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 »
Resilience: The Antidote to Burnout for Entrepreneurs
by Beth Kennedy
You finally started your own business. Don’t let burnout snatch it away from you! Passion will get you far, but it does not prevent burnout. Here's how burnout can creep up on entrepreneurs, and 5 tactics to help you prevent it. Read more »
What Small Businesses Need to Know About Nexus and Sales Tax
by Gail Cole
Until recently, sales tax wasn't a concern for online businesses—but now states can impose sales tax on remote sellers. So, if you run an online business (or you plan on starting one), here's what to keep in mind. Read more »
Solopreneurs Can Grow Faster and Smarter With a Lean Business Plan
by Margaret Kerr-Jarrett
You've made the decision to become a solopreneur, and you know exactly what you're going to do. But do you really know if it will work? Having a business plan will help you find out for sure—and a Lean Business Plan is faster, easier, and more effective for a solopreneur than a lengthy formal business plan. Read more »
How to Define Your Target Market
by Tim Berry
One of the most powerful tools of small business marketing strategy is defining and addressing your target market—the audience that you think is most likely to buy your product or service. Here's how to define your target market for your business. Read more »
How to Think About (and Reduce) Risk When You’re Starting Your Own Business
by Brian Marcel
If your risk tolerance is low, don’t start a business—because most days will contain some risk or other. That being said, there are different levels of risk, and ways to reduce risk when you're starting and running a business. Here's how to assess and reduce risk as an entrepreneur. Read more »
Before You Buy a Hotel Business, Answer These 4 Questions
by Bruce Hakutizwi
Buying a hotel is no small feat, but if you're ready to start a business, the hospitality industry can be a great place to become a small business owner. So, if you're considering buying a hotel business, here are the questions you should ask yourself first. Read more »
How to Write a Business Plan: Use This Checklist to Keep Yourself on Task
by Candice Landau
Business planning isn't just a one-time event, and it doesn't have to be overly complicated. We've created a business planning checklist to help make the process easier—no matter what kind of plan you need to write. Read more »
What to Say in Your 1, 5, 10, or 20 Minute Pitch (+ Tips From Successful Entrepreneurs!)
by Angelique O'Rourke
Have the opportunity to pitch your business to an investor? How do you know what to include in pitching opportunities for varying lengths? We’ve got you covered, no matter what length of pitch you're working on. Read more »
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 »
