7 Essential Steps to Launch Your Online Business in 2025
Inside: 7 Essential Steps to Launch Your Online Business in 2025.
If you're looking to start an online business this year, this blog post shares seven steps that you could take to improve your chances of success.
Why am I qualified to talk about online business?
I started my first online business in 2012 as an online coach, and since then, I've had multiple online businesses, some of which have been successful and others have not.
I created this online business start-up guide so you can skip some of my mistakes and start your online business with a better chance of success.
Let’s get started.
Step 1: Define Your Ideal Client and Offer
I would start by honing in on who you want to serve and what you are serving them with. This is a simple step that many, including myself, skipped when I started my first online business.
Clarify your product or service before building anything
You want to be clear on what you are offering or what product you are selling. You can do this by writing out a mission statement. Something like this.
I help_ achieve goals with my_ services.
My mission statement is: I help business owners stand out online with custom Squarespace web design services.
How to identify and describe your dream customer
You’ll want to create a user profile or at least write out some guide or idea of who you are trying to sell to or target.
There's the old saying, “If you sell to everyone, you sell to no one.”
Don’t do that. Try to have an idea of who you are trying to reach.
By the way, it can still be broad. For example, I work with all businesses needing a Squarespace website.
Aligning your messaging with your target audience
Next, you’ll want to align your message to speak directly to your ideal customer. You can consider your customers’ needs, desires, pain points, and goals.
There are a few ways to approach this. You can create a copy based on pain marketing or future pacing marketing. I like the ladder.
If you're not a copywriter, you can use AI to help you develop an outline and ideas.
However, you should always edit and modify your content before adding it to your Squarespace website.
Step 2: Get Legal and Register Your Business
After you've decided who you serve and what you offer, you could start working on the business side of things by choosing a few key legal steps that would potentially protect your personal assets in case of disputes.
But just a reminder: I'm not a lawyer or an accountant, and I always advise my clients, for example, to speak to an accountant and a lawyer.
Now let’s go over some important steps to take and consider.
Choosing a business name and checking availability
You can start by brainstorming some ideas for your business name. You can go two ways.
Personal brand
Brand name
I chose to build my business using my name. I am a solopreneur, a front-end developer by trade, and I offer Squarespace web design as a service, so it made sense for me to do so.
So think about your end goal. What do you see your business becoming? Is it a more personal brand, or are you creating a bigger business that will be your personal name?
For example, if you want to sell your business one day, it won't be as easy if you're a personal brand versus if it's a brand name like Squarespace, for example.
Then check all the social media accounts and domain names to make sure your business name is available.
How to register your business in your state/country
I would use good old Google to look up how to register your business in your state or country. Search on Google “How to register a business in your state or country.”
I know that in California, you have to register your business name with your county and fill out a form.
Setting up a business bank account and EIN
Next, you'll want to file for an EIN with your state. This is for tax purposes, and you will also need it to open a business bank account.
Legal considerations: contracts, privacy policy, terms
Then, finally, you must have legal pages on your website. These include.
Privacy Policy
Terms and Conditions
Accessibility Statement
If you are a service-based business like mine, you also want to make sure you have contracts in place. This is to protect yourself and your clients and ensure a mutual understanding of what services are included in each service.
You can talk to a lawyer who can draft a specific contract for your business or use templates drafted by lawyers. Here are a few choices.
Next, we will start creating your brand image.
Step 3: Brand Identity
Now that you have your business set up, you can start moving into the fun stuff: your brand identity.
Choosing brand colors, fonts, and a visual vibe
To pick your brand colors, fonts, and the overall visual vibe, you can start by looking at color theory. Colors have different meanings, they evoke different vibes and emotions, and there are also cultural considerations to consider if your goal is to have a global brand.
How branding builds trust from day one
Keep your branding consistent throughout all your social platforms. Your brand represents your overall vibe that you are trying to portray, and your brand voice and messaging should also align with your brand as a whole.
This will create trust with your name, and people will start recognizing your brand as it stands out among all the other businesses that do not necessarily have cohesive branding.
Free tools to get started with a brand mood board
You can use AI to help you create branding for your business, or hire a brand designer like me to create branding representing who you are as a personal brand or company.
When I work with clients, I discuss their goals, who they are, and where they will get a complete picture of what type of branding would best represent their business.
If you want to go the DIY route, you can use Canva or Figma to come up with some branding ideas.
When to DIY and when to hire a designer
If you have a solid idea of your brand and overall aesthetics and the aesthetics you want to convey in your online business, and if you can design your website using Squarespace, then I recommend that you DIY your whole business, especially if you are on a tight budget.
