Business Operations
Small Business Startup Checklist
Registration through your first invoice, with the real cost adding itself up
- Running total of setup cost
- Estimate vs actual, per task
- Works in free Google Sheets
What it does
Inside the workbook.
Every step from registration to first invoice, and what each one costs.
WHAT YOU GET
- A 4-tab workbook: START HERE · CHECKLIST · COST SUMMARY · FAQ
- 1 chart that update themselves as you type
- Realistic example figures already filled in, so you can watch it work before you replace them
- A plain-English START HERE guide built into the file, plus a 10-question FAQ
WHY THIS ONE
- Works in FREE Google Sheets. Also opens in Excel. No add-ons.
- One-time purchase. No subscription, no account, no upsell.
- Nothing connects to your bank or your accounting software. You type the numbers in yourself.
- Input cells are unlocked and formulas are protected so a stray paste cannot break the math — and there is NO password, so you can unlock and change anything.
- Every formula was opened in a calculation engine, fully rebuilt, and checked against values worked out independently of the file. If one disagreed, it would not be on sale.
HOW IT WORKS
1. Download and open the file. Nothing to unzip.
2. Read the START HERE tab — about two minutes.
3. Type your numbers over the examples in the blue cells.
GOOGLE SHEETS
File > Import > Upload > choose the file > Replace spreadsheet. Every formula was written to work in Google Sheets as well as Excel — no XLOOKUP, no LAMBDA, nothing that breaks on import.
INSTANT DOWNLOAD
Available immediately after purchase under Purchases and Reviews. Nothing ships.
REFUNDS AND SUPPORT
Instant digital downloads cannot be returned automatically through Etsy. Message me — if something is broken or not what you expected, I will fix it or refund you.
AI DISCLOSURE
This workbook was built with AI assistance. Every formula in it was then opened in a calculation engine and tested against independently calculated values before it was listed. The math is checked, not assumed.
This is a digital file only. No physical item will be shipped.
The proof
Every figure, worked out twice.
Before this workbook was listed it was opened in a calculation engine, rebuilt, and every headline figure was compared to a value computed independently in code from the same seed inputs. This is an excerpt of that ledger.
- BuildGenerated from a written spec, opened in a calculation engine, fully rebuilt.
- RecomputeEach figure worked out again in code — never read back from the sheet.
- CompareCell by cell, to a stated tolerance. One disagreement and it does not go on sale.
| Sheet | Cell | Expected | Calculated | Figure | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHECKLIST | F8 | 140 | 140 | ✓ | Running total after the entity fil |
| CHECKLIST | G8 | 15 | 15 | ✓ | Over/under on the entity filing |
| CHECKLIST | F20 | 215 | 215 | ✓ | Running total after the city busin |
| CHECKLIST | F55 | 1,565 | 1,565 | ✓ | Running total at the last seeded t |
| COST SUMMARY | F5 | 51 | 51 | ✓ | Tasks on the list |
| COST SUMMARY | F6 | 29 | 29 | ✓ | Done |
| COST SUMMARY | F7 | 20 | 20 | ✓ | Still open |
| COST SUMMARY | F8 | 59.2% | 59.2% | ✓ | Percent complete |
Questions
Before you buy.
Will it work in free Google Sheets?
Yes. File > Import > Upload > choose the file > Replace spreadsheet. Every formula was written to run in Google Sheets as well as Excel — no XLOOKUP, no LAMBDA, no add-ons, no macros.
Why can't I type in some cells?
Those are formulas, locked so a stray paste cannot break the math. There is no password. Review > Unprotect Sheet opens the whole thing if you want to change something.
Is this list right for my state?
The 51 steps are the ones nearly every US small business hits, in the order they hit them. The dollar figures are not yours — filing fees, local licenses and insurance vary a lot by state and by trade. Treat the estimates as placeholders and overwrite each one with a real quote as you get it.
Do I have to do all 51?
No. Set anything that does not apply to Skipped. Skipped tasks drop out of both sides of the percent-complete number and out of the projected cost, so passing on the sign permit does not sit there looking like unfinished homework.
Can I add my own tasks?
Yes. There are 69 empty rows underneath. Type the task in column A, pick a category and status from the dropdowns, and the running total and the summary tab pick it up on their own. If you invent a category the dropdown does not have, add a matching row on the COST SUMMARY tab or it will not show in the by-category breakdown.
Does it work in free Google Sheets?
Yes. Every workbook is built with an older, universal formula vocabulary so it imports into free Google Sheets without add-ons, and it opens in Excel as well. You get both in one purchase.
How was it tested?
The workbook was opened in a calculation engine, fully rebuilt, and 27 figures were compared to values worked out independently in code from the same seed inputs. One disagreement would have stopped the release. An excerpt of that ledger is on this page.
Get it
Small Business Startup Checklist — $14.99
Instant download on Etsy. Google Sheets and Excel versions in the same purchase. No subscription, ever.
Educational estimates only. These calculators and workbooks do the arithmetic on the figures you enter; they are general-purpose tools, not financial, investment, tax, legal, lending, insurance or construction advice, and no result is a quote, an offer, or a guarantee of any outcome. Results depend entirely on your inputs and assumptions. Verify anything you intend to rely on with a licensed professional — a CPA, attorney, lender, licensed contractor, or your own agent. WorkbookBarn and Marcos Gil accept no liability for decisions made using these tools. Marcos Gil is a licensed Kentucky real estate agent (License No. 296259) and is not a lender, CPA or attorney.