If you’re wondering how to launch your business—officially, legally, and realistically—you’re not alone. This is one of the most common points where people get stuck: the awkward in-between where you want to start but aren’t sure what’s absolutely essential and what’s just…shiny.
The truth? You don’t need everything figured out. You just need to start. And today, I’m walking you through what that really looks like—especially if you’re in Ontario.
✅ What You Actually Need to Launch Your Business
1. A Registered Business Name (Ontario-specific)
If you’re operating under a name other than your own, you’ll need to register it through the province.
Where: Ontario Business Registry
Cost: ~$60 CAD
What you get: A Master Business Licence (MBL) valid for 5 years
You don’t need to incorporate unless you’re hiring, opening a second location, or dealing with legal risk—most solo founders start with a sole proprietorship.
💡 Pro tip: You don’t need to register your business to start posting content or selling a digital product—but once money starts flowing in, get it done.
2. A Social Handle + Something to Say
You don’t need a full social strategy—just a clear name, a simple bio, and a few posts that introduce:
Who you are
What you do
How people can work with or buy from you
You can use:
Free design templates from Canva
Free Link-in-bio tools like Linktree or Stan Store (free version)
3. One Offer (Digital or Tangible)
You don’t need a full product suite. Start with one offer or service:
A mini digital product (template, guide, checklist)
A service package
A tangible product with limited stock
You can launch digital first, get early sales + feedback, and then use that income to fund a tangible version. There’s no shame in starting lean—just start strong.
4. Payment + Delivery System
You don’t need a full-blown e-commerce site. Some starter-friendly tools:
For services: Stripe, Square, PayPal, or HoneyBook
For digital products: Stan Store, ThriveCart, or Shopify Starter
For booking calls: Calendly (free) or Acuity
Keep it simple. You can always expand later.
🧘♀️ What Can Wait
A full website
Fancy business cards
Expensive branding
A full photoshoot
A perfect offer suite
A 12-week content plan
A shipping setup (if you’re not ready for physical products)
You’re not behind if you don’t have these things. Build as you go. The only thing worse than starting before you’re “ready” is never starting because you’re waiting to feel 100% prepared.
💬 So...When Should You Launch?
Now.
Not because you’re fully ready (you’re probably not).
Not because everything’s perfect (it won’t be).
But because the sooner you start, the faster you learn—and the closer you get to the version of yourself you’re building toward.
You could wait another year until your logo feels right and your offer stack is polished. Or you could launch now, start small, and grow through experience.
A year from now, you’ll be proud you started before you felt ready.
7. Do Nothing by Celeste Headlee
📚 Best for: anyone on the edge of burnout
This book examines our obsession with productivity and proves that doing less—intentionally—is actually better for our creativity, wellbeing, and even revenue. Read this before you plan your next “big year.”
Not every business book needs to be about hustling harder or scaling fast. The ones that stick—the ones that help—usually feel like a conversation, not a command.
So if you’ve been waiting for permission to skip the ego-driven bestsellers and find books that actually support you where you are? This is it.
