# Business setup and launch checklist

## 1. Confirm the identity
- [ ] Confirm the preferred trading name and how customers will pronounce and spell it.
- [ ] Search relevant business registries, trademark databases and existing marketplace usage; assess similar names, not just exact matches.
- [ ] Ask a qualified professional to assess trademark conflicts where needed.
- [ ] Check domain and social handle availability live. Availability does not establish trademark clearance.
- [ ] Approve the identity before registering, buying or publishing anything.
- [ ] Finalize logo variants, accessible colour combinations and usage rules.

## 2. Set up the business
- [ ] Choose the appropriate legal structure, registration, licences and operating address for your location.
- [ ] Confirm tax registrations, recordkeeping and invoicing needs with an appropriate professional.
- [ ] Establish a business bank account, bookkeeping workflow and payment process.
- [ ] Consider suitable insurance and written client agreements.
- [ ] Set genuine contact details, working hours, enquiry response expectations and delivery capacity.

## 3. Define the offer
- [ ] Confirm package names, monthly fees, setup fees and final deliverables.
- [ ] Define channel counts, revisions, website build charges, support hours and reporting cadence.
- [ ] Specify ad spend, software subscriptions, hosting, domains and other third-party exclusions.
- [ ] Agree ownership, platform access, approval processes, billing, cancellation and any minimum term.
- [ ] Confirm free audit scope, eligibility, availability and delivery timing.
- [ ] Establish consent-aware review and automation processes; never purchase or fabricate reviews.

## 4. Prepare the website
- [ ] Approve all copy and preserve clear labels on fictional portfolio concepts.
- [ ] Replace demonstration work only with permission to share real projects and accurate descriptions.
- [ ] Configure a secure form backend or verified email destination, spam protection, input validation, rate limiting and error handling.
- [ ] Add a privacy notice describing actual data collection, retention, access and deletion; add consent controls where applicable.
- [ ] Replace local request download messaging only once real delivery is tested.
- [ ] Add verified contact details and a monitored business inbox.
- [ ] Set approved canonical and social URLs, appropriate social image and favicon.
- [ ] Review headings, descriptions, real business details, sitemap and robots settings. Use structured data only for verified facts.

## 5. Verify before publishing
- [ ] Test at phone, tablet and desktop widths and with keyboard-only navigation.
- [ ] Check contrast, visible focus, form labels, validation, error and confirmation messages, dialogs and reduced motion.
- [ ] Verify every link, package selector and submission route; test actual message receipt and failure recovery.
- [ ] Check spelling, prices, exclusions and final agreement terms.
- [ ] Review security headers, HTTPS, deployment access, backups and dependency maintenance.
- [ ] Confirm the final public version contains no private information or unapproved claims.
- [ ] Obtain explicit publication approval, then deploy the approved version.
- [ ] Remove preview noindex settings only after approval and verify the live site.

## 6. Operate and improve
- [ ] Set a realistic content calendar and monthly site/profile review.
- [ ] Define meaningful measures, such as qualified enquiries, and document measurement limits.
- [ ] Monitor inboxes and form delivery, update holiday hours and maintain account access.
- [ ] Revisit scope and capacity before taking on additional work.

This is a planning checklist, not a determination of legal, tax, regulatory or trademark requirements. Requirements depend on location and circumstances; verify them with appropriate official sources and professionals before acting.

## Founding Client promotion
- [ ] Confirm the approved offer in final agreements: $100 off monthly for the first 90 days for new clients joining by December 31, 2026, Central Time; signup closes January 1, 2027 at 12:00 a.m. Central Time.
- [ ] Confirm Foundation $99/mo then $199/mo, Growth $299/mo then $399/mo, Canopy $599/mo then $699/mo. Setup stays $499 / $999 / $1,499; ad spend excluded.
- [ ] Configure actual enrolment and billing to apply the first 90 days accurately, then regular pricing. The browser display is not an eligibility or billing authority.
- [ ] Verify pre-cutoff and post-cutoff displays, selected package terms and request downloads. The preview offers no active signup or reservation.