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Starting a Business

Starting a business will change your life. Make sure that change is for the better with proven advice on successful strategies for small business, practical guidance on partnerships and how to incorporate a business, a run-down of financing options, and more.

Before you Start...

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Calculate Your Starting Costs

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Choosing a New Business Idea

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Getting up and Running

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How to start a...

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Due Diligence is Necessary When Hiring Consultants

“Being big egzpurt, I am.” Just because someone bruits themselves this way doesn’t mean you should simply take them at their word.
It saddens me that I have to be mistrusting of people, but as one of my favorite aphorisms says, “Just because you’re not paranoid, doesn’t mean they’re not after you.”
We start our businesses wanting [...]

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Social Media Marketing: The Marketing Skills you can learn from Obama

I was fascinated by the analysis of the Obama campaign. In many ways, Obama’s campaign and its success is a big, bright, “LCD sign” of the times. New media has come of age in a very public way.
Most people seem to agree that the campaign used a number of techniques to capture an audience and even [...]

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Getting Investment, Key Factor: Initial Valuation

Last night we were talking about getting angel investment, and valuation, which is one of if not the most important points in the discussion. Valuation is essentially price.
Say you want to bring in $150,000 from an angel investor. The immediate question from the investor will be something like: “at what valuation?” Sometimes that’s called “pre-money [...]

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New Business Ideas

What kind of business is right for you? We lay out the top new business ideas for different personalities and situations.
Home based business ideas: low-cost, low-risk
Some kinds of legitimate businesses are easy to start on a small budget. A consultant, for example, is anyone who knows how to do something better than others, and has [...]

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Competitors are a Fundamental Reality of Doing Business

One of the most overlooked, forgotten, and intentionally ignored sections in a business plan is the analysis of the competition. Don’t kid yourself. You have competition. Everyone has competition. It’s a fundamental reality of being in business.
Here at Palo Alto Software, we have read hundreds of business plans over the years. Our Business Plan Pro [...]

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Home Based Business Idea

One of the most economical ways of starting up is a home based business idea. What business idea is right for you? The best business for you is one you love and to which you are prepared to make a major commitment.
Many small-business owners describe starting a new business as more demanding than having a [...]

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Internet Business Ideas

If you are thinking about an Internet business idea, you’re not alone. Internet or online businesses are some of the most frequently searched on Bplans.com. From strictly Internet stores to websites to complement physical stores and companies to eBay-like auction sales, business ideas on how to start an Internet business are one of our most [...]

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Small Business Ideas, Big Dreams

Some business ideas come from a long-held dream to turn a fun hobby into a profitable life’s work. However, most of these small businesses require significant time, energy, and initial investment to begin, so think carefully about your commitment and do your research before you start.
If you are thinking about any of the following small [...]

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Best Business Ideas

What business idea is right for you? The best business for you is one you love and to which you are prepared to make a major commitment.
Many small-business owners describe starting a new business as more demanding than having a new baby – you have to be prepared to give it your full energy, time, [...]

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Choosing your Business Name is a Fundamental

This business name stuff matters. You don’t get to do it twice, or at least not without a whole lot of pain and suffering. Most companies live forever with the first name they come up with. Factors that make your company name work include practical legal ownership, ease of use, ease of marketing and branding, [...]

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