Stage 1 — You want out of the 9-to-5
Most local businesses start with a feeling: you want control over how you spend your time, not just a bigger paycheck. That instinct is the right one — but acting on it well means preparing, not just quitting. The cleanest first step is to get an honest read on where you actually are and what the next move should be.
This is exactly what the No More 9 to 5 Club's free Roadmap to Success survey is for — five minutes, no credit card, just clarity on your stage and your next step. Get a free, no-pressure roadmap
Stage 2 — You decide to start a business
Deciding is its own milestone. The risk here is jumping straight to a logo and a website before you know what you're selling and to whom. A better sequence: pick a problem you can solve for people near you, validate that a few of them will actually pay, then build from there.
If you're at the very beginning, structured guidance shortens this stage dramatically. The Club's Launchpad is built for people who haven't started yet — frameworks, side hustles, and the mindset to move. Explore the NM9t5 Launchpad
Stage 3 — Build skills, pick an offer, find first customers
This is the stage where most people stall, because it's where real work happens: choosing a focused offer, pricing it, and getting your first paying customers. Skills compound here — sales, simple operations, and the discipline to ship consistently matter more than any single tactic.
Coaching and a builder community pay for themselves at this stage by keeping you accountable and unstuck. The Club's Basic and Professional memberships add weekly coaching, courses, and masterminds — and you can try it with a 30-day trial. Start a 30-day trial
Stage 4 — Join the Good Circles Founding Circle
Once you have an offer and your first customers, where you sell decides how much you keep. National platforms and delivery apps commonly take 15–30% of every sale. Good Circles is built the opposite way: a 1% fee on profit, so you keep 89% of your profit — and your customers save about 10% and fund a local nonprofit when they buy from you.
The first 200 Mississippi businesses become permanent Founding Merchants ahead of the September 2026 launch. Become a Founding Merchant (free)
Stage 5 — Sell locally and earn repeat customers
Local selling rewards relationships. On Good Circles, every sale gives a customer two reasons to come back: they save money, and a share funds a cause they chose. That's a loyalty loop national platforms can't copy. Your job at this stage is consistency — show up, deliver, and let the savings-and-giving math keep customers returning.
See exactly how the money moves on a local sale, including a worked $100 example, on how it works.
Stage 6 — Scale to multiple locations or product lines
Scaling is a different skill set: systems, delegation, and strategy rather than hustle. This is where advanced mentorship earns its keep — the Club's "Scale" level is built for established owners adding locations, products, or a team.
How the two fit together
The simplest way to think about it: No More 9 to 5 trains the entrepreneur; Good Circles gives that entrepreneur a marketplace that keeps 89% of their profit. One builds the operator, the other gives them a place to sell that's actually on their side. If you're earlier in the journey, start with the roadmap; if you're ready to sell locally, claim a Founding Merchant spot.
Claim your Founding Merchant spot
FAQ
What is the first step to starting a local business?
Get clear on your stage and your next move before spending on logos or websites. A free tool like the No More 9 to 5 Club Roadmap survey, or simply validating that a few local customers will pay, is a better first step than building infrastructure.
How much does it cost to sell on Good Circles?
A 1% fee on profit per sale — no setup, monthly, or listing fees. If you do not sell, you do not pay. You keep about 89% of your profit, versus the 15–30% national platforms commonly take.
Do I need business training before I start selling?
Not strictly, but training shortens the hardest stages — picking an offer, pricing, and getting first customers. Programs like the No More 9 to 5 Club provide coaching and community for those stages; Good Circles is where you then sell and keep your margin.
When does Good Circles launch?
Good Circles launches in September 2026 in the Jackson, Mississippi metro, then expands to the cities that request it most. The first 200 businesses become permanent Founding Merchants.