Starting a business involves a series of steps that can vary depending on the country, but most follow a general structure. Below is a comprehensive guide, including product ideation, marketing, and country-specific registration (with a focus on Germany and general steps for other countries).
Step 1: Come Up with a Business/Product Idea
Start with a product or service that:
- Solves a problem
- Fits your skills or interests
- Has demand in a niche audience
Examples:
- Notion templates (like what I do — for students, freelancers, life planners)
- Printable planners or digital tools
- Physical items like eco-friendly products or handmade crafts
- Services like virtual assistance or coaching
Tip: Combine your passion with market trends (e.g., productivity, minimalism, remote work).
If you are a student and still looking for product ideas, you can visit here: There you will also find further information on how you can start a business as a student
Step 2: Research & Validate the Idea
Before investing time or money, validate the demand:
- Ask: Who will buy this? Why?
- Search online marketplaces (Gumroad, Etsy) to see existing products
- Look at competitors’ social media, reviews, and pricing
- Offer a free sample and get feedback
This step may take a lot of time! but that’s okay, and you should take this time
Step 3: Write a Simple Business Plan
Include:
- Your product or service
- Ideal customer (e.g., busy students who want to stay organized)
- Marketing methods (you use Pinterest and blogging)
- Revenue model (e.g., one-time sales, subscriptions)
- Costs (tools, hosting, transaction fees)
Step 4: Register the Business
🇩🇪 In Germany (Gewerbe):
- Go to your local Gewerbeamt (trade office)
- Fill out the Gewerbeanmeldung form (for a small business: Einzelunternehmen or Kleinunternehmer)
- Bring:
- Passport or ID
- Optional: residence permit if not from EU
- Pay the fee (~€20–60)
- After that:
- Register with the Finanzamt (they’ll send a tax form)
- Get your Steuernummer (tax number)
- Join IHK or HWK (Chambers)
- Set up a business bank account
- Optional: get liability insurance, health insurance (self-employed)
In Other Countries (General Overview):
- USA: Choose a structure (LLC, Sole Proprietorship), register with your state, get EIN from IRS
- UK: Register as a Sole Trader or Ltd with HMRC, set up taxes
- Canada: Register federally or provincially, get a Business Number (BN)
Step 5: Create an Online Presence
What I do:
- I have a blog to bring traffic and build trust
- I use Pinterest to visually promote my Notion templates and link to my website
Other options:
- Set up a personal website using platforms like WordPress, Carrd, Framer, or Webflow (I use WordPress.org and All Inkl and I’m really happy with these platforms!
- Create a simple landing page with product links (e.g., to Gumroad, Etsy)
Step 6: Marketing Strategy (With Examples)
What I Use:
- Pinterest: I use Pinterest to post visuals of my templates, attract clicks, and drive traffic to my site.
- Blog: I write helpful content (like Notion tips) that brings organic traffic via SEO.
- Email Marketing: Works for everyone, you can build a list by offering a freebie (like a free Notion template) and send regular tips, new releases, or blog links
- All of them are great for digital products like mine, especially with minimal time investment!
Platforms I Don’t Use (But Might Help Others):
- Instagram:
- Good for visual branding
- Great for products with aesthetic appeal (fashion, food, decor)
- Can be time-consuming (posting, stories, reels)
- Not my priority because of low return vs effort — which is valid!
- TikTok:
- Powerful for going viral and building trust
- Best for products you can show in action (e.g., DIY, templates, coaching)
- May not be worth the effort for all digital creators — like in my case
- Marketplaces:
- Gumroad: Great for digital products — you likely use this already
- Etsy: More work, but brings in an audience looking for aesthetic digital goods (I use etsy to sell my products, but most of my buyers come from my website)
- Notion template directories like Notion Everything or Gridfiti
- Communities & Forums:
- Reddit (like r/Notion), Discord servers, or Facebook groups
- Engage genuinely, share your blog posts, or offer help before promoting
If you want to learn more about what I do and HOW I’m getting results: Check out my Notion Creator Course. There you can learn some things about creating Notion templates, how to market them, & how to create an outstanding Brand!
Step 7: Launch & Improve
- Start small and iterate
- Ask for feedback on your products or pins
- Improve based on what performs well (best-selling templates, most clicked pins, blog posts that rank)
- Reinvest earnings (e.g., better design tools, ads, automations)
Final Tips for Creators Like Me
- Stick with what works (Pinterest + blog is a solid combo for Notion templates)
- Don’t feel pressure to do everything — more platforms ≠ more sales
- Focus on quality, branding, and solving a clear problem (e.g., “help students stay organized with minimal effort”)
- Optimize your website and pins with keywords people search for
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