Playbook·May 6, 2026·6 min read
The 6-week launch plan we teach in Entrepreneur 101.
A week-by-week breakdown of how to go from a raw idea to your first paying customer — the same framework we walk every founder through in our flagship cohort.
Most people don't fail at launching because they lack ideas. They fail because they spend six months building in a vacuum and then freeze when it's time to sell. This plan flips that. In six weeks you'll be talking to customers, taking money, and learning faster than the founder who's been "almost ready" for a year.
"A launched business beats a perfect plan, every time."
Week 1
Sharpen the idea.
Turn a vague idea into a one-sentence offer for a specific customer.
- Write a one-sentence value proposition: who it's for, what it does, why it's different.
- Interview 5 potential customers — listen for the words they actually use.
- Pick a single niche to start. You can expand later.
- Choose a working business name and grab the matching .com and social handles.
Week 2
Validate the demand.
Get proof that real people will pay before you spend money building anything.
- Build a one-page landing site explaining the offer and price.
- Run a small ad budget ($50–$100) or post in 3 local groups to test interest.
- Open a waitlist or pre-order form. Track conversion rate, not just clicks.
- Talk to 5 more people — refine the message based on what makes them lean in.
Week 3
Set up the business.
Get the legal and financial plumbing done so you can take money cleanly.
- Register your LLC with the MA Secretary of the Commonwealth.
- Apply for an EIN with the IRS (free, 10 minutes online).
- Open a separate business checking account. Never mix funds.
- Set up basic bookkeeping — Wave or QuickBooks is fine to start.
Week 4
Build the minimum offer.
Ship the smallest version of the product or service that delivers real value.
- Define exactly what is and isn't included in v1. Cut ruthlessly.
- Build the delivery workflow — even if it's manual behind the scenes.
- Write your terms, refund policy, and a simple onboarding email.
- Price it. Most founders underprice — anchor higher than your gut says.
Week 5
Open for business.
Get your first three paying customers — not 30, not 300. Three.
- Email your waitlist with a clear ask and a deadline.
- Reach out personally to 20 people in your network with a tailored note.
- Post your launch on LinkedIn, Facebook, and any local community groups.
- Deliver obsessively to your first customers and ask for testimonials.
Week 6
Learn and repeat.
Turn week 5 into a repeatable engine you can run every month.
- Debrief every customer interaction — what worked, what confused them.
- Document the sales process so a future employee (or future you) can run it.
- Pick one acquisition channel and commit to it for the next 90 days.
- Set a monthly revenue goal and the weekly activity needed to hit it.
Run this plan with us
Entrepreneur 101 starts every cohort with this framework.
You get weekly working sessions, a mentor, and a room full of other founders running the same playbook. If you'd rather not do it alone, come do it with us.
See our programs