The 5 Things You Should Do Before Starting a Business (That No One Talks About)
Starting a business can feel exciting… until your brain turns into a swirl of ideas, Pinterest moodboards, Canva folders, and 17 half-written Notes app entries. Sound familiar?
Whether you’re launching a side hustle, building your personal brand, or going all-in on your big idea — there’s a lot of noise out there about what to do first. Register your ABN! Build your website! Make an Instagram account! Design a logo! (Spoiler: most of that can wait.)
Before you invest in branding, a website, or a course — there are five things you should do first to set yourself up for success. And no, no one really talks about these.
1. Get Clear on Why You’re Starting (Not Just What)
Before you plan the perfect logo or dream about passive income, stop and ask:
Why do I want to start this business?
Is it freedom? Flexibility? Creativity? Financial independence?
Knowing your why becomes your filter for every decision that comes next — your offers, your brand vibe, your work hours, even the people you serve.
It’s easy to copy someone else’s business model. It’s harder (and braver) to build one around your life.
2. Define Who You’re Building It For
It’s tempting to say “this is for everyone,” but businesses that speak to everyone often convert no one.
Try this instead:
Who is your dream customer?
What are they struggling with?
How do you want them to feel when they experience your brand?
If you can describe one real person (not a vague demographic), you’re 80% ahead of most people just starting out.
3. Choose a Name That Feels Right (But Don’t Obsess)
You don’t need to spend six weeks naming your business. You just need a name that feels aligned enough to start.
Tips:
Check the domain and Instagram availability
Avoid tricky spelling
If you’re stuck — use your name, initials, or location to keep it simple
Your name can evolve. Your message and clarity are what make it stick.
4. Map Out One Offer You Can Start With
No need to launch with a full suite of services or 12-product Shopify store.
Pick one core offer — and validate it by answering:
What problem does this solve?
What’s the transformation for the customer?
Can I explain it clearly in one sentence?
Clarity sells. Simplicity builds momentum.
5. Create a Simple Business Plan (Yes, You Do Need One)
This is where most people skip ahead and end up overwhelmed later. A business plan doesn’t have to be corporate or complex — it just has to help you organise your thoughts.
At a minimum, you want:
Your idea and goals
Your audience
Your offer(s)
Your pricing
Your visibility strategy (aka how people will find you)
Want to Make This Easy?
I created a $29 Notion template called Side Hustle HQ to walk you through all of this — in order, without the fluff.
It’s the exact structure I use with my $15K branding clients — made simple and self-paced for anyone starting out.
Inside the planner, you’ll get:
Guided prompts to clarify your idea, brand and offer
A launch checklist
Content planning tools
Simple pricing calculator
Bonus tools to keep you moving forward
