Five Big Steps! The 5 Stages of Starting an Online Business
LYNNIE VERSION
Would you like to read this article in more grown-up words, still easy to understand? Jump here.
Hi! I’m Lynnie! Today I’m telling you about the five stages of starting an online business. Stages are like the levels in a game.
Every online business goes through the same five levels. Knowing them helps you plan, avoid oopsies, and always know where you are.
Level 1: Potential & Purpose
You don’t need a big idea to start. Nope! You start with what you already are and what you already have.
What you care about, your energy, your tools, your skills, and maybe people you know. Those are your building blocks. Then you take tiny, safe steps, and your reason gets clearer.
Level 2: Offering & Income
Now you look at the ways to earn, and decide what you could offer people.
At first, people might pay you with money. Or just with attention! Both are good at the start.
There are four kinds of things you can offer:
- A real thing you can touch
- A computer thing, like a file
- A job you do in person
- A job you do online
Every online business sells one of these four. Or a mix!
Level 3: Profile & Setup
This is the most techy level. First you pick where your business lives. There are three kinds of places: a big online shop (grown-ups say marketplace), social media, or your own website. Everybody starts with one.
Careful! This is where beginners spend too much. Very little money is enough, you’d be surprised! Make it fancy later.
Level 4: Legal & Safety
Things like terms and conditions, privacy rules and cookies. (Not the yummy kind!) And how to handle mean comments online. It’s here to take away some worry.
Level 5: Traffic & Content
“If they don’t see it, they won’t buy it.”
This is where you bring people to your shop. Grown-ups call it marketing. Without it, even the best ideas stay invisible.
And this level never ends! You don’t have to be in the spotlight, but your stuff does. And you can learn it yourself. No agency needed.
Anna’s story
Anna works in an office and LOVES organizing.
- Level 1: Her friends keep asking her to help plan their weeks. And she likes it!
- Level 2: She decides to make printable weekly planners. A computer thing!
- Level 3: She opens a free shop on a big online shop for downloads.
- Level 4: She checks the shop’s rules and keeps her business money separate.
- Level 5: She shares pictures of her planners on Pinterest, plus little planning tips.
A few weeks later, her first sale comes! She spent hardly any money. And she never showed her face.
How the levels fit together
Levels one to four are mostly done once. Level five keeps going. And you can go back to any level anytime. And some people even start with level five! People who make videos often get lots of watchers first, and decide what to sell later. Both ways are okay.
What’s next?
The next article shows you how to read Lynnaider’s mountain map, with its colors. The whole book is on our products page. Want a grown-up to guide you? Go to our services page.
What grown-ups usually ask (and I answer)
What are the five levels?
Potential & Purpose, Offering & Income, Profile & Setup, Legal & Safety, and Traffic & Content.
Why start with what I have, not with an idea?
Because your idea gets clearer by doing things, not before.
What’s in level two?
The four kinds of things to sell: real things, computer things, in-person jobs and online jobs.
Why does level five never end?
Because people need to keep hearing about you. Always!
Do I have to finish all five before I sell anything?
No! They’re for thinking, not locked doors. You come back to them as you grow.
Where can I get help if I don’t have much money?
Lynnaider shows you how to start each of the ten ways for free, or for very, very little money. You’d be surprised! And a free robot helper called Lynnaider Compass helps you step by step!
Will there be step-by-step lessons for each of the ten ways?
Maybe! If lots of people want them. Join the waitlist and you’ll know first.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and should not be regarded as legal, tax, or business advice. Pursuing an online business does not guarantee income; results depend on many factors including the business environment, individual effort, skills, and consistency. Some links on this site may allow Lynnaider to earn a commission at no additional cost to the reader.
