Starting your own business can be a rewarding experience, but best of all, you can do it within a single day. If you’re looking to start a business from scratch, take these steps within an eight-hour workday to make it happen.

8:00 a.m. To 8:30 a.m. — Set Lifestyle And Financial Goals

Determine how much money you want each month, then what kind of lifestyle you’d like your business to support. For example, do you want or need time off? What car can you afford? These considerations are essential in determining how much money your business will need to generate.

8:30 a.m. To 10:30 a.m. — Select One Idea

Start with one idea. Once you’ve decided which business idea suits you, write down what your business will provide for others and why they should buy from you.

10:30 a.m. To 11:30 a.m. — Choose A Structure

There are many types of business structures, and it’s essential to choose one that matches your goals. The best way to figure out which one works best for you is by comparing them side by side. Consider whether you plan on hiring any employees and whether there will be more than one owner.

11:30 a.m. To 12:30 p.m. — Open An Account

If you’re starting your business online, you need to open up a bank account. In most cases, you don’t need a lot of money to get started, but you will want room for your income and expenses. You can either use your personal bank account or set up one just for your business.

12:30 p.m. To 2:30 p.m. — Market Your Product

Paid ads are great if you need to get customers quickly. If your business has room to grow, you’ll want to be more selective with how you spend your advertising dollars; in general, paid ads shouldn’t account for more than 10% of your budget at first, unless you have extra cash on hand.

2:30 p.m. To 3:30 p.m. — Hire Freelancers

Hiring freelancers can save you valuable time and money — but hire smartly. One way is by asking your prospective hires these questions: What previous work have you done in this industry? What has worked and what hasn't? What sort of changes should the business expect after hiring you?

3:30 p.m. To 4:00 p.m. — Get Tools To Help

It helps to have the right software tools to get work done efficiently. There are plenty of free (or low-cost) options available. For example, cut down and reduce PDF file size  to have an easily shareable and downloadable file — this way, you'll keep your files organized and compatible.

Get Started

The only thing left to do is get started on establishing your new venture. There will never be a perfect time, so don’t wait — get it going today.

Join your local chamber of commerce for more resources on improving your business.