You Already Made the Hard Decision
If you're inside this kit, you've already done what most people never do. You decided your idea is worth taking seriously. Most people stay in the "thinking about it" phase forever. They save ideas on Pinterest, watch other people do it, tell themselves "one day." You're here. You're doing the thing.
Say It: "I Am Building a Business"
You are not starting a side hustle. You are building a business. The words you use matter. When you tell people "oh, I have this little side thing," they treat it like a little side thing. When you say "I'm building a business," they pay attention. And more importantly, you pay attention.
My first digital product was $10. I made it during nap time. The first time somebody bought it, I was folding laundry and I just remember staring at my phone like, "Wait, someone actually paid me for this?" That $10 product has helped build a business with over $2 million in sales. Not because it went viral. Not because of a massive following. Because I put a simple system behind it. That's exactly what we're building for you right now.
What You'll Have When You Finish
Over these 8 lessons, you're going from "I think I want to do something" to "I have a real, legitimate business." By the end, you will have:
- A business name and registered domain
- A professional email address
- Your legal stuff figured out
- A bookkeeping system
- A way for people to actually buy from you online
- A workspace that feels like yours
- Boundaries that keep this whole thing sustainable
How to Use This Kit
Do the lessons in order. Each one builds on the one before it. Go at your own pace. Some people knock it out in a weekend, some do a lesson a day over a couple weeks. Both are fine.
Use the "Mark as Complete" button at the bottom of each lesson. Your progress tracker fills up as you go, and when you finish all 8, you get a little celebration. Because you've earned it.
And one more thing: you are going to have moments where you feel like you should already know this stuff. Stop. Nobody has this figured out. Everyone Googles it. Everyone asks a friend. The only difference is you have someone walking you through it step by step.
Don't Get Stuck on the Name
Your brand name matters, but not as much as you think it does right now. You know what matters more? That you actually start. You can rebrand later.
I built an entire brand called Wisp and Willow in 24 hours. Logo, website, CRM, all of it. That brand went on to hit six figures in 10 months. The name wasn't some big drawn-out decision. It just felt right and I went with it.
How to Come Up with a Name
If you have the Brand Detective, start there. It walks you through questions about your business, personality, and audience, then generates AI prompts to brainstorm names based on your specific brand (not just random words).
If you don't have the Brand Detective, think through these questions:
- What encompasses your brand well?
- If someone heard your name, would they get a sense of what you do or who you serve?
- Is it something people could search for and find?
- Is it already taken?
Register Your Domain on GoDaddy
Once you have a name, go to GoDaddy.com and search for your business name as a .com. Domains are usually around $12 to $15 a year.
If your exact name isn't available as a .com, try these:
- Add "the" in front of it
- Add "co" at the end
- Try a slightly different variation
You want the .com if you can get it. It's what people expect when they type in a web address. If the .com is taken no matter what you try, it might be worth reconsidering the name.
Start as a Sole Proprietor
When you start selling things, you need to register your business with your state. The simplest way is as a sole proprietor. This is what I recommend you start with.
You're filing what's called a DBA ("doing business as"). It tells the state you're running a business under this name. Most states it's under $100 to register. Sometimes way less. And that's it. You're official.
As a sole proprietor, you and your business are the same legal entity. Your business income goes on your personal tax return. Simple.
When to Consider an LLC
An LLC (Limited Liability Company) creates a legal wall between your personal assets and your business. If something went wrong, your personal stuff (house, car, savings) is protected.
LLCs also start to have tax benefits as you grow, but that's a conversation for a tax professional. For right now, as you're just getting started, sole proprietor is the move.
If you do want to go ahead with an LLC, it's usually around $300 depending on your state. Google "[your state] file LLC" and your Secretary of State's website will come up. Most states let you do the whole thing online in 15 to 20 minutes.
EIN vs. SSN: Which Do You Need?
If you file as an LLC, you'll get an EIN (Employer Identification Number) as part of that process. Think of it as a Social Security number for your business. You'll use your EIN to open your business bank account.
If you go the sole proprietor route, you won't have an EIN unless you apply for one separately. You can still open a business bank account. You'll just use your business name and your Social Security number instead.
