Do you like physical work and driving around? Maybe starting a junk removal business is right for you.

Kyle Landwehr started Slam Dunkin Junk and The Junk Academy three years ago. Now he’s making $200K to $300K every month to haul away junk—and teach people how to start a junk removal business of their own.

[su_note note_color="#dbeafc"] With advice from Kyle, we’ll answer the questions about starting a junk removal business below. Click on any link to learn more, or just continue reading.

• What is a junk removal business?
• How to start a junk removal business
  • Step 1. Learn about the junk removal industry
  • Step 2. Create a junk removal business plan
  • Step 3. Build a junk removal brand
  • Step 4. Register your junk removal business
  • Step 5. Get a junk removal business license
  • Step 6. Get a business bank account and insurance
  • Step 7. Create a junk removal price sheet
  • Step 8. Get junk removal equipment
  • Step 9. Market your junk removal business
  • Step 10. Remove junk from home or business
  • Step 11. Expand your junk removal company
• Junk removal business FAQ
• Go start your own junk removal business [/su_note]

What is a junk removal business?

A junk removal business focuses on removing unwanted furniture, appliances, and other items from residences and businesses. It also includes garbage collection, and you may hear it referred to as the waste removal industry.

It’s physical work, and it’s possible to injure yourself. Kyle shared:

[su_quote]I was making $30K to $40K monthly when I broke my ankle stepping off the truck. Breaking my foot is what caused me to start hiring employees and [scale] my business to what it is now.[/su_quote]

He also explained that his injury got him into real estate. Listen to the interview below to find out how:

How to start a junk removal business

1. Learn about the junk removal industry.
2. Create a junk removal business plan.
3. Build a junk removal brand.
4. Register your junk removal business.
5. Get a junk removal business license.
6. Get a business bank account and insurance.
7. Create a junk removal price sheet.
8. Get junk removal equipment.
9. Market your junk removal business.
10. Remove junk.
11. Expand your junk removal company.

Step 1. Learn about the junk removal industry

You should understand the junk removal industry before you enter it. Some of the important questions you should ask before you start a junk removal company include:

• How much does it cost to start a junk removal business
• How much do junk removal companies make?
• Is the junk removal business profitable?

How much does it cost to start a junk removal business?

The amount of money you need to start a junk removal business will depend on the business’s location (due to cost of living) and the materials you already own.

The items you’ll need to start a junk removal business include:

• A truck: $1,000 to $90,000
• Limited liability company (LLC): Under $1,000
• Business license: Under $1,000
• Business insurance: $1,000 to $10,000
• Dolly: $200
• Trash bags: $25
• Reciprocating saw: $300
• Safety equipment: $100
• Website: $1,200 per year

That means you can start a junk removal business for as little as $4,325 or as much as $102,325. Kyle told us:

[su_quote]If you have a truck, expect to spend around $6,000 starting your business. If you want to know how to start a junk removal business with no money, promote it on Facebook groups during the week and rent a U-Haul on the weekend. That will cost you $40 per day, plus $1.30 per mile.[/su_quote]

How much do junk removal companies make?

According to IBISWorld, there are 8,607 companies in the junk removal industry. They make a combined $73.7B, or $8.6M each. Kyle told us he makes $200K to $300K a month as a junk removal company owner.

Is the junk removal business profitable?

Yes. The gross profit margin is 32.74%, while the junk removal profit margins come out to 7.29% after after taxes, bonuses, and all other costs. This is based on data from 62 publicly held companies.

Kyle told us:

[su_quote]The gross profit margin the first year was around 50% margin, [the] following year 30% to 35% margin, and the third year I hired an operations manager, which took the margin down to 20%, but now I don’t have to be involved in the business.[/su_quote]

How much is a junk removal owner's salary?

The salary for working as an operations manager is around $75,000 annually for waste removal companies. This is nearly $18,000 less than other operations managers. When you run an S-Corp, you will need to use that as your wages and any profit you can pay as dividends.

