New business launch checklist, Melbourne.
Written by Jack Harrington and Gabriel Pozo, the founders of Urban Media, Melbourne. Updated .
A launch goes wrong when the pieces are done out of order, or by people who do not talk to each other. Use this list in order.
It is general information, not legal or financial advice.
Before you spend anything
- Confirm your structure and register your ABN and, if you need one, your business name.
- Check the name is free: ASIC, a trade mark search, the domain and the social handles.
- Check the licences, permits and insurance your industry needs.
- Write one sentence: who you help, with what, and for how much.
Brand
- A logo and a colour palette.
- Fonts, and a simple voice for how you write.
- A one-page style guide so everyone who works on your business uses the same things.
Photos and video
- Real photos of you, your work, your space or your product, not stock.
- Vertical and horizontal versions, so they work on the site and on social.
- Enough for the first months, so you are not scrambling for content after launch.
Website
- Your offer, who it is for and a starting price, clear before anyone scrolls.
- One obvious way to enquire or book, and a phone number that works with one tap.
- Built for phones first, and fast.
- Contact details, a privacy policy and your terms.
Getting found
- A Google Business Profile. A business with no shopfront can set a service area instead of a public address.
- The same name, phone number and email everywhere you appear.
- Social profiles with the same name and logo.
- Analytics set up before any ads run, so you can see what works.
Launch ads
- A test budget decided up front, not topped up on a bad week.
- An ad that sends people to a page matching what the ad said.
- Enquiries answered the same day.
- A weekly check: what did it cost, and what came in.
The first 90 days
- Ask real customers for a Google review as each job finishes.
- Post real work, not generic content.
- Look at the enquiries every week and fix the biggest drop-off first.
More guides for new businesses
- Logo or website first for a new business
- What to do after registering an ABN
- How to name a business in Australia
- Business name vs company name in Australia
- Do I need a website for a small business
- What is a brand identity for a small business
- Brand guidelines for a small business
- How to get your first customers as a new business
- Google Business Profile for a new business
- How much a new business should spend on ads
- Website checklist before you launch a small business site
- What photos a new business needs
- Landing page or website for ads
- Social media profiles for a new business
- How to start a business in Melbourne
- How to start a clothing brand in Australia
- How to register a brand name in Australia
- Do I need an ABN to start a business in Australia
- Sole trader or company in Australia
- Do I need to register for GST
- How to choose a .com.au domain name
- How to get a logo for a new business
- Business email for a new business
- Privacy policy for a small business website in Australia
- What to post on social media when you start a business
- Setting up a business in Victoria
All of them are on the guides page.
Who is behind this
Urban Launch is built and run by Urban Media (ABN 28 169 446 902), a Melbourne studio founded by Jack Harrington and Gabriel Pozo. Urban Media makes video, design and websites for clients including Box Hill United, Brighton Grammar and Porsche Club Victoria.
If you want to talk to the people doing the work, call 0456 785 904. More about who we are, and how to check us, is on the About page.
Common questions
- How long does a business launch take?
- It depends on the package and on how fast you get us logins, brand direction and existing content, and you get a clear timeline on your Launch Call. What Urban Launch promises is that you are live and generating enquiries within 45 days, or we keep working at no extra cost until you are, as long as you spend on media, answer your own leads and approve creative and campaigns within 48 hours.
- Do I need a website before I run ads?
- Yes, or a dedicated landing page. An ad needs somewhere that matches what it promised and takes an enquiry.
- What should I pay for first?
- The small registrations and checks come first, then the brand, then the photos and website. Ads come last, once there is somewhere good to send people.
Start with a Launch Call
Live and generating enquiries within 45 days, or we keep working at no extra cost until you are. The Launch Call is where we check it is the right fit before we book anything in. For a real example, read the Airwize case study (12 conversions, meaning leads that became sales, in the first month of Google Ads from $70 of ad spend, our figures). You can also read how a launch package compares with hiring separately, or go to the packages and prices on the homepage.
More: Brand and website package, Melbourne, Startup package for a new business, Melbourne, Branding, website and photography package, Melbourne.