Launch & Growth

The Startup Branding Checklist: 25 Things to Do Before Launch

Use this practical checklist to make sure your brand, website and online presence are launch-ready, from name checks to Google Search Console.

By startuplime Updated 2 min read

Table of contents
  1. Foundation (name and legal)
  2. Brand strategy
  3. Visual identity
  4. Website
  5. SEO and visibility
  6. Social and communication
  7. FAQ

Launching soon? Use this startup branding checklist to make sure nothing is missing. Tick off each item and your business will look established from day one.

  1. Check business name availability in your state.
  2. Run a basic trademark search on the USPTO database (and consult an attorney before filing).
  3. Register your .com domain (and common misspellings if budget allows).
  4. Reserve social handles on the platforms your customers use.
  5. Form your LLC or corporation and get your EIN.

Brand strategy

  1. Define your ideal customer in one sentence.
  2. Write a one-line value proposition.
  3. Pick 3–5 brand personality words (e.g., bold, friendly, expert).
  4. List 3 competitors and how you’ll look different.

Visual identity

  1. Logo with full-color, one-color and icon versions.
  2. Color palette (primary, secondary, neutrals) with HEX codes.
  3. Two fonts: one for headings, one for body text.
  4. A simple brand guide documenting all of the above.
  5. Business cards and email signature.

Website

  1. 5–7 core pages: Home, About, Services, Pricing or detail, Contact, Blog.
  2. Mobile-friendly, fast-loading design (test with PageSpeed Insights).
  3. Clear call to action on every page.
  4. SSL certificate (https).
  5. Privacy policy and terms pages.

SEO and visibility

  1. Unique title and meta description for each page.
  2. Submit your sitemap to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools.
  3. Set up Google Analytics 4.
  4. Create a Google Business Profile if you serve local customers.

Social and communication

  1. Brand your social profiles (avatar, cover, bio, link).
  2. Prepare 30 days of launch content so you don’t go quiet after day one.

Short on time? Items 10–25 are exactly what’s inside the StartupLime Brand Box, done for you in about 21 days.

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FAQ

What should a startup do first for branding?

Confirm your name is available as a business entity, domain and social handle, and run a trademark search. Then define your audience and value proposition before designing anything.

How much time does startup branding take?

DIY can take one to three months of part-time work. A done-for-you brand package typically takes two to four weeks.

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Logo, brand identity, 5–7 page website, social kit, domain & hosting — one team, one flat price of $1,900 (a $4,500 value).

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