A practical checklist from a first customer problem to a live website. This guide offers a practical starting point, not a substitute for specialist advice.
1. Choose one audience and pain point
A narrow, specific problem is easier to understand and reach than a promise to serve everyone. Interview prospective customers before deciding that your idea is proven.
2. Validate without building everything
Test a simple sample, a landing page, a manual service or a small batch. Ask potential buyers to take a meaningful action, such as joining a paid pilot or placing an order.
3. Check unit economics
Work out the real cost per sale, including support, payment fees, tax, packaging and fulfilment. Make sure the product can contribute enough to cover ongoing overheads.
4. Complete business basics
Check relevant registration, tax, insurance, data privacy, product and consumer rules. The requirements depend on where you operate and what you sell.
5. Launch with clear information
Explain the offer, price, delivery and returns process, contact route and trust signals. Test the entire customer journey on a phone before you invite traffic.
6. Measure and adjust
Start with conversion, refunds, profit per order and customer feedback. Improve the main bottleneck before expanding into dozens of products.
Put it into practice
Use the tools below with numbers from your own business, then revise your assumptions against real results. Keep a record of the decisions you make and why.