Do You Need a Business Plan? Scientific Research Says Yes
by Noah Parsons
Do you really need a business plan? What does the scientific research say about business planning—does it actually lead to success? The answer to both questions is yes—and here's how it works. Read more »
Are You Cut Out to Run a Kennel or Pet Boarding Business?
by Bruce Hakutizwi
Opening or buying a dog kennel or pet boarding business can be rewarding far beyond the potential profits. Here's how to determine if it's a smart business move for you. Read more »
How to Forecast Cash Flow
by Tim Berry
A profitable business will still fail if you can't pay the bills—so a good cash flow analysis might be the most important piece of a business plan. Here's how to forecast cash flow. Read more »
A Simpler Plan for Startups
by Tim Berry
What kind of business plan do you need? It depends on the size of your business, and what you're using the business plan for. Here's how to determine what kind of business plan is right for your startup. Read more »
What Is a Balance Sheet?
by Angelique O'Rourke
Learn what defines a balance sheet, the importance of a balance sheet in your business plan, and view some balance sheet examples. Read more »
How to Create a Successful Crowdfunding Video for Your Startup
by Emily Ludolf
Crowdfunding can be an effective way for startups and entrepreneurs to raise funds and to test the market for new ideas, but there are a few secrets to organizing a successful crowdfunding campaign to keep in mind. Here's how to create a crowdfunding video that will help better the chances of reaching your crowdfunding goals. Read more »
How to Write a Business Plan for a Fix-n-Flip Real Estate Company
by Sarah Hovet
If you’re thinking about starting a business that buys up homes, fixes them up and then re-sells them at a profit, the first step is to write a business plan. This guide will walk you through the steps of how to write a full business plan for your real estate company. Read more »
How to Develop a Market Analysis for Your Business Plan
by Tim Berry
The sales and marketing section of the standard business plan includes three parts—the market analysis, the marketing plan, and the sales plan. Keep it short and simple—just big enough to cover your actual business need. Here's how to develop your market analysis for your business plan. Read more »
5 Pieces of Bad Advice That All Entrepreneurs Should Ignore
by Henry Cazalet
Starting a new business is always daunting. There are just so many balls to juggle. But, not all the advice that you hear or read is good advice to follow as you start a business. Here are 5 pieces of advice given to new entrepreneurs that you should definitely avoid. Read more »
7 Must-Dos Before Starting a Company
by Andrew Deen
You’ll make mistakes when starting a company, no matter how many articles and books you read, but you’ll make fewer of them if you learn from those who came before you. Here are seven key things to do before starting a business. Read more »
Home Office Essentials for Entrepreneurs
by Jennifer Turnage
Being organized and having everything you need at your fingertips will help you make the most of your time wherever you work. Here's how to make sure your home office works for you, and helps you run your business better. Read more »
5 Fall Must-Read Books for Entrepreneurs
by Sarah Hovet
Looking for inspiration from scrappy, unconventional entrepreneurs? How about advice on how to blaze your own path? These five books make up a fall reading list for every entrepreneur this year. Read more »
How to Write a Business Plan for a Cannabis Company
by Sarah Hovet
The cannabis industry is exploding right now. If you want to start a successful cannabis business, here’s how to write a business plan that will help you in this booming market. Read more »
How Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) Can Help Your Business
by Sarah Hovet
Starting a new small business? Looking for some professional consulting to help you think through your business plan or your strategies for growth? Your local Small Business Development Center (SBDC) can help. Here are the services SBDCs offer, and how to find one near you. Read more »
How to Do Market Research
by Noah Parsons
Market research sounds like a complex process—but it’s actually very simple, and incredibly important for your business. We'll show you how to do it. Read more »
Everything You Need to Know Before Filing a Patent in the United States
by Kanika Sharma
The U.S. has one of the oldest, strongest, and most mature intellectual property systems for obtaining a patent. However, navigating this system can be challenging. So before you start your patent application, make sure you know what you’re getting into. Read more »
Resources for Global Entrepreneurs
by Sarah Hovet
If you’re an entrepreneur planning to start a business outside of the United States, you might be looking for assistance and resources that are available in your specific country. There are plenty of local resources and services available to help entrepreneurs in their local areas around the globe. Here's our guide to finding global entrepreneurship resources. Read more »
How to Use Your Business Plan to Be a Better Manager
by Tim Berry
Use your business plan to set milestones, tasks, performance measurements, and numbers to track. Then get the people together once a month (or so) to review results. The outcome? The management "magic" of business planning. Read more »
8 Common Business Plan Mistakes
by Tim Berry
What are the most common business plan mistakes? While including the necessary items in a business plan is important, you also want to make sure you don’t make any of these common errors. Here's what to avoid. Read more »
How Mobile Apps Help eCommerce Businesses Develop Faster
by Ben Lee
Mobile apps can improve everything from store performance and conversion optimization to customer retention—but they're not right for every business out there. Here's how to determine if a mobile app is right for your ecommerce store, and what goes into an effective mobile app. Read more »