But..
If you are unsure of all the branding steps or how to create a cohesive brand that represents who you want to portray online, this is for you.
If you are not tech-savvy and you have a few extra bucks to spend, then I would hire a designer because it will save you time, money, and lots of headaches in the end.
With my branding and website services, you get the whole package, including branding and a website.
Plus, I offer 48-hour websites and 7-day website services for those who want to get their brand online quickly and don’t want to wait 2-3 months.
Step 4: Setting up Your Website on Squarespace
After you've sorted out your brand identity, you can turn your focus to building a stellar online presence.
But for you to do that. You need a website.
Why a website?
Well, I would argue that now more than ever, you need a website because social media is fickle and you can't build a business solely on social media.
The platforms come and go, but your website is forever. Plus, you can use content marketing strategies like blogging to attract targeted buyers and clients for your online business.
Why Squarespace is ideal for new business owners in 2025
After almost five years designing websites and using multiple platforms, I can tell you from experience that Squarespace is the easiest for clients to use.
You can manage your whole business using one platform instead of trying to piece together multiple platforms, adding plugins for one thing, or hiring a developer for thousands of dollars to fix one minor issue due to a mistake you accidentally made.
What pages every new business website needs
The following pages are a must, but I do have to say that pages can vary based on the goals that you have for your specific website and who the user is that you are targeting with your website. Because the funny thing about websites is that they are not really for us as the owner, they are for teh user.
The content you write, the copy you have, the images you add, are all for teh user, teh buyer, the clients, so that they find your website delightful and easy to use, and to buy whatever it is that you are selling.
Must have pages:
Home
About
Blog
Services
Contact
Legal Pages
These website pages are essential for your website, and they are a great starting point, but again, website structure goes much deeper since we have to think about the end user and what their main goals are when visiting the website, and these will affect the website’s pages and site structure.
The difference between templates and custom design
The difference between buying a Squarespace template or custom design is that with custom design, you can get a fully customized site, and you will also get personalized guidance on how to use Squarespace as a business owner.
With a Squarespace template, you are DIYing your whole website, from how to use Squarespace to how to set up everything on your Squarespace site. Basically, you are going at it on your own with no guidance, except you can always read the Squarespace blog or try to contact Squarespace help if needed.
How to work with a web designer (and what it costs)
You can work with a Squarespace web designer by booking a free consultation call to see if you are a great fit to work together. This is the fastest way to get started. Hop on a call with me to discuss whether we are the right fit to design and build your Squarespace website.
What Squarespace web desogners cost?
That depends on the experience level of the designer and if they have any training in design or development. I have a bachelor's in front-end development and five years of experience.
My prices start at $3800 for my 48-hour website service and $4800 for my 7-day website service.
I charge at least $8,000 for a fully customized project that includes custom coding.
Website must-haves: SEO setup, mobile design, CTAs
Setting up your website for SEO. You can use the SEOSpace plugin.
But don't worry, it's not a plugin like you would have on WordPress; it's super easy to install. All you have to do is add it to your Chrome extensions.
Then watch videos on how to use it, and there you go.
On top of that, you will add your SEO to each page you have on your website.
But if you hire a designer, I can do all the SEO optimization for you. :)
Then, you have to make sure your website is optimized for mobile screens, as well as tablet and iPad screens, so basically, it must be responsive.
After that, you want to add many CTAs(call to action) on your website. This is so it’s easy for the user to buy the service or product you are selling or go to the next step.
Step 5: Your Launch Marketing Plan
How to choose your marketing platform?
It's not enough to build a website and think that clients or buyers will magically appear once you do. You have to have a marketing plan.
There are many ways to market your business, but here are a few of my favorite ways to attract visitors to your website.
SEO Blogging
YouTube videos
Pinterest
Social media
I think blogging and SEO are the absolute best ways to attract targeted clients and buyers. They are also great because they are a long-term plan versus posting on social media, for example.
If you write SEO-optimized blog posts and work on your website's SEO, you will reap the benefits over time.
But I'm assuming you are reading this post because you want to build a real business, and real companies take time.
Building an email list from day one
Having an email list alongside blogging is a great way to market your services, products, and anything else you might have.
Plus, your email list will always be your own; it's not a social media profile that can get hacked into, blocked by the platforms, or disappear one day. It's yours forever.
You can use Squarespace to build an email list, or if you want to get super nerdy with email marketing, you can use Kit(formerly Converkit).
Content ideas to attract and engage your ideal clients
When creating content for your ideal audience, you want to think about how you, as the new online business owner, can create the best, most helpful content the reader wants.
You can do this by researching topics and keywords users search for on Google and other search engines.
