Starting a business needs a solid foundation. Your business plan will guide you in structuring, running, and growing your new venture. This vital blueprint helps you navigate the business world, and without it, your path becomes substantially more rigid.
The idea of starting a business might overwhelm you at first. Breaking it down into manageable steps makes everything more doable. You need to secure capital and meet state-specific requirements, and each step needs careful planning. The good news is that you'll find more ways than ever to get the capital you need if you don't have enough funds ready. On top of that, it's important to understand legal requirements because each state has its own rules for starting and running a business.
Our complete guide will show you everything about launching a successful business in 2025. You'll learn about creating a solid business plan and meeting legal requirements. We'll also cover funding options and modern startup approaches. This step-by-step approach will help turn your business idea into reality, whether you're new to entrepreneurship or want to grow your business portfolio.
Launch anxiety? Kill it. This guide breaks “opening a business” into exact moves—plan, file, fund, and go live in weeks, not months.
Key Takeaways
- Start with a tight business plan: problem, audience, offer, pricing, GTM, KPIs.
- Pick a legal structure early (LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp) to protect assets and raise capital.
- Get your EIN free from the IRS, then handle state filings, DBA (if needed), and local permits.
- Open dedicated business banking; separate finances from day one.
- Stand up bookkeeping (cloud software), basic SOPs, and cash-flow tracking to avoid common failures.
- Compare funding: bootstrapping, SBA 7(a)/504/microloans, grants, friends/family—watch APR + fees.
- Ship a minimum stack: website, payments, CRM/email, analytics; validate with an MVP before scaling.
- Compliance isn’t optional—mind zoning, professional licenses, data privacy; in telehealth, add HIPAA.
- 90-day plan: validate → register → pilot → refine → systemize → scale channels.
- Measure what matters: CAC, LTV, conversion rate, payback period, gross margin, and runway.
Laying the foundation for your business
A detailed business plan is your first step to building a business. This key document should map out your objectives, target market, products/services, and competitive landscape. It helps you think through what you're building and where you're headed. You should share this plan with others to test if your product is viable.
The right legal structure forms another building block of your business. You'll need to think over how becoming a C corporation or other legal entity affects your ability to raise capital, manage operations, and protect personal assets. Setting up this structure early is vital because you can't hire a team or get major funding without it.
Your target market's details will help you learn about demand, market size, and potential pricing strategies. Start by gathering demographic data like marital status, income, gender, and age to create audience segments. Location and psychographic data will also help you target customers better.
Clear SMART goals—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound—create your path forward. These goals help you spot and manage risks, get employee support, improve team performance, and execute strategy effectively. An Economist study found that 90% of senior executives from billion-dollar companies missed their strategic goals due to poor implementation.
Registering and complying with legal steps
Legal compliance plays a vital part in starting a business. You'll need to register your business with government entities first. Most businesses must register with state and local governments, though federal registration applies only in specific cases.
Getting an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS helps you pay taxes, hire employees, and open business bank accounts. The IRS website lets you apply for an EIN online without cost - watch out for websites that charge fees for this service.
Your state has specific requirements once you have your EIN. The Secretary of State's office typically requires registration if you're forming an LLC, corporation, partnership, or nonprofit. Some states also need you to file a DBA (doing business as) when using a name different from your legal name.
Registration rules vary by location, but you'll need business licenses and permits based on your industry and location. These could include zoning permits, health permits, and professional licenses. To name just one example, zoning laws can restrict or completely prohibit certain businesses from operating in specific areas.
A local business formation attorney can help you navigate this process effectively. They ensure accurate and timely filings while guiding you through ownership structures and compliance strategies.
Exploring modern startup paths with Bask Health
The telehealth industry has become a viable business opportunity, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which is pushing virtual healthcare forward. Statistics show that 80% of doctors still provide virtual services even after the crisis. This market grows at 24.3% each year through 2030.
Bask Health gives entrepreneurs a complete solution to enter this market. Our platform has everything you need to build any digital health experience that works for entrepreneurs, doctors, and developers. You can create custom telehealth questionnaires with our drag-and-drop builder that matches specific treatment needs. This eliminates wasted time on complex development work.
Our system's biggest advantage lies in its nationwide pharmacy network. Patients receive commercial, compounded, and specialty medications right at their doorstep across all 50 states. The platform merges ordering, fulfillment, and compounding into one efficient process.
Starting a telehealth business requires careful financial planning. Traditional setups range from $10,000-$100,000 based on technology needs. Our subscription-based model costs nowhere near that amount and eliminates the need for hardware investments.
Regulatory compliance is a vital part of telehealth operations. We partnered with LegitScript to provide our telehealth and pharmacy partners with industry-recognized certification and monitoring solutions.
Conclusion
Starting a business in 2025 becomes less daunting when you break it down step by step. A solid business plan works as your roadmap to guide you through challenges and attract investors. The right legal structure, paired with this foundation, paves the way to growth that lasts.
Your target market knowledge helps fine-tune your offering and create marketing strategies that work. Getting proper registration and following legal requirements shields your business and personal assets from liability risks.
Traditional business models still work well, but telehealth offers an exciting chance for entrepreneurs in 2025. The industry grows by 24.3% each year, making it a great choice for anyone interested in healthcare. We at Bask Health know what it takes to launch a telehealth venture, so we built a complete platform to make the process simple.
Our drag-and-drop builder lets you create custom telehealth solutions quickly, instead of spending thousands on complex development. On top of that, our nationwide pharmacy network delivers medications to patients across all 50 states to create a smooth care delivery system.
Every business comes with risks, but success becomes much more achievable with careful planning and the right tools. The entrepreneurial experience feels less overwhelming and more rewarding when you break down the process into clear, doable steps - whether you choose a traditional path or dive into emerging industries like telehealth.
References
- Medesk. (n.d.). Telemedicine startup cost: What’s the real price tag? (And how to save thousands). Medesk. https://www.medesk.net/en/blog/telemedicine-startup-costs/ (Retrieved November 7, 2025). Medesk
- U.S. Small Business Administration. (2025, August 14). Apply for licenses and permits. https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/launch-your-business/apply-licenses-permits Small Business Administration
- Han, E. (2023, October 31). Setting business goals & objectives: 4 considerations. Harvard Business School Online. https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/business-goals-and-objectives online.hbs.edu