Step 2. Create a junk removal business plan

For your company to be a profitable business, make sure to write a business plan.

You’ll want to include:

• Your mission and vision
• Ways you’ll make money
• Your target market
• How you will market the business

Check out our interview with Mike Andes to learn how to write a business plan. You can refer to our business plan writing guide as well.

Step 3. Build a junk removal brand

Kyle told us:

[su_quote]My smartest business move was building my plan.[/su_quote]

A distinctive and memorable brand for your service-based business sets you apart from competitors and establishes a reputation for your enterprise. Your brand relies on two main elements: your business name and logo.

First, select a junk removal business name that draws in customers and conveys a strong message about your services. Make sure it’s not already taken in your service area and online.

Next, craft a logo for your junk removal service. You have the option to hire a designer for assistance, or you can create one yourself using an online logo creator such as Canva.

Step 4. Register your junk removal business

You’ll want to register your business with your state. Kyle and most other business owners recommend structuring your business as an LLC, but there are plenty of other structures. Learn more about the business registration requirements and process in our business registration guide.

The cost of registering on the Secretary of State website varies from state to state. To give you an idea of the cost, Kyle said he paid $300 for his LLC in St. Louis.

You’ll also need an Employer Identification Number from the IRS.

Step 5. Get a junk removal business license

A junk removal business may need local or county licenses. Check with your local government’s business office to see what is required in your state.

What license do I need to start a junk removal business?

You may need special licenses and permits for waste removal if you collect hazardous waste or do construction tasks like demolition (which Kyle offers in addition to junk removal services). He also told us:

[su_quote]You could also offer dumpsters for people [which requires licenses].[/su_quote]

Your local business office will be able to help you establish what business licenses you need.

Step 6. Get a business bank account and insurance

A junk removal business needs a small business bank account before it offers junk removal services. The business bank account should have low fees and high interest rates on savings accounts. Keeping your finances separate will be helpful when tax season arrives.

You’ll also need junk removal business insurance. A junk removal company will need commercial auto insurance and general liability insurance at a minimum, but you might want more extensive business insurance, like a business owner's policy (BOP). Learn more in our business insurance guide.

A BOP covers general liability, property damage, and unexpected shutdowns, plus has riders for other policies. We suggest contacting Simply Business to get quotes from multiple insurance companies.

For added financial management, consider enlisting the services of a bookkeeper or accountant. They can oversee business income and expenditures, handle bills and payroll, generate and dispatch invoices, and maintain the financial health of your business.

Step 7. Create a junk removal price sheet

Getting paid for removing junk is nice, but junk removal business owners need to make a profit. That means you need to cover your labor, materials, and overhead costs. To achieve this, it's essential to develop a pricing strategy for your waste removal business:

• Decide how to charge customers: You might want to have standardized prices for time, weight, and volume (like by the cubic foot). Creating all three will help you establish which way makes the most sense for each job.
• Research competition pricing: You don’t want your services to be overpriced or underpriced because both scenarios will hurt your earning potential
• Include overhead: Add all the expenses that are not directly applied to a job, then divide them by the number of billable hours (160 per person, per month). Add this rate to every hour of labor.
• Additional time and materials: You’ll need to cover time driving, disposal fees, taxes, and your profit margin. In general, junk removal services should assume each job will be at least two hours between driving, pickup, and disposal.

Once you've established your junk removal business pricing, you’ll want to create a junk removal price sheet.

Step 8. Get junk removal equipment

Junk removal businesses need a variety of tools, equipment, and software to run successfully.

We’ve got you covered! Get all the supplies you need as a junk removal business owner from the UpFlip Junk Removal Store, or check out the list of tools you need for junk removal jobs below.

What do I need to start a junk removal business?

