How to Build a Restaurant Sales Forecast
by Tim Berry
There is no single right way to do a restaurant sales forecast. The best sales forecast method will vary according to how you manage information, how much past data you have access to, and what special factors drive your business. We'll walk you through an example restaurant sales forecast to help you build your own. Read more »
How to Test and Optimize Your New Business’s Customer Journey
by Oren Greenberg
In order to optimize the customer journey, you must start by looking at every interaction your company has with your customers from start to finish. Here's how gathering user data can help you do just that, to create the best possible experience for your customers. Read more »
5 Things Startups Can Learn From Angel Investors
by Tim Berry
Angel investors can teach you a lot about what it takes to start a successful business. Whether you're seeking angel investment or just looking to grow a better, stronger business, they're people worth listening to—and here's their best advice for startups. Read more »
The 7 Key Components of a Perfect Elevator Pitch [With Video]
by Noah Parsons
A solid elevator pitch is an essential tool for achieving your goals—and it needs to cover these 7 things. If you're pitching investors or building a pitch deck, here's how to make sure you've covered the essentials. Read more »
How to Protect IP When Outsourcing Software Development
by Carly Klein
When starting a business, a lot of founders are turning to international outsourcing. While this may be an innovative solution to your immediate need for tech talent, the question of how to protect your intellectual property when outsourcing software development has probably crossed your mind. Read more »
Last-Minute (and Year-Round) Tax Tips for Small Businesses
by Steven Cohen
If you haven’t already filed your taxes, now is the time to get your information together to ensure that they’re filed on time and avoid costly penalties and unnecessary stress. It’s also the perfect opportunity to start organizing your taxes for the next filing season. Read more »
10 Things I Hated About Your Business Pitch
by Tim Berry
Business planning expert Tim Berry has over 20 years of hearing business pitches as a judge of business plan competitions and as an angel investor. Here are the things he hates to see in a business pitch, so you can avoid making these key mistakes. Read more »
How to Choose a Business Location
by Candice Landau
Choosing the right business location is more than just picking a nice spot. It's about weighing the competition, understanding local zoning and regulations, considering your target market—and staying within your budget. Here's what to keep in mind when you're considering where to start your business. Read more »
How to Create a Simple Small Business Lead Generation Process
by Ryan Myers
Lead generation can be time-consuming if you don’t know how to approach it. But the truth is, like any other aspect of starting a business, you get out of lead generation only what you put into it. Here's how to create a small business lead generation process that will bring in new business. Read more »
How to Write a Business Plan [Updated for 2019]
by Noah Parsons
Everything you wanted to know about writing a business plan, in one place—from the executive summary to appendix. Get started writing your business plan today. Read more »
The Importance of TAM, SAM, and SOM in Your Business Plan
by Caroline Cummings
A common item missing from most plans is a breakdown of the company’s TAM, SAM, and SOM in the marketing section of their plan. Wondering what these acronyms mean? Well, you’re not alone—many entrepreneurs are not familiar with these terms. Here’s a quick explanation of what they mean, followed by an example. Read more »
Industry Analysis: Know Your Industry Before You Start Your Business
by Tim Berry
You need to know the industry you're starting a business in and the kind of business you want to start before you begin. Plus, if you're writing a business plan to present to outsiders, you'll need to explain the type of business you're in. Here's how to get to know your industry by conducting industry analysis. Read more »
SWOT Analysis Step 1: How to Identify Your Strengths
by Lisa Furgison
As an entrepreneur, you want to know your business inside and out so you can make informed, strategic decisions. To do that, a SWOT analysis is the key. Here's how to perform a SWOT analysis on your business. Read more »
Cash Flow 101: What Is Cash Flow?
by Noah Parsons
Not paying attention to your cash flow? Even profitable companies can fail if they don't have a clear understanding of the cash flowing into and out of their businesses. Here are the cash flow basics, and what to watch out for. Read more »
I Just Started My Small Business—Do I Need Payroll Software?
by Jenna Lee
Payday is typically a moment people look forward to. But for many small businesses and startups that are just getting started, it’s a huge source of stress and frustration. Why? Because payday means payroll—and payroll is complicated and takes time. Luckily, automating payroll makes things a whole lot easier. Read more »
The Complete Guide to Choosing Your Business Structure
by Briana Morgaine
What type of business structure is right for your new business? When it comes to business legal structures, there is no single “best choice"—but this guide will help you choose the right one for you. Read more »
9 Things That Take a Pitch From Good to Great
by Caroline Cummings
Only a handful of business pitches are truly great. What sets those excellent pitches apart from the rest? Here are nine things that stand-out pitches have in common, and how to employ them to take your pitch from good to great. Read more »
6 Simple Tricks to Avoid Late Paying Customers
by Meredith Wood
If your business is growing and you've made a ton of sales, it might look on paper like everything is great. But until those customers pay their invoices, you can’t use that revenue to pay your own bills. But what can you do to encourage your customers to pay faster? Start with these six simple tricks. Read more »
How to Create an Expense Budget
by Tim Berry
Being right on budget is usually a good thing, but good management involves regularly reviewing your budget to check on the timing, efficiency, and results of what your business spends. Read more »
5 Ways to Improve Your Pitching Skills—From a Former Opera Singer
by Allison Shapira
Pitching your business? You can learn a lot from professional musicians and singers. These tips from a former opera singer (and current public speaking coach) will help you nail your investment pitch. Read more »
