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Recent Articles Published by Lisa Furgison
starting
How to Create a Unique Value Proposition + Examples
What makes your business stand out? Learn how to create a unique value proposition to set your business apart from competitors. Read more »
funding
3 Steps to Figure Out How Much Money You Need to Start a Business
Figuring out how much money you need to get your business started isn’t as hard as you think. Our guide will show you how to calculate your startup costs. Read more »
starting
How to Start a Successful Photography Business: A 2023 ‘How To’ Guide
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 »
managing
6 Things That Can Kill Business Growth
If you want your business to grow successfully, here are some pitfalls to avoid. Watch out for these six mistakes that can kill business growth. Read more »
starting
How to Open a Successful Hair Salon
Planning to open a hair salon? Here's what you'll need to do to get started—plus tips from two successful salon owners. Read more »
planning
SWOT Analysis Step 5: Developing Actionable Strategies
Our SWOT challenge was designed to give entrepreneurs a look at their business. Once you have completed your SWOT analysis, here's how to proceed. Read more »
planning
SWOT Analysis Challenge Step 4: How to Identify Threats
Every business owner, no matter what stage, should conduct a SWOT analysis on their business. Here's how to determine your threats, so you can be prepared and reduce risk. Read more »
planning
SWOT Analysis Step 3: How to Identify Opportunities
A good entrepreneur is always on the hunt for new opportunities—and one of the best ways to identify opportunities is to complete a SWOT analysis. Read more »
planning
SWOT Analysis Step 2: How to Identify Weaknesses
Use a SWOT matrix framework and list of key questions to complete the second step of a SWOT analysis: identifying business weaknesses. Read more »
starting
5 People You Should Talk With Before Starting a Business
Thinking of becoming an entrepreneur and starting your own company? Make sure to talk to these 5 people before you start a business. Read more »
starting
How to Open a Business Bank Account
There’s more to opening a business bank account than going to your local branch and filling out an application. Here’s what you should consider. Read more »
funding
How to Ask Family and Friends to Fund Your Business
Considering asking your friends and family to help fund a business? Many small businesses and startups turn to family and friends for funding. To do so successfully (and without damaging the relationship in the process), you'll want to follow these tips. Read more »
planning
SWOT Analysis Step 1: How to Identify Your Strengths
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 »
starting
4 Mistakes That Will Tank Your Etsy Shop
Thinking about starting an Etsy business? Here's why one entrepreneur's first Etsy business failed, and what she changed to make it a success. Read more »
starting
How to Start a Successful Restaurant
Thinking about starting your own restaurant? We asked successful restaurant owners to offer their tips for starting and running a restaurant. Read more »
starting
How to Start a Bakery: The Ultimate Guide for Bakers
Are you a baker who is ready to start a bakery business? This guide will give you all the information you need to know in order to learn how to start a bakery. Read more »
starting
How to Successfully Start a Dental Practice
If your future career is in dentistry, you’re in luck—there are a growing number of opportunities for dentists. To learn about starting a dental practice, read on. Read more »
managing
How and Why to Collect Customer Email Addresses
Are you collecting customer contact information? Being able to connect with your customers can be extremely beneficial to your new business, especially if you’re keeping a master email list. Read more »
starting
34 Educational Resources for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
When you’re ready to launch a startup, the name of the game is research. Here is our list of 34 great educational resources for startups to get you started. Read more »
starting
20 Business Laws Every Entrepreneur Should Know in 2015
To make your life a little easier, we’ve scoured a number of government websites and compiled a list of laws and regulations that affect every business. Read more »