Junk removal businesses need the following:

• Pickup truck or box truck: You’ll need a vehicle to transport junk. This will be the largest of the business expenses, but Kyle says when you’re first getting started you can just rent a U-Haul.
• 3-in-1 Dolly: A successful junk removal business will need a dolly that converts to a cart. Kyle told us they have a 1,000-pound capacity dolly.
• Safety equipment: Depending on what you do in your junk removal business, you’ll need work gloves, work boots, safety goggles, and hard hats.
• Trash bags and bins: Load small things into these to simplify the process once you get to the dump or recycling yard.
• Reciprocating saw: Being able to saw items into smaller pieces comes in handy if you are recycling air conditioners because wires, copper, steel, compressors, and motors all have different values. Don’t forget blades and extension cords.

Author’s Note: Hauling away a ton (2,000 pounds) of air conditioners can make you around $2,000, based on my time working in HVAC.

You might want other tools including:

• 16-ounce claw hammer
• Construction broom
• Crowbar
• Forearm forklift
• Large trash bins
• Laundry cart
• Long cut snips
• Moving blankets
• Orange vehicle flag
• Packing tape
• Rake
• Screwdriver set
• Shovel
• Sledgehammer
• Tarps
• Utility cart
• Wrench set

Next, find out how to market your junk disposal company.

Step 9. Market your junk removal business

When you start a junk removal business, you’ll need to build a name for yourself. To market yourself, you should:

1. Post on social media.
2. Find junk removal leads.
3. Use junk removal software.
4. Quote prices.

Post on social media

Social media is a powerhouse for all forms of service businesses. Kyle told us:

[su_quote]I went all in on social media, specifically Facebook. You used to have to go to businesses to network, but I can get way more leads from social.[/su_quote]

Junk removal businesses should:

1. Set up a Facebook business profile.
2. Get their friends and family to like the Facebook page and share it.
3. Post pictures of work they do from each junk removal job.
4. Join local Facebook groups and network with potential customers.
5. Create automated FAQs on Facebook Messenger.
6. Keep posting regularly.

Kyle also explained that Instagram is better for marketing his junk removal coaching business.

Find junk removal leads

You’ll need to find customers who need junk disposal services. There are a lot of ways to help people find you when they need help. Kyle discussed where you can find potential customers:

[su_quote]Social media, Google (both search and local ads), flyers, door knocking, and Yelp are all good places to find leads.[/su_quote]

Use junk removal business software

Business software is necessary to help potential customers find your business and manage all the jobs.

The main requirements you are looking for in software include a website, email and text automation, quotes, invoicing, and a customer relationship management system.

Many junk removal businesses use either Jobber or Housecall Pro, which offer all of the services above. Based on testing both for blogs, I like Housecall Pro’s functionality better.

Quote prices

Once you have gotten leads, Kyle said that you’ll want to go to the person’s residence or business location so you can see the extent of the junk haul-off. There, you’ll examine what you need to remove and provide an estimate. If you’re in the junk removal truck, you might even be able to haul the junk immediately.

You should also provide a business card so they can contact you if they don’t want the junk removed immediately.

In addition to offering home and office junk removal, Kyle suggested the following services:

[su_quote]You can also offer house flipping, dumpster rentals, and demolition.[/su_quote]

Step 10. Remove junk from home or business

When it’s time to collect the junk, you’ll go to the customer’s location and put it in the truck or scrap trailer. Removal time will depend on the number of items, ease of getting to them, and other tasks you need to do.

When you are done, you’ll want to get paid for junk removal. You might also want to provide junk removal business cards because the waste removal industry doesn’t get much repeat business, but business cards could help you get referrals.

Finally, you’ll take the junk to the dump, a recycling yard, or somewhere that you can repair it. When there are things you can recycle or repair, you can commonly make some extra money when you have slow periods.

Step 11. Expand your junk removal company

When you start a junk removal company, you’ll want to find ways to expand it. Kyle told us:

[su_quote]Focus on perfecting one thing, but be open to expanding to other services. In my case, it led to house flipping and coaching.[/su_quote]

You could recycle or repair appliances to make extra money, too. As your business grows, you could also franchise your business to help other people get started quicker.

