Everything you need to prepare for your business launch day, from final setup tasks and soft openings to marketing blitzes and first-week operations.
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Pre-Launch Legal and Admin
Confirm all business licenses and permits are active
Call your city clerk's office to verify your licenses are on file and valid. Some permits take 2-6 weeks to process, so check at least 30 days before launch. Operating without proper permits can result in fines of $500-$5,000.
Verify your general business license is approved
Confirm any industry-specific permits are in hand
Verify business insurance policies are active
Request a certificate of insurance from your provider and keep copies on-site. General liability, property, and workers' compensation (if you have employees) should all be effective before you open your doors.
Set up your business bank account and payment processing
Test your payment terminal or online checkout with a real transaction before launch day. Payment processor setup takes 2-5 business days. Most processors charge 2.6-2.9% plus $0.10-$0.30 per transaction.
File your initial tax registrations with the state
Sales tax, income tax withholding, and unemployment insurance registrations must be active before you make your first sale or pay your first employee. Most states offer combined online registration that takes 15-20 minutes.
Operations Setup
Stock initial inventory or prepare service delivery systems
Order 20-30% more inventory than you think you need for the first month. Stockouts during your first week make a terrible impression, and most suppliers need 7-14 days for reorders.
Set up your bookkeeping and accounting system
Configure your chart of accounts before your first transaction. Catching up on bookkeeping after months of sales is painful and expensive — accountants charge $150-$300 per hour for cleanup work.
Create standard operating procedures for daily tasks
Document your opening routine, closing routine, and customer service process. Even if you are the only employee now, written procedures make it far easier to train new hires later.
Write a daily opening procedure
Write a daily closing procedure
Document your customer service workflow
Test all equipment and technology before launch
Run every system through a complete test cycle: point-of-sale, Wi-Fi, printers, phones, website ordering, and any specialized equipment. Do this at least 3 days before launch to allow time for fixes.
Train all employees on their roles and systems
Schedule at least 2 full training sessions before opening. Include hands-on practice with your POS system, role-playing customer interactions, and a walkthrough of emergency procedures.
Marketing and Promotion
Announce your opening date on all channels
Post your launch date at least 3 weeks in advance. Share it on social media, email, local community boards, and your website. Repetition matters — studies show people need to see a message 7 times before taking action.
Set up your online business listings
Claim your profile on the top 5 directories: your local mapping service, Yelp, the Better Business Bureau, your industry's main directory, and any local chamber of commerce listing. Consistent name, address, and phone number across all listings improves local search ranking.
Claim and complete your main mapping profile
Set up profiles on review sites relevant to your industry
Plan a soft opening before the official launch
Invite 20-50 friends, family, and local contacts for a practice run 3-5 days before your public opening. This reveals operational issues under low pressure and generates early word-of-mouth.
Prepare a launch-day promotion or incentive
Offer a first-day discount (10-20% off), a free item with purchase, or a raffle. Track the promotion's performance — if 100 people show up for a free item but only 10 make a purchase, the promotion needs adjustment.
Send a press release to local media outlets
Email your press release to local newspaper business editors, TV station assignment desks, and community bloggers 10-14 days before opening. Include a compelling founder story and high-resolution photos.
Launch Day Execution
Arrive 2-3 hours early to prepare the space
Walk through the customer experience from the parking lot to the checkout. Check signage visibility, lighting, cleanliness, and temperature. First impressions are made in the first 7 seconds of walking through the door.
Brief your team on the day's plan and assignments
Hold a 15-minute team huddle covering roles, the day's promotions, and how to handle common questions. Designate one person as the 'problem solver' so issues are handled quickly without disrupting everyone.
Document the day with photos and video
Assign someone to capture content throughout the day — opening the doors, the first customer, busy moments, and happy faces. This content fuels 2-3 weeks of social media posts and becomes part of your brand story.
Collect customer contact information for follow-up
Use a simple sign-up sheet, digital form, or email capture at checkout. Aim to capture at least 30-50 contacts on day one. These become your most engaged early customers for email marketing.
First Week Follow-Up
Send a thank-you message to launch-day customers
Email within 48 hours while the experience is fresh. Include a small incentive to return within 30 days (like 10% off their next visit). Return rates for incentivized first-time customers are 3-4x higher than unincentivized ones.
Review first-week sales and operations data
Track daily revenue, customer count, average transaction value, and busiest hours. Compare actual numbers to your projections. Most businesses see a 30-50% drop from launch day to their second week, so do not panic.
Address any operational issues discovered during launch
Make a written list of everything that went wrong or felt inefficient. Prioritize fixes by impact: anything affecting customer experience comes first, internal inconveniences come second.
Ask 5-10 launch-day customers for honest feedback
Reach out personally by phone or message. Ask 3 specific questions: what they liked, what could be better, and whether they would recommend you. Honest early feedback is more valuable than positive reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money do I need to start a small business?
The SBA reports that most microbusinesses start with under $3,000, while the average small business costs $30,000-$40,000 in the first year. Home-based service businesses can launch for $500-$2,000 (licenses, insurance, website). Retail and food businesses typically need $50,000-$150,000 for inventory, equipment, and lease deposits. The biggest variable is whether you lease a physical space.
What permits do I need to open a small business?
At minimum, most businesses need a general business license from the city or county ($50-$400 per year), a state sales tax permit (free in most states), and an EIN from the IRS (free). Industry-specific permits vary widely: food businesses need health department permits ($100-$1,000), contractors need state licenses ($200-$500), and home-based businesses often need a home occupation permit ($50-$150).
When should I quit my day job to run my business full-time?
Financial advisors generally recommend having 6-12 months of personal living expenses saved plus enough working capital to cover 3-6 months of business expenses. A common benchmark is waiting until your side business generates 50-75% of your current salary consistently for at least 3 months. Also confirm your health insurance plan before leaving employer-sponsored coverage.
Should I start an LLC or sole proprietorship?
If your business carries any liability risk (clients visiting your location, physical products, professional advice), an LLC is worth the $50-$500 filing fee for the personal asset protection. Sole proprietorships work for very low-risk freelance work where your personal liability exposure is minimal. You can always convert a sole proprietorship to an LLC later, though it means new bank accounts, contracts, and tax filings.
What is the failure rate for new small businesses?
Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows about 20% of small businesses fail in year 1, 50% by year 5, and 65% by year 10. The top causes are running out of cash (38%), no market need (35%), and being outcompeted (20%). Businesses that start with a written plan and at least $10,000 in initial capital have measurably higher survival rates through year 3.