What a Startup Needs to Succeed in Its First Year

The first year is critical for any startup. Most projects that don’t make it past this stage fail due to a lack of planning, structure, or support. At Adlanter, we work with startups from day one and know what truly makes the difference.

If you already have a business idea—perhaps one of the 50 ideas for 2025 we propose here—here’s what you need to keep in mind to increase your real chances of success from day one.

The right legal structure

Starting a business without a clear legal form is a common mistake. Before you start invoicing, you should decide whether it’s best to be:

• A sole trader
• A limited company
• A startup with a shareholders’ agreement from the beginning

The legal form impacts your taxes, liability, and access to funding. Our advice: don’t improvise. Get expert guidance from the start.

Article 3 of the Law on Fostering the Ecosystem for Emerging Companies outlines the key legal aspects to consider:

• Having a registered office or permanent establishment in Spain
• Having 60% of the workforce under employment contracts in Spain
• Developing an “innovative” and “scalable” project
• Not distributing dividends
• Not being listed on regulated markets
• Being up to date with tax and Social Security obligations

👉 At Adlanter, we help you choose and set up the best legal structure. Learn more about it in our specialized service for startups.

A realistic financial plan

You don’t need an 80-page business plan, but you do need a clear roadmap:

• What are your fixed and variable costs?
• How much do you need to invoice to cover them?
• Do you have a buffer to get through the first few months?

Define optimistic, realistic, and conservative scenarios, and review your numbers every month. Financial control is key to making smart decisions. Also, consider external support opportunities. According to Article 19 of Law 28/2022, there’s a state support system for innovation-based entrepreneurship that includes:

• State aid for business creation and growth
• Programs promoting international expansion
• Incentives for national and foreign investment

First customers: focus on selling, not just developing

One of the most common mistakes is obsessing over the product and forgetting to sell. True validation comes when someone pays for what you offer.

• Launch a basic version (MVP) as soon as possible
• Go to market, even if everything isn’t perfect
• Listen to your first customers—they’ll give you the key insights to improve

Cost control: less is more

Spending like a large company is a mistake many startups don’t survive. The first year is about testing, adjusting, and optimizing. Think lean startup:

• Don’t rent an office if you don’t need one
• Prioritize free or low-cost tools
• Only invest in what speeds up sales or learning

Choose the right partners

From co-founders to suppliers, collaborators, or advisors—being well surrounded is a critical success factor:

• Does your co-founder bring what you lack?
• Does your supplier understand the pace of a startup?
• Is your tax and labor advisor ready to support your growth?

💡 At Adlanter, we are. Learn more about our Startup in a Box service, designed to support you from day one with concrete solutions in accounting, tax, labor, and strategic areas.

Growth strategy and constant measurement

From day one, you must be clear on what you want to measure and why:

• How much does it cost to acquire a customer?
• What is their lifetime value?
• Which channels are working best?

It’s not about doing more for the sake of it—it’s about making data-driven, focused decisions.

✅​ At Adlanter, we offer a comprehensive solution for startups that brings together expert advice, efficient management, and strategic guidance from the very beginning.