Find employees

Kyle explained:

[su_quote]Lots of people thought I was all talk, but once I started a lot of my friends wanted to become junk removers.[/su_quote]

If you don’t want to work with friends, learn about hiring employees from a recruiter.

Systemize everything

Establishing and documenting systems and policies for your business can make it run smoother, even in your absence.

Junk removal business FAQ

How much is junk removal for customers?

Junk removal pros normally charge a minimum pickup fee of $50 to $150, and larger jobs may cost a minimum of $100 to $450. If customers rent dumpsters, those may cost $30 to $285 per day.

Can I buy a junk removal franchise?

Yes, you can buy a junk removal franchise. Some of the common junk removal franchises are:

• 1-800-Got-Junk?: The most famous commercial junk removal company hauls away all kinds of junk.
• College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving: Starting a junk removal business with College HUNKS means you’ll provide moving and junk removal services.
• Bin There Dump That: This hauling junk business brings dumpsters to people’s homes, then hauls it afterward. Learn more.
• Junk Removal Authority (JRA): The JRA offers the equivalent of franchise support without royalty fees.
• JDog Junk Removal & Hauling: JDog focuses on helping veterans start waste removal companies. They also donate or recycle over 60% of junk.
• The Junkluggers: Junkluggers franchises offer same-day and next-day junk and trash removal.

Learn about other junk collector franchises.

Go start your own junk removal business

Whether you want to start a junk removal side hustle, buy a franchise, or start your own business, we’ve covered every aspect of entering the junk removal business as an entrepreneur.

It’s up to you to get started. What kind of junk removal will you do?

New business ideas are the source of so many of the advantages we have today. Take a moment to think about your day and what an innovative entrepreneur has contributed to your life. Entrepreneurship helps distinguish us from other mammals, but what do entrepreneurs do?

We’ve talked to hundreds of established companies’ owners and operators about how innovation and entrepreneurship keep their companies relevant and encourage growth.

We share the entrepreneur definition, entrepreneurship examples, how to become an innovative entrepreneur, and what makes a good entrepreneur. Click on any of the links below to get to the innovative entrepreneurship info you need.

[su_note note_color="#dbeafc"]

• • What is an entrepreneur?
    
  • What is entrepreneurship?
    
    • Innovative ideas
      
    • Business model
      
    • Innovative solutions
      
  • Why is entrepreneurship important?
    
  • What are the different types of entrepreneurship?
    
    • What is small business entrepreneurship?
      
    • What is large company entrepreneurship?
      
    • What is scalable startup entrepreneurship?
      
    • What is social entrepreneurship?
      
    • What is innovation entrepreneurship?
      
    • What is hustler entrepreneurship?
      
    • What is imitator entrepreneurship?
      
    • What is researcher entrepreneurship?
      
    • What is buyer entrepreneurship?
      
  • How to become an entrepreneur
    
  • Entrepreneurship financing
    
  • Characteristics of entrepreneurs
    
  • What doors will innovation and entrepreneurship open for you?[/su_note]

What is an entrepreneur?

An entrepreneur is a person who starts or runs a business that has higher risk and potential profits than the typical business models. While every small business owner takes more risks than the average person, entrepreneurs often pursue an idea beyond what is currently on the market.

What is entrepreneurship?

The entrepreneurship definition is pursuing a unique path to create a new business that will hopefully impact how the world works. An aspiring entrepreneur seeks a high-opportunity business venture with large amounts of risk that will generate large amounts of financial gain if the business is thriving.

Entrepreneurship and innovation will commonly focus on new ideas in three categories:

1. Innovative ideas
2. Business model
3. Innovative solutions

Let’s look at each.

Innovative ideas

Many companies develop new products that surpass existing options by looking at the challenges their target audience faces. They use creativity and problem-solving skills to provide innovation that changes the expectations of what existing products or service industries should provide. Learn more about product development.

Business model

The development of business systems has become increasingly important for small companies. Major corporations are using innovation to drive growth in revenue per employee. That means small businesses need to employ similar strategies to stay relevant.