Why This Matters
When someone gets an email from your custom domain, they immediately take you more seriously. It changes how people perceive you. And it's so much easier to set up than you'd think.
Set Up Google Workspace
You need your domain name from Lesson 2 and a Google Workspace account. Google Workspace is $6 a month. You're not just getting an email address. You also get upgraded Google Drive storage, Google Calendar, Google Docs, all the Google tools but under your business. One of the best $6 you'll spend.
Here's how to do it:
- Go to workspace.google.com and click "Get Started"
- Enter your business name. Say it's just you on the team.
- When it asks if you have a domain, say yes and enter the domain you registered in Lesson 2
- Google needs to verify you own this domain. You'll copy a little code Google gives you and paste it into your domain settings on GoDaddy. Google walks you through it step by step. Takes less than 5 minutes.
- Once verified, pick your email address. Go with something simple: hello@, hey@, or your first name
Keep It Simple
Don't create a bunch of different email addresses right now. You don't need support@ and info@ and billing@. You're one person. You need one email.
Your Bookkeeping System Is a Google Sheet
You don't need QuickBooks. You don't need FreshBooks. You don't need a monthly subscription for software you'll never use. Just a spreadsheet that tracks what comes in and what goes out.
A template is included as a bonus with this kit (linked below). Make a copy so you have your own version. It's already set up. You don't have to build anything from scratch. There's also a Loom video walkthrough linked next to the template that shows you exactly where to put things.
How the Spreadsheet Works
Two main sections: income and expenses.
Income: Every time money comes into your business, log the date, what it was for, how much, and where it came from. Example: "May 15, Packing List Template, $27, checkout page." One line. Takes 10 seconds.
Expenses: Every time you spend money on your business, log the date, what it was for, how much, and the category (software, advertising, education, supplies). The template already has common categories.
The Weekly 10-Minute System
Pick one day a week. Sit down for 10 to 15 minutes. Check your business bank account, your checkout platform, wherever money comes in and goes out. Log everything from the past week. Done. Close the spreadsheet.
If you do this weekly, you're never going to have that terrible moment in March where you're staring at a year's worth of transactions trying to figure out what that $47 charge from October was.
Taxes: Set Aside 30%
When you're self-employed, nobody is withholding taxes from your income. That's on you.
Set aside about 30% of your income for taxes. Your actual rate might be lower, but 30% is a safe starting point. If you want a more exact number, talk to a tax professional. It's always better to set aside too much and have a nice surprise at tax time than to owe money you don't have.
Some people open a separate savings account just for taxes. Not a bad idea.
Open a Business Bank Account
Go to your local bank or open one online. A free checking account works. If you filed as an LLC, use your EIN. If you're a sole proprietor, use your business name and Social Security number.
The whole point: keep your business money and personal money separate. When everything is mixed in one account, it's a nightmare. Tax time becomes a guessing game. Separate accounts from day one makes everything cleaner.
Once your bank account is set up, that's where your business income should go and where your business expenses should come from.
Start Selling with Flodesk (No Website Needed)
You don't need a massive, beautifully designed, custom-built website with 12 pages and a $3,000 designer. You need two things: a way for people to find you and a way for people to buy from you.
Start with Flodesk. It lets you build a sales page and a checkout all in one place. Your product description, what's included, the buy button, payment processing, product delivery. All in one tool. You don't need a separate website or separate checkout. You can be selling your digital product today with just a Flodesk page.
If you went through Made to Sell, Flodesk is taught in there, so you might already be set up.
When You're Ready: Build a Website with Showit
Eventually, you'll want an actual website. Not because your Flodesk page isn't working, but because a website gives you a home base. It's where people learn about you, trust you before they buy, and find you on Google over time.
I recommend Showit. It's drag and drop, user-friendly, and they have free templates to start with. You do not need to pay for a custom template right away.
Here are the pages you actually need:
- Homepage: Who you are, what you do, and a button that takes people to your product. Clear and simple.
- About page: A few paragraphs about you, why you started this, what you care about. Keep it real.
- Contact page: Your email address and maybe a simple form.
- Eventually a blog page: You don't need posts on day one, but having the page there means you can add content later.
