Thinking About Starting a Business? Here’s Exactly Where to Begin
You’ve got the idea. You’ve got the passion. You’ve been thinking about it for weeks, maybe months. And yet every time you sit down to actually start, you feel completely overwhelmed and have no idea where to begin.
Sound familiar?
Starting a business doesn’t have to mean having everything perfectly in place before you launch. In fact, some of the most successful businesses were built on a shoestring, figured out as they went, and grew through word of mouth long before there was a website or a brand.
The key is just to start. And then to build the foundations as you go.
This week I’ve been chatting to Danielle from Danielle Marshall Business Solutions and she gave me her top tips when it comes to starting a business.
So here’s a practical, no-nonsense guide to the steps that actually matter when you’re setting up a business — in the right order, without the overwhelm.
1. Just go for it — seriously
Before we get into the practical steps, let’s talk about the thing that stops most people before they’ve even started: fear of what people will think.
Here’s the truth. The people around you want to support you. When you share what you’re doing, when you put it out there and say “this is my business and this is what I do,” you will get far more encouragement than you expect. Most people are rooting for you. The negative voices are the loud minority, not the majority.
And if it doesn’t work out? Worst case scenario, you go and get a job. You haven’t lost anything. But you’ll always wonder “what if” if you don’t try.
If it’s been on your mind for a while, that’s your sign. Stop waiting to feel ready. Just start.
2. Write a simple business plan — nothing fancy
When people hear “business plan” they imagine a 40-page document with financial projections and market analysis. It doesn’t have to be anything like that.
Start with a simple spreadsheet. Write down everything you need to do to get your business up and running, then give each task a realistic deadline. The key is to spread those tasks out across several months — not pile everything into the first week.
Think about: What do you need to set up? When do you want to launch? Who is your ideal customer? What problem are you solving for them? What will you charge?
Keep it short, keep it achievable, and give yourself clear milestones to work towards. Having even a basic plan stops you from feeling like you need to do everything at once — because you don’t.
3. Get on social media — it’s free and it works
You don’t need a website on day one. You don’t need a full brand. You just need to show up somewhere online and say “hello, I’m here, this is what I do.”
Social media is free advertising and it’s where your customers are spending their time. Start with one or two platforms and do them well rather than spreading yourself too thin across everything.
When it comes to Facebook, think about what you’re trying to achieve. A personal profile works well for businesses where you are the brand and you’re happy to blend personal and professional. A business page is better if you want to keep them separate. A group works brilliantly if you want to build a community around your business with lots of engagement. There is no right or wrong — it’s about what works for you and your business.
Once you’re set up, post consistently and authentically. You don’t need to be polished — in fact, the more real and personal your content is, the better it tends to perform. People buy from people. Always make sure you have a clear call to action on your posts — tell people what you want them to do next, whether that’s to message you, visit your website, or book a call.
And check your messages. Nothing loses a potential customer faster than a message that sits unanswered for days.
4. Set up a Google Business Profile
This is one of the most underused free tools available to small business owners and it can make a real difference to how easily people find you online.
A Google Business Profile means your business can show up in Google searches and on Google Maps. You can link it to your website or social media, add your contact details, collect reviews, and start building credibility online. It’s free, it’s straightforward to set up, and it immediately makes your business look more established and trustworthy.
Start collecting reviews as soon as you can. Even a handful of genuine, positive reviews will help push you up in search results and give potential customers the confidence to reach out.
5. Get clear on your branding — even the basics
You don’t need to spend thousands on branding when you’re just starting out. But you do need to think about how you want to present yourself and be consistent with it.
Start with a simple logo, a colour scheme and a clear idea of what your business stands for. Canva is brilliant for this — even the free version allows you to create professional-looking graphics, social media posts and branded templates.
A little known tip: Etsy is a brilliant source of ready-made Canva templates for social media. You can find packs of a hundred branded templates for as little as five pounds, then simply update the colours and logo to match your brand. It’s a fantastic shortcut if you’re working with a tight budget and just need something that looks consistent while you’re getting started.
