Small Business Checklist - Steps to Start a Small Business
                     Small Business Checklist: Steps to Start a 
Small Business
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Starting your own business might sound like a lot of tasks in hand, but it 
is not. India is one of the most prolific start-up regions in the world. 
Nearly 4000 start-up businesses emerge from innovative entrepreneurs 
every year. However, it is said that about nine out of ten small 
businesses fail in India. Business owners primarily fail in taking the right 
steps in the initial stages of establishment.
Business owners must create and work on successful strategies from the 
beginning. There are various things to know about a business before you 
comprehend an effective method to start and run a successful business 
in India. This article is a part of our comprehensive business guide. It will 
walk you through a quick small business checklist and steps to start a 
small business.
Steps to Start a Small Business – Checklist
Starting a small business requires a lot of hard work and dedication. You will 
have to work on it around the clock to achieve your goals at the initial 
implementation stages. Getting set up with your small business is all about 
ensuring you have checked all the tasks on your list. The steps to start a small 
business mentioned below aims to help you do the same. We have broken a 
pile of tasks into manageable subcategories that will help you complete each 
step involved in getting started.
1.   Innovative Small Business Ideas
Necessity is what drives powerful innovations. Sometimes figuring out 
solutions to the problems around you can help you develop the best start-up 
ideas. Well, if the solution already exists, find a better, upgraded, and cost-
efficient solution through innovation. A great small business idea is not the one 
that primarily focuses on generating wealth. It is the one that adjusts to the 
changes, fits your target market, suits the desirable location, and relates to 
you personally.
Starting your own business is a commitment itself; you need to choose 
something that drives you for a lifetime. What is a success, according to you? 
Draft your small business idea around your definition of success. Know what 
are your strengths and weaknesses. Question if your idea caters to them. 
Research on the most successful small business ideas to find ideal products or 
services that you can invent or innovate.
2.   Market Research
It would be best if you came up with the idea that works well on all market 
levels. But how do you figure out if you have hit the great small business idea? 
It would help if you used the “learn and plan methodology” to do that. Does 
your target audience desire a fancy restaurant, or would another burger shop 
in their neighborhood well fit their preferences? However, do not let your 
market research hold you back from establishing your business. It is only an 
experienced learning and not a part of your planning process.
It is crucial to understand your target audience to know if your business offers 
an ideal solution to their problems. What advantage do you have over your 
competitors out there? Map out the milestones and goals as per your business 
idea to build an outstanding team that will help you execute them within a 
specific timeframe. Validate your business ideas, meet real people, interview 
your potential customers to understand if your initial pricing plans seem 
convincing to them.
3.   Build an Effective Plan
“A dream written down with a date becomes a goal, a goal broken down into 
steps becomes a plan, and a plan backed by actions becomes a reality.” 
Although innovative ideas drive start-ups, they cannot succeed without a plan. 
It would be best to plan the sequence to how, when, and where to execute it. 
Sketch out the mere mirror of the path you want to accomplish to make your 
innovative idea an assuring existence more than just a possibility.
Draw out a flowchart in the sequential order of procedures to be followed to 
achieve your goal. Develop the ability to foresee the results of the events you 
plan. Make sure you add a back-up plan to any procedure with a chance of 
failure due to an unforeseen possibility. Business planning always helps you to 
cope up with any negative aspects that you might face along the journey. 
Therefore, planning is also the foremost step to start a small business as it 
provides a certain sense of stability and vision to follow throughout.
4.   Map-Out Your Finance Strategy
The requirement of finance to any business is like the fuel to an engine. 
Although generating money is not the primary goal of running a business, 
money is a vital aspect that sustains the business in the long run. Excel out 
the approximate budget you would need to start the business. Look out for 
financial assistance if needed. Check out the various business loans offered by 
the government to encourage business start-ups in India.
Here, we have listed some of the vital government start-up schemes 
that might be of your help.
 M-SIPS (Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme) provides a 25% 
subsidy for innovative start-ups related to automobiles and the electronic 
industry.
