Both quickbooks and freshbooks have credit card processing systems built in but you need to apply and be sure to check what their rates are . Sometimes you can get a better deal by going through you local bank and other times it is cheaper online .
Find an accountant . This is so important . Find an accountant you like that will help set you up for success . When I first started my business I found a younger accountant who was willing to exchange my services for his . This was a great way that helped me stay financially healthy ( and accord an accountant during those early days ) and gave me some credibility because I had an accountant as a client .
Financial Checklist : Billing / Invoicing Software Credit Card Processing Bank Account Accountant
Brand
For some reason people have a tendency to skimp on their logo and website . Yes , there are tons of places where you can get a cheap website and a stock logo but I ’ m telling you , you will end up changing it later on .
Find someone reputable to work with that digs deep with you to understand who your ideal client is , the psychology behind why they will buy from you and what that means for building a business .
Out of the gate , you will need a logo , website , email address and business card for your brand . I would also contend that a mission statement ( starbucks has a great mission ), a vision statement and core values ( Zappos has a fantastic example of core values ) these standards are pretty important as well . Getting these down on paper prior to launch will help keep you in check as the business starts to grow .
Upon launch , a brand strategy should also be completed including brand identity guidelines , who your ideal client is and the strategy for building your business .
Brand Checklist Logo Website Email Address ( Google for Business is Awesome ) Mission Statement Vision Statement Core Values Business Card Brand Strategy
Marketing
In today ’ s connected world , social media , email marketing and blogging are essential in creating a successful business . I always recommend starting small when it comes to this , especially , if you plan to do the marketing yourself .
Understand the age , income and Internet behaviors of your ideal client and then check out the demographics on each of the social networks to determine where you should start . Pick one or two networks and do them well .
Email marketing is a necessary evil in 2016 for success . According to Adobe Marketing an email address ( when someone opts into your email marketing list ) is worth approximately 39.42 to you business . I recommend using a service like mailchimp for this as they integrate with many other services .
Create a calendar . I use a content calendar with all of my clients . It keeps both of us organized and it is super easy to strategize what we want to be doing each month .
Marketing Checklist Social Media Setup Email Marketing List Setup Content Calendar Creation
Sales
This is probably one of the most overlooked pieces but one of the most important . When starting a business ( after you get all the other pieces setup ) most of your time should be spent connecting with people and searching