Stop planning. Start selling.

Stage 1: Define the offer

In plain words:Write down exactly what you sell, who it's for and what it costs, in plain words. If you can't say it simply, nobody can buy it.

• What am I selling? — The product or service, in one or two plain sentences.
• Who is it for? — One specific first customer — precise enough that you could go and find them.
• What problem does it solve? — The problem in their words, not yours.
• Why would someone choose it? — Compared with what they do today — including doing nothing.
• What does it cost? — A real price, and what it costs you to deliver one.

Stage 2: Validate it

In plain words:Before you spend money, find out if real people want it at that price. Ten conversations beats a great guess.

If you're under 18: Talk to people you know or have an adult with you, in public or at school. Pre-orders and deposits go through a parent or guardian.

• Talk to at least 10 potential customers — Ask about the last time they had the problem and what they did about it. Don't pitch yet.
• Write down what they said — Their words, not your summary. Note anything that surprised you.
• List the objections — Every reason someone gave for not buying — price, trust, timing, not needed.
• Test willingness to pay — Ask what they'd expect to pay before you say your price. Better: ask for a pre-order or deposit.
• Adjust the offer — Change the price, package or customer if what you heard says you should. Changing nothing is a decision too.

Stage 3: Build the basics

In plain words:Set up only what you need to take a customer today: a name, a way to be contacted, and a way to get paid. Skip the rest for now.

If you're under 18: Domains, payment apps and online checkouts usually need an adult account holder. Use a contact method a parent or guardian can see, not your personal number.

• Choose a business name — Check it isn't already used by a business near you or online.
• Basic brand identity (if it applies) — A simple logo or wordmark and one or two colours. Keep it simple and consistent.
• Domain and professional email (if it applies) — A domain for your business and an email address on it.
• A simple page customers can find (if it applies) — A website, landing page or offer page that says what you sell, the price and how to buy.One page is enough: what you sell, the price, and how to buy. You don't need a whole website to start.
• The right social presence (if it applies) — Only the platform where your customers actually are. One done well beats four abandoned.
• A way to get paid — E-transfer, a card reader, invoices or an online checkout — whatever fits how you sell.Under 18, e-transfers usually go to a parent or guardian's account, and online checkouts need an adult account holder.
• A way to be booked or contacted — A booking link, a form, or a business email or phone number, not your personal one. If you're under 18, use a contact a parent or guardian can see.

Stage 4: Business setup

In plain words:This is the paperwork stage. You don't have to understand all of it. You have to know what to ask an adult about before you take paid work.

If you're under 18: If you're under 18, involve a parent or guardian in registration, banking and anything you sign. Contracts signed by minors may not be enforceable, and many businesses won't sign one without an adult.

• Understand business structures — Sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation — what each means for liability and taxes.Are you just you (a sole proprietorship), you and someone else (a partnership), or a separate legal business (a corporation)? Most young founders start as just themselves.
• Registration, if you need it (if it applies) — In Ontario, a business operating under a name other than the owner's own legal name generally needs to register that name.You usually only register if you trade under a name that isn't your own legal name. "Ellie Smith" needs nothing; "Green Yards Lawn Care" does. It costs about $60 in Ontario.
• CRA Business Number and HST basics (if it applies) — When a business number is needed, and when you have to register for and charge HST.A Business Number is your business's ID with the Canada Revenue Agency. Most very small businesses don't need one until they register for HST, which usually starts after $30,000 of sales in a year.
• Keep records from the first dollar — Date, customer, amount and every expense, in a notebook or spreadsheet. Keep business money separate from personal money.A notebook is fine: date, who paid, how much, and what you spent. Do it the same day, because you will not remember in April.
• Banking (if it applies) — A separate account makes records easier. If you're under 18, a parent or guardian may need to be involved.A separate account keeps business money apart from your own. Under 18, a parent or guardian usually has to be on it.
• Insurance, licences and permits (if it applies) — Some businesses need liability insurance, a licence or a municipal permit, especially food, trades, childcare and events. If yours might, check before you take paid work.Insurance covers you if something gets damaged or someone gets hurt. Licences and permits are permission to do certain work. Food, trades, childcare and events are the usual ones to check.
• Simple written agreements (if it applies) — For bigger jobs, write down what you'll do, the price, the timing and what happens if something changes. If you're under 18, have a parent or guardian involved: a contract signed by a minor may not be enforceable.Even a text message can be an agreement. Write what you'll do, the price, the date, and what happens if plans change. Under 18, have a parent or guardian involved.
• WSIB, if you hire help (if it applies) — Some businesses — especially in construction, or once you have workers — need WSIB coverage.WSIB is workplace injury insurance. It mostly matters once you pay someone to work for you, or if you're in construction.
• Find your local business centre (if it applies) — Small Business Enterprise Centres give free, one-on-one help and can tell you what applies to you.Your Small Business Enterprise Centre is a free, real person who answers exactly these questions for your town. Use them.

Stage 5: First sale

In plain words:Get one person who isn't family to pay you. That single sale teaches you more than a month of planning.

If you're under 18: For work at someone's home or deliveries, bring an adult or make sure one knows where you are. Skip jobs involving ladders, roofs, power tools or driving without an adult.

• Get your first customer — Someone who isn't family paid you for what you sell.
• 3 customers — Three different paying customers.
• 10 customers — Ten different paying customers.
• $500 in revenue — Total sales, before costs.
• $1,000 in revenue — Total sales, before costs.

Stage 6: Improve

In plain words:Your first customers know things about your business that you don't. Ask them, then change one thing.

• Ask customers for feedback — What almost stopped them buying? What would make them buy again or tell a friend?
• Improve the offer — Package, speed, guarantee — what would make it easier to say yes?
• Revisit the price — If everyone says yes instantly, you may be too cheap.
• Sharpen how you describe it — Use the words customers used.
• Improve delivery — Write down how you deliver, and fix the step that goes wrong most.

Stage 7: Grow

In plain words:Turn a few sales into something steady: ask for referrals, get customers coming back, and watch three numbers every week.

If you're under 18: Partnerships and bigger jobs: have a parent or guardian review anything that involves money or a written agreement.

• Ask for referrals — Ask every happy customer who else might need you.
• Find one partnership (if it applies) — A business that already serves your customer and could send people your way.
• Get a repeat customer — Someone who buys a second time — or a plan that makes them buy regularly.
• Track three numbers weekly — Enquiries, sales and average sale value is a good start.
• Set your next revenue target — A number and a date for the next 90 days.