You’ve got the spark—now let’s ignite it. Stuck on Start: Starter Pact walks you through seven practical steps,
giving you the tools, confidence, and strategy to launch your business. From refining your idea to securing your
first customers and laying the groundwork for growth, this guide empowers you to begin with conviction and
purpose.
Step 1: Know Yourself
Starting a business isn’t just a professional decision — it’s personal. It will challenge how you see yourself,
how you spend your time, how you manage your money, and how much you’re willing to risk. For many Black founders,
the path comes with even more weight: limited access to capital, generational financial gaps, caregiver
responsibilities, and the pressure to succeed not just for yourself, but for your family and community.This is
where you ask: Am I ready?Not ready to launch a website — but ready to be stretched, questioned and seen. Ready to
lead. Ready to be the one who breaks cycles.You don’t need to have all the answers — but you do need to be honest
about where you are, what motivates you, your personal mission, your expectations, and the sacrifices you’re
willing (or not willing) to make. And most importantly: you need a plan for how you’ll hold yourself accountable
when things get hard — because they will.
💡 Reflection Questions
Why do I want to start this business — for real?
What part of my life experience makes this idea personal to me?
What fears or doubts do I have about being a business owner?
What kind of support do I need — emotionally, financially, and spiritually?
What boundaries do I need to set to stay committed without burning out?
How will I hold myself accountable when I feel like giving up?
You can’t build a business around what you want — you have to build around what they need. The people. Your
people. The customer. The community you say you want to serve.Too often, new founders make the mistake of building
in isolation. No conversations, no validation, no proof that anyone even wants what they’re offering. As Black
founders, we don’t always have the luxury of failing quietly — our time and money are too limited for that.This
step is about getting out of your head and into the world. That means listening more than talking. Asking
questions before building products. Learning your customer’s real problems, behaviors, fears, and
motivations.You’re not just here to hustle. You’re here to help. And to do that, you have to know who you're
helping — with dignity and respect.
✅ Checklist
Complete a Customer Avatar Profile
Interview at least 3 potential customers
Identify one problem your customer has that your business solves
Write one paragraph describing your ideal customer in their own words
💡 Reflection Questions
Who do I believe my customer is — and how do I know that?
Have I had real conversations with potential customers? What did I learn?
What does my customer need, struggle with, or wish someone would solve for them?
Where does my customer spend time (online or in person)?
How does my culture, community, or lived experience help me serve them better?
Step 3: Know Your Brand I — Your Niche
Let’s be clear: you don’t need to serve everybody. You need to serve the right people — and do it well. That’s
your niche.Many first-time founders, especially in our community, feel pressure to appeal to everyone to make ends
meet. But trying to serve everybody waters down your message, drains your resources, and confuses your customer.
Clarity brings consistency. Specificity builds credibility. That’s where your niche becomes your advantage.Your
niche lives at the intersection of your story, your skills, and your customers’ needs. It’s the thing that makes
people say, “I want to work with her. I trust her with this.” It could be cultural relevance, a lived experience,
or simply how you show up differently from the competition.If you don’t know your niche, you’ll waste time,
energy, and money trying to be everything to everyone. Your niche is your lane — own it.
Canva Brand Kit: Free tool to align
colors, tone, and visuals with your niche
Entrepreneur Works: 1:1 business coaching to
refine messaging and market position
✅ Checklist
Complete the Niche Discovery Exercise
Identify your 3 Brand Pillars (Values, Voice, Value)
Write your 1-sentence niche statement: “I help [who] do [what] because
[why]”
💡 Reflection Questions
Who do I naturally attract — and why?
What makes my offer unique or relatable to a specific audience?
What part of my story or background makes me the right person to offer this?
What’s one thing I want to be known for in my space?
Am I clear enough for someone to refer me to right now?
Step 4: Know Your Brand II — Message & Identity
Your brand is not just a logo — it’s a promise. It’s the feeling people get when they hear your name, scroll past
your content, or walk into your space. It’s your values, your voice, your visuals — and the energy behind
everything you do.For Black founders, brand identity is about more than style. It’s about reclaiming narrative,
standing out in industries that don’t always reflect us, and building trust with people who want something real.
That means your brand should feel like you, not just what’s trendy.Too many entrepreneurs skip this part or copy
what they see online. But if your brand doesn’t reflect your purpose and your people, it won’t connect. And
connection is what makes people buy — and come back.This is where you define what your business stands for, how
you speak, and how you show up — across platforms, in person, and in your community.
