As remote work becomes the norm, all you need is a great idea for a product or service to start a business. You don’t need expensive office space or infrastructure as long as you smartly follow the startup steps for a business.

But even if you’re convinced that your idea can turn into a successful business, you need to objectively analyse and plan your operations. Using this checklist in your startup steps for a business will save you time and effort and ensure that you have greater chances of success.

A checklist for remote startups

Do you have a business plan?

One of the reasons most businesses fail is because the founders confuse an idea with a plan. A plan will tell you how much it would cost to start your business, who your audience is, what your monthly expenses would be, when you can expect revenue and when you can break even.

For a remote-based business, understand that your speed of client acquisition could be slower since there are no face-to-face meetings. But your operational expenses would also be lower.

Where will you find your customers?

You need to know who will pay for your services. Remember that it’s different from who will be interested in or even be using your service. For example, if you start a football blog, the user will be a football fan, and the one who pays you would be an advertiser.

Whether it’s a product or service, digitalisation allows you to reach customers and clients all over the world. Be clear about where your customers would be before you start your business.

How will you market your business?

Ensure that you have a fully functional and search engine-optimised website before you start selling your product or service. Get your social media presence ready and invest in paid ads if necessary.

Use tools like WhatsApp Business that will allow you to directly engage with your customers and market your products and services.

Do you have the technology?

All remote-based businesses will need steady internet connections and the necessary hardware and software. You should have videoconferencing tools and a professional voicemail to make your business feel authentic.

You should also have a dedicated phone number for business. They are extremely cost-effective and you can easily get one with a second-line app that will allow you to set up auto-reply for the business calls you miss. You should also automate your routine tasks by using apps intended for small businesses.

In short

By following these steps for starting up a business, your remote-based venture will be more equipped to meet its challenges and make the most of the available opportunities.