smallbusiness-startup-checklist
Small Business Startup Checklist
Congratulations! You have completed the Starting a Business module. Use this checklist before officially launching your business.
Business Planning
- ☐ Business idea selected
- ☐ Niche identified
- ☐ Market research completed
- ☐ Competitor analysis completed
- ☐ SWOT analysis completed
- ☐ Business plan written
- ☐ Business goals created
- ☐ Mission statement written
- ☐ Vision statement written
Business Setup
- ☐ Business name chosen
- ☐ Business structure selected
- ☐ Business registered (if required)
- ☐ NZBN obtained (if applicable)
- ☐ myIR account ready
- ☐ GST registration considered
- ☐ Business address confirmed
- ☐ Contact details created
Financial Setup
- ☐ Business bank account opened
- ☐ Tax savings account established
- ☐ Accounting software selected
- ☐ Budget prepared
- ☐ Pricing completed
- ☐ Cash-flow forecast prepared
- ☐ Invoice template created
- ☐ Quote template created
Legal & Compliance
- ☐ Insurance reviewed
- ☐ Licences checked
- ☐ Permits obtained (if required)
- ☐ Health & Safety considered
- ☐ Privacy obligations understood
- ☐ Record keeping system established
Marketing Preparation
- ☐ Logo designed
- ☐ Brand colours selected
- ☐ Website planned
- ☐ Domain name registered
- ☐ Business email created
- ☐ Google Business Profile planned
- ☐ Social media accounts created
- ☐ First marketing campaign planned
Technology
- ☐ Computer setup completed
- ☐ File backup system working
- ☐ Password manager installed
- ☐ Two-factor authentication enabled
- ☐ Antivirus installed
- ☐ Cloud storage configured
Operations
- ☐ Equipment purchased
- ☐ Suppliers organised
- ☐ Customer workflow documented
- ☐ Payment methods working
- ☐ Business documents backed up
- ☐ Emergency contacts recorded
Launch Readiness
- ☐ Test your website
- ☐ Test your email
- ☐ Test online payments
- ☐ Ask someone to review your business
- ☐ Prepare launch announcement
- ☐ Begin marketing
- ☐ Welcome your first customer!
🏆 ITIAN Final Tip
Many people wait until everything is perfect before launching. Don’t. Aim for professional—not perfect. Launch your business, continue learning, improve your systems, and keep refining your products and services as you gain experience. Every successful business started with its very first customer.Congratulations!
You have completed the Starting a Business module of the ITIAN Small Business Academy. You now have a strong understanding of:
- ✔ Choosing the right business
- ✔ Market research
- ✔ Competitor analysis
- ✔ SWOT analysis
- ✔ Business planning
- ✔ Business goals
- ✔ Mission & Vision
- ✔ Registration
- ✔ Business structures
- ✔ GST & Tax basics
- ✔ Business banking
- ✔ Insurance
- ✔ Licences & Permits
- ✔ Risk management
You are now ready to move into the next academy module: Branding
Small Business Startup Checklist
Congratulations! You have completed the Starting a Business module. Use this checklist before officially launching your business.
Business Planning
- ☐ Business idea selected
- ☐ Niche identified
- ☐ Market research completed
- ☐ Competitor analysis completed
- ☐ SWOT analysis completed
- ☐ Business plan written
- ☐ Business goals created
- ☐ Mission statement written
- ☐ Vision statement written
Business Setup
- ☐ Business name chosen
- ☐ Business structure selected
- ☐ Business registered (if required)
- ☐ NZBN obtained (if applicable)
- ☐ myIR account ready
- ☐ GST registration considered
- ☐ Business address confirmed
- ☐ Contact details created
Financial Setup
- ☐ Business bank account opened
- ☐ Tax savings account established
- ☐ Accounting software selected
- ☐ Budget prepared
- ☐ Pricing completed
- ☐ Cash-flow forecast prepared
- ☐ Invoice template created
- ☐ Quote template created
Legal & Compliance
- ☐ Insurance reviewed
- ☐ Licences checked
- ☐ Permits obtained (if required)
- ☐ Health & Safety considered
- ☐ Privacy obligations understood
- ☐ Record keeping system established
Marketing Preparation
- ☐ Logo designed
- ☐ Brand colours selected
- ☐ Website planned
- ☐ Domain name registered
- ☐ Business email created
- ☐ Google Business Profile planned
- ☐ Social media accounts created
- ☐ First marketing campaign planned
Technology
- ☐ Computer setup completed
- ☐ File backup system working
- ☐ Password manager installed
- ☐ Two-factor authentication enabled
- ☐ Antivirus installed
- ☐ Cloud storage configured
Operations
- ☐ Equipment purchased
- ☐ Suppliers organised
- ☐ Customer workflow documented
- ☐ Payment methods working
- ☐ Business documents backed up
- ☐ Emergency contacts recorded
Launch Readiness
- ☐ Test your website
- ☐ Test your email
- ☐ Test online payments
- ☐ Ask someone to review your business
- ☐ Prepare launch announcement
- ☐ Begin marketing
- ☐ Welcome your first customer!
🏆 ITIAN Final Tip
Many people wait until everything is perfect before launching. Don’t. Aim for professional—not perfect. Launch your business, continue learning, improve your systems, and keep refining your products and services as you gain experience. Every successful business started with its very first customer.Congratulations!
You have completed the Starting a Business module of the ITIAN Small Business Academy. You now have a strong understanding of:
- ✔ Choosing the right business
- ✔ Market research
- ✔ Competitor analysis
- ✔ SWOT analysis
- ✔ Business planning
- ✔ Business goals
- ✔ Mission & Vision
- ✔ Registration
- ✔ Business structures
- ✔ GST & Tax basics
- ✔ Business banking
- ✔ Insurance
- ✔ Licences & Permits
- ✔ Risk management
You are now ready to move into the next academy module: Branding