 The Venture Capital Assistance Scheme provides loans at zero interest rates 
for businesses related to farming and agriculture.
 Raw Material’s assistance helps manufacturing businesses by providing 
loans at low-interest rates on unique imports of indigenous raw materials.
 Infrastructure Development Scheme supports start-ups in setting up their 
own office space of about 467 sq. ft to 8657 sq. ft with specific terms and 
conditions.
 Atal Incubation Centres (AIC) empowers innovative start-ups related to 
artificial intelligence, food, Nano-tech, etc. It provides funds up to 10 crores 
INR that covers the managerial incidentals for almost five years.
Besides, there are many other schemes offered by the GOI that helps in 
establishing a small business. However, having a precise financial plan and 
execution strategy is crucial to run a business with zero hassles.
5.   Branding
If you believe branding is for large businesses, you need to rethink your 
considerations. Branding is one of the crucial keys to increase sales and loyal 
customers, and it is necessary irrespective of the type of business and it’s 
scale. It is where you should be putting all your hard work. Once you’ve 
known your target audience, you can quickly grab their attention through your 
brand.
To start branding your business, you need to focus on a few things. Firstly, 
choose the brand name that you can trademark. Secondly, come up with your 
value proposition: a brand message, tagline, and tone of voice. Thirdly, define 
the look of your brand; that is the colors, themes, and fonts. Lastly, but most 
importantly, create a captivating logo that well represents your business’ 
innovative idea.
6.   Infrastructure Management
Infrastructure management is one of the crucial steps to start a small 
business in India. Look out for the infrastructure or, in particular, the facilities 
for running the machinery (if any) to have your business run undisturbed. The 
communication facilities, power facilities, network availability, and basic 
needs like water, food, etc. must be met by the setup’s location.
7.   Legal Requirements
Any business needs to be linked and updated with the legalities as per the 
GOI policies. It helps a business have a stand amid the competitive world and 
protects against frauds and failures, assuring utmost safety. There are various 
sectors under which a business should be registered, especially the GST 
policies of the nation.
To avail of the advantages offered by the government of India, a business 
should undergo specific legal documentation as proof of existence. The overall 
financial data must be recorded and documented to submit them to the ITD 
when required. Thus, having a strong stand in terms of a business’s legal 
aspects is also an essential factor in achieving the goal effortlessly.
8.   Persistence and Passion
The road that leads you to success will always have ups and downs despite 
making all the ends meet while establishing your business. Only passionate 
business owners can persist despite difficulties and oppositions along their 
journey. They have the tact to keep going with their goals. And when the goals 
are met, they continuously keep aiming for higher goals to be reached.
These qualities are essential to sustain in today’s business world. Develop the 
patience along with tactics to work smart. Do not look at your business as a 
money generating idea. Make sure it is something you can live and breathe 
with, something you are passionate about. Take your failures positively, as a 
motivating factor, as a lesson that will help you do better in the future.
9.   Registration Processes Involved in Starting a Small 
Business in India
Have you registered your business name? If not, how to do it? To successfully 
establish your business, you will have to tick all the boxes on your checklist. 
One of which also includes registering your business officially. Here, we have 
listed the necessary registration process that you might have to consider 
while getting on with starting your business in India.
Name & Category of the Business
It may not seem like a more significant concern, yet, you need to invest all 
your intelligence in naming your business. Indian business owners often find it 
hard to find a business name for patent and copyrights purposes as most 
names are unavailable due to crores of companies within the country.
However, it is ideal for you to develop a unique name that is catchy, 
recognizable, and easy to pronounce. Further, it would be best to finalize the 
category of business that your start-up falls under as it decides the 
registration procedures accordingly.
Apply for the DSC (Digital Signature Certificate)
The DSC is the primary certificate provided as a signatory authority to the 
respective owner or director to proceed with the registration process. To apply 
for the DSC, you will have to present your proof of identity provided by the 
government to its citizens. In India, the valid proof of identity documents 
includes the Aadhaar Number, PAN, Address Proof, or the owner and director’s 
contact details.
