The big to-do list

I love to-do lists. I like knowing what I have to do and the satisfaction of checking off items as they get done.

As an entrepreneur just starting your business you’ll have many lists on your desk (or screen), but the most important one of all is the Big To-Do List. It’s the one with the basic stuff (mostly legal) that you need to do to establish your business. Unlike other to-do lists, however, you don’t have to perform all of the tasks. But as the owner, it’s your responsibility to make sure they get done.

So, what are these to-do items?

Tony Redpath outlined the Big List at last week’s lecture, The Nuts and Bolts of Starting a Business and he put these items in a very important context: remember that you’re building an ecosystem encompassing various networks. Everything you have to do to establish your business will involve other parties with whom you need to build relationships.

Tony focussed on:

• Incorporating – Federally, provincially, internationally
• Utilizing accountants and lawyers
• Hiring the right people
• Scientific Research and Experimental Development tax credits (SREDs)
• Establishing a relationship with the bank

Check out the video and slides for the lecture below along with some great articles from the Entrepreneur’s Toolkit that expand on the Q&A portion of the evening.

Downloads and Resources:

• Class Summary: The Nuts and Bolts of Starting a Business
• Video: The Nuts and Bolts of Starting a Business
• Presentation: The Nuts and Bolts of Starting a Business
• Articles: 1) When, How and Where to Incorporate, 2) Patent Strategy
• Join the Facebook Group: Entrepreneurship 101
• Register to get weekly updates

Entrepreneurship 101 2010/11 – Week 4 – Basic Nuts and Bolts of Building a Business from MaRS Discovery District on Vimeo.
Entrepreneurship 101 – The Nuts and Bolts of Starting a Business
View more presentations from MaRS Discovery District.