Ignore Elon Musk’s Bad Advice on Market Research
By Nina Bamberger
While Musk is known for his fresh take on traditional approaches to business, his aversion to the hard cold facts of market research still came as a big surprise. Read more »
Mission statements: a strategic business communication tool
By Chuck Bamford
Missions statements tend to fall into one of five categories based on both the senior management’s goals and the employees’ reaction. These include: Read more »
Small Business Saturday: How to Jump-Start Your Holiday Sales
By Quint Studer
There are some small, high-impact things you can do to connect with new customers on Small Business Saturday and also shore up your relationship with your regulars. All in service of jump-starting your annual holiday sales, and laying the groundwork for the new year. Here are a few tips you may want to try: Read more »
3 Key Business Plan Components That Forever 21 Fatally Missed
By Nina Bamberger
The fashion retailer that recently filed for bankruptcy has an interesting history that reveals a flawed business plan. The three components that Forever 21 overlooked are essential to the success of your business. Read more »
How to Write a Restaurant Business Plan + Example Templates
By Noah Parsons
Because of the risk and the amount of money involved, writing a business plan for a new restaurant is even more important than it might be in other industries. While not everything will likely go exactly as you planned, if you have a business plan you’ll certainly minimize your risk and make it that much more likely that you’ll find financial success. Read more »
How to Do Cannabis Cultivation Business Planning for Growth
By Michael Sassano
Developing a cannabis cultivation business requires significant planning, dedication, and focus. Initially, you’ll need to develop a solid plan to provide a steady direction for the project. Concise strategic planning gives cannabis entrepreneurs an edge by allowing them to solidify their spot in a highly competitive market. Read more »
How to Expand Your Boutique Business
By JT Ripton
Expanding your boutique business is crucial if you want to survive. Fortunately, today’s wealth of online platforms and tools can empower you to reach a wider audience. In this post, we’ll explore how you can grow your enterprise, attract customers, and more. Read more »
Crowdspring’s Free New Ebook: Advice for Starting a New Business
By Kateri Kosta
Our friends at crowdspring teamed up with Swyft Filings and Trademark Engine to bring Bplans' readers a free, 95-page eBook filled with actionable insights and advice, based on their collective decades in business. Read more »
Free Clothing Retail Sample Business Plan
By Kateri Kosta
A retail clothing sample business plan gives you a snapshot of how another shop structured their business plan. Download this free business plan example. 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 »
Free Hair and Beauty Salon Sample Business Plan
By Kateri Kosta
A hair and beauty salon sample business plan gives you a snapshot of how another salon structured their business plan. Download a free business plan example from Bplans. Read more »
6 Ways to Increase Holiday Sales and Engage Your Customers
By Carolyn Higgins
The holidays are just around the corner! Here are 6 ways your business can build holiday marketing campaigns that help you increase holiday sales this season. Read more »
Free Fast Food Restaurant Sample Business Plan
By Kateri Kosta
Looking for a free, downloadable restaurant sample business plan? This particular plan is for a fast food restaurant, but keep in mind that an exact match isn't necessary. Read more »
5 Ways Building a Brand Makes Your Small Business Stand Out
By Madeline Pratt
There is a reason why some brands stay with us for life whereas others aren't memorable at all. Businesses that take time to build strong branding that represents their story, values, and culture as a company are much more likely to be remembered. Invest your time and energy upfront to establish your business branding, and the benefits will pay off. Read more »
8 Reasons Having a Business Plan Is Important for Small Businesses + VIDEO
By Kateri Kosta
The importance of having a business plan and reviewing it regularly goes far beyond simple planning and goal-setting. The key is to just get started. It’s really not as hard as you might think! It doesn’t have to be a formal business plan that’s 200 pages long—or even 20—and you don’t need to spend months on it. Read more »
Guide: How to Start a Successful Photography Business
By Lisa Furgison
As camera gear has become more affordable and consumer-friendly, and almost every smartphone now features a great camera, everyone’s a photographer. But, that doesn’t mean you should toss your dreams of owning a photography business aside. It just means you may have to work a little harder to set yourself apart from the flock of amateur shooters. To help you find your photography foothold, we asked three professional photographers who started their own businesses to share their tips for success. Read more »
11 Resources to Grow Your Event Planning Business
By Briana Morgaine
If you've just started an event or wedding planning business, it's important to keep up on the industry and plan for growth. From must-read blogs to unscripted podcasts, here are our essential resources to help you take your company to the next level. Read more »
Critical Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Founders
By Matt Shealy
As a founder of a small business or startup, you’re juggling many things. You need to use your time and resources productively by focusing on the right metrics so you can use data to help you implement improvements that matter. Read more »
How to Pick the Right Attorney for Your Startup
By Caroline Cummings
Picking the right attorney in your startup is as important as picking the right business partner. You can’t underestimate the importance of selecting an attorney who “gets” your business model, your market opportunity, and most importantly, your fundraising and exit strategy. Read more »
4 Essential Hires If You’re Starting a Business in 2020
By Andrew Deen
If you're getting ready to start your business, it's a good time to start planning for the 4 essential hires that bring the expertise to help you grow. Read more »
