How I’d Start an Online Business in 2026 (Step-by-Step Blueprint)
If you’ve been dreaming of starting an online business in 2026 but feel overwhelmed by all the moving pieces — I get it.
When I first started, it was after going through my own health journey. I became a health coach because I wanted to help other women feel better too.
But pretty quickly, I realized what I actually loved most wasn’t just the coaching — it was running the business behind the scenes.
The systems. The tech. The organization.
And the truth is, I had to figure out a lot of it on my own — through trial and error, late nights Googling, and eventually investing in courses.
Now, years later, I’ve built a sustainable business helping other service providers and entrepreneurs with the exact kind of systems and processes I wish I had at the beginning.
So in this post, I’m walking you through the step-by-step blueprint I’d use to start an online business in 2026 if I had to start over — plus the biggest mistake beginners make that keeps them stuck at the idea stage (and how to avoid it).
Either keep reading or watch the video below:
Step 1: Choose Your Business Model and Niche
The very first step is clarity: what kind of business do you want to start?
When I started out as a coach, my first offer was simple — one-on-one coaching. That was my entry point.
But it wasn’t long before I knew I wanted to add digital products to my business too. My very first course was in that coaching business, and creating it showed me how powerful it could be to earn income outside of one-on-one sessions.
Maybe for you, your starting point is:
Services — like virtual assistance, design, or consulting.
Digital products — like templates, mini-courses, or guides.
Physical products — like print-on-demand or merch.
And one more reminder — you don’t need to know your forever niche right now. My business looks very different today than when I was coaching, and I’ve pivoted several times throughout the years.
Your first offer is just your starting point.
Step 2: Set Up Your Storefront
Once you’ve decided what to sell, you need a place to sell it.
This is where a lot of beginners get stuck — because the tech feels overwhelming.
When I first started, I thought I needed a full website, a checkout system, an email platform, and about ten other moving parts before I could even think about selling.
But the truth is, you don’t need all of that on day one.
When I recently tested EverBee Store, I was honestly surprised at how fast it set things up. Instead of juggling a full website and multiple systems, you can start simple, automated, and get your storefront live quickly.
Here’s what I like about EverBee Store for beginners:
You can create a branded storefront in minutes — no coding or design required.
It works for both digital and physical products.
Payment processing and delivery are built in.
You can even import your existing Etsy listings and let AI turn them into a full branded website.
That can save you hours (if not days) and give you a professional storefront without tech headaches.
For someone just starting out, that’s huge — because you can focus on your product and marketing instead of getting lost in setup tasks.
Now, I don’t personally use EverBee Store in my business today — I’ve built a more complex system using ThriveCart, MailerLite, and Asana because of how my business has evolved. But if I were starting fresh? This is exactly the kind of tool I’d want to remove roadblocks and get selling quickly.
👉 Want to try it? Check out EverBee Store here.
Step 3: Create Your Product
This is where the fun begins — actually creating what you’ll sell.
When I was a coach, my very first offer was a simple one-on-one program. Later, I created my first digital course, and that was a total game-changer because it gave me income outside of 1:1 sessions.
Now, I’ll be honest: that very first course wasn’t built in Asana. At the time, I was still using Trello and kind of piecing things together as I went.
But once I switched to Asana, everything changed. Every product I’ve built since then lives inside a project in Asana with all the tasks laid out — brainstorming, outlining, creating assets, uploading, setting up the storefront, writing the copy.
Having that clarity means I don’t miss steps and I don’t stall halfway through — which is so common when you’re creating your first product.
Here’s my advice: start small.
A $9 template.
A $49 workshop.
Your first product doesn’t need to be huge — it just needs to be something you can actually finish and launch.
Step 4: Marketing Basics
Once your product is ready, you need to share it.
Here’s the good news: you don’t need to be everywhere.
When I was a coach, I thought I had to post on Instagram, write a blog, start a podcast, and show up on Facebook groups all at once. Spoiler: that’s the fastest way to burn out.
Instead, choose one main platform to start with — and I highly recommend long-form content like YouTube, blogging, or podcasting. That’s where you’ll see the best long-term ROI.
Then, keep a bank of all your content for future repurposing — exactly like I teach in my course, Content on Repeat.
Your marketing pillars are simple:
Visibility: show up where your people hang out.
Value: teach, share tips, and solve problems.
Invitation: invite them to buy your product or join your list.
And please, start an email list. It doesn’t have to be complicated. A simple freebie and one weekly email is enough to build a list you own — because algorithms change, but your list is yours.
What I liked about EverBee is that it’s not just a storefront — it includes EverBee Email, so you can grow your list, send campaigns, and nurture your audience without another platform. For beginners, that’s a big win.
Step 5: Systems and Organization
This is where most beginners fall off — they try to run everything from their head or sticky notes. I did that too.
If you want your online business to last, you need systems.
Start simple with:
A task manager (I recommend Asana).
A way to track income and expenses.
Honestly, I recommend Asana for all of these. I even have full templates that show you how to manage each one if you want to check them out.
You don’t need a million tools, but you do need a structure that keeps you from reinventing the wheel every week.
👉 Get my Asana Essentials toolkit here.
Step 6: Launch and Iterate
Once your product and storefront are ready, it’s time to launch.
Please don’t overthink this. Your first launch doesn’t need a 20-email sequence and a huge webinar. It could be:
A few Instagram posts.
An email or two to your small list.
A YouTube video where you share your process.
The goal of your first launch isn’t to get rich — it’s to get real data.
Do people buy?
Do they get results?
What feedback do they give?
Then you take that info, tweak your offer or positioning, and launch again. Every iteration builds momentum.
A Common Mistake Beginners Make
One of the biggest mistakes I see new entrepreneurs make is staying stuck in learning mode.
They watch videos, buy courses, play around with branding — but they never actually launch.
For me, what made all the difference was implementing. I took what I was learning and put it into action, and that’s what moved my business forward.
The growth only happened once I started putting offers into the world — even when they weren’t perfect.
So please, don’t wait until you feel ready. You’ll learn so much more by launching something small and messy than by waiting for perfection.
It doesn’t have to be flawless, but it does have to be valuable.
If you found this helpful and want to skip the guesswork when it comes to setting up your systems, check out Asana Essentials — it includes my full set of business templates to help you stay organized and grow with less chaos.
Here’s to starting smart, building sustainably, and creating the business you actually want to run in 2026.
TL;DR: How to Start an Online Business in 2026
If I had to start my online business over from scratch in 2026, here’s exactly what I’d do:
Pick a business model — start with something simple like a service or a small digital product.
Set up your storefront — use beginner-friendly tools like EverBee Store to sell quickly without tech overwhelm.
Create your product — start small, finish it, and launch.
Focus on marketing basics — one main platform + one simple email list.
Get organized with systems — Asana for managing your projects, content, and business operations.
Launch and iterate — done is better than perfect. Test, tweak, and keep going.
The biggest mistake? Staying stuck in learning mode. You’ll grow faster by taking imperfect action and refining as you go.
Ready to Skip the Overwhelm?
If you want to start your online business the smart, organized way, I’ve already built the templates and systems for you inside Asana Essentials — my complete business management toolkit for service providers, freelancers, and digital entrepreneurs.
Inside, you’ll get plug-and-play templates for:
✅ Client management
✅ Content planning
✅ Product development
✅ Lead tracking
✅ Operations + more
No more chaos, no more starting from scratch. Just a clear, streamlined foundation for your business — ready to use today.
