THE ESSENTIAL BUSINESS CHECKLIST

THE ESSENTIAL BUSINESS CHECKLIST

THE AGE OF THE ENTREPRENEUR IS HERE

YOU VE FINALLY LAUNCHED INTO THE BUSINESS OF YOUR DREAMS. YOU VE MADE THE LEAP, AND YOU RE READY TO MAKE YOUR MARK AND MAKE A PROFIT. ONLY ONE PROBLEM: YOU DON T KNOW HOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

WE'VE DEVELOPED THIS CHECKLIST TO TAKE THE GUESS WORK OUT OF BUILDING YOUR BUSINESS. IT INCLUDES THE ESSENTIAL BASES YOU NEED HIT TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE, PROFITABLE + KICK-ASS BUSINESS. GOOD THINGS TAKE TIME. SO, IF YOU'VE JUST BEGUN, DON'T BE DAUNTED. JUST WORK THROUGH THIS LIST ONE BY ONE.

A BUSINESS HAS TO BE INVOLVING, IT HAS TO BE FUN, AND IT HAS TO EXERCISE YOUR CREATIVE INSTINCTS RICHARD BRANSON

BASE 1: ENTREPRENEUR S MINDSET [IT ALL STARTS HERE] Know why most small businesses fail within the first two years? Because they never create the right internal environment for success. That s why you need to laser into your entrepreneurial mindset. This : Preparation I enjoy my work. I enjoy being a business owner. I wake up excited at what the day will bring. I have morning rituals in place to set me up for the day. I spend 5-10 minutes in the morning planning my day. I make a prioritised list to do for the day. Disciplines I only check my emails when I am ready each day. I have a clear 90 day plan that I refer to daily. I check my emails only twice per day. I have time set out each week to switch off. I am learning something new each week (course/book). Attitude I praise myself for my achievements. I realise that my reaction to a problem is all that I can control. I take responsibility for ALL of my results. Owners Collective 2015

BASE 2: BUSINESS PLANNING [TIME TO THINK BIG] Know why most small businesses fail within the first two years? Because they never create the right internal environment for success. That s why we re lasering in on your entrepreneurial mindset. In this introductory module, we ll dive into: Direction I have a clear Vision & Mission in place. The Vision & Mission is on my website, email signatures and print material. I have a business plan/roadmap in place. I have a 5 year plan in place. I have a 12 month plan in place. I have a clear 90 day plan in place..delivery I have a process in place so that each customer experience is the same. I regularly perform customer satisfaction surveys. I have regular brainstorming sessions either by myself or with the team I regularly review whether there have been any dropped balls, and how to fix them. Owners Collective 2015

BASE 3: MARKETING [TELLING YOUR STORY] To connect with your customers, you ve got to draw them in to your story. And to do that, you ve got to get smart and savvy about marketing. Lots of business owners get flustered when it comes to stepping into the spotlight, but we re going to break it right down and blast away the fear. You re not spruking your wares, you re building relationships with your potential clients. Lead Generation I have identified our target market and avatars. My marketing speaks directly to our target market. I have a written marketing plan with multiple strategies. The business has a database and list generation strategies in place. I communicate with our database on a regular basis. My branding is consistent across my website, business cards & printed material. I have a website that I like and portrays our brand well. I have an opt-in on our website to build our contact list. I utilize social media platforms well. Owners Collective 2015

BASE 4: FINANCES [KNOWING YOUR NUMBERS] The numbers don't lie. This is the big black cloud for most start-up, who run a mile from understanding their finances. But understanding the numbers will give you a crystal clear insight into your business. Watch them grow, and this will soon become your favourite part of your business! We have an electronic system in place for invoicing + accounting eg Xero. I pay my bills on time. I know my Break Even point. I know and understand our cash flow projections. My cash flow is regular. Our overheads are reasonable. I have regular access to my P&L statement. I understand our P&L statement. I have budgets in place I can afford sufficient inventory. I can afford new equipment when required. I meet bi-annually with my accountant. I meet regularly with my bookkeeper. I feel confident in understanding my finances. Owners Collective 2015

BASE 5: SALES [GROWING YOUR NUMBERS] To make money, you ve gotta make the sale there s no ifs, ands or buts about it. So many people feel sleazy and awkward whenever they have to ask the big question, but it doesn t need to be that way. Learn the essential numbers you need to know in your business and how to grow them fast. Our Unique Selling Point I know my USP. The USP is understood by the whole team. The USP is used in our marketing. The USP is used in our sales process. Our Guarantee We have a guarantee. Our guarantee is used in our marketing. Our guarantee is used in our sales process. Sales Funnel I have a defined sales funnel in place. I have a strategy for moving people through the funnel. I have an easy point of entry to engaging with my product/service eg. free download, strategy session call etc. Increasing Average Dollar Sale I know how to up-sell my product/services I prompt my customer to buy at different times of the year I review my prices every 6 months Owners Collective 2015

BASE 6: SYSTEMS [STRUCTURE SETS YOU FREE] The systems will set you free. You simply son't need to recreate the wheel every time you do something within your business. AS soon as you find yourself repeating a task, get it automated! Here's where to start: People I have an organisational chart (even if I'm a solo-preneur). I know what I'm best at, and what I need to outsource My team have clearly defined Roles and Responsibilities My team have milestones in place every 90 days I do team reviews every 90 days Technology I have an electronic CMS in place for recording customer details. I have a cloud based file storing system All tasks that can be automated have been.. Technology is reviewed and improvements made every 90 days. Processes I have a document procedures manual that sets out all its systems. I use scheduling for repetitive tasks. All key tasks are documented and scheduled. Workflow processes are documented. Owners Collective 2015

DON'T WAIT FOR OPPORTUNITIES, CREATE THEM.

START HERE: YOUR ESSENTIAL BUSINESS WORKBOOK WHY AM I DOING THIS? WHERE DO I WANT TO BE IN 5 YEARS? Owners Collective 2015

YOUR ESSENTIAL BUSINESS WORKBOOK WHAT IS MY PLAN TO GET THERE? Owners Collective 2015

YOUR BUSINESS WORKBOOK WHAT AM I GOOD AT? WHAT SHOULD I OUTSOURCE RIGHT NOW?

YOUR ESSENTIAL BUSINESS WORKBOOK WHO IS MY IDEAL CLIENT? I ADD VALUE TO MY CLIENTS LIVES BY: Owners Collective 2015

NEED A LITTLE EXTRA HELP? IT S TIME TO FUSE PURPOSE WITH PROFIT. TO TURN YOUR IDEA INTO AN EMPIRE. TO MAKE YOUR MARK AND MAKE MONEY. AND WE CAN SHOW YOU HOW COME AND SAY HELLO THEOWNERSCOLLECTIVE.COM THEOWNERSCOLLECTIVEMASTERMIND.COM

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