Hey Reader,

Listen... If you've been in business for a bit, there's a good chance you've been building as you go.

And if you are just getting started, you might be getting ready to build as you go.

Sometimes that means certain foundational pieces get overlooked in the rush to serve clients and make money. Totally understandable!

But here's the thing about business foundations – when they're shaky, everything built on top eventually starts to wobble.

Let's talk about it...

THE FOUNDATION BASICS NOBODY TALKS ABOUT

I'll be straight with you... I see too many talented business owners hustling hard with beautiful websites and compelling offers, but missing some critical foundation pieces that could cause problems down the road.

Before the logo, before the website, before even your systems, make sure you've checked these boxes:

Business Registration: Are you officially registered with your state as the business entity you want to be? (LLC, S-Corp, Sole Proprietor, etc.)

Tax ID (EIN): Have you gotten your Employer Identification Number from the IRS?

Business Banking: Are you using a separate business bank account for ALL business transactions?

Trademark Consideration: If your brand name or key offerings are unique, have you at least considered trademark protection?

Clear Offers & Pricing: Have you documented exactly what you offer and what you charge for it?

What's actually happening when these foundational pieces are missing is that you're creating future roadblocks for yourself.

Tax complications, legal vulnerabilities, and scaling limitations can all stem from skipping these basic steps.

YOUR FIRST ESSENTIAL SYSTEM: A CRM

Now that we got that out the way, here's the one real thing I wanted to talk about...
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Once your foundation is solid, the very first system every business needs is a CRM (Client/Customer Relationship Management tool).

Think of your CRM like the heart of your business, it's where all your client/customer relationships live and thrive.

Here's why this matters for your business type:

SERVICE-BASED BUSINESSES

You need a system that can:

• Track leads and their status
• Send professional proposals and contracts
• Handle invoicing and payment collection
• Store client information securely
• Automate follow-ups and basic client communication

For service providers, I recommend Moxie – it's the CRM I personally use and switched to this year because it handles everything from inquiry to payment in one streamlined system. It can be as robust or as simple as your needs require and it is super affordable.

PRODUCT-BASED BUSINESSES

Even if you have an e-commerce platform handling your sales, you still need a system for:

• Managing potential wholesale relationships
• Tracking collaboration opportunities
• Following up with customers beyond the transaction
• Organizing customer feedback and product development ideas

STILL FIGURING IT OUT?

When choosing your first CRM, look for one that will:

• Keep track of conversations and opportunities
• Help you spot patterns in what people are asking for
• Bring clarity to your offers as they evolve
• Allow you to build professional systems as you grow

OPTIONS FOR GETTING THIS HANDLED

If reading this brought up some "oh yeah... I never really set that up" thoughts, you're not alone.

You've got options to move forward:

1. DIY Approach: Take some time this week to audit your business foundation and CRM situation. Make a list of what's missing or needs upgrading.
2. Get Support: Setting up efficient, effective systems for small businesses is my zone of genius. I love helping entrepreneurs create setups that match their unique workflow instead of forcing them into a one-size-fits-all solution.
3. Start Small: If a full CRM feels overwhelming, begin with organizing your contacts and creating templates for common client communications that you can handle directly in your Google Workspace or other email client that you are using. You can build from there.

Need help figuring out what's missing or what needs to change in your business foundation or systems?

Reply to this email and tell me where you're at or Book a Strategy Session here and let's get you on solid ground with tools that actually work for how YOU do business.

P.S. Already have systems but feel like they’re not doing what you need? That’s a clear sign you’ve outgrown your setup. In a strategy session, we’ll map out exactly what’s working, what’s not, and what to do next.

Until next time...