Business models like decentralized autonomous organizations rely on technology to fully manage as many processes as possible. They also play a central role in how an organization is governed. This is just one of many types of innovations entrepreneurs can contribute to companies exploring new business models.

Innovative solutions

Innovation entrepreneurship will often focus on the development of new software that helps an organization improve the efficiency of common tasks. Right now, its main focus is on innovation skills like artificial intelligence for company growth.

Companies of all sizes are racing to find new ways to accelerate employees’ productivity through the innovation of AI. New enterprises are increasing daily, promising to increase productivity by 30-70%, but many of these companies’ claims are untested. This is where innovation entrepreneurs can come in.

Why is entrepreneurship important?

Innovative strategies and business ideas are significant factors in personal and societal wealth. Nearly one in six people consider themself an entrepreneur. And over 88% of millionaires owe their wealth to the innovative products and ideas they bring into the world with their entrepreneurial mindsets.

Despite innovation and entrepreneurship creating new ideas and market trends, there are questions about whether innovation helps or hurts the overall economy because the development of new technologies and strategies can impact society in both positive and negative ways.

When you look at entrepreneurial activity, you’ll find innovative ideas and business models tend to create winners and losers. In the last 20 years, we’ve seen an online bookstore make it much easier to buy products, but department stores go bankrupt every day.

The creation of intermediaries like Uber and Airbnb made it easier for people to earn a substantial living by renting their vehicles and homes. But, these business ideas have also contributed to rising home and vehicle prices.

There are plenty more examples, but economic studies show innovative ideas and strategies tend to:

• Have nominal increases in productivity
• Display geographically uneven impacts
• Be correlated with income inequality

If you’re drawn to entrepreneurship but aren’t sure, take Oprah’s advice: “Don’t put a ceiling on yourself.” There are tons of ways to contribute to society while growing your wealth as an entrepreneur. Learning about the types of entrepreneurship below could inspire your next big move or great idea.

What are the different types of entrepreneurship?

According to Indeed, there are nine different types of entrepreneurship:

1. Small business entrepreneurship
2. Large company entrepreneurship
3. Scalable startup entrepreneurship
4. Social entrepreneurship
5. Innovative entrepreneurship
6. Hustler entrepreneurship
7. Imitator entrepreneurship
8. Researcher entrepreneurship
9. Buyer entrepreneurship

Let’s look at the ways each type of entrepreneurship solves market demands.

What is small business entrepreneurship?

Small business entrepreneurship is opening a business without turning it into a chain or conglomerate. These are the cleaning companies, vending machine businesses, and eCommerce stores that many small business owners open.

Check out our interview with Cristobal Mondragon, who started Queen Bee Cleaning Service.

Then sign up for our free course on implementing his successful strategies.

What is large company entrepreneurship?

Business entrepreneurs may also work in a corporate environment where they use company resources, market research, and new technologies to create new products that solve the problems of consumers and other businesses. Companies like Amazon and Google fit into this category.

What is scalable startup entrepreneurship?

A scalable startup entrepreneur starts a high-growth, high-profitability company that requires large amounts of external capital to create market demand for its new products or services.

Once the company expands and generates value, the investors realize gains, but many of these solutions fail to create the desired outcome and go bankrupt within the first two years.

What is social entrepreneurship?

The social entrepreneurship process focuses on finding, developing, and funding innovative strategies to directly improve social issues that impact the local, national, or global economy.

This business model is a for-profit business often mistaken for a non-profit. Social entrepreneurs like TOMS drive business success through creative thinking by combining existing services with charitable work.

Many of these organizations run as benefit corporations (B Corps) that donate large parts of their profits to charity and publish impact reports.

What is innovation entrepreneurship?

Innovation entrepreneurship refers to creating and developing new products, processes, services, or business models to create significant market value. It combines the principles of entrepreneurship and innovation to drive economic growth, create competitive advantages, and solve problems in novel ways. Innovation entrepreneurs are individuals or teams who identify opportunities for innovation, take risks, and bring their innovative ideas to fruition.

