Your First 90 Days: Setting Up Your Business for Success

Whether you're just launching your side hustle or you've been running informally for a while, the first 90 days of treating your venture like a real business are crucial. This is when you establish the systems and habits that will either support your growth or hold you back for years to come.

Many new solopreneurs make the mistake of jumping straight into client work without setting up basic infrastructure. They tell themselves they'll "get organized later" once things settle down—but things never settle down. Six months in, stressed out and disorganized, they find themselves implementing systems and fixes in midst of small business chaos and just hoping something works.

Here's a better approach for your first 90 days:

Week 1-2: Set up your business management system. Choose a platform that handles contacts, invoicing, scheduling, and tasks.

Week 3-4: Create templates for common activities like invoices, client intake, and proposals.

Week 5-6: Establish your pricing structure and payment terms. Document everything and then document some more!

Week 7-8: Set up your calendar and availability. Determine your working hours and client appointment slots. Remember to schedule time for yourself and family.

Week 9-12: Develop follow-up processes that work for you and get results. Review your systems regularly and don't be afraid to change things up if certain parts of your business aren't working. Running a business is an iterative process!

Starting with good habits and efficient systems gives your business and awesome foundation. Widgli is particularly valuable during this setup phase because it provides all your essential tools in one place. You're not juggling multiple platforms or trying to make different tools talk to each other—everything works together from the start.

The habits you establish in these first 90 days will define your business success for years to come. Invest the time upfront to do things right, and you'll save countless hours and headaches down the road. Your future self will thank you.