Now that you know how to open your own business, it’s time to dive into building your team.

How much work will you need to do, and what skills will be required to launch your business? These are fundamental questions you’ll need to answer because they’ll guide both your timeline and your level of investment in your launch.

If you plan to do all of the work yourself, you’re limited by the time you have available to invest. If you plan on hiring help, you’ll need to account for those costs—as well as the time involved in finding and onboarding freelancers or employees.

Here’s an overview of the basic skills you’ll need to learn, know, or hire as you launch:

There are many design decisions that need to be made as you learn how to own a business, from designing a logo to choosing your brand’s colors. Here are a few key ones to focus on:

Logo. You can rely on a logo creator like Hatchful or online image software like Canva to build your logo, Or request a logo from Freelancer on freelance websites such as Freelancer, Fiverr

Colors. Start with one of the many online tools that can create a color palette, or use Hatchful to pick colors for your brand.

Website design. Starting with a professional theme for your website gives you a site that’s based on design best practices.

If a DIY approach to setting up your store is too far outside your area of expertise, you can find professional designers by asking for referrals from other business owners or searching for a Shopify Expert.

Marketing is an integral part of understanding how to start your own business and can require multiple skill sets. Start by deciding which marketing activities will have the biggest impact on your new business, and use your plans to make a list of the skills you’ll need to execute them. For example, running paid ads is a much different skill set than taking lifestyle photos to build your Instagram following.

Research and understand some of the most common promotional tactics used in your industry, and make sure you have the skills required to implement them.

One key to understanding how to run a successful business is operating with a smart shipping strategy. Once products are ordered, how will they get from Point A to Point B? Make sure you have a shipping strategy in place that covers key details like:

Pricing. Will you offer free or discounted shipping to your customers or pass on the exact cost to them? This is a nuanced decision that impacts many parts of your business, so it’s important to run the numbers and weigh your options.

Packaging. Lighter packaging often means lower shipping costs, but you’ll need to balance weight with protection. Cardboard, while heavy, is more protective for many products than a poly mailer. 

Locations. Will you ship internationally, nationally, or just locally? The answer will depend on your products and your goals—and it can change as your business grows.

You can cooperate with different international shipping companies such as USPS, UPS, and DHL in the US and Canada Post in Canada, FedEx.

If you don’t have the time or skill to DIY everything you need for your business, hire help. You can find a virtual assistant for ongoing, routine tasks or work with an expert for more involved projects, like creating your website or your marketing plan.

Once you have a good understanding of what needs to happen and who will be completing the work, it’s time to add a bit of project management to make your life easier. Consider using a time management tool like Trello or Asana to write down, assign, and track tasks. Time management tools are especially helpful for keeping teams on schedule but don’t underestimate the value of structure for yourself as well.