Examples of innovation entrepreneurship include:

• Tech startups: Companies like Airbnb, Uber, and Netflix revolutionized traditional industries by leveraging technology to create new business models and deliver value in innovative ways.
• Green energy: Entrepreneurs developing renewable energy technologies, such as solar panels and wind turbines, drive innovation in the sustainable energy sector.
• Biotechnology: Entrepreneurs in biotech are creating innovative treatments, therapies, and diagnostic tools that have the potential to transform healthcare and improve patient outcomes.
• Fintech: Innovators in fintech are disrupting traditional financial services through digital payment platforms, online banking, and blockchain technology.
• Healthcare innovation: Entrepreneurs in healthcare are creating wearable devices, telemedicine platforms, and AI-driven diagnostics to improve patient care and accessibility.

What is hustler entrepreneurship?

Hustler entrepreneurship refers to a type of entrepreneurial mindset and approach that emphasizes relentless determination, resourcefulness, and proactive action to achieve business goals. A hustler entrepreneur is willing to work hard, take risks, and make things happen through their tenacity and hustle.

Examples of hustler entrepreneurship include:

• Street vendors: Individuals who set up small, mobile businesses to sell street goods demonstrate hustler entrepreneurship. They operate with limited resources and rely on their determination to make sales.
• Freelancers: Many freelancers embody the hustler spirit. They actively seek out clients, manage their schedules, and take on multiple projects to make a living.
• Startups: Early-stage startups often operate with limited budgets and staffing. Founders of these startups need to hustle to secure funding, acquire customers, and build their brands.
• Small business owners: Running a small business requires wearing multiple hats and handling various tasks. Owners need to hustle to ensure their businesses’ success and growth.
• Digital entrepreneurs: People who start online businesses, such as eCommerce stores or content creation platforms, must hustle to attract traffic, engage audiences, and generate revenue.

In essence, hustler entrepreneurs possess a strong work ethic, determination, and the willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve entrepreneurial success. While hustler entrepreneurship can be demanding, it’s often associated with individuals who are passionate about their goals and motivated to overcome obstacles.

What is imitator entrepreneurship?

Imitator entrepreneurship refers to an entrepreneurial approach where individuals or businesses replicate successful business models, products, services, or strategies already proven in the market by other entrepreneurs. Imitator entrepreneurs capitalize on existing ideas, concepts, or trends rather than developing new and innovative offerings from scratch.

What is researcher entrepreneurship?

Researcher entrepreneurship refers to a type of entrepreneurial activity where individuals or groups of researchers and scientists leverage their expertise, knowledge, and innovations from academic or scientific research to create and commercialize products, services, or solutions with real-world applications and market potential.

Researcher entrepreneurs bridge the gap between academia and business by turning their research findings into practical and marketable innovations.

What is buyer entrepreneurship?

Buyer entrepreneurship refers to a type of entrepreneurial activity where individuals or businesses identify market opportunities by acquiring existing companies, products, or services.

The buyer implements strategic changes to improve performance, enhance value, or exploit untapped potential. Buyer entrepreneurs focus on identifying undervalued assets and leveraging their skills, expertise, and resources to drive growth and profitability.

How to become an entrepreneur

To become an entrepreneur:

1. Find a profitable business idea
2. Create a product or innovate a service
3. Perform product validation
4. Write a business plan
5. Get business funding
6. Launch the business
7. Grow your business

We have articles about most business opportunities. Find small business ideas that could work for you.

Entrepreneurship financing

Entrepreneurship financing secures the necessary funds to start, operate, and grow a business venture.

Adequate financing is essential for entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into reality, develop products or services, hire employees, market their offerings, and scale their businesses.

There are various sources and methods of obtaining entrepreneurship financing, each with advantages, disadvantages, and considerations. Learn about the types of funding an innovative entrepreneur might use to pursue new ideas.

