New Business Checklist - Processes and Technology

Starting a new business can be overwhelming, and there are many things to consider. Once you know more or less what you want to sell, whether it be a service or a product, you'll begin seeing if it's a viable concept. For some this stage takes time to tease out, and this is an important step. 

Soon, there will come a point, though, when you have your concept, you've worked with a couple of customers and you are ready to start using technology to support your efforts. 

In this article, I'll give you a taster for how to get started with outlining your business processes and the technology that supports them. I want to share my checklist as follows.

1. Obtain Hardware 

Perhaps the most obvious step, you'll need to make sure you have a laptop, at minimum. Not everything can be done from a smart phone, unfortunately.

2. Set Up File Organization – Data Storage and Data Backup

My favorite is Google Drive, but Dropbox, external hard drives, Microsoft 365 and other options are available.

3. Email Organization – Web domain and custom email address

Make sure you have a custom domain and email address that shares that domain. Google Workspace charges $6/month to have a branded email (with the same domain as your website).

4. Main Process Definition 

A business process can be defined simply as a series of tasks that allow you to sell your product or service. Even the most simple businesses will have multiple processes (for example, a process to pay vendors, a process to create the product, etc.); however, I like to share the most basic and high-level process outline that all businesses have, as described in Mike Michalowicz's book, Clockwork.  Namely, the ACDC process, which stands for Attract, Convert, Deliver and Collect. Create a rough outline of what the steps will be for your business, from advertising, marketing, making a sale, completing your end of the deal and collecting payment.

5. Review the technology (other than your website and email) that will support the 4 steps of your business. Likely, you will want a way to collect email addresses, set up appointments, collect payments and keep track of your product or time. There are many systems that do this quite well, and I invite you to join the Small Biz Efficiency Wiz Facebook Group where we are having conversations about these applications.

6. Put the best technology in place (best fit for you)

7. Define and schedule ongoing actions that are necessary for keeping the business going and who will do them.

Operate Well is versed in all of the steps of this checklist, and we would love to help you, especially with process definition and technology review. Learn more at www.operatewell.com.

At your service,

Marissa Mosunich
Operate Well Consulting
www.operatewell.com
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