Date,Vendor,Description,Category,Amount,Payment Method,Notes
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Small Business Setup Checklist
================================

Phase 1 — Decide
[ ] Choose business structure (sole proprietor, LLC, partnership, corp)
[ ] Choose and verify business name (state DB + domain + trademark search)
[ ] Decide on business address (home, virtual, or commercial)

Phase 2 — Register
[ ] File state formation paperwork (LLC/corp/partnership)
[ ] Register DBA / trade name (if applicable)
[ ] Apply for EIN on IRS.gov (free)
[ ] Save EIN confirmation letter (Form CP 575)

Phase 3 — Open accounts
[ ] Open business checking account
[ ] Apply for business credit/debit card
[ ] Set up merchant processor (Stripe, Square, etc.) if needed
[ ] Set up bookkeeping system or spreadsheet

Phase 4 — Compliance
[ ] State business license (if required)
[ ] City/county business license or permit
[ ] Sales tax registration (if selling taxable goods/services)
[ ] Industry-specific licenses
[ ] Business insurance policy in place
[ ] Calendar reminders for annual report and license renewals

EIN Application Preparation Checklist
=====================================

Before you apply on IRS.gov, gather:

[ ] Legal business name (matches formation documents exactly)
[ ] Trade name / DBA (if different)
[ ] Business structure (LLC, sole prop, partnership, corporation)
[ ] Responsible party's full legal name
[ ] Responsible party's SSN or ITIN
[ ] Business mailing address
[ ] Business physical address (if different)
[ ] Business phone number
[ ] Reason for applying (new business, hiring, banking, etc.)
[ ] Date business started or was acquired
[ ] Expected number of employees in next 12 months

Apply only at IRS.gov. The EIN is free.
The official form is IRS Form SS-4.

ITIN Application Preparation Checklist
======================================

Identification documents (need primary OR a combination of supporting):
[ ] Valid, unexpired passport (preferred — can stand alone)
[ ] National identification card (with photo, name, address, DOB, expiration)
[ ] Foreign driver's license
[ ] Civil birth certificate (required for dependents under 18 if no passport)
[ ] USCIS photo ID
[ ] US visa (if applicable)

Supporting / situational documents:
[ ] Federal tax return (if filing one with the application)
[ ] Proof of US residency for dependents (school or medical records)
[ ] Treaty benefit documents (if applicable)
[ ] Letter from a withholding agent (if applicable)

The official form is IRS Form W-7 — get it from IRS.gov.
Originals or certified copies from the issuing agency are typically required.

Ideal Customer Profile Worksheet
================================

Use this to clearly define WHO your business is for.
The narrower this is, the easier it gets to find them, write to them, and sell to them.

1. Who exactly is your customer?
   (Be specific: "solo lawyers in their first 2 years," not "small businesses.")
   _______________________________________________________________________

2. What problem are they trying to solve?
   _______________________________________________________________________

3. What are they doing today instead of buying from you?
   (DIY, hiring a competitor, ignoring it, using a free tool, etc.)
   _______________________________________________________________________

4. Where do they spend time online?
   (Specific platforms, communities, newsletters, podcasts, subreddits.)
   _______________________________________________________________________

5. Where do they spend time offline?
   (Events, associations, neighborhoods, co-working spaces.)
   _______________________________________________________________________

6. What words do THEY use to describe their problem?
   (Use these exact words in your offer and marketing.)
   _______________________________________________________________________

7. What is the cost of NOT solving this problem for them?
   (Money lost, time wasted, stress, missed opportunity.)
   _______________________________________________________________________

8. Who currently influences their buying decision?
   (Spouse, accountant, business partner, online community.)
   _______________________________________________________________________

9. What is their realistic budget for solving this?
   _______________________________________________________________________

10. Who is NOT your customer? (Just as important.)
    _______________________________________________________________________

Offer Writing Template
======================

A good offer has four parts. Fill out each one. Then read it out loud.
If a stranger can't repeat it back to you in one sentence, simplify it.