Characteristics of entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurship is a dynamic and multifaceted concept that involves pursuing new business opportunities, creating innovative solutions, and taking calculated risks to achieve business goals.

Some of the main characteristics that define an innovative entrepreneur are:

1. Innovative mindset: Entrepreneurs are known for their ability to identify new business ideas and implement them.
2. Risk-taking: Entrepreneurs accept calculated risks, often investing time, money, and resources into ventures with uncertain outcomes. They understand that risk-taking is an inherent part of business growth and success.
3. Opportunity recognition: Entrepreneurs look for innovative ideas that others might overlook. They identify gaps in the market, market changes, and unmet needs.
4. Proactivity: Entrepreneurs are proactive individuals who take the initiative to act on their ideas. They don’t wait for opportunities to come to them; instead, they actively seek and create innovative products and service offerings to turn into business ideas.
5. Vision and passion: Successful entrepreneurs envision their new ideas and convert them into business plans. Their passion fuels their commitment to their goals, helping them overcome challenges and setbacks.
6. Persistence and resilience: Entrepreneurship is often challenging, and entrepreneurs must be resilient enough to overcome obstacles and failures as they build new markets with their problem-solving skills.
7. Flexibility and adaptability: Entrepreneurs must be flexible and open to adapting their strategies as market trends change. They pivot when necessary to align with market demands or unexpected challenges.
8. Networking and collaboration: Entrepreneurs need to build a strong network of customers, suppliers, and other businesses. Connections provide resources, mentorship, support, and potential partnerships. Develop your network to innovate.
9. Customer-centric focus: Successful entrepreneurs prioritize understanding their target audiences and delivering new ideas, products, or services that meet customer needs and preferences.
10. Resource management: Entrepreneurs manage resources effectively, including finances, time, and personnel. They make strategic decisions to optimize resource allocation.
11. Leadership skills: Entrepreneurs often need strong leadership skills to guide their teams, make critical decisions, and inspire others to work toward a shared vision. Business success without an inclusive business model is likely to be slow and tedious.
12. Goal orientated: An innovative entrepreneur sets clear goals and works methodically to manifest their new business idea. They break down larger objectives into manageable steps and milestones to create successful businesses.
13. Constantly learning: The entrepreneurial journey involves continuous learning and adaptation. Innovative entrepreneurs stay informed about market trends, customer behavior, and new technologies.
14. Results-driven: Entrepreneurs focus on achieving tangible outcomes in their companies. They measure success based on their impact, whether in terms of revenue, market share, social value, or other metrics.
15. Creativity: Creativity is crucial for identifying new ideas and leading their development. Entrepreneurs use creativity to differentiate their businesses and capture market growth.
16. Ownership and responsibility: Innovative entrepreneurs are responsible for the development of their ventures and the results of their decisions. They assume responsibility for the successes and failures of their businesses.

What doors will innovation and entrepreneurship open for you?

Innovation and entrepreneurship are two concepts that cross industries. Whether you want to start a service business, sell your own products, or build the next world-changing technology, you’ll need certain skills.

Take a thorough look at your own mindset, interests, and aptitudes before starting a small business. Entrepreneurs agree that just because you don’t know something doesn’t mean you can’t learn it. Check out our list of the best business books to help build your business mindset.

Step 1: Choose a domain name

What's a domain name?

Match your business name

• You have different brands grouped under one company, like Coca-Cola.com.
• A more intuitive name might work better, such as Prime.com that Amazon owns, of course.

Research multiple domain names

Mix-ups happen

Can't think of a name on your own?

A few other items to consider 

Snag a dot com if you can

Check domain name availability

What if I chose a name that's already taken?

Step 2: Know the terminology

Here are some key terms

An expanded list of web terminology is available. There's good stuff there.

Let's link it all together

Step 3: Ensure website security

Protection is simple

• ensures a secure connection
• encrypts data
• shows you as the verified owner of the site
• builds trust with your customers
• improves search engine optimization (SEO), which we discuss later in this guide

Protect cardholder data

Step 4. Register your domain name(s)

Register with a web hosting company

Explore additional options for registration

Domain

• Prices start at $2.99 per year.
• Dot coms start at $9.99 per year.

