value proposition, the problem your idea solves, a description of your ideal customer, target sales milestones, your budget, and an evaluation of your competition.
10:30 am to 11:30 am ? Choose a Business Structure and Register Online
Consider different business structures and choose one that makes the most sense for your situation. Once you?ve decided on a structure, registering your business online is quick and easy. In fact, you should be able to complete the forms to register a sole proprietorship or DBA within about 15 minutes! Other business structures can take longer to form. If you?re registering an LLC, it can take over a week for your state agency to approve your new business.
11:30am to 12:00pm – Get an EIN
After registering your business, apply for an EIN (Employer Identification Number). The IRS will use this number to identify your business for tax purposes. An EIN is necessary if you?re going to hire employees or open a business bank account. If you apply online, you?ll receive your EIN immediately!
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm ? Find Freelancers to Hire
Consider hiring a few freelancers to help you get your business off the ground. Hire professionals who have the skills and experience that you lack. Online freelancing platforms make it easy to compare candidates, weigh client reviews, and evaluate costs before hiring. For example, you can use job boards like Upwork to connect with influencer marketing agencies, customer support professionals, and design and creative teams. Consider also hiring a bookkeeping professional to handle your employee payroll.
1:00 pm to 2:00 pm ? Buy a Domain and Build a Website
With the help of website building tools from companies like GoDaddy, it?s possible to get a website up and running in under one hour. All you have to do is register a domain name, choose a hosting plan, pick a website theme, and customize your design. Adding content to your website will take up most of this time, so consider hiring a copywriter to help you out!
2:00 pm to 3:00 pm ? Establish a Social Media Presence
Creating a social media presence for your business will open up many new marketing and sales channels to increase your reach. Establish your business on a couple of different social media websites, choosing platforms that make sense for your business. For example, B2B businesses tend to thrive on LinkedIn while creative businesses targeting younger customers are better off on Instagram and TikTok.
3:00 pm to 5:00 pm ? Design a Marketing Strategy to Find Your First Customers
Developing a marketing strategy can take a long time. You have to do market research, come up with a plan, create compelling content, and execute a marketing campaign targeting your ideal demographic. While you may not be able to finish this task by the end of the day, you can get a really good start on it!
Starting a business in an 8-hour day might not be easy, but it?s not impossible! One day is all you need to tackle many of those ?boring? startup tasks, like building a business plan and registering your company with state and federal agencies. After such a productive day, you should feel motivated and ready to hit the ground running tomorrow!
