Unfortunately, I must agree with predecessors. But anyway, here is a list which may be useful.
- Market research: what customers expect, what are they ready to pay for, how to run a marketing campaign.
- Research risks to you and your clients. Look for ways to mitigate risks. For instance: risk owner of the business dies, stops paying for the server, server is decommissioned and its hard drive is wiped out. Now explain how users can make secure backup and how you will educate them about this functionality. (On purpose example is unlikely, it demonstrates to what extents you need to go.)
- Write it all up, create a specification (User Requirements Specification).
- Decide how to test software (Validation Plan).
- Hire programmers and ensure that technical documentation is maintained (Data Dictionary, ER diagram, class diagrams).
- Develop, test and fix problems.
- Hire independent consultants who will do code and documentation review. Make sure that they cannot communicate directly with programers.
- Go live, start marketing campaign.
