Free Business Checklists and Guides for SME Owners

Use these business checklists for SMEs as a quick self-check with your team. Answer each line with yes, no or not sure, then pick the three most important gaps to fix first.

1. 1

   Pick one checklist

   Start with the area that worries you most, such as your website or IT safety.

2. 2

   Answer honestly

   Mark each line yes, no or not sure. 'Not sure' usually means no.

3. 3

   Ask the right person

   Check with your developer, accountant or sales head where you do not know the answer.

4. 4

   Pick three fixes

   Choose the gaps with the highest risk or the easiest fix, and give each an owner and a date.

5. 5

   Repeat each quarter

   Run the same checklist again in three months and compare.

These lists are written in plain English for owners, not for technical staff. They do not replace a full review, but they help you spot problems early and brief a consultant or vendor clearly.

A healthy website explains what you do in one line, loads fast on mobile, makes contact easy and records every enquiry. If any of these fail, you lose leads without knowing it.

• Does the home page say clearly what you do, for whom and where, in one line?
• Does the site load quickly on an average mobile phone?
• Is your phone number or WhatsApp easy to tap on mobile?
• Do contact forms reach the right person, and are they tested monthly?
• Is Google Analytics or a similar tool set up and recording enquiries?
• Is your Google Business Profile linked to the website, with the same name, phone and address?
• Are service pages written for real buyer questions, not only for search engines?
• Is there an SSL certificate, so the browser shows the site as secure?
• Are plugins, themes and the platform updated, and is there a recent backup?

For a full review of your website and online setup, see digital consulting. For search visibility on Google and AI tools, see SEO consulting.

Before you sign with any agency or software vendor, ask who owns the work, what the quote includes, what yearly costs follow, who your contact is and how you can leave with your data.

1. Who will own the code, data, domain and accounts after the project?
2. What is included in the quote, and what will cost extra?
3. What are the yearly running costs after launch?
4. Who is my single point of contact, and how fast do you reply?
5. How do I export my data if I want to leave?
6. Is GST included in the quote, and will you give a proper GST invoice?
7. What happens if the project runs late? Is there a written timeline?
8. Can I speak to a past client about a similar project?
9. What training and written guides will my team get at handover?

Need help comparing options? See technology consulting.

Your business is ready for AI and automation when repeat tasks are listed, the data is digital and in one place, privacy limits are clear and one person owns a small pilot.

• We have listed our top five repeat tasks and the hours they take
• The data for these tasks is digital and in one place
• We know which customer data must not go into outside tools
• One person will own the pilot and report results
• We have a simple measure of success, like hours saved per week

Read more on AI consulting. For rule-based tasks like reminders and lead capture, automation consulting is often the first step before AI.

Every small team should cover four IT safety basics: company ownership of accounts, tested backups, personal logins with quick removal, and regular updates.

• Two-step login is on for email, banking, ad accounts and website admin
• Passwords are kept in a password manager, not a shared sheet or WhatsApp group
• There is a list of every subscription, its renewal date and who pays
• Staff know whom to call if they click a suspicious link
• Office laptops have screen locks and up-to-date security software

For a longer plan covering systems, vendors and IT budget, see IT strategy consulting.

You know where leads come from when every form, call and WhatsApp chat is counted, tagged with a source and followed up in one place. Without this, budget decisions are guesswork.

• Website forms are tracked as conversions in Google Analytics or a similar tool
• Ads, website and print material use different numbers or tracked links
• WhatsApp chats are tagged with the lead source
• Links in ads, emails and posts carry UTM tags
• Every lead goes into a CRM or shared sheet with source, owner and status
• Leads get a first reply within one working hour
• Monthly reports show cost per lead and cost per customer, not only clicks

To turn these numbers into a budget plan, see marketing consulting.

Many SMEs lose leads after the first message, not before it. A good follow-up process replies fast, records every lead, sends the quote on time and checks back on fixed days until the buyer decides.

• Every new enquiry gets a reply within one working hour on working days
• Weekend and holiday enquiries get an auto-reply with the next reply time
• Each lead has one named owner in the team
• Quotes go out on a clear template with scope, timeline and GST shown
• Follow-ups happen on fixed days, such as day 2, day 5 and day 10
• Lost leads are marked with a reason, such as price, timing or chose a competitor
• Past customers hear from you at least a few times a year

If follow-up depends on one person remembering, it will slip on busy days. Simple CRM reminders or WhatsApp Business labels can fix this without a big system change.

Every quarter, owners should check revenue by source, lead and conversion numbers, repeat customers, cash flow and the progress of key projects. A short review keeps the business on track without long meetings.

If the same problem shows up two quarters in a row, it is time for outside help. See growth consulting for a structured way to find and test the next growth step, or digital strategy for a 12-month online plan.

Start with the checklist that matches your biggest worry right now. If you have no clear worry, start with IT safety, because ownership and backup gaps can cause the most damage.

If you want someone to go through your answers with you, contact us to book a free call.

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