Reply to: Startup Checklist

[filthy1980]

i've got friends who are in the tech startup games and have been doing it since the first dot com boom

they've developed a template plan when setting up a business, basic logical stuff but it is all in one plan, PM me if interested

[northernladuk]

Erm. Just being a pedant.. It doesn't submit them. You still have to do it with your gateway details.

[tomtomagain]

My top tip is to get her to sign up to FreeAgent.

It's a fantastic accounting package and I thoroughly recommend it.

It does invoicing, time tracking, expenses, payroll, online payments, automatically loads your bank statement for simple reconciliation and much more.

My favourite feature is it calculates the VAT return and submits it to HMRC. And it also does your personal self-assessment and submits that too.

Another very useful service is RapidDocs LegalManager. It allows you to create legal documents for things like Purchase Orders, Employment, NDA's and so on.

[elpato]

Thanks - she has the business plan, she knows the service, has potential customers lined up, knows how to spread the word etc.

What she asked for was the admin things that need sorting out, rather than advice on running the business.

In which case I retract the snarky tone of my previous post

[MrMarkyMark]

She's after a lacky/PA then?

Sounds like one for you bud

[northernladuk]

What she asked for was the admin things that need sorting out, rather than advice on running the business.

She's after a lacky/PA then?

[missinggreenfields]

Has she validated her product/service? Who will her customers be? How is she going to reach them? That's far more important. What you've listed is all admin stuff that can be sorted in an afternoon and fairly specific to contractors...if that's what she's asked you for, then you've nailed it.

Thanks - she has the business plan, she knows the service, has potential customers lined up, knows how to spread the word etc.

What she asked for was the admin things that need sorting out, rather than advice on running the business.

[MrMarkyMark]

Has she validated her product/service? Who will her customers be? How is she going to reach them? That's far more important. What you've listed is all admin stuff that can be sorted in an afternoon and fairly specific to contractors...if that's what she's asked you for, then you've nailed it.

Business Plan!

+1 Business plan.

Marketing mix etc.

Especially worth researching are any legal contracts she will potentially require to drawer up with potential partners etc. depending on the nature of the business she is undertaking.

[Big Blue Plymouth]

My sister is looking to startup a new business, so I'm trying to put together a list of things that she needs to get sorted as a starter.

So far, I've got:

• Find a good accountant that you like and trust
• Pick the company name and register it
• Sort out a company domain and hosting
• Business bank account
• Business mobile phone tariff (get a PAC to keep the same number)
• PI Insurance
• PE and EE Insurance
• Ensure car insurance covers vehicle use
• IPSE membership
• Plenty of background reading
• VAT registration
• Payroll registration

It's been a while since I started a company from scratch, so anything that I should add to the list?

Business Plan!

[LondonManc]

My sister is looking to startup a new business, so I'm trying to put together a list of things that she needs to get sorted as a starter.

So far, I've got:

• Find a good accountant that you like and trust
• Pick the company name and register it
• Sort out a company domain and hosting
• Business bank account
• Business mobile phone tariff (get a PAC to keep the same number)
• PI Insurance
• PE and EE Insurance
• Ensure car insurance covers vehicle use
• IPSE membership
• Plenty of background reading
• VAT registration
• Payroll registration

It's been a while since I started a company from scratch, so anything that I should add to the list?

Assuming that she's already got revenue "on the wait" as soon as she's up and running (big assumption but I'm going off the way you've put the question), then corporate stationery too - Vistaprint are pretty cheap for that sort of thing.

[elpato]

My sister is looking to startup a new business, so I'm trying to put together a list of things that she needs to get sorted as a starter.

So far, I've got:

• Find a good accountant that you like and trust
• Pick the company name and register it
• Sort out a company domain and hosting
• Business bank account
• Business mobile phone tariff (get a PAC to keep the same number)
• PI Insurance
• PE and EE Insurance
• Ensure car insurance covers vehicle use
• IPSE membership
• Plenty of background reading
• VAT registration
• Payroll registration

It's been a while since I started a company from scratch, so anything that I should add to the list?

Has she validated her product/service? Who will her customers be? How is she going to reach them? That's far more important. What you've listed is all admin stuff that can be sorted in an afternoon and fairly specific to contractors...if that's what she's asked you for, then you've nailed it.

[SueEllen]

She needs to network and market her plan.

I've met loads of business people with good ideas and products. Where they fail is no one has heard of them so no one will buy the item or service.

Some people even use crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter and go on Dragons Den simply because it's a good way of marketing their product.

[stek]

If she's lucky she'll not be one the 85% of start-ups that fail in the first 18 months...

Mark Corrigan - Peep Show.

[northernladuk]

I think you are thinking like a contractor setting up a vehicle for something he already does. That's not a business start up list. That is a list of tasks to tick the boxes. Most of which can be done at a moments notice when it is required. That's no help.

IMO she would be better off joining groups and growing her idea and then getting what she needs when she needs it.

There was a thing on CH4 last night about start ups in Edinburgh with stuff like a place in RBS for new start up offices and help. Lucy from ContractorUmbrella I believe is part of a Business Womens network who have meetings to support each other.

If I was in your shoes I'd be supporting in her and joining something along these lines in order, let them guide her with professional advice and guidance and just do the nagging thing and remind her to get a bank accountant when she's not put the application in in time, but only when she's identified she needs it.

All that said you've given us no detail on what it is she is doing so non of that may be applicable... but that's my take.

[stek]

A prayer?