In times of great uncertainty the worn patterns and rules of everyday life tend to go out the window. Ideas that seemed impractical and unworthy of attention before a crisis can suddenly seem more sensible, even urgent, once the expectations and norms that held us back have been removed.
I suppose it should come as no surprise then that I’ve already had a few folks ask me about starting up a side gig. There are a lot of people right now who aren’t necessarily unemployed, they’re just unable to work, and they’re not sure how long it’s going to take to get back to normal. Whereas starting up a small business was once a pie-in-the-sky idea for many, it’s now becoming a reasonable alternative to sitting around at home and waiting to be called back into work.
So, for my first blog post I thought I’d share a checklist that you can use to get your side business of the ground. This is far from a comprehensive guide, but it’s my hope that the outline below will provide enough direction to help you get started and build some momentum. Should you decide to take the plunge and find that you could use an enthusiastic supporter in your corner, please fill out a contact form. I’d enjoy the opportunity to coach you through your new venture.
STEP 1: Think about the skills you have and decide what kind of side business you’d like to run. Write all of your ideas down and list the pros and cons of each. Don’t hold back, no matter how silly those initial ideas may seem. Allow yourself to be creative. If this first step proves to be difficult for you, don’t get discouraged. Figuring out where to start can sometimes be the most daunting part of any task. Just keep going until you find yourself feeling confident about one of the ideas on your list.
STEP 2: Write descriptions for all of your products and/or services. Define your preliminary pricing.
STEP 3: Name your business! Before you settle on a name, be sure to check your state’s business entity search to see if it has already been taken. Also, do a domain name search to see what web domains are available for your website. When deciding on a domain, be sure to choose something that’s simple and memorable. While you can hold off until later in the process, I recommend registering your domain at this stage.
STEP 4: Register your business with the state.
STEP 5: Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) if applicable.
STEP 6: Decide whether you need to open a separate bank account for your business. If so, open an account.
STEP 7: Build a website and link it to your domain. You don’t need to be a web developer to build a beautiful site. There are plenty of companies out there that make it fairly easy for any layperson. I highly recommend squarespace.com.
STEP 8: Create social media accounts and link them to your website. Choose the platforms that make the most sense for your business.
STEP 9: Make sure everything is just the way you want it and then promote, promote, promote! Get the word out. Ask your network to follow your social media accounts and be sure to push out original content. Then get to work!
Overall, I think the best advice out there is, “Don’t let great be the enemy of good.” In other words, make sure that what you put out into the world represents the kind of quality you can deliver, but don’t allow the pursuit of perfection to slow you down. Spoiler alert, nothing in life is ever truly perfect. Just keep moving forward and you’ll do great.
I hope the above checklist is helpful. If you could benefit from an additional source of support as you venture out on your own, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. I’d appreciate the opportunity to cheer you on.