Starting a business might seem daunting, but with the right guidance and clear steps, you can go from idea to launch in just 30 days. Whether you’re a new graduate, career changer, or seasoned professional ready to take the leap, this guide will walk you through everything you need to get started.
Days 1-10, are when you validate your “Business Idea”
So, before you dive into the business-building process, you need to ensure there’s a market for your idea. We refer to these steps as the “Strategic Process”. It is all about Business Development and Positioning your business.
Research your market: Start by identifying your target audience. Who are they? What problems are they facing that your business can solve? What is the need and want that you are fulfilling?
Competitive analysis: Look at your competitors. What are they offering? How can you position your product or service to stand out? What is your product fit in the market, where is there an opportunity gap you can fill?
Survey potential customers: Conduct quick surveys or interviews with people in your target audience to validate that your solution addresses a real need.
Mission and vision: Clearly define what your business stands for and its long-term goals.
Business financial model: How will you make money? Will you sell products, offer services, or monetize in another way? Outline your startup costs and how you plan to make a profit.
Build your brand: What will your logo look like? What feel do you want your brand to have?
Marketing strategy: Determine how you’ll reach your audience, whether through social media, ads, or partnerships.
Days 10-15, this is all about getting your business ready
We call this “The Prep”, and it is about setting your business goals, picking your business name and more.
Choose a business name and register it. Make sure the name is unique and represents your brand.
Decide on a business structure. Will you be a sole proprietor, LLC, or corporation? Each has different tax and legal implications.
Setting Business Goals. Creating meaningful KPI’s.
Apply for necessary permits and licenses. Depending on your industry and location, you may need business permits or special licenses.
Set up a business bank account. This will help you keep your personal and business finances separate.
This the fun part! “Create your Brand”. Your brand is how customers perceive you, so take time to develop it thoughtfully. This really is “The Big Picture” and it’s where you learn how to build your logo, create a comprehensive brand manual, start your website architecture: developing your Website Navigation, understanding and ensuring the inclusion of effective User - Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) and google analytics!
Design a logo and brand colors. Keep it simple and reflective of your business’s values. It should also easily translate to digital.
Develop your Website Navigation. It doesn’t have to be complex, but it should communicate who you are, what you offer, and how to contact you.
Understanding your audience. Understand your audience by conducting surveys, creating customer personas, and analyzing competitors to identify market gaps.
Understand your audience. Conduct surveys, create customer personas, and analyze competitors to identify market gaps.
User - Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI). Design an intuitive website layout (UX) that prioritizes easy navigation and quick load times, and ensure your UI is clean and consistent, with a clear visual hierarchy, using colors and fonts that are easy to read.
Google Analytics, why is it important? Track website performance with Google Analytics by monitoring key metrics like traffic, bounce rates, and conversion goals.
Days 15-25: Develop your “Building Blocks”
By using the Building Blocks you can create your website look and feel, and by choosing the right web template. Getting your customers engaged and adding search engine optimization.
Now that the groundwork is laid, you can focus on building the foundation of the business.
Product development. If you’re creating a product, this is the time to finalize it and make it market-ready.
Website Design. Design and create your website and keep customers engaged by developing relevant content.
Onsite SEO. Create your onsite SEO spreadsheet, and then optimize your site, incorporating keywords into title tags, meta descriptions, and images, then applying them to your website.
Your next step is what we refer to as “The BUILD”. You are now ready to take everything and build it!
Build your site from start to finish. Now you can build your website, and add the content, images and SEO without any programming.
Days 25-30: Launch Ready!
You’re ready to go live! But first, make sure your launch gets the attention it deserves.
Create social media profiles: Set up business accounts on the platforms where your target audience spends the most time.
Test your website before you launch: Conduct usability testing, check for broken links, and ensure it performs well across different devices and browsers.
Pre-launch promotions: Tease your launch on social media and through email marketing and social media posts. Build anticipation.
Starting a business in 30 days: This is achievable with careful planning and execution. By following this step-by-step guide, you can go from an idea to a fully launched business within a month.
Ready to make your entrepreneurial dream a reality?
Book your free 30-minute info session and learn how the Start-Up Method can take you through every step and every stage to get launched.