New Business Checklist – 7 Things To Do Before Launching

19/04/2022

1. Reserve Your Brand Name Online

You need to get your business name reserved so that no one else can use it. This includes setting up accounts on social media and registering your domain name, even if you’re not ready to use it yet. It’s a huge headache to have someone else use your business name after you begin your marketing.

2. Check Out the Competition

Market research is essential. You need to understand the competitive landscape that you’re about to enter. This will also help you figure out how best to market your business on social media or on other platforms. Take a look at what your competitors are doing well and where their weaknesses lie so that you can build a business that stands heads and shoulders above the rest.

3. Register Your Business

You should register your business as soon as possible. This will require you to register with HMRC, along with Companies House if you have decided to trade as a Limited Company. You may also need to check with the government to see if you need any specific licenses and then filling out necessary forms accordingly. Even though this can all take time to complete, it’s better than having to pay fines or face other legal consequences because you didn’t get everything taken care of in advance.

4. Design Your Logo

Your business logo is the first thing your customers will see, so it’s important that you get this right. Once you’ve come up with a few designs for yourself, hire an expert to help bring them to life and make sure they’re free of any copyright issues or other legal problems – otherwise, you’ll have serious trouble on your hands that you don’t need.

5. Create a Business Plan

Your business plan is basically your roadmap to success, so it’s important for several reasons. First of all, the process itself will help you focus on what you need to do. Secondly, it’s great for helping you identify where problems might arise and what needs to be done in order to fix them or prevent them altogether. Finally, having a business plan is critical if you want investors or the bank to take your business seriously; they’ll see that you’re serious about building something sustainable that won’t disappear after a year or two.

6. Hire an Accountant

You don’t want to miss out on key tax deductions, even if you’re just starting off.It’s important to hire an accountant as soon as possible because they can help ensure that nothing slips through the cracks and that your business is fully compliant with all relevant regulations from the beginning.

Furthermore, an accountant can help you apply for funding and investment, which can be a massive boost for your business and make the path to success significantly smoother.

7. Create a Cash Flow Management System

Having a cash flow management system in place before you launch your business is vital for success. This will allow you to keep track of incoming and outgoing funds so that nothing gets lost or forgotten about, which can be extremely dangerous. Without this kind of financial tracking mechanism in place, things are bound to go wrong. After all, it’s hard to achieve steady growth when you keep running out of cash!

Summary

In order to have a successful business, you must be able to plan ahead and take care of all the details. A thorough checklist will help your small business stay on track from start-up to when it is well established in its niche market. The seven things we’ve discussed in this article are just a few suggestions that every entrepreneur needs to know before they launch their own small business. By following these tips, you’ll avoid any potential problems down the road and be ready for anything that comes your way.

For more specific information on registering a company, business planning, tax advice or cash flow management please book a call with us. For more general advice why not visit our business hub, which is full of useful videos and resources