Launch Day Checklist - Complete Business Launch Guide

Pre-Launch Preparation

Essential tasks to complete before your launch day

Legal & Business Structure

Obtain EIN (Tax ID) Get federal tax identification number from IRS (free at irs.gov)

Open Business Bank Account Separate business and personal finances completely

Get Required Licenses/Permits Research and obtain industry-specific licenses and local permits

Set Up Business Insurance General liability, professional liability, and any industry-specific coverage

Financial Setup

Set Up Accounting System Choose and implement QuickBooks, Xero, Wave, or similar accounting software

Create Financial Projections 12-month cash flow and revenue projections with realistic assumptions

Set Up Payment Processing Stripe, PayPal, Square, or merchant account for accepting payments

Create Pricing Strategy Research competitors and set profitable prices with clear value proposition

Set Up Invoicing System Automated invoicing with payment terms and follow-up sequences

Product/Service Development

Finalize Product/Service Offering Complete development, testing, and quality assurance

Create Standard Operating Procedures Document delivery processes step-by-step for consistency

Develop Quality Control Process Ensure consistent quality delivery with checklists and reviews

Create Customer Onboarding Process Smooth new customer experience from first contact to delivery

Test Service Delivery Run through entire process with beta customers or test scenarios

Marketing & Branding

Create Brand Identity Logo, colors, fonts, brand guidelines, and consistent messaging

Build Professional Website Mobile-responsive with clear value proposition and contact forms

Set Up Social Media Profiles LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram as appropriate for your audience

Create Marketing Materials Business cards, brochures, presentations, and digital assets

Plan Launch Marketing Campaign Email, social media, PR strategy with timeline and content calendar

Set Up Analytics Tracking Google Analytics, social media insights, and conversion tracking

Launch Day Execution

Critical tasks to execute on your launch day

Morning Preparation

Final Website/System Check Test all functionality, forms, payment processing, and mobile responsiveness

Prepare Customer Support Ensure phone/email support is ready with FAQ responses prepared

Review Launch Checklist Final review of all launch activities and backup plans

Confirm Team Availability Ensure all team members are available and know their roles

Launch Announcement

Send Launch Email to List Announce to email subscribers with clear call-to-action

Post on Social Media Share launch announcement across all relevant platforms

Notify Personal Network Inform friends, family, and professional contacts personally

Reach Out to Media/Influencers Send press releases or personal outreach to relevant media contacts

Update Business Directories Google My Business, Yelp, industry directories with launch announcement

Monitoring & Response

Monitor Website Traffic Track visitors, identify any technical issues, and monitor performance

Respond to Comments/Messages Engage with audience responses quickly and professionally

Track First Sales/Inquiries Monitor and respond to initial customer interest and conversions

Document Launch Metrics Record traffic, engagement, leads, and sales for future reference

Post-Launch Follow-Up

Essential tasks for the first 30 days after launch

Week 1: Immediate Follow-Up

Analyze Launch Metrics Review traffic, conversions, feedback, and identify what worked best

Follow Up with Initial Customers Ensure satisfaction, gather feedback, and request testimonials

Address Any Technical Issues Fix bugs or problems identified during launch week

Thank Supporters Send personal thank you messages to those who helped with launch

Respond to All Inquiries Follow up on every lead and inquiry within 24 hours

Week 2-4: Optimization & Growth

Optimize Based on Feedback Implement improvements based on customer input and data

Develop Customer Testimonials Collect and showcase positive feedback on website and marketing

Plan Next Marketing Phase Develop ongoing marketing strategy based on launch learnings

Set Up Analytics & Tracking Implement comprehensive business metrics and reporting systems

Create Referral Program Encourage customers to refer others with incentives

Establish Regular Content Schedule Plan ongoing content marketing and social media presence

Month 1: Foundation Building

Review Financial Performance Analyze revenue, expenses, profitability, and cash flow

Plan for Scale Identify bottlenecks and scaling opportunities for growth

Build Strategic Partnerships Identify and reach out to potential partners and collaborators

Document Lessons Learned Create knowledge base for future reference and team training

Set 90-Day Goals Establish clear objectives and milestones for next quarter

🎉 Congratulations!

You've completed your launch checklist! Your business is now live and ready to grow.

Recommended Next Steps:

Focus on customer acquisition and retention
Monitor key business metrics weekly
Plan for systematic growth and scaling
Consider building exit-ready systems from day one

Launching is Just the Beginning

A successful launch sets the foundation, but building a scalable, exit-ready business requires systematic execution. Our team handles the complex operational setup so you can focus on growing your business.

See How We Can Help