Startup guides
How to Start a Business: Guides by Profession
Startup guides, one for each trade or service. Each guide walks through the startup steps for that work, with estimated startup costs, tips and FAQs.
Browse by profession
80 guides, listed A to Z by profession.
- AccountantCredentials, a specialty, registering your firm, professional insurance, pricing models, referrals and an online presence.
- AnimatorA demo reel, a niche, insurance, hardware and software, project-based pricing, a portfolio and first clients.
- ArchitectLicensure, a project focus, liability insurance, design software, referrals, publishing your work and a consultant team.
- Audio EngineerStudio setup, core equipment, a niche, a sample portfolio, pricing, local marketing and retainer clients.
- Auto MechanicASE certification, a shop location, equipment, permits, insurance, parts supply and shop management systems.
- BarberYour barber license, renting a chair or leasing a shop, equipment, booking and payments, and premium services.
- BookkeeperCertification, a target industry, software, monthly retainer pricing, CPA referrals and standard onboarding.
- Business CoachCertification, a niche, coaching packages, an online presence, a sales process, first clients and an email list.
- CarpenterLicensing, your services, tools and transport, insurance, a pricing system, a project pipeline and documentation.
- CatererFood safety certification, a commercial kitchen, your menu, per-person pricing, event partners and tastings.
- CateringYour concept, licenses and permits, kitchen and equipment, your team, menu packages and event operations.
- Cleaning ServiceA niche, bonding and insurance, supplies, pricing and packages, service standards and quality controls.
- ConsultantYour focus, packaged expertise, branding, pricing, scope agreements, first engagements and case studies.
- ContractorYour contractor license, bonding and insurance, subcontractors, estimating, contract templates and project systems.
- CopywriterA niche, a portfolio, an online presence, a creative brief process, rates, pitching and retainer clients.
- CourierYour service type, vehicle and insurance, dispatch and tracking, pricing, client relationships and backup capacity.
- Cybersecurity ConsultantCertifications, your services, a toolset, trust and compliance, report templates, first clients and MSP partners.
- Data AnalystA skill stack, a niche, a portfolio, pricing, an analysis framework, first clients and retainer work.
- DJEquipment, your market, an online brand, event pricing, client questionnaires, venue and planner networking, and a music library.
- Dog WalkerPet care certification, insurance, booking and tracking, services and pricing, route density and client trust.
- DressmakerA workshop, a specialty, a portfolio, pricing, fabric sourcing, marketing, and invoicing with deposits.
- Driving InstructorYour instructor license, a dual-control vehicle, insurance, a curriculum, pricing and packages, and invoicing.
- ElectricianYour electrician license, bonding and insurance, testing equipment, a service vehicle, clients and estimating.
- Event PlannerYour event type, vendor relationships, planning packages, a portfolio, contracts, and invoicing with deposits.
- Film EditorAn editing reel, a workstation, a niche, rates, a file management system, clients, contracts and invoicing.
- Financial AdvisorLicensing and certification, a business model, E&O insurance, compliance infrastructure, technology and referrals.
- FloristFloral design skills, a business model, cold storage, wholesale suppliers, a seasonal menu, and invoicing with deposits.
- Food Truck OperatorA menu concept, the truck, licenses and permits, a supply chain, locations and events, and revenue tracking.
- FreelancerYour service offering, a portfolio, pricing, contract templates, first clients, recurring revenue and invoicing.
- Graphic DesignerA portfolio, a design specialty, design tools, pricing, contract templates, clients, and invoicing and payments.
- HandymanLicensing rules, insurance, tools and a vehicle, rates, clients, property manager work and invoicing.
- Home InspectorInspector training, certification and licensing, tools, report software, agent relationships and ancillary services.
- Home StagerStaging skills, inventory, pricing, a portfolio, storage and transport, listing agents and rental billing.
- HVAC TechnicianCertification, a focus, licensing, insurance, tools and a service vehicle, maintenance agreements and service records.
- Insurance AgentPre-licensing education, state exams, an agency model, carrier appointments, technology and your book of business.
- Interior DecoratorYour style, trade accounts, a portfolio, a pricing structure, a sample library, clients and procurement tracking.
- Interior DesignerEducation and licensure, your market, trade relationships, design software, pricing, a portfolio and marketing.
- IT ConsultantA specialization, certifications, service packages, remote management tools, pricing, first clients and time tracking.
- Landscape DesignerDesign credentials and software, a local plant palette, a portfolio, design fees, installer partners and billing.