For video content, if you’re creating reels for Instagram, try the Edits app — it was made by Instagram so the platform tends to favour content created through it, which means it can help your videos reach more people.
6. Know your market and price yourself properly
One of the most common mistakes new business owners make is undercharging. It feels safer to start low — less risk, less pressure — but the reality is that you end up working twice as hard for half the income.
Before you set your prices, do your research. Look at what others in your industry are charging. You don’t have to match the most expensive, but aim to be in the mid-range at minimum. You are worth it — especially when you’re building something from scratch and putting everything into it.
Looking at your competitors also helps in other ways. See how they’re advertising, what kind of content is working for them, and how they’re talking to their customers. You’re not copying — you’re gathering inspiration and understanding your market. Then put your own spin on it, in your own words, in your own voice.
7. You don’t have to do it all at once — and you don’t have to do it alone
One of the biggest reasons people feel overwhelmed when starting a business is because they think they have to have everything in place before they can begin. The website, the branding, the social media, the email list, the business plan, the pricing structure — all at once, all perfect, all before launch.
You don’t.
Everything is a work in progress. Your business will adapt and change as it grows — what you start with will look very different in a year’s time, and that’s completely normal. Give yourself permission to build it in stages.
And when there are things you can’t do or don’t know how to do — ask for help. Whether that’s hiring a VA, working with a business support specialist, or simply turning up to a networking event and asking the room. You will be amazed how willing people are to share their knowledge and point you in the right direction.
Which brings us neatly to the final point.
8. Get yourself in front of people — and tell them what you do
It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. And more importantly — it’s who knows you.
At a networking event, the person you’re talking to might not need what you offer right now. But they might know someone who does. They might remember you in six months when a friend asks for a recommendation. They might share your name in a Facebook group when someone asks if anyone knows a good …
This is why networking matters so much, especially in the early stages of a business. Not because you’ll walk in and immediately land a client — although it can happen — but because consistently showing up and building genuine relationships is one of the most powerful long-term strategies for growing a business.
And if the thought of walking into a networking event fills you with dread — find one that doesn’t involve standing up and pitching yourself to a room full of strangers. They do exist. At WIN, there’s no public speaking, no pressure, and no script. Just real conversations with real women in business who are all at different stages of the journey and genuinely want to help each other.
Whatever stage your business is at — just starting, a few months in, or a few years down the line — there is always value in being in a room (or on a screen) with people who get it. 💛
A quick roundup — your starting checklist
✓ Just go for it — stop waiting to feel ready
✓ Write a simple business plan — short, achievable, with clear deadlines
✓ Get on social media — it’s free and it’s where your customers are
✓ Set up a Google Business Profile — free, simple and great for search visibility
✓ Sort your basic branding — Canva and Etsy templates are your best friends
✓ Research your market and price yourself properly — pay yourself what you’re worth
✓ Build it in stages — you don’t need everything on day one
✓ Get in front of people — tell them what you do and let your network do the rest
About Danielle
Danielle Marshall runs Danielle Marshall Business Solutions, supporting business owners with the practical side of starting and growing their businesses. From business planning and social media to virtual assistant support and in-person guidance, Danielle works with her clients in the way that suits them best.
Find Danielle here:
🌐 Website: https://daniellemarshall.co.uk/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniellemarshall_business/
👤 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanielleMarshallBusinessSolutions
Want to hear more?
I sat down with Danielle on the Women Inspired Networking Conversations podcast for a brilliant honest conversation about starting a business, what you really need to do first and how to grow without the overwhelm. Listen now on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0DM7Ooc5nLezg4u91OklYo
Come and find your people:
🌐 www.womeninspirednetwork.com/events
👤 Facebook: Women Inspired Network: Networking For Women In Business
📸 Instagram: @women_inspired_network
