Up-and-Coming Tasks to Put on Your Work List Before Opening Your First Business

A to-do list is one of the best ways to keep track of what you need to do, as well as what’s been completed. Besides, it’s just plain satisfying to scratch off a task once it’s finished – letting yourself know it’s time to move forward. When conquering something as big and important as opening your own business, it’s likely that your to-do list will be quite long … and quite important. But that’s also all the more reason you should have one in the first place. It can help you keep track of timelines and dates, and to make sure everything is done when needed.

You can create an electronic version of this list so you won’t lose track, and to keep your tasks on you at all time. (If you lose your only paper version, you might be in a world of trouble.) Or, transfer dates onto a calendar for an easier way to meet your deadlines. The method you choose to keep track of tasks isn’t as important as to what’s actually on the list itself – personal preferences can be taken into account for a more customized way to work.

Important deadlines. Anything that has to be done by a certain date should go on your list, and the date should be highlighted. Next, make bullet points of everything that needs to happen in order to make that deadline a reality. That might include signing documents, talking with a lawyer, filing for licenses, payments, training employees, marketing, and more.

Next, list personal and professional goals. These will be harder to cross off as complete, but can serve as an ongoing reminder of what you’re working toward.

Important steps such as finding a location, setting an opening date, ordering initial product, etc. should all go on the list as well. However, these are also somewhat obvious, too. They’re all tasks that you know and understand need to take place, however, writing it down makes the tasks more likely to be finished, and finished on time.

It’s a good idea to look toward a general checklist at this point so that you don’t overlook anything important (even if it’s small) when setting up your franchise. It’s also likely that your franchising brand will have a general list that you cause use as a template.

Aside from the obvious tasks, there are those that are far more specific, and easier to lose track of. Especially because they are pertinent to you as an individual, not ones that can be used for all types of franchisees. For instance, having a plumber check that leaky pipe – this is an event that’s specific to your location, not everyone who opens a business. Include a list of maintenance issues, training programs (for you and your employees), paperwork that needs to be completed and filed, and anything else that might come up. So long as it needs to be done, you should put it on your list. That’s what makes it so difficult to create – there’s no right way to create the content, as everyone’s is different. However, that’s also what makes it so important.

Everyone’s to-do list is different, yet all are an important part of opening your very own location. It lets you know what needs to be done, and when it has to be completed.

Writing one out, and then sticking to that same list, is a great way to move forward with your venture without letting anything fall through the cracks.