Starting a business? Your first ten steps online

In order

1. Register your domainIn the business’s name, with auto-renew and two-step sign-in. See choosing a domain name.
2. Set up business email on that domainyou@yourbusiness.com, not a Gmail address, with SPF, DKIM and DMARC from the start. See how to set up DMARC.
3. Claim your social handlesThe same name on Instagram, Facebook and anywhere else your customers are, even if you won’t post yet.
4. Create your Google Business ProfileOnce you have a real address or service area. See setting it up without a suspension.
5. Build a websiteEven a simple one: what you do, where, hours, photos, a call button.
6. Connect Google Search ConsoleSo you can see how Google sees you from the start.
7. List yourself on Apple Maps, Bing and your industry’s directoriesWith exactly the same details everywhere.
8. Set up a review routineAsk your first customers, every time. See getting more Google reviews.
9. Turn on two-step sign-in everywhereEmail, domain, bank, payments, social.
10. Write down your loginsIn a password manager the business owns, so no account is tied to one person’s phone.