Why You Should Update Your Business Plan Regularly to Drive Growth
by John Catibog
What if you find your business coming to a standstill—or worse, if you start to see signs that your business might be failing? It's a scary moment for entrepreneurs, but regularly updating your business plan can help prompt growth and prevent business slowdown. Here's how to do it. Read more »
How to Write a Business Plan for a Subscription Box Service
by Nate Mann
The subscription box industry is growing rapidly, thanks to a steady revenue model and tapping into people’s love for surprises. If you want to start a subscription box business, here's how to write a subscription box business plan. Read more »
Start With an Initial Assessment
by Tim Berry
Start the business planning process with a quick initial assessment. Even for an ongoing business, take the time to step away from the business and assess your business opportunity. Read more »
Should You Stick to the Business Plan or Change It?
by Tim Berry
One of the hardest parts of business planning is answering this question: Do we stick to the business plan, or do we change it? Here's how to decide if you should stay the course, or revise your business plan. Read more »
Estimating Realistic Startup Costs
by Tim Berry
What will it cost to start that business? Although of course you can’t be sure, you can still estimate realistic startup costs. You can do this either by using a startup worksheet that stands alone, or by including all pre-launch spending and pre-launch financing in your initial projections. Read more »
The Top 10 Tools for Tracking Your Web Metrics
by Noah Parsons
There are a number of great tools for tracking web metrics (both free and paid) that can help you get a better understanding of what your users are doing on your site—and even how your competitors are faring in their own online efforts. Here are the top 10 tools to check out. Read more »
What Is an Income Statement?
by Angelique O'Rourke
Confused by the income statement, and by your financial statements in general? Learn what an income statement is, including a line-by-line explanation of its components, and view income statement examples. Read more »
The Difference Between Cash and Profits
by Tim Berry
Never forget: Profits are not the same as cash, and understanding the difference between the two is an important part of running a successful business. Brush up on the crucial difference between cash and profits with this guide. Read more »
The Different Types of Business Plans
by Tim Berry
Business plans go by many names: Strategic plans, operational plans, internal plans, and many others. Here's a rundown of the different types of business plans, so you can decide which one is right for you. Read more »
How to Start Your Own Business While You’re Still Employed
by Pratik Dholakiya
Do you dream of quitting your job to become an entrepreneur? Before you take the leap, consider starting your business while you still have your day job. Here's why this is a good idea, and how to make it work for you. Read more »
How to Forecast Sales
by Tim Berry
Sales forecasting is much easier than you think, and much more useful than you imagine. It’s not about guessing the future correctly. We’re human; we don’t do that well. Instead, it’s about assumptions, expectations, drivers, tracking, and management. Here's how to forecast sales for your business. Read more »
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 »