- LandscaperLicensing, equipment, insurance, a maintenance route, pricing, project work, and invoicing and route management.
- LawyerThe bar and a practice area, your firm, malpractice insurance, case management software, fees, referrals and billing.
- Life CoachCertification, a niche, coaching programs, an online presence, first clients and professional billing.
- Makeup ArtistSkills and kit, a specialty, a portfolio, rates, marketing, and booking and payment systems.
- Marketing AgencyServices and a niche, your team, service packages, first clients, case studies, operations and billing.
- Massage TherapistTraining and licensing, a practice model, equipment, pricing, clients, a modality specialty and package tracking.
- Moving CompanyLicenses and permits, a truck and equipment, pricing, your crew, an online reputation, estimates and invoicing.
- MusicianRevenue streams, instruments and gear, your reputation, rates, bookings, a teaching practice, contracts and invoicing.
- NotaryYour notary commission, loan signing certification, supplies, signing platforms, mobile services and record-keeping.
- NutritionistCredentials, a niche, your practice setup, pricing, referral relationships, content and client billing.
- PainterA specialty, insurance, equipment, pricing, clients, hiring and training a crew, estimates and invoicing.
- Personal ChefFood handler certification, a menu style, pricing, clients, expanded services, social media and expense tracking.
- Personal StylistYour expertise and services, a portfolio, pricing, visual marketing, retail partnerships and billing.
- Personal TrainerCertification, a training model, pricing, clients, structured programs, online training and billing.
- Pest ControlLicensing, equipment, service packages, pricing, homeowner and property manager marketing, routes and recurring billing.
- Pet GroomerGrooming training, a business model, equipment, insurance, pricing, recurring appointments and pet records.
- PhotographerA niche, camera gear, a portfolio, pricing, marketing, contracts and booking, and deposits and invoicing.
- PlumberYour plumbing license, bonding and insurance, tools and a vehicle, pricing, maintenance contracts, estimates and invoicing.
- Pool CleanerPool chemistry, equipment, a service route, weekly pricing, marketing, repair services and recurring billing.
- Pressure WashingTechniques, equipment, pricing, property owner marketing, commercial contracts, add-on services and invoicing.
- Private InvestigatorYour PI license, a specialty, equipment, rates, referral sources, reporting standards and case billing.
- Property ManagerLicensing, insurance, management systems, services and fees, owner relationships, vendors and management agreements.
- Real Estate AgentPre-licensing education, the state exam, a brokerage, your sphere, marketing, lead generation and a CRM.
- Real Estate AppraiserEducation, a supervising appraiser, licensing, appraisal software, AMCs and lenders, and private clients.
- RooferYour roofing license, insurance, a crew, estimating, equipment, referral sources, job tracking and invoicing.
- SalonYour cosmetology license, a business model, a location, equipment, insurance, stylists, and booking and POS systems.
- Security GuardSecurity licenses, hiring and training guards, service packages, pricing, contract clients and scheduling.
- Social Media ManagerA niche, a portfolio, tools, service packages, your own social presence, retainer clients and reporting.
- Tattoo ArtistAn apprenticeship, licensing, a studio setup, equipment, a portfolio, social media and a client waitlist.
- TranslatorCertification, a specialization, CAT tools, rates, translation agencies, direct clients and professional networks.
- Tree ServiceArborist certification, equipment, insurance, a crew, pricing, a truck and chipper, marketing and storm response.
- TruckingA CDL, operating authority, a truck, insurance, compliance systems, finding freight and your cost per mile.
- TutorSubjects and level, a format, rates, your reputation, teaching materials, finding students and group workshops.
- UX DesignerA case study portfolio, tools, your services, rates, an online presence, clients and a design process.
- VideographerCamera and audio gear, a niche, a showreel, pricing, an editing workflow, marketing and client contracts.
- Virtual AssistantYour service offerings, a home office, rates, an online presence, tools, retainer clients and systems.
- Web DeveloperA tech stack, a portfolio, pricing, project contracts, clients, maintenance plans and development processes.
- Wedding PhotographerWedding skills, backup gear, a portfolio, packages, planner and venue relationships, marketing and delivery.
- Wedding PlannerA vendor network, planning packages, a portfolio, planning systems, marketing, referral partners and client experience.
- WriterA writing niche, a portfolio, rates, a website, clients, retainer relationships and a pitching system.
- Yoga InstructorTeaching certification, a teaching model, a schedule, pricing, corporate wellness contracts, marketing and other income.
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