Obtain TAN (Tax Account Number)
TAN is a unique number provided by the income tax department to the 
registered taxpayers. You will have to fill and submit the TAN form on the 
official website or centers that offer TIN (Tax Information Number). The ITD 
then verifies and issues the TAN number to the respective applicant.
Obtain the Required Documents that Indicate a Lawful 
Business
It is the right documentation that determines the credibility of the company. 
You will have to obtain various documents to prove that the company’s rules 
and regulations are as per the members involved in it. We have listed some of 
the necessary forms that you will have to obtain.
 MOA (Memorandum of Association), giving an insight into the pre-
determined goals of the company.
 AOA (Article of Association), giving insights into by-laws that the company 
and its members are obliged to stand by.
 OPC, when the business is registered under One Person Company, the 
owner must nominate the next owner in case of death/accidents. The 
consent of the person assigned must be submitted with his/her PAN and 
Aadhaar.
 NOC (No Objection Certificate), a registered proof of ownership to ensure no 
objections from others concerning your business.
 An affidavit from INC-9 and DIR-2 from the proposed director/s indicates 
whether the company is INC, Co, or Ltd in terms of liability.
 Declaration of certifications, it declares that all the related agreements 
have been obtained and submitted.
GST Registration
Any business or corporation involved in the sale of goods and services must 
register under GST and have a valid GST number. It is mandatory for 
businesses selling goods with an annual turnover above 40 lakhs or services 
above 20 lakhs. The newly updated tax calculation procedures in India have 
made registration easier than ever. You will have to submit the necessary 
documents on the GSTIN portal to obtain the GST number.
 In case your business lists under proprietorship, you will have to provide the 
proof of proprietor.
 In case your business lists under LLP, you will have to provide the PAN card 
of LLP, Name and address proof of the partners’, and the LLP agreement.
 In case your business lists under a private limited company, you will have 
to provide the certificate of incorporation, PAN card of the company, AOA – 
Article of Association, MOA – Memorandum of Association, a resolution 
signed by the members of the board, identity and address proof of the 
directors, and the digital signature.
 You can either provide your passport, voter ID, Aadhar card, ration card, 
telephone/electricity bill, driving license, or bank statement as the proof of 
identity and address.
Obtain the Required Forms under MCA (Ministry of Corporate 
Affairs)
Obtaining from under MCA is the final step of registering a business under the 
law. You will have to upload all the necessary documents and certificates 
listed above in the article on the MCA website. It might take up to 3 working 
days for the verification and approval of the same. Once the process is 
completed, you will be notified about the confirmation.
10.   Launch and Market Your New Business
Once all the above-mentioned steps to start a small business is accomplished, 
it’s time to spread some excitement around your opening day. Start with a 
bang! Publish an article in the press, spread the word yourself, and ask others 
to do their bit as well.
 Create a comprehensive marketing plan and start marketing your business 
right away.
 Create materials to support your marketing plan (shop signs, PowerPoint 
presentations, invoices, digital and manual brochures, and flyers).
 Launch your website – register with a domain name, purchase the best 
server host, focus on building your site, and get yourself listed on the key 
directors.
 Spread your horizons on the social media platforms.
 If you love the idea of it, you can print t-shirts or uniforms for your team 
members.
The key is to spread the word across, let the press know that your business is coming 
up, and organize a grand opening day.
Steps to Start a Small Business – Quick Tips for Small 
Business Owners
• Create an online business at a low investment.
• Always choose digital modes of operations and advertising over 
traditional methods.
• Adapting to remote working culture is more likely to improve 
productivity.
• It saves costs in every possible way.
Conclusion
Regardless of the place you choose to start your business, it is going to be risky. No 
matter how prepared you are, there will be unforeseen challenges, and this is when 
you need to deal with the situation on your own. The key is to educate yourself and 
stay up-to-date to better deal with any situation. Having a small business checklist will 
help you put things in perspective.
We hope our small business checklist with specific steps to start a small business will 
guide you through establishing your new business. Do your best in all endeavors. 
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