Checklist to see whether your small business is ready to open to the public

Opening to the public is not just a matter of having the premises ready or announcing a date. It also means being able to provide the service or deliver the product, respond to enquiries, take payments, and resolve unexpected issues from day one. This opening checklist helps you review these areas and organise tasks so you can identify outstanding items before they become obstacles.

Not all businesses need the same preparations. A shop, a consultancy, and a hospitality business, for example, may have different operational and administrative requirements. Adapt the list to your business activity and location; it does not replace confirmation of the procedures that apply to you.

1. Offering, stock, and suppliers

• The initial offering is defined: products, services, terms, and prices are clearly described.
• There is enough availability to meet expected demand at the beginning, or a plan to communicate possible lead times and limitations.
• The necessary products, materials, or tools are available and in working condition.
• Main suppliers know the agreed delivery dates, quantities, and terms.
• There is a backup plan for supplies whose unavailability would prevent you from serving customers.
• If the business depends on bookings, orders, or appointments, the process for receiving and confirming them has been tested.

2. Premises, workspace, and team

• The premises or workspace are equipped to provide the planned service or sell the planned products.
• The team knows where to find materials, how to replenish them, and whom to notify if something goes wrong.
• Responsibility for opening, closing, cleaning, and inspecting the space has been assigned.
• The equipment and tools that will be used when serving customers have been tested.
• The opening hours, address, and access instructions are up to date on the channels used to inform the public.
• If there is staff, each person knows their duties, working hours, and whom to contact with questions.

The physical preparations should be suited to the nature of the business activity. If the business has premises open to the public, also check the requirements that apply to that space and its use, without assuming they are the same for all establishments.

3. Customer service and information

• Someone is responsible for handling enquiries during the advertised opening hours.
• Contact channels—for example, telephone, email, website, or social media—are working and checked regularly.
• The team can explain what the business offers, how to make a purchase or book a service, and what the next steps are.
• Practical information, such as opening hours, location, and availability, is consistent across the different channels.
• There is a process for communicating delays, changes, cancellations, or out-of-stock items.
• Staff know how to handle a complaint and when to refer it to the person responsible.

You do not need to be present on every channel; however, it is a good idea for each published channel to have someone responsible for it and a clear way to manage messages.

4. Payments and transaction records

• The payment methods you plan to offer are set up and have been tested.
• The team knows how to complete a sale, issue or provide the relevant receipt, and record the transaction.
• You have checked what to do if a payment is declined, a technical error occurs, or a refund is needed.
• The prices and terms communicated to the customer match those applied at the time of payment.
• If you accept bookings or advance payments, it is clear how they are confirmed and how changes are handled.

5. Full rehearsal before opening

Run through the entire customer experience, from the moment someone discovers the business to the completion of the purchase or service. If possible, ask someone who was not involved in the preparations to follow the process and point out anything that is unclear.

• People can find the information they need to get there, make contact, or book.
• The team can handle a common enquiry and explain the offering.
• The product or service is delivered or provided according to the planned process.
• Payment and record-keeping are completed correctly.
• The end of the interaction—confirmation, follow-up instructions, or a farewell—is planned.
• Any problems identified have been recorded, with a person responsible and a date for resolving them.

6. Applicable procedures and requirements

• You have identified the administrative, tax, employment, or other obligations that apply to the business.
• You have checked the requirements related to the business activity and the specific place where it will take place.
• You have confirmed that any procedures that must be completed before starting operations have been carried out.
• You have reviewed the obligations related to hiring staff, if the business is taking on employees.
• You have consulted official sources or a professional when it is unclear which requirements apply.

In Spain, permits and obligations may vary depending on the business activity, establishment, and location. For this reason, a general checklist cannot by itself determine which authorisations or notifications a specific business needs. Confirm the requirements with the competent authorities or seek professional advice before opening. Do not assume a procedure is complete just because another business in the same sector followed a similar process.

7. Organise the tasks and decide whether you can open

Not all tasks can be completed in parallel. Some depend on earlier steps, and an outstanding item can hold up the rest. Start by organising tasks with the most dependencies: for example, you cannot test a payment if the system has not yet been set up, or rehearse a service if the necessary materials are missing.

For each unchecked item, note what is missing, who is responsible, and by when. Distinguish between tasks that affect your ability to operate and improvements that can wait. Before setting or keeping your opening date, pay particular attention to applicable procedures, the availability of your offering, team readiness, and tests of customer service and payment.