The ultimate checklist for launching a digital-first business

If you’re launching a business in 2025, chances are it’s going to be digital-first. Whether you’re running an online store, offering consulting services, or building something entirely new, they all have an online component.

When I started building my own business, I didn’t come from a technical background. I knew marketing and how to connect with customers, but figuring out the right tech, tools, and systems? That was a steep learning curve.

So if you’re just starting out (or if you’re pivoting your existing business), I’ve pulled together the checklist I wish I had when I was setting up. These are the essentials that helped me get things off the ground and keep them running smoothly.

The checklist is provided as a list at the end of the article, and I’ve gone into more detail on each item in the article below.

1. A clear business idea that solves a real problem

Before diving into websites and tools, make sure your business solves something people care about. It doesn’t have to be revolutionary—but it does need to offer real value.

I always ask:

• Who am I helping?
• What problem do they have?
• How can I solve it better or differently?

Once you can clearly explain your offer in one sentence, you’re on the right track.

2. Business registration

You’ll need to make sure your business name is available and claim it quickly. Then register for an Australian Business Number, your business name, and for GST and other taxes using the Business Registration Service. 

At this point, you may also want to trademark your business name to protect it in the future.

3. A domain name and professional email address

Once your idea is solid and you’ve named your business, grab your domain name. Try to keep it short, clear, and relevant. I also recommend setting up a professional email using your domain—for example, hello@yourbusiness.com.au. It makes you look more legit from day one.

Tools I’ve used:

• Domain registration: VentraIP, GoDaddy, Crazy Domains. These services make it really easy to claim and manage a domain.
• Email hosting: Google Workspace or Microsoft 365. It’s simple to link your domain to one of these email platforms, and you’re probably already well-versed in using them, which makes it easy.

4. A simple, functional website

Hot tip: done is better than perfect. Your website doesn’t have to win design awards—it just needs to clearly explain what you do, who you help, and how to contact or buy from you. The biggest mistake I see is people getting stuck trying to make it perfect.

As a starting point, you just need:

• Homepage
• About page
• Services or product page
• Contact page
• Optional: Blog or FAQs

If you’re not confident building it yourself, use platforms like Wix, Shopify, or WordPress with a pre-built theme. These platforms make it incredibly easy to create a good-looking, functional website.

5. Tools to run your business smoothly

There are so many tools out there—it’s easy to overdo it. I’ve found these to be the most essential when starting out:

Accounting: Xero or QuickBooks. These platforms simplify bookkeeping, BAS prep, and financial reporting. You can track expenses, manage payroll, and send invoices easily, which is essential if you’re not accounts-minded.

Project management: Trello, Asana, or Notion. Great for organising tasks, tracking progress, and collaborating with team members or freelancers. Get started with them early (even if you start on the free tier) so everything is in one place from day one.

Scheduling: Calendly or Square Appointments. These clients book meetings or appointments online without any back-and-forth. Both tools sync with your calendar and can send automatic reminders – amazing if you work with multiple clients at once.

Invoicing and payments: Stripe, Square, or PayPal. These platforms make it easy to accept payments online, issue invoices, and track transactions securely. Perfect for service-based or e-commerce businesses – check which ones link in with your accounting software.

Marketing: Canva, Mailchimp, Meta Ads Manager. Canva helps you create professional graphics without a designer, Mailchimp simplifies email campaigns and customer newsletters, and Meta Ads Manager allows you to run Facebook and Instagram ads effectively.

Customer communication: Gmail, Zoom, or Slack. This is pretty self-explanatory – you need to be easily contactable.

My tip is to start simple. Add more tools only when you need them. Each one should save you time or help you work more efficiently.

6. Somewhere for your customers to (digitally) hang out

Whether it’s Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook, pick one or two platforms where your audience spends time and focus your energy there. You don’t need to be everywhere—you just need to show up consistently.

What helped me was creating a simple content plan each month. That usually consists of:

• 1–2 tips or how-tos
• 1 behind-the-scenes or personal story
• 1 promo or offer
• 1 testimonial or client win

7. A backup plan for when things go wrong

Things will go wrong—your laptop crashes, your internet drops out, or your website goes down. It’s part of the game.

Here’s what I’ve put in place:

• Cloud backups via Google Drive and Dropbox
• A 4G mobile hotspot in case the NBN goes down
• Password manager (like LastPass or 1Password)
• A trusted tech person I can call when I’m stuck

8. A reliable internet connection (this matters more than you think)

This one surprised me at first. But if your business depends on cloud tools, video calls, uploading content, or even just responding to emails quickly—your internet connection is your business infrastructure.

I started on a basic plan, and it caused no end of frustration—slow file uploads, glitchy Zoom calls, lag with online tools. Upgrading to a faster, more reliable internet connection was honestly one of the best decisions I made.

Depending on your business, you might get by with a 50 Mbps plan, but you’ll want 100 Mbps or higher—maybe even up to 1000 Mbps—if you deal with large files or creative work. Don’t skimp here, trust me. Check out a local provider like Swoop. 

Launching a digital-first business in 2025 doesn’t mean getting everything perfect from day one, but it does mean setting yourself up with the right tools, systems, and mindset.

Focus on solving a real problem, keep things simple, and invest in infrastructure (like your website and internet) that helps your business grow, not hold it back.

Here is a shorter version of the checklist as a quick-reference guide.

1) Define your business idea

• Clearly explain who you help, what problem you solve, and how your offer stands out.

2) Register your business

• Check name availability and register your ABN, business name, and GST through the Business Registration Service.
• Consider trademarking your business name for future protection.

3) Secure your domain and email

• Buy a short, relevant domain name.
• Set up a professional email address using Google Workspace or Microsoft 365.

4) Build a simple, functional website

• Include basic pages: Homepage, About, Services/Products, Contact.
• Use platforms like Wix, Shopify or WordPress to get started quickly.

5) Choose essential tools

• Accounting: Xero or QuickBooks
• Project management: Trello, Asana or Notion
• Scheduling: Calendly or Square Appointments
• Payments: Stripe, Square or PayPal
• Marketing: Canva, Mailchimp, Meta Ads Manager
• Communication: Gmail, Zoom, Slack

6) Pick your main social platforms

• Choose one or two channels where your customers are active (e.g. Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn).
• Post consistently with a simple monthly content plan.

7) Have a backup plan

• Cloud backups (Google Drive or Dropbox)
• Mobile hotspot for internet outages
• Password manager like LastPass or 1Password
• A tech support contact you can call when needed

8) Get a reliable internet connection

• Avoid frustration by upgrading to a plan that supports your workload.
• NBN 100 or faster is recommended for businesses handling large files or frequent video calls.

Key takeaways

• Start with a clear business idea that addresses a real problem and register your business name and domain to establish legitimacy.
• Create a simple, functional website and use essential tools for accounting, project management, scheduling, and marketing.
• Ensure a reliable internet connection and have a backup plan for potential technical issues to maintain business continuity.

Marshall Thurlow is Director and Founder of Orion Marketing Pty Ltd. He is a digital marketer with expertise in SEO, website design, content marketing, and project management.

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