If you want to start a Fact Checking business, you will need to form a legal entity. This will protect you from personal liability and help you raise money for your business. You can choose to form a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), or corporation. Each type of entity has its own pros and cons, so you will need to choose the one that is right for your business. If you are the only owner of your business, a sole proprietorship may be the best option. This type of business is easy to set up and you will not have to deal with much paperwork. However, sole proprietorships offer no personal liability protection, which means that you could be held responsible for debts incurred by your business. Partnerships are similar to sole proprietorships in that they are easy to set up and offer no personal liability protection. If you decide to form a partnership, you will need to choose a business partner who you can trust and who has complementary skills. It is important to have a written partnership agreement that outlines each partner's roles and responsibilities. A limited liability company (LLC) offers personal liability protection and is a good option for a small group of founders.
Opening a Business Bank Account
When you’re ready to start your Fact Checking business, one of the first steps is to open a business bank account. This will help you keep your personal and business finances separate and will make it easier to track your expenses and income. To open a business bank account, you’ll need to have the following information and documents:
-Your business name and address
-Your Social Security number or Employer Identification Number (EIN)
-A list of the owners, officers, and directors of the company
-Articles of incorporation or a business license
-A voided check or deposit slip from the account you’ll be using for your business
Once you have all of the required information and documents, you can visit your local bank or credit union to open a business checking account.
Setting up Business Accounting
If you're starting a Fact Checking business, one of the first things you need to do is set up your business accounting. This will ensure that you're keeping track of your finances and that you're complying with any financial regulations that apply to your business. Here's a quick guide to setting up your business accounting:
1. Choose an accounting software. There are many different accounting software packages available, so do some research to find one that will suit your needs.
2. Set up your chart of accounts. This is a list of all the categories of income and expenditure that you will track in your accounting system.
3. Set up your bank account. You will need a business bank account to manage your finances effectively.
4. Keep track of your income and expenditure. Make sure you keep accurate records of all money coming in and going out of your business.
5. Prepare and file your tax return. Once a year, you will need to file a tax return for your business. Make sure you keep on top of this so that you don't miss the deadline
Setting up Business Insurance
As a business owner, it is important to protect your company with the proper insurance. When setting up a Fact Checking business, you will need to consider the following types of insurance:
-Product liability insurance: This will protect you in the event that a product you designed and printed causes injury or damage.
-Professional liability insurance: This will protect you in the event that a client suffers damages as a result of your work.
-Business property insurance: This will protect your equipment and premises in the event of damage or theft.
-Business interruption insurance: This will protect you in the event that your business has to stop operations due to a covered event.
-Employee dishonesty insurance: This will protect you in the event that an employee steals from your business.
Speak with an insurance agent to determine which policies are right for your business
Setting up a Business Website
If you want to start a Fact Checking business, one of the first things you need to do is set up a website. This will be your online home base, where potential customers can learn more about your business and what you have to offer. There are a few key things you need to include on your website:
-An About page: This is where you can tell your story and give potential customers a sense of who you are and what you stand for.
-A portfolio: Showcase your best version on your website so that potential clients can see your work.
-A contact page: Make it easy for people to get in touch with you by including your email address and/or social media links.
-Pricing information: Let visitors know how much you charge for your services.
By having a well-designed website, you’ll be able to attract more customers and grow your Fact Checking business
Obtaining the Necessary Permits
If you're thinking about starting a fact checking business, the first step is to obtain the necessary permits from your local government. This will vary depending on your location, but you'll need to register your business and get a business license. You may also need to get a permit to operate your business from your home. Once you have your permits in order, you can start setting up your business. You'll need to create a website and social media accounts, and start marketing your services. You'll also need to put together a team of fact checkers who can help you verify information. If you're dedicated to providing accurate information and holding businesses and individuals accountable, starting a fact checking business can be a rewarding endeavor. With some planning and hard work, you can make your fact checking business a success.
Setting up a Business Number or Appointment Setter
When you’re ready to start your Fact Checking business, one of the first things you need to do is set up a business phone number or an appointment setter. You can use a service like Google Voice to set up a business phone number for your Fact Checking business. Google Voice will give you a free business phone number that you can use to make and receive calls. Once you have a business phone number, you can start taking calls from potential customers. When you get a call, be sure to take down the customer’s name, contact information, and what they need. Once you have this information, you can give the customer a call back to discuss the project in more detail and give them a quote.
Hiring and Training Employees
When starting a fact-checking business, it is important to hire and train employees who are knowledgeable about the industry and can perform quality assurance checks on content. It is also important to provide training to ensure that employees understand the importance of accuracy when it comes to verifying facts. This training should include teaching them how to research and use reliable sources for their fact-checking work.
Advertising and Promotions
Advertising and promotions are essential for any business, including a fact-checking business. To reach potential customers, consider using a combination of traditional and digital marketing strategies such as direct mail, radio and television advertising, search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns, email marketing, and social media marketing.
Building Your Network
Networking with other businesses in the fact-checking industry is essential for success. Consider joining associations or attending conferences or seminars related to fact-checking to get connected with other professionals in the industry. You can also use social media platforms such as LinkedIn to connect with potential customers or partners.
Investing in Technology
Investing in technology is key for any business, especially a fact-checking business. Tools such as plagiarism checkers, grammar checkers, citation tools, and content management systems help make the process of fact-checking more efficient and accurate. Additionally, investing in security software can help protect your data from malicious attacks or breaches.
