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Business Launch Checklist

Make it a routine to practice asking more insightful questions.

First Principles​

How are you going to create, distribute and exchange value?

Problem​

  • What problem are you solving?
  • Why is it important to you to solve this problem?

Purpose​

  • Where are you going do?
  • How are you going to deliver value?
  • What long-range benefits are you going to create?

Process​

  • What Intellectual Property do you need to develop?
  • What is the first step improvement you can make?

Platform​

  • Strategy to leverage latest technology?
  • What is your business suite?
  • What is your tech stack?

People​

Customers

  • Have you identified your ideal customer? Understand what they desire? What their triggers are?
  • Does your idea have a natural sales appeal?
  • Customer value, Can customers afford it? Will they buy it? Is there a timing factor?
  • What resistance or difficulties to overcome to make sales?
  • Is the market ready for it?

Partners

  • Who can help you expand into markets?
  • What suppliers do you need?
  • Have you locked in supply contracts?

Professional Services

  • What professional services do you need?
  • Who can fill those roles?

Team

  • Culture fit?
  • Who do you want to work with?

Planning​

  • Have you closed standard business process gaps?
  • Have you closed key operations process gaps?
  • How are you going to deliver?
  • How complex will it be to execute strategy effectively?

Marketing​

  • Is there a clear and obvious need or do customers need education?
  • What is the competition doing in this area?

Profit​

  • How much money do you need to get started?
  • When will you need a cash injection?
  • How soon before you are making money?
  • How many revenue streams?
  • What risks could change your revenue streams?
  • How confident are you in your predictions?
  • How do you intend to reinvest profits?

Leadership​

  • What decisions do you need to make at the moment?
  • What metrics do you need to make good decisions?
  • What needs to be decided in the next six weeks?
  • What needs to be decided in the future?

Final Review​

  • Have you considered all the benefits?
  • Have you considered all the risks?
  • What variations of this idea might be possible?
  • How strong is demand?
  • How strong is your appetite for it?