Want to Start a Business? Hone Your Sales Skills
by Mike Monroe
If you really want to succeed as an entrepreneur, you need to start learning the ins and outs of business. An important place to start is by building your sales skills. Here are the top sales skills you need as an entrepreneur. Read more »
What Is a Franchise?
by Joel Libava
If you're looking to start a business, you might have considered franchising. But first, what is a franchise, and how do you start one? What are the benefits and risks of franchising? We'll go over them in this article. Read more »
Free Invoice Templates to Help You Get Paid Faster
by Angelique O'Rourke
Whether you’re a freelancer or running your own small business or startup, you’ve got to get paid—preferably on time. A simple, professional invoice can make all the difference. Here are some free invoice templates you can use to easily create your own invoices. Read more »
How to Get the Most Out of a Sample Business Plan
by Sabrina Parsons
The basic idea of a sample business plan makes perfect sense. If you haven’t done a business plan before, a sample plan gives you an instant idea of what you should include, how to structure it, even what to write. Here's how to get the most out of a sample business plan. Read more »
Practical Market Research Resources for Entrepreneurs
by Noah Parsons
Are you starting a business? One of the first things you'll need to do is market research. Here are a few top market research resources to get you going. Read more »
How a Buyer (or User) Persona Can Improve Your Business
by Noah Parsons
A buyer or user persona is a fictional character that represents a business’s customers or potential customers, based on what you know about their demographics, behaviors, and what motivates them. Here's why you need a buyer or user persona, and how to create one. Read more »
How to Start a Real Estate Business
by Candice Landau
Wondering how to start a real estate business? If you’re organized, ambitious, goal-oriented, and personable, real estate could be the career for you. Here's what to consider when starting a real estate business to optimize your chances for success. Read more »
5 Essentials for Starting a Business in 2019
by Diane Gilleland
Is 2019 the year that you finally start your own small business or startup? There are a lot of good reasons to consider starting your company this year. You don’t necessarily need a degree in business or finance to be successful. You can do it—and here's how. Read more »
6 Ways to Profit From Your Patent
by Kanika Sharma
Filing for a patent isn’t cheap, so it makes sense that if you went to the trouble of protecting your idea, the next step is to figure out how to profit from it. The value of your invention is completely in your hands. Here are six ways to make money from your patents. Read more »
4 Quotes From Successful Small Business Founders
by Kateri Kosta
Are you ready to start your business this year? Sometimes it can help to hear from small business founders who were able to breathe life into their business idea and make it go. Read more »
The Perfect Pitch: A Pixar Storyteller’s Secret
by Matthew Luhn
Storytelling is the most effective way to change minds, behaviors, and philosophies. Here's how Pixar has mastered the act of storytelling, and how you can apply storytelling to your business. Read more »
11 Effective Offline Marketing Ideas for Startups in 2019
by James Javier
Digital marketing isn't the only type of marketing you should be paying attention to. If you haven’t been putting much effort into your offline marketing tactics, here are some tips and strategies to consider. Read more »
Buying a Business
by Nolo
There are some benefits to buying an existing business if you’re not as interested in starting a business from scratch. The key to buying a business? Doing the right research so that you can be confident that what you see is what you’re going to get. Read more »
How to Come up with Hundreds of Business Ideas
by Candice Landau
Are you having trouble coming up with business ideas? There are endless creative ways to discover innovative solutions, and we cover many of them here. If you want to start a business, but aren't sure what kind to start, this guide will show you strategies for brainstorming your next great business idea. Read more »
How to Set Clear and Actionable Goals for Your Business
by Jennifer Quinn
Many business owners know what they want, but struggle to hit their business targets. Here's how to set actionable business goals that will help you grow your company successfully. Read more »
Top Tools and Techniques to Help You Name Your Business
by Briana Morgaine
How do you decide on a business name? If you’re starting a business, one of the biggest decisions you’ll make is what to name your new company. These tools and resources will help you name your business—and have fun while you do it. Read more »
Can’t Decide What Business to Start in 2019? No Problem, We’ll Tell You
by Candice Landau
So, you want to start a business, but what kind should you start? Here are the most popular business plans on Bplans for 2018, plus our recommendations for what business to start in 2019. Read more »
20+ Gifts for the Entrepreneur in Your Life
by Briana Morgaine
The holidays are almost upon us—do you have all of your gifts ready? We've got 20+ fantastic gifts for entrepreneurs. Find the perfect gift for the entrepreneur on your shopping list, or if you're the entrepreneur, pick up a gift for yourself (we won't judge). Read more »
How to Create a Unique Value Proposition
by Lisa Furgison
What makes your business stand out from the competition? Learn how to create a unique value proposition (also called a unique selling position) to set your business apart from competitors. Read more »
How to Start a Nonprofit [Updated for 2019]
by Angelique O'Rourke
Starting a nonprofit requires thorough planning and dedication. If you're wondering how to start a nonprofit, read on—we've covered the outline for a nonprofit business plan, and included all the steps you need to go through to start a nonprofit, as well as free nonprofit sample business plans. Read more »
