So You Want to Start a Business? Here’s the Real Grown-Up Checklist
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Business Blog
The latest data from Demand Sage states there are 1,148,296 startups in the US. But it has always been true that the majority of startups fail, with 2025 statistics still saying the failure rate is as high as 90%.
Starting a business feels exciting in that “new adventure, new identity, new chapter” kind of way, but it also comes with a reality most aspiring founders underestimate: it’s work. And, as the statistics suggest, it’s not easy work. You need a ‘grown-up’ checklist that covers more than thinking about a brand name and posting on social media.
Below is our comprehensive checklist that will help turn startup chaos into clarity.
Research Should Always Be First
Market research isn’t just about confirming people might buy what you sell. It’s learning:
- If the market is already saturated
- If your price point is realistic
- Either your buyer prefers a subscription or a one-off purchase
- What shipping models do they trust
- How quickly do they expect delivery?
And everything else in between.
Research also means studying competitors, but not copying them. The last thing you want to do is launch into a landscape you don’t fully understand. You need to know:
- What others charge
- What they’re praised for
- What customers complain about
- What gaps still exist
It’s impossible to start a potentially successful business without endless hours of research.
Write a Business Plan
A business plan is not a 60-page corporate brochure. You need to give yourself clarity on:
- What you sell
- Who do you sell it to?
- How you’ll deliver it
- What will it cost you to run
Your plan can be ten pages or two; the length doesn’t matter. But it does need to cover everything you want your business to be. It gives you clarity and direction, and even if that direction changes (it 100% will), you at least have a constant reference point to go back to. And you can always rewrite the business plan or add to it as you go. It just gives you an initial base point to return to.
Once your plan is written, how you present it matters just as much as what’s inside. Whether you’re sharing it with partners, investors, or collaborators, clarity and structure help others understand your vision faster. Using a flipbook allows you to turn a simple PDF into a clean, professional document that’s easier to read, navigate, and share as your business evolves.
Consider Finances
Most businesses fail due to cash flow, with Score.org stating that it affects and causes the closure of 82% of companies. And we can understand why they do it, but the majority of brands start with insufficient capital. Any successful CEO will say the classic ‘we started with absolutely nothing,’ but they at least consider how to work with nothing.
For your finances, you need to know:
- How much startup capital do you genuinely need?
- What your recurring costs are
- How long can you operate before turning a profit?
Some businesses can grow slowly without stress; some need immediate income to survive. If packaging, manufacturing, shipping, domain renewal, marketing, and workspace rental costs exceed your realistic cash flow, you’ll quickly be part of the failure rate statistics.
If financing options come up, always evaluate carefully. Loans, grants, crowdfunding, and dipping into savings all work, but each has its own constraints. Some founders also look into ways to get a cash advance during short-term cash gaps, though it’s important to assess the costs and risks before choosing this route.
Create a Website
Not all businesses start with a website, but in our opinion, it’s one of the most essential steps. Social media isn’t enough; 47% of people still use search engines for research (Search Engine Land). Using a reliable website builder like Canva can make launching faster and more accessible, even if you don’t have technical experience.
It doesn’t need to launch as perfect; it just needs to:
- Clearly state what you sell.
- Make it easy for customers to purchase or contact you.
- Offer accurate information without clutter.
People judge credibility quickly. A functioning, organized site creates trust faster than a dozen posts on Instagram ever will.
Get Business Insurance
Startups will always forget this step. They’re so focused on the next social media post and selling products or services. But for us, business insurance coverage is the most essential protection for when something goes wrong that startups with almost zero cash flow can’t resolve. It protects the business when something operational, financial, or product-related fails.
It doesn’t matter if you produce physical goods, offer digital services, or lease workspace; insurance prevents one mistake or accident from shutting down the business.
And it’s probably one of the least expensive things you’ll invest in. Monthly insurance premiums are mostly minimal, depending on the risk of your business, and even then, you’re not going to pay hundreds a month.
Do What Marketing You Can
The best thing about marketing is that you can do it cheaply. We might have half-slated social media further up, but you can use it for free to market your business. Or you can use a basic email sign-up, consistent posting schedule, genuine interactions with potential customers, and clear product information.
When there’s more consistent cash flow, you can invest in more expensive marketing strategies such as SEO and content marketing, AI-search results, influencer marketing, pay-per-click, etc.
Every step above creates structure before visibility. When structure comes first, the business can grow without collapsing under its own enthusiasm.
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