Week one is about security and learning, not reinvention. The business was working before you bought it, so your job is to take control safely and understand how it runs.

Start with access: change passwords, enable two-factor authentication, confirm payment accounts, and make a full backup of the website, data, and customer lists.

Next, map the daily and weekly routine: what tasks keep the business running, who the key contacts are, and where the money comes from and goes.

Only then make small, reversible improvements. Big redesigns and strategy changes can wait until you understand what customers and traffic actually respond to.

See the final section of the full article for additional practical guidance on this topic.