A 5-Phase Workback Approach for Founders Who Want to Build It Right
At Sunday Brunch Agency, we meet founders at many different moments in time.
…Sometimes it’s an idea scribbled in a notebook.
…Sometimes it’s a side hustle that suddenly feels real.
…And sometimes it’s a business that already exists — but needs structure, clarity, and momentum to grow.
What we’ve learned after helping hundreds of companies launch and scale is this:
Successful businesses aren’t built in a single leap. They’re built through a thoughtful sequence of decisions AND it’s important to recognize that sometimes “you don’t know what you don’t know.”
That’s why we’re here to partner with you and bring your business to life or graduate into the next chapter of growth.
If you use a strategic workback approach that’s phased and intentional that really helps you move from vision to execution and profit without making mistakes that caught you time or money.
Below is the 5-phase journey we guide clients through, whether they’re launching a brand-new company or formalizing the next chapter of an existing one.
Phase 1: Discovery & Foundation — Getting Clear Before Getting Busy
Every business starts with energy. But energy without direction creates chaos.
The first phase is about questions and clarity:
What is the business? What services or products do you provide/sell?
Who are the founders?
How will decisions be made?
What does success look like — in year one and beyond?
What is your exist plan?
This is where we slow things down just enough to ask the right questions:
Ownership structure
Governance
Capital
Investors
Long-term goals
It’s also where we put practical safeguards in place — NDAs, due diligence, and early planning — so everyone is aligned from day one.
Why this phase matters:
Because fixing structural issues later is always more expensive — financially and emotionally — than getting them right at the start.
Phase 2: Formation & Infrastructure — Building the Bones of the Business
This is the phase founders often underestimate.
Legal structure, banking, insurance, financial systems, HR policies — none of it is glamorous. But all of it is essential.
In this phase, we help founders:
Choose the right entity type (LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp)
Establish operating agreements or bylaws
Set up banking, bookkeeping, and financial workflows
Put basic contracts and policies in place
Think ahead about risk, compliance, and growth readiness
Why this phase matters:
A business with strong infrastructure can move fast without breaking. One without it eventually stalls.
Phase 3: Strategy, Naming & Brand — Defining How You Show Up
Once the foundation is solid, it’s time to define the story.
This phase is about strategy before aesthetics:
Who is this business for? (target audience)
What problem does it solve? (features and benefits)
What makes it different? (unique selling proposition)
How should it sound, look, and feel in the market?
We guide founders through positioning, naming, brand identity, and messaging — ensuring that the brand reflects both the ambition of the business and the reality of what it delivers
This is also where we help craft boilerplates and press narratives that can grow with the company, not box it in.
Why this phase matters:
A clear brand isn’t just marketing — it’s a decision-making tool for everything that comes next.
Phase 4: Marketing, Operations & Sales — Turning Vision Into Motion
This is where ideas become tangible.
Websites go live.
Social channels are activated.
Systems are put in place to manage work, communication, and growth.
But this phase isn’t about “doing all the things.” It’s about building smart, scalable systems:
A website that reflects strategy, not just aesthetics
Digital infrastructure that’s clean and centralized
Marketing foundations that can expand over time
Operational tools that support clarity and accountability
Why this phase matters:
Momentum comes from alignment — not from doing more, faster.
Phase 5: Capital, Partnerships & the Long Game
For some founders, this phase comes immediately. For others, it’s months or years down the road.
Either way, preparing for capital, investors, or strategic partners requires discipline:
Clear storytelling
Thoughtful materials
Organized documentation
A realistic growth plan
We help founders think ahead — assembling decks, data rooms, and narratives that reflect not just where the business is today, but where it’s going
Why this phase matters:
Opportunities come faster to businesses that are prepared to say yes.
More Than Marketing: A Partner in the Build
At Sunday Brunch Agency, we do more than advertising, marketing, and PR.
We help founders build businesses.
That means:
Consulting before executing
Asking hard questions early
Supporting growth from the inside out
Helping entrepreneurs move with confidence, not chaos
Because when the foundation is solid, the vision can go further.
CALL TO ACTION
If you’re thinking about starting a new business—or taking an existing one to the next level—Sunday Brunch Agency can help you build the entire system, from the ground up. From early-stage strategy and business formation to branding, marketing, operations, and growth planning, we partner with founders to turn ideas into scalable, sustainable companies.
Let’s build it thoughtfully, intentionally, and in a way that supports where you want to go next.