I like to use Keywords Everywhere to find relevant keywords for my content marketing efforts. I also like to use AI to develop ideas for content clusters.
Content clusters involve creating related content. For instance, if your business specializes in real estate and aims to attract new or out-of-state home buyers, consider creating content clusters focused on that topic.
You could start by covering twenty articles about what new homebuyers need to know before buying a property in your area.
Step 6: Setting up Systems for Maximum Growth
Next, you want to start setting up a system that works for you so that eventually, you can have a systemized online business that runs for you instead of you always working on the business.
Believe me.
Ive made this mistake in the past, and I swear by setting up systems to keep your online business simple.
Tools to manage bookings, emails, and payments
You can use Squarespace to manage your online business bookings, emails, and payments. If you want options and'd rather use something else, you could use Asana for project management, Calendly for bookings, and Bonsai for payments and invoices.
Integrating forms, CRMs, and calendars with Squarespace
With Squarespace, you can integrate forms with Zapier or use Flodesk forms. There are so many options that you could choose from that you can integrate with Squarespace, but I like to keep things super simple and uncomplicated.
I connected Caledly for my bookings, and I currently use Squarespace forms. Super simple.
Time-saving systems for solopreneurs
As a solopreneur, your time is your most valuable asset. Time is money when you work for yourself. Some time-saving systems can help you improve your workflow and get more done in an organized way.
Client onboarding
Content creation
Templates
Financial tracking tools
For client onboarding, you can use Dubsado or Bonsai; either works well. For content creation, you can use Notion, Trello, or even Google Sheets, like I do.
If you have a service-based business, I highly recommend using templates for contracts, onboarding emails, and even blog posts. You can use QuickBooks as a financial tracking tool.
Free vs paid tools for business owners in 2025
Now let’s look at some free vs paid tools you can use for your online business.
Free tools.
Canva
Notion
Kit
Unsplash/Pexels
You can use Canva to create all teh graphics you need, Notion to organize your business and content, Kit for your email marketing efforts, and Unsplash or Pexels for stock images.
Paid tools that are worth paying for.
Your domain name
Squarespace hosting
Business management tools like Bonsai
Legal templates
Skilled web designer :)
You will need a domain name and hosting for your website, so why not use Squarespace to cover both? If you are running a service-based business, you need business management software like Bonsai for invoicing, proposals, and contracts.
You will also need legal templates, and why not hire a skilled website designer like me to help you with all your website needs?
Step 7: Launch and Keep Your Business Simple
You have reached the point where your online business is set up and ready to launch. Now, let’s finally discuss all the launch details.
How to announce your business
After your website is done and you’ve set up systems, you can start announcing your new business. I would create multiple announcement posts that you would share on your social media accounts. Also, if you are going to be doing video marketing, then share your new business on YouTube.
Create 3-8 posts and share them over one to two weeks. Maybe even offer a beta launch, offer, sales, or something to excite new people about what you offer.
Avoiding perfectionism
I know I'm super quality of this being a perfectionist and worried mostly about being judged for not being perfect, but this year, I decided to let go of all the perfection and just accept myself as I am.
I understand that you and I are doing the best we can with what we have and the understanding and skills we have at this very moment.
That’s all we can do for now.
Of course, we can always move over time.
But I hope you launch that business. share what you know and dont get stuck inn the ananlysis paparlysis of perfetion like i have for many years.
I started and stopped multiple YouTube channels because I was so afraid of not being perfect, looking perfect, speaking perfectly, and on and on the list of a perfectionist goes.
So just start, and you can always improve. Maybe you can even help someone with your business or product.
Why iteration beats overthinking every time
Consistency and doing the work day after day will always make you more skilled and create more income for you. If you keep overthinking each step, you are literally stuck in analysis paralysis.
But if you do the damn thing over and over and over again then at some point you will become so good at it that you will have to become succesful in your online usiness.
Most people quit right away after they don't see results. I'm guilty of this, too.
But if there is something that you want, then quitting is not an option, and the only way to get good at anything in life is through true, relentless repetition.
Think about all the athletes, for example, who have had to do the same thing over and over again until they became so good at it that they became the success they are today.
But it takes time.
Skills take time.
It can get boring and repetitive, but that's how life is sometimes. Success is achieved through tedious, repetitive daily tasks.
Wrapping Things Up
Alright, that’s it for this post. You now have the 7 steps to launch your online business. I hope you found this post helpful and that you take action because nothing happens without action.
I know some of it can seem scary and even overwhelming, but that's why I like to break things down into tasks that can be done step by step.
Until the next time,
-Silva
