What is the first step to starting a business?

What kind of business? What product? What market? Who are your customers? Where do you add value?

All this questions (and more) have to be answered before you start the business.

The business plan or the business model would be the first step. I personally find this website is a great place to start in order to follow the lean launch model: http://www.startitup.co. Best of luck!

Assumptions: you're out of the idea phase and have selected one of the following:
- software business selling SaaS or mobile applications
- service based business
- a business that makes or sells physical products

The first step is to figure out who your customers are.

Most aspiring business owners don't listen to people having conversations about what they want or what they need. Uncover what is missing in their lives, and then figuring out if you can build/offer a product or service around it.

Considering you already know what kind of business you want to start, the first steps are:
- Research your competition to see what they are doing that is working for them, as well as their pricing and competitive advantages. Look at companies that have been around for a long time and are obviously doing something right.
- Calculate your necessary startup costs and figure out if and how you need to borrow those funds.
- Branding. Your image is everything especially in the crucial startup stage of your business. You need potential customers to trust your brand new company, and that starts with a very sharp image. Today, a professional logo and website are the bare minimum.

Feel free to schedule a call to discuss further.

Naturally, this question is near to impossible to answer without knowing a LOT more about the business in question. However, when a client of mine is starting a new business, the single most important question I ask them to dive deeply into is if their product/service creates a truly meaningful solution to a need in the marketplace. From there, coming up with a realistic estimate of the size of your target market and gauging exactly how motivated they'll be about purchasing is essential.

Talk to any entrepreneur or small business owner and you will quickly learn that starting a business requires a lot of work. An idea does not become a business without effort. Some budding entrepreneurs understand the effort necessary to create a business, but they might not be familiar with the many steps required to launch a business venture. If you are willing to put in the effort to build a business, you are going to want to know the steps needed to reach your goals. Whether it is determining your business structure or crafting a detailed marketing strategy, the workload can quickly pile up. If you are thinking about starting a business, you likely already have an idea of what you want to sell, or at least the market you want to enter. If you think your business can deliver something other companies do not, you have got a solid idea and are ready to create a business plan.
It is good to know why you are launching your business. In this process, it may be wise to differentiate between the business serves a personal why or a marketplace why. Another option is to open a franchise of an established company. Regardless of which option you choose, it is vital to understand the reasoning behind your idea.
If the idea is not something, you are passionate about or if there is not a market for your creation, it might be time to brainstorm other ideas. A lot of mistakes are made by new businesses rushing into things without pondering these aspects of the business. Conducting thorough market research on your field and demographics of potential clientele is an important part of crafting a business plan. The best small businesses have products or services that are differentiated from the competition. This has a significant impact on your competitive landscape and allows you to convey unique value to potential customers. It is also a good idea to consider an exit strategy as you compile your business plan. Generating some idea of how you will eventually exit the business forces you to look to the future. A business plan helps you figure out where your company is going, how it will overcome any potential difficulties and what you need to sustain it. Do not overspend when starting a business. Understand the types of purchases that make sense for your business and avoid overspending on fancy new equipment that will not help you reach your business goals. Spend as little as possible when you start and only on the things that are essential for the business to grow and be a success. If you are unable to take out a bank loan, you can apply for a small business loan through the Small Business Administration or an alternative lender.
Investors can provide several million dollars or more to a fledgling company, with the expectation that the backers will have a hands-on role in running your business. Choose the right business bank. When choosing the right business bank, size matters. Canada recommends smaller community banks because they are in tune with the local market conditions and will work with you based on your overall business profile and character.
Your business structure legally affects everything from how you file your taxes to your personal liability if something goes wrong. If you own the business entirely by yourself and plan to be responsible for all debts and obligations, you can register for a sole proprietorship. Alternatively, a partnership, as its name implies, means that two or more people are held personally liable as business owners. You do not have to go it alone if you can find a business partner with complementary skills to your own. It is usually a good idea to add someone into the mix to help your business flourish. This makes a business a separate entity apart from its owners, and, therefore, corporations can own property, assume liability, pay taxes, enter contracts, sue, and be sued like any other individual. One of the most common structures for small businesses, however, is the limited liability corporation.
Ultimately, it is up to you to determine which type of entity is best for your current needs and future business goals. It is important to learn about the various legal business structures that are available. If you are struggling to make up your mind, it is not a bad idea to discuss the decision with a business or legal adviser. To become an officially recognized business entity, you must register with the government.
Besides if you do have any questions give me a call: https://clarity.fm/joy-brotonath