✅ Checklist
Choose your 3 Brand Words (vibe, tone, and intention)
Create or refine your visual identity (colors, logo, fonts)
Draft your brand message and tagline
Ask 3 people if your message is clear and consistent across your
materials
💡 Reflection Questions
What does my business stand for beyond making money?
What 3 words describe how I want people to feel when they interact with my brand?
What does my brand look, sound, and feel like — and is it consistent?
How is my identity reflected in the business I’m building?
Step 5: Know Your Numbers
This is where it gets real.Your business can’t run on passion alone. You need to know how the money works — even
if you’re just getting started. That means understanding what you’re selling, how much it costs to deliver, and
what it takes to turn a profit.Too many Black founders launch without knowing their numbers, and it’s not because
we’re lazy — it’s because we were never taught. But not knowing won’t protect you. It will cost you.You need to
know what it costs to run your business, how to price your product or service, and when (or if) you’ll start
paying yourself. This step is about facing the numbers — with support — and building a revenue model that fits
your goals, not someone else’s.Knowing your numbers isn’t just for banks and investors — it’s for you.
✅ Checklist
You can track your progress in this guide by joining the Stuck on Start pathway on the home page!
Review your basic financial plan with a mentor or coach
💡 Reflection Questions
What am I selling — and how much does it cost me to deliver?
How much do I need to earn monthly to survive, sustain, and grow?
What’s my pricing strategy — and is it profitable?
What will it cost to launch or scale this business realistically?
Additional Resources
Hybrid Productivity Tools - Zeru Center Every great endeavor begins with a single idea.
Your Ideas are the seeds of innovation, and our notebooks are the fertile ground where they take root. Your
Space is a sanctuary free from digital distractions—a place where your thoughts can flow naturally onto the
page. With ZERU AI notebooks, you cultivate Your Growth, transforming concepts into actionable plans and
aspirations into achievements.
Step 6: Know Your Competition & Differentiation
There’s a good chance someone out there is already doing what you want to do — and that’s okay. That means
there’s demand. But your job isn’t to be the first — it’s to be different. That’s where your value lives.Too
often, Black founders feel like there’s only room for one of us at the table. But competition doesn’t have to mean
conflict. It’s about clarity. Knowing your competition helps you sharpen your message, refine your offer, and
serve your customer better.You don’t need to have the biggest brand — you just need to be the right fit for the
people you serve. That comes from knowing your lane and being unapologetic about it.And in a world that tries to
box us in, your difference is your power. Don’t shrink from it. Lean in.
Ask 3 customers what made them choose you over others
Join a strategy session or coaching call through MYB to review
💡 Reflection Questions
What are your customers currently using?
What makes my product, service, or experience unique?
What do customers say about me that competitors can’t copy?
Step 7: Telling & Selling Your Story
Storytelling is one of our greatest cultural gifts — and in business, it’s your secret weapon. Your story builds
trust, creates connection, and opens doors. Whether you’re talking to a customer, pitching to a funder, or
applying for a grant, your story has to do more than inform — it has to move people.But here’s the thing: many
founders, especially Black founders, are taught to downplay their journey. To sanitize it. To make it palatable.
Don’t do that. Tell the truth. Tell it with power.Your story is the strategy. The reason behind your business is
the reason people will believe in it. That’s how you attract community, customers, and capital.Don’t just sell a
product. Sell the transformation. Sell the impact. Sell the vision.
Record yourself and watch it back — what do you sound like?
Pitch in a safe space (Black Business Mixer)
💡 Reflection Questions
What personal experience led me to start this business?
What do I want people to remember after hearing my story?
How can I use my story to inspire action — not just attention?
Additional Resources
Black Business Mixer - Philly Tech Week Edition Join us for our next Black Business
Mixer:Philly Tech Week 2025 Edition hosted by Zeru Center and Powered by MYB Hub North. This FREE event is where
Black brilliance, business, and community come together.What to Expect:A lively night of connection,
collaboration, and cultureLive DJ to curate the sound.Flavor-packed food from Jammin’ J’sBlack-owned vendors to
sip & shopNetworking with entrepreneurs, creatives, tech leaders, and business mentorsExclusive intro to the
Ramp Up Mastermind, our 4-week accelerator for aspiring entrepreneursWhether you’re a seasoned business owner or
just getting started, this is your moment to tap in, be inspired, and build with the community.Let’s grow, glow,
and LEVEL UP together.Secure your spot today – space is limited!Dress: Fly but comfortable. Bring your cards &
good vibes.
