Business Startup Checklist
Following is a new business startup checklist assembled by Pacific Business Advisors to assist in developing a new business. Not all items listed apply to every business. There may be items you will want to consider that are not listed.
- ADA Compliance (Americans with Disabilities) Act
- Advertising Materials
- Advertising Promotional Items
- Advisory Board
- Alcoholic Beverage Permit
- Select Agent for Service of Process
- Bank Account
- Barter Exchange Membership
- Budget for 12 Months
- Building Permit
- Business Credit Card
- Business Directories - Listings
- Business Incubator
- Business / Marketing Plan
- Chamber of Commerce Membership, Open House
- Cleaning Service
- Computer Backup System
- Computers, Printers
- Confidentiality Agreement
- Contracts - Standard Forms
- Copier/Scanner
- Coupons
- Credit Card Merchant Account
- Design Business Cards, Letterhead, Envelopes, Brochure
- Determine Advisory Board
- Determine Board of Directors
- Determine Location of Business
- Employee Handbook
- Employment Agreement
- Equipment - Lease
- Equipment - Purchase
- Establish Prices For All Products/Services
- Executive Suites
- File Fictitious Business Name Statement (DBA)
- Fire Department Permits
- Fixtures - Purchase
- Forms - Approved For Use
- Franchise Compliance Checklist
- Furniture - Purchase or Lease
- Grand Opening
- Health Permit
- Hire Employees and / or Independent Contractors
- Independent Contractor Agreement
- Insurance - Directors and Officers (D&O)
- Insurance - Health
- Insurance - Liability
- Insurance - Property
- Insurance - Workers' Compensation
- Job Descriptions - Written
- Kitchen Supplies
- License - City or County
- License - Professional
- Line of Credit
- Mail Announcements
- Merchants Association
- Name of Business
- Neighborhood Watch
- Non-Compete Agreement
- Obtain Federal Tax ID Number
- Obtain State Resale Sale Permit
- Office/Retail Lease
- Operations Manual
- Office Supplies
- Order Business Cards, Letterhead, Envelopes, Brochures
- Payroll Service
- Phone Equipment - Purchase or Lease
- Phone Lines
- Point of Sale System (POS)
- Policies and Procedures Manual
- Postage Machine
- Press Release
- Professional Associations
- Purchase Inventory
- Research - Competitors
- Safe, Cash Register
- SBA Loan
- Security Guard - Gash Pickups
- Select Accountant
- Select Attorney
- Select Commercial Bank
- Select Form of Business Entity - Form It
- Security Alarm/Monitoring
- Set up Accounting System, Billing System. Establish fiscal year.
- Shareholders Agreement (Buy - Sell)
- Sign Permits
- Signs
- Small Claims Filing Service
- Start-up Capital
- Surveillance Cameras
- Tenant Leasing Agent
- Trademark Registrations
- Trade Organizations
- Train Employees
- Virtual Offices
- Website Design and Construction
- Zoning Limitations
Written Contracts Required
The Statute of Frauds is a legal doctrine requiring certain types of significant contracts to be in writing and signed to be legally enforceable, preventing fraud and misunderstandings by demanding written proof for complex agreements like those involving real estate, long-term services (over a year), sales of goods over $500 (under the UCC), marriage promises, or guarantees for another's debt. Its primary objective is to provide evidence and caution parties in major transactions, though exceptions (like part performance) can make some oral contracts valid.
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Office: 818-991-5200
Direct: 818-991-9019