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The Small Business Guidebook

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The Small Business Guidebook

Everything you need to know to start, launch, operate, grow and sustain your business, all in one place. A plain-language guide and fillable workbook for small business owners in any country.

$149
  • Instant download
  • Secure Shopify checkout
  • Works in any country

What's inside

  • 31 chapters in five parts, with a fillable workbook, worked examples and Ask AI prompts throughout
  • Part 1, Start: your why, goals and pace; market research; your customer and competition; testing your idea; your offer and business model; the numbers that matter; your one-page business plan
  • Part 2, Launch: what you need to legally operate and sell; business structures; when and how to incorporate; taxes; setting up your money and administration; protecting your business; your brand; your storefront; website, technology and social media; your launch plan
  • Part 3, Operate: customer relationships; marketing and sales that fit you; operations and systems; your operating rhythm
  • Part 4, Grow: growth levers; building your team; your full business plan; your investor fact sheet; funding growth; partnerships and relationships
  • Part 5, Sustain: the risk register; resilience and continuity; your pace, your life; your annual review
  • Resources: master checklists, an Ask AI prompt library, who to ask, and a glossary
  • 3 Excel tools: Funding & Grant Tracker, Operating Rhythm & Compliance Tracker, and Money Routine Planner
  • 3 months of free access to The Commerce Growth Lab Community

Who it's for

New and growing business owners who want one clear map of how everything fits together, at their own pace.

Format

210-page fillable PDF and 3 Excel tools. Instant digital download.

Every download includes our Products and Prices list. Prices are subject to change at any time without notice.

Digital products are final sale. For general information and education only; not legal, tax, accounting, employment, investment or financial advice.

What you'll get out of it

Run your business on purpose, without the overwhelm.

  1. Know your next steps

    See what to do next in each area of your business, and when to do it.

  2. See your business clearly

    Get an honest picture of where your business stands today.

  3. Keep it all in one place

    Build your own organized system that documents every part of your business.

  4. Come back to it

    A workbook you fill in and reopen as your business grows, at your own pace.

Inside the Guidebook

31 chapters in five parts.

  1. Your why, your goals and your pace

    Part 1: Start

  2. Market research made simple

    Part 1: Start

  3. Your customer and your competition

    Part 1: Start

  4. Testing your idea

    Part 1: Start

  5. Your offer and business model

    Part 1: Start

  6. The numbers that matter

    Part 1: Start

  7. Your one-page business plan

    Part 1: Start

  8. What you need to legally operate and sell

    Part 2: Launch

  9. Business structures explained

    Part 2: Launch

  10. When and how to incorporate

    Part 2: Launch

  11. Taxes demystified

    Part 2: Launch

  12. Setting up your money and administration

    Part 2: Launch

  13. Protecting your business

    Part 2: Launch

  14. Your brand

    Part 2: Launch

  15. Your storefront

    Part 2: Launch

  16. Website, technology and social media

    Part 2: Launch

  17. Your launch plan

    Part 2: Launch

  18. Customer relationships

    Part 3: Operate

  19. Marketing and sales that fit you

    Part 3: Operate

  20. Operations and systems

    Part 3: Operate

  21. Your operating rhythm

    Part 3: Operate

  22. Growth levers

    Part 4: Grow

  23. Building your team

    Part 4: Grow

  24. Your full business plan

    Part 4: Grow

  25. Your investor fact sheet

    Part 4: Grow

  26. Funding growth

    Part 4: Grow

  27. Partnerships and relationships

    Part 4: Grow

  28. The risk register

    Part 5: Sustain

  29. Resilience and continuity

    Part 5: Sustain

  30. Your pace, your life

    Part 5: Sustain

  31. Your annual review

    Part 5: Sustain

Membership

The Commerce Growth Lab Community

Free for the first 3 months with your Guidebook.

After 3 months, one-time fee for lifetime access$250
About the Community

Included with your Guidebook

You don't have to figure it out alone.

Every Guidebook comes with 3 months of free access to The Commerce Growth Lab Community, a community of small business owners.

Guidebook FAQ

Before you buy

More questions? Email us and we'll help you choose.

Ask a question
How do I get the Guidebook after I buy?

You'll get a download link by email right after checkout, and the file is always available when you sign in to your account.

Will it work for my country or industry?

Yes. The Guidebook is built to work anywhere in the world. For legal or tax decisions specific to where you operate, check with a local professional.

Can I get a refund?

Digital products are final sale, because you get full access the moment your download link is issued. If your link has expired or a file is corrupted, email us within 7 days and we'll re-issue it at no charge.

Can I share it with my team?

Yes, inside your business. You can share it with employees or contractors working in your business, but not resell or post it publicly.

Small Business GuidebookInstant download ยท $149