PART 1 — WHO is it for?
(Be specific. "Solo lawyers in their first 2 years" beats "small businesses.")
_______________________________________________________________________

PART 2 — WHAT specific outcome do they get?
(Write the result they can picture. "5 new local customers a month."
Outcomes sell. Features don't.)
_______________________________________________________________________

PART 3 — WHAT'S INCLUDED?
(3-5 concrete items. List what they get and what they don't.)
- _____________________________________________________________________
- _____________________________________________________________________
- _____________________________________________________________________
- _____________________________________________________________________
- _____________________________________________________________________

PART 4 — PRICE
(Put it in the offer. Hiding price loses you the buyers who can afford you.)
_______________________________________________________________________


FULL OFFER (one paragraph):
=========================================================================

I help [WHO] [GET OUTCOME] for [PRICE].

You get:
- [Item 1]
- [Item 2]
- [Item 3]

Timeline: [How long it takes]
Next step: [How to get started]

=========================================================================


VALIDATION CHECKLIST
[ ] Sent it to 5 real potential buyers
[ ] At least 3 of them said it makes sense without follow-up questions
[ ] At least 1 of them asked "How do I get started?"
[ ] Rewrote based on the patterns in the feedback

Referral Ask Script
===================

Most word of mouth dies in silence. Customers would refer you if you made it
easy and asked at the right moment. Use these scripts.


WHEN TO ASK
- Right after a project finishes well
- After positive feedback (a thank you, a good review, a kind email)
- When a customer specifically tells you the work helped them


THE ASK (in person or on a call)
"Really glad this worked for you. If you happen to know anyone else who
[specific situation — e.g. is starting a business, struggling with bookkeeping,
trying to find a new house], would you mind sending them my way? I'd really
appreciate it."


THE ASK (by email or message)
Subject: Quick favor

Hi [Name],

Thanks again for the chance to work together on [project]. Really glad
[the specific outcome] worked out.

If you happen to know anyone else who [specific situation], I'd love an
intro. Easiest way: just forward this email and CC me — I'll take it from
there.

Either way, thanks again.

[Your name]


COPY-PASTEABLE INTRO FOR THEM TO FORWARD
"Hi [Friend],

You mentioned [their problem] a while back — wanted to introduce you to
[Your name] who helps [your offer in one line]. They did [project] for me
recently and it was [result].

[Your name] — [your friend] mentioned [their situation]. Sounds like you
two should connect.

[Your contact info]"


FOLLOW UP
- Track every referral source in your customer sheet
- When a referral becomes a customer, tell the original referrer
- Send a small thank you (handwritten note, gift card, public shoutout)
- People who get acknowledged refer again

30-Day Marketing Action Plan
============================

A simple, no-budget plan you can run in 3-4 hours per week.
Pick one acquisition channel, commit for the full 30 days, then evaluate.


WEEK 1 — FOUNDATION (3 hours)
[ ] Write your one-sentence offer (who + outcome + what + price)
[ ] Set up or update your Google Business Profile
[ ] Build (or fix) your one-page website
[ ] Make a list of 50 people in your existing network


WEEK 2 — DIRECT OUTREACH (4 hours)
[ ] Send personal messages to 25 people from your list
[ ] Ask 5 happy past customers for a Google review
[ ] Join 2 niche communities where your buyers are
[ ] Read each community for a week before posting anything


WEEK 3 — PRESENCE (3 hours)
[ ] Send personal messages to the other 25 people on your list
[ ] Post one useful piece of content on your chosen platform
[ ] Answer 3 real questions in your niche communities
[ ] Reply to every DM and comment within 24 hours


WEEK 4 — REFERRALS + REVIEW (3 hours)
[ ] Ask every recent customer for a referral using the script
[ ] Post one more useful piece of content
[ ] Track sources of every lead and customer this month
[ ] Pick what worked, drop what didn't, plan next 30 days


END-OF-MONTH REVIEW
- Total leads this month: __________
- Total new customers this month: __________
- Best source of leads: __________________________________________
- Best source of paying customers: _______________________________
- What to do MORE of next month: _________________________________
- What to STOP doing next month: ________________________________
- One channel to commit to for the next 30 days: ________________