Securing Data and Privacy Protection
When running a fact-checking business, it is important to ensure that your data is secure and protected from unauthorized access or misuse. Make sure you have implemented processes for data encryption and secure storage of sensitive information. Additionally, ensure that you have compliant privacy policies in place that adhere to applicable laws and regulations related to data privacy.
Quality Assurance
Quality assurance is essential when it comes to fact-checking services. To ensure accuracy of your work, consider implementing processes such as double checking facts with multiple sources, using reliable research methods, checking for plagiarism, testing for grammar issues, etc. Additionally, consider offering quality control reports or certificates along with your services as proof of accuracy.
Outsourcing Fact Checking Services
Outsourcing your fact checking services can be beneficial if you are looking to increase efficiency or reduce costs associated with your business. Consider researching potential vendors who specialize in providing quality assurance services related to fact-checking services such as plagiarism checkers or content editing tools.
Conclusion
If you're interested in starting a fact checking business, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First, you'll need to build up a strong network of sources who you can trust to provide accurate information. Second, you'll need to create a system for verifying the accuracy of the information you're given. And finally, you'll need to be able to communicate your findings to your clients in a clear and concise way. By following these steps, you'll be on your way to starting a successful fact checking business.
Why write a business plan?
A business plan is a critical tool for businesses and startups for a number of reasons:
- Business Plans can help to articulate and flesh out the business’s goals and objectives. This can be beneficial not only for the business owner, but also for potential investors or partners
- Business Plans can serve as a roadmap for the business, helping to keep it on track and on target. This is especially important for businesses that are growing and evolving, as it can be easy to get sidetracked without a clear plan in place.
- Business plans can be a valuable tool for communicating the business’s vision to employees, customers, and other key stakeholders.
- Business plans are one of the most affordable and straightforward ways of ensuring your business is successful.
- Business plans allow you to understand your competition better to critically analyze your unique business proposition and differentiate yourself from the market.
- Business Plans allow you to better understand your customer. Conducting a customer analysis is essential to create better products and services and market more effectively.
- Business Plans allow you to determine the financial needs of the business leading to a better understanding of how much capital is needed to start the business and how much fundraising is needed.
- Business Plans allow you to put your business model in words and analyze it further to improve revenues or fill the holes in your strategy.
- Business plans allow you to attract investors and partners into the business as they can read an explanation about the business.
- Business plans allow you to position your brand by understanding your company’s role in the marketplace.
- Business Plans allow you to uncover new opportunities by undergoing the process of brainstorming while drafting your business plan which allows you to see your business in a new light. This allows you to come up with new ideas for products/services, business and marketing strategies.
- Business Plans allow you to access the growth and success of your business by comparing actual operational results versus the forecasts and assumptions in your business plan. This allows you to update your business plan to a business growth plan and ensure the long-term success and survival of your business.
Business Plan Content
Many people struggle with drafting a business plan and it is necessary to ensure all important sections are present in a business plan:
- Executive Summary
- Company Overview
- Industry Analysis
- Consumer Analysis
- Competitor Analysis & Advantages
- Marketing Strategies & Plan
- Plan of Action
- Management Team
The financial forecast template is an extensive Microsoft Excel sheet with Sheets on Required Start-up Capital, Salary & Wage Plans, 5-year Income Statement, 5-year Cash-Flow Statement, 5-Year Balance Sheet, 5-Year Financial Highlights and other accounting statements that would cost in excess of £1000 if obtained by an accountant.
The financial forecast has been excluded from the business plan template. If you’d like to receive the financial forecast template for your start-up, please contact us at info@avvale.co.uk . Our consultants will be happy to discuss your business plan and provide you with the financial forecast template to accompany your business plan.
Instructions for the Business Plan Template
To complete your perfect Fact Checking business plan, fill out the form below and download our Fact Checking business plan template. The template is a word document that can be edited to include information about your Fact Checking business. The document contains instructions to complete the business plan and will go over all sections of the plan. Instructions are given in the document in red font and some tips are also included in blue font. The free template includes all sections excluding the financial forecast. If you need any additional help with drafting your business plan from our business plan template, please set up a complimentary 30-minute consultation with one of our consultants.
Ongoing Business Planning
With the growth of your business, your initial goals and plan is bound to change. To ensure the continued growth and success of your business, it is necessary to periodically update your business plan. Your business plan will convert to a business growth plan with versions that are updated every quarter/year. Avvale Consulting recommends that you update your business plan every few months and practice this as a process. Your business is also more likely to grow if you access your performance regularly against your business plans and reassess targets for business growth plans.
Want a Bespoke Business Plan for your Fact Checking Business?
Our Expertise
Avvale Consulting has extensive experience working with companies in many sectors including the Fact Checking industry. You can avail a free 30-minute business consultation to ask any questions you have about starting your Fact Checking business. We would also be happy to create a bespoke Fact Checking business plan for your Fact Checking business including a 5-year financial forecast to ensure the success of your Fact Checking business and raise capital from investors to start your Fact Checking business. This will include high-value consulting hours with our consultants and multiple value-added products such as investor lists and Angel Investor introductions.
About Us
Avvale Consulting is a leading startup business consulting firm based in London, United Kingdom. Our consultants have years of experience working with startups and have worked with over 300 startups from all around the world. Our team has thousands of business plans, pitch decks and other investment documents for startups leading to over $100 Million raised from various sources. Our business plan templates are the combination of years of startup fundraising and operational experience and can be easily completed by a business owner regardless of their business stage or expertise. So, whether you are a budding entrepreneur or a veteran businessman, download our business plan template and get started on your business growth journey today.