
The Start-Up Checklist
See – Startup Checklist

Entrepreneurial Self-Assessment
SBA's Assessment Guide
Entrepreneurial Self-Assessment
Nine Professional Assessment Tools

Assessing Your Finances
Ensuring You are Ready to Start a Business
WSJ Startup Calculator

Assessing the Market
See - Your Place in the Marketplace http://www.marketingdonut.co.uk/marketing/marketing-strategy/your-marketing-plan

Assessing the Feasibility
How to Write a Complete Business Feasibility Study

Assessing Capital Sources and Alternative Lending http://www.sba.gov/community/blogs/community-blogs/small-business-cents/crowdfunding-
%E2%80%93-it-right-your-business-where-dohttp://www.crowdfunder.com/ http://www.gofundme.com/online-fundraising/ https://www.icrowd.com/howitworks?gclid=CMmroP3Y87UCFe4-MgoduVUAsg http://www.fundable.com/Crowdfunding?gclid=CLOVoZDZ87UCFaUWMgodpmIAUw http://www.startupvalley.com/?gclid=COOl-67Z87UCFaUWMgodpmIAUw http://www.indiegogo.com/ http://www.pledgemusic.com/

Assessing Loan Availability and Applying for a Loan http://www.sba.gov/loanprograms
See - Understanding Commercial Lending https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp
http://www.myfico.com/Downloads/Files/myFICO_UYFS_Booklet.pdf
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0058-credit-repair-how-help-yourself

The Importance of the Business Plan
See - Business Plan Guide http://leeds-faculty.colorado.edu/moyes/bplan/html/how_to.html

Apply for Patents, Trademarks, Service Marks, Copyrights, if applicable http://www.uspto.gov/ http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/qs/ope/fee031913.htm http://www.sos.ca.gov/business/ts/forms/tm-100.pdf
http://www.4trademark.com/faqs.html

The Legal Formation of the Business https://www.ftb.ca.gov/forms/misc/1123.pdf

Obtain Office/Retail Space and/or business P O Box http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/205996 http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/commercial-leases-negotiate-best-terms-29754.html http://www.sba.gov/community/blogs/community-blogs/business-law-advisor/6-tips-negotiatingcommercial-property-lease-wi

Choosing & Registering a Business Name in California http://www.sba.gov/content/how-name-business

http://www.ein-gov.us/
 http://business.ca.gov/StartaBusiness/RegisteringaBusiness.aspx

Formulating logos, marketing materials, websites, social media, etc. http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/71902 http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/227325 http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/77408 http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/ http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2012/07/index.html

Obtaining Federal & State ID Numbers http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Apply-for-an-Employer-Identification-
Number-(EIN)-Online http://www.edd.ca.gov/pdf_pub_ctr/de1.pdf

Obtaining Licenses, Permits and any other Legal Requirements http://www.calgold.ca.gov/ http://www.license123.com/ http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/occguides/Search.aspx
http://www.dca.ca.gov/about_dca/profession.shtml
http://www.dmv.org/ca-california/special-licenses.php
http://www.ca.gov/Work/Licenses.html
http://www.dca.ca.gov/csac/

Obtaining Sales & Use Tax Permit if Selling or Consuming before Sale of Taxable Products http://www.boe.ca.gov/info/reg.htm

Tax Compliancy Issues
Federal http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed http://www.irsvideos.gov/SmallBusinessTaxpayer http://www.irs.gov/Businesses http://www.ehow.com/about_5047991_federal-excise-tax.html
State http://www.taxes.ca.gov/Income_Tax/index.shtml http://www.boe.ca.gov/info/small_business.htm http://www.boe.ca.gov/sptaxprog/spexcise.htm
http://www.boe.ca.gov/sptaxprog/spexcise.htm
County http://www.co.shasta.ca.us/assessor/Pamphlets/BusPropertyAsmtPamphlet.sflb.ashx

Opening Bank Accounts http://www.inc.com/guides/choosing-the-right-bank-for-business.html

Plan for Risk & Insurance http://www.sba.gov/community/blogs/community-blogs/small-business-matters/small-business-insurancepart-1-what-type-ins

Initiate Phase One Advertising - Business Cards, Flyers, Brochures
Vista Print

Set up Record Keeping and Register Systems http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/business-finances/setting-up-a-recordkeeping-system.html
http://retail.about.com/od/equipmenttechnology/a/register_vs_pos.htm

Set Up Other Professional Relationships and Mentors http://smallbusiness.chron.com/advantages-disadvantages-electronic-cash-registers-39913.html
http://www.sbdcsc.org/ http://www.score.org/ http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/ http://www.entrepreneur.com/

Develop a Day-to-Day Organizational Plan http://www.mindtools.com/pages/main/newMN_HTE.htm
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/organized-business-paperwork-2879.html

Develop Procedures Manual http://www.susanhuckle.com/support-files/sample-procedure-manual-susan-huckle.pdf
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/standard-operating-procedures-business-3228.html

http://www.shrm.org/templatestools/samples/pages/employeehandbook.aspx

Obtain Proper Employment Forms & Hire Employees http://northcoastsbdc.org/hiring

Plan for Soft Opening, if applicable http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-soft-opening.htm

Initiate Phase Two Marketing http://web.redding.com/forms/editorial/pressrelease.html

Plan for your Grand Opening http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/56200

Evaluate Profitability and Cash Flow
See– Understanding Financials
See – Managing Cash Flow
See – Small Business Report Card

Expanding Your Business http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/70660

Creating an Exit Strategy http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/78512 http://www.inc.com/guides/2010/10/how-to-choose-an-exit-strategy.html
http://www.startupnation.com/business-articles/920/1/