Your homepage, about, and contact could even be one long scrolling page with different sections. One page. Done is better than perfect.
How They Work Together
Once you have your website, your Flodesk checkout doesn't go away. You just link to it from your website. Someone lands on your site, learns about you, clicks "buy," and it takes them to your Flodesk checkout page.
Don't Get Stuck on the Website
This is the biggest warning in this lesson. Too many people spend months tweaking fonts and rearranging images and never actually launch. They have a beautiful website and zero sales because they never put their product out there.
Get your Flodesk page up. Start selling. Build the website alongside that, or after. Don't let the website be the thing that keeps you from making money.
You Need a Spot, Not an Office
It can be a corner of your kitchen counter. A closet you've cleared out. The end of your dining room table. Your bed with a lap desk. It doesn't matter where it is. What matters is that when you sit down there, your brain shifts from "I'm just hanging out" to "I'm working on my business."
Without a designated spot, it's easy for your work time to float by. You end up half-working, half-scrolling, half-watching something, and then an hour goes by and you feel like you got nothing done.
When you have a spot, even if it's small, even if it's not pretty, something clicks. You sit down and your brain knows it's go time. That's actually the most important part of this lesson. It's not about the desk or the chair. It's about starting to see yourself as a business owner. And business owners have a place where they work.
Make It Yours
There's something special about curating a little space that you love. It doesn't have to be Instagram-worthy or expensive. It just has to make you want to sit down and create. Some ideas:
- A candle you love
- A mug that makes you smile
- A planner that feels good to write in
- A lap desk if you're a couch or bed worker
- Headphones so you can focus even when the house is loud
Keep it simple. You don't need a whole office setup. You need a spot and a couple things that make it feel intentional.
My Picks
Some of my favorite workspace essentials. All budget-friendly.
Pick Your Work Hours
Having your own business does not mean you have to be available all the time. The whole point of building something on your own terms is that you get to decide when you work.
Don't say "I'll just work whenever I can." That turns into "all the time" really fast. Pick specific hours on specific days.
If you're a mom with little ones, maybe your work hours are nap time and an hour after bedtime. That's 3 to 4 hours. That's plenty. I built my business in those margins. Right now I work about 4 hours a day on Tuesdays and Thursdays. When I first started, I was working after bedtime while also working a full-time job. The hours looked totally different then, and that was okay for that season.
Whatever your season is right now, pick hours that work for it and write them down.
Tell Someone
Tell your partner, spouse, roommate, whoever shares your space. Say: "These are my work hours. During this time, I need to focus."
When you don't communicate it, one of two things happens. Either people interrupt you constantly and you never get anything done. Or you feel guilty about every second you spend working because nobody knows you're supposed to be working. Both are terrible.
When you say "I work Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 to noon," that's clear. That's something people can support.
Turn Off Your Notifications
Go to your Instagram settings, go to notifications, and turn all of them off. Every like, every comment, every DM. All of it. Right now.
You'll check Instagram when you sit down to work. You do not need it pulling you in every 30 seconds during your real life.
Same goes for email. Check it once or twice a day during your work hours. Respond. Handle what needs handling. Then close it. Nothing in your inbox is an emergency.
Batch Your DMs and Emails
When you're new, every DM feels like it needs an immediate response. It doesn't. People are way more patient than you think. A few hours is totally fine. A day is fine for most things.
Pick a time to respond to messages. Maybe during your work hours, right at the end of the day. Batch them. Answer everything at once. It's faster, less stressful, and your personal time stays personal.
What's not fine is training yourself to drop everything every time your phone lights up. That's not a business. That's a leash.
Close the Laptop
When your work hours are over, close the laptop. Not minimize the tab. Close the whole thing. Put it away. Walk away.
I keep my laptop in my office. It doesn't come to the couch. It doesn't come to the dinner table. When I leave my office, work stays there. That one boundary has probably been the single most effective thing I've done for my mental health as a business owner.
You're building this business so you can have a better life. Not so your business can take over your life. Protect your time. It's the most valuable thing you have.
This page unlocks when you complete all 8 lessons. It's your personalized roadmap for what to do after your foundation is set.
The foundation is done. Here's where to go from here to start building the business on top of it.