How to Take Your Business Online: 11-Step Guide (2026)

shieldJana Lynch calendar_todayJun 15, 2020 updateUpdated Jun 16, 2026 schedule8 min read verifiedFact-checked

Trying to make the most of take business online step? You are in the right place. Below we break it down in plain English, with practical tips you can actually use.

Key Takeaways

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If you’re considering moving your offline business online, you might be unsure of what to do if you’ve never worked online before. These steps offer a framework for creating an online business plan and strategy.

Written by Jana Lynch Last Updated: April 1, 2025 Reviewed by Zina Kumok

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In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more businesses are struggling to stay afloat.

While big-box stores and well-known brands have managed to survive, it’s been particularly challenging for traditionally in-person service businesses. After all, how do you provide personal training or therapy or dog grooming online? And how do you earn money doing it?

It seems challenging, but there are steps you can follow to move your offline business online.

Why You Should Have an Online Plan for Your Offline Business

Having an online plan for your business isn’t necessary, but it can provide a few things:

Visibility. When you’re providing services online, it makes it easier for potential clients to find and connect with you.
Marketing. Sharing videos or tutorials or posting on social media is free advertising that highlights what you do and offer.
Income. Having a business that’s online means that even if you have to close your in-person location, you can still earn money.
Focus. Moving from offline to online can help you make your business more efficient by narrowing the scope of your services or expanding to include more in-demand, lucrative ones.

Most of all, having a plan makes it easier should you need to move your business online. Like a personal emergency fund, it’s better to have it and not need it than not have one at all.

11 Steps to Take Your In-Person Business Online

1. Evaluate your clients’ needs.

When you open any business, you need to first determine what services you’re providing. Moving your in-person business online is no different. You need to evaluate what you offer and how you can continue to meet your clients’ needs.

The first thing to consider is your most valuable, most in-demand services. Not just the biggest income-generating ones (although you do want to make sure you include those), but the most unique ones that make people choose you over others.

If you’re a baker, it could be your gluten-free cupcakes. If you’re a hairstylist, it could be your highlighting skills. Whatever you’re known for, you need to figure out how to offer it online.

The second thing to consider is what your clients are asking for. What problem do you solve for them? When they come into your office, store, or studio, what do they most want or need? Offering what your clients need and ask for is the best way to guarantee that they still pay for your services, even if they can’t do it face to face.

Finally, consider the physical resources your clients might or might not have and adjust your offerings based on that. For instance, if you’re a gym owner, your clients might not have equipment like kettlebells or resistance bands at home, and they’ll need exercises they can do without them.

Once you figure out what you’re offering, make sure your clients have an simple way to get in contact with you and schedule appointments if they need to. You can use a scheduling app like Calendly to create a free appointment calendar, or you can have them contact you through email. Try to remove any barriers that might make them rethink making an appointment.

Make sure to have your work calendar synced to your personal calendar , you don’t want to miss any meetings. You also want to make sure you have a system in place to ship or deliver any products.

2. Consider your services.

After figuring out what services you’d like to offer, decide which ones transition best online. For instance, if you’re a dog groomer, you might not be able to groom a dog in person, but you can offer FaceTime calls, coaching your clients through clipping their dog’s nails or brushing their teeth.

That’s what Eric Thompson, tumbling coach and founder/CEO of TumbleChef, LLC, did. He knew that while cheerleaders were away from the gym, they’d still want to work on their tumbling skills, and he knew that he could help them with his one-on-one coaching. So he decided to offer virtual private lessons and virtual clinics, and they’ve become his flagship services.

Regardless of the type of business you own, there are services you can offer online, even if they need to be repackaged. If you’re not sure which ones might work online, make a list of your products or services and see what similar companies are doing. You might find some inspiration for your own business.

3. Develop your social media strategy.

Statistics according to a 2020 survey by SocialMediaToday.com

Marketing an online business isn’t that much different than marketing your in-person one, but it’s even more essential that you build your online presence. Shoppers will vet you based on your Facebook page, Instagram profile, website, and how you use them. They’ll look at your number of followers, the kind of content you share, who they know that follows you, and how frequently you share.

You can use Facebook ads to promote your business, but being strategic about your social media profile is just as key. Thompson, who admits he didn’t initially find anything useful about social media, has used it to grow his business, brand, and reputation. He uses analytics to carefully plan what content he shares at what time of day, what hashtags he includes, and he tailors the content so he’s reaching his audience where they are.

“I use Facebook to connect with parents and Instagram to connect with the kids,” he said.

If you don’t have an online presence, you can get started with a simple blog and Facebook page to build one. Make sure what you’re sharing is useful, helpful, and curated for your target audience.

4. Use available technologies.

Statistics according the themarkup.org

When moving your offline business online, it’s essential that you think about your clients’ access to technology and Wi-Fi. You want to make sure you’re reaching them not only at a cost they can afford but in a way that’s accessible to them.

Although most people have smartphones, they might have unreliable internet service or data limits on their cell phone plans. That might mean you need to conduct more classes, workshops, and events over FaceTime rather than streaming on Facebook or Zoom. You might also need to record your services so people can watch the videos when they can connect to a public Wi-Fi hotspot instead of using it at home.

Lauren Martinez, Director, Events for a large national nonprofit organization, had to take these types of issues into consideration when planning events for her company. She ensures that all speakers for her events can call in rather than use video and have photos or slideshows available in case the presenters have a lag.

If you’re not sure what limitations your clients might have, you can ask. Create a poll on Facebook or Instagram or contact some of your clients individually. You can also talk to other business owners to see if they have any insight.

And remember that what your clients have access to in-person

Final Thoughts

The bottom line: a little research on take business online step goes a long way. Compare your options, watch for seasonal offers, and never pay full price when a better deal is one click away.

Originally published at dollarsprout.com.

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Written & reviewed by

Jana Lynch

Our editorial team researches and verifies every money-saving guide before publishing. Editorial policy · About us