Now that you understand the Product Lifecycle Warning, the next essential decision is what type of product to focus on first. To give you the conclusion first: I strongly recommend skincare for an early-stage brand’s first product. The choice between launching a skincare vs color cosmetics startup is one of the most fatal dilemmas a…
Now that you’ve built the sturdy fortress of legal and financial foundations, it’s time to plan what you’ll grow inside it. Many founders make the mistake of focusing only on “What product should I make?” without deeply considering the long-term viability. A successful brand isn’t built on a single product but through a long-term portfolio….
“Where do I get the initial capital?” This is the most realistic worry that never leaves a founder’s mind after calculating the true cost to launch a beauty brand. While you might dream of a flashy startup raising millions, the truth is, most successful indie beauty brands start by bootstrapping. Bootstrapping 101: Define Your Strategy…
After calculating the true cost of launching in The Shocking Cost Unveiled: Use This Secret 7x Profit Formula, you’ve likely seen those $10–$16 K-Beauty products on Amazon and thought, “How can I possibly compete?” You can’t. And that’s okay. The biggest mistake a new founder can make when developing their beauty brand pricing strategy is…
The lean launch strategy is defined by one core principle: prioritizing speed and cost-saving over everything else. Now that you know the true $17k to $61k cost to launch a beauty brand, you must choose your game plan. Your initial budget doesn’t just fund your brand; it defines your strategy. There is no single right…
Up to this point, we have built a solid philosophy for why we must do this business and who it is for. Now, it’s time to answer the most practical question of all: “With what budget and what strategy will we enter the market?” If you’re asking, “So, how much does it really cost to…
Performing a USPTO trademark search is the first critical action you’ll take from this 2-step legal plan. You’ve made it through the most “boring” but crucial chapter. In How to Trademark a Brand Name: An Essential 3-Step Guide, we covered why you must trademark your brand. In The LLC vs. Corporation Trap: A Costly Mistake…
When choosing your LLC vs Corporation for startup, you are building your “legal fortress.” But first, let’s talk about the most dangerous temptation you’ll face. It’s tempting to just sell products using your personal bank account. It feels fast and easy. This is an extremely dangerous action that exposes your personal assets to risk. If…
Learning how to trademark a brand name is, by far, the most boring—and most important—step in starting your business. I’ll be honest: if you feel the urge to skip this post, it might be a sign that you aren’t ready to start a business. This is not as exciting as product development or branding. But…
Seeing real founder strengths and weaknesses examples on paper can make this entire journey feel more achievable. In the last two posts, we’ve been through a lot. We completed the 12-point Founder Readiness Checklist and walked through the 3-step “Reality Check” to test your commitment. I left you with a blank worksheet to analyze yourself….