GoDaddy

• Prices start at $1.99 per year.
• Dot coms start at $11.99 per year. 

Google

• Prices start at $9.00 per year.
• Dot coms start at $12.00 per year. 

Microsoft

Namecheap

• Prices can be as low as $7.00 per year.
• Dot coms can be as low as $10.00 per year. 

Step 5. Select a website hosting provider

What is website hosting anyway?

Hosted

Self-hosted

Step 6. Create your site

• ease of use
• SEO
• ability to customize
• pre-packaged features 
• customer support 

Should you DIY or outsource?

Start with these 5 pages

Homepage

• concise headlines
• error-free grammar and spelling
• at least one CTA
• trust indicators
• discernable buttons
• links for basic navigation
• images or videos
• the most critical information within the initial view of the page (without having to scroll down to see it)

About us

Products and services

Contact form

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Don’t forget a privacy policy

• TermsFeed
• GetTerms
• PrivacyPolicies.com

Create a mobile-first website

If Content is King, Consistency is Queen

Have relevant content that you deliver consistently

Optimize for search engines

Keywords

Try these builders

Squarespace

Register a domain on Squarespace

Pricing for domain name registration:

• $20 per year for a generic extension, (.com, .net,.org. etc.)
• $30 to $70 annually for a custom domain name that ends in a word like .dance, .digital, .ink, .engineer, .solar, etc. 

Build a website on Squarespace

• Pre-built templates with professionally designed layouts and colors that are optimized for mobile;
• A free trial;
• Knowledge of coding is not required; and 
• Functionality catering to specific businesses, such as artists, restaurants, photographers, etc. 

• inventory management
• product displays that support video
• related-product suggestions to shoppers
• limited-availability labels to encourage shoppers to purchase low-stock or limited-edition items
• a product catalog
• pre-formatted email campaigns
• shipping
• uncomplicated payment and checkout
• search engine optimization (SEO) tools, and more

Pricing:

• Paid plans range from $18 to $40 per month.
• Transaction fees are waived for the more expensive plan options.

Wix

Get a domain name

Pricing for domain name registration:

• $14.95 per year for a one-year plan
• $12.95 per year for a three-year plan

Make a website on Wix

• drag and drop editors
• huge selection of templates 
• useful apps to choose from
• a robust blog full of actionable information 

Pricing:

• $18 per month, designed for entrepreneurs and freelancers, with 10 GB of storage space
• $23 per month with online branding and 20GB of space
• $39 for the VIP plan with 35 GB of storage

BlueHost and Wordpress

Pricing for domain name registration:

• $1.99 per year for .website
• $4.99 per year for .tech
• $12.99 per year for .com
• $14.99 per year for .co or .net
• $17.99 per year for .me
• $22.99 for .blog

Let’s focus on WordPress for a minute

WordPress

Free themes

Premium themes

• Astra
• Divi
• OceanWP
• Ultra
• Koehn

WordPress.com

Pricing for WordPress.com:

• $96 per year for the premium plan 
• $300 per year for the business plan
• $540 per year for the e-commerce plan

Here’s a quick summary

Other free builders are available

Here are some tips for website building

Speed counts

Add forms, calculators, and upload buttons

Forms

Calculators

Upload button

Engage visitors with custom images

Navigation is your map to success

Have a scannable page layout

Test across devices

Drop some CTAs on the page

Step 7: Preview and publish

• Review the content and layout.
• Test all links.
• Test all features.
• Make sure remnants of the template are not there, such as: 
  • filler street addresses; 
  • 123-456-7890 (or similar) phone numbers; or 
  • an "info@mysite" email address.
• Run a spelling and grammar check with a tool like Grammarly.
• Ask friends to review it.
• Test across all browsers.
• Test on different devices.

Step 8: Launch your site

Step 9: Monitor performance and maintenance

Now it's your turn!