Guides & Articles on Startup
Alabama Business for Sale
How to find and buy companies for sale in Alabama
Buying an Alabama business for sale can represent a great opportunity for investment. Buying an established business usually is much safer financially and more profitable than starting a new business because an existing business already has an established customer base, source of revenue and business operations. An existing business also may own valuable patents or copyrights.It...
Break-even Analysis Key Terms
Terms to know in order to perform a break-even analysis
A break-even analysis helps business owners calculate the amount of product they must sell at a given price in order to break even, or cover all their costs. Having a break-even analysis performed, or performing it yourself, can also help you find better price points for various production costs.A break-even analysis can be a complicated process. The following terms will help you...
Breakeven Analysis Applications and Uses
Use break even analysis for determining profitability
Finding break even point of a product or service is an essential tool in choosing the best price per unit of a product and also helping to determine projected sales. Break even analysis can used for a number of different applications. Its basic function is to determine when a product or service will be profitable. This analysis can be applied to many other applications to...
Breakeven Analysis Education and Training
Learn forecasting and finding break even figures
In business accounting, breaking even is the point where the amount of costs are equal to the amount of revenue a company brings in. This creates a breakeven point where there are no profits or losses to report. At this point in a business, a return is usually expected, giving a positive spin to finding break even point analysis important to many accountants. This type of analysis...
Breakeven Analysis
Perform breakeven analysis to help you reach profitability goals
Breakeven analysis is a tool used to calculate the number of products you will need to sell to breakeven or recover the variable and fixed costs associated with creating your product. In addition to the fixed and variable costs associated with production, breaking even is highly dependent upon the product’s price per unit and project sales of the product.Not only is...
Business Brokers and Mergers and Acquisition Firms
Do You Need a Business Broker or a Mergers and Acquisition Firm to Sell Your Business?
A business intermediary is a company or person that facilitates the transfer of business ownership from one party to another. Under this catch-all umbrella are real-estate agents, business brokers and Merger and Acquisition (M&A) firms."Main Street" business brokerage can generally be regarded as working with companies that are valued under $500,000, or with fairly...
Business Brokers
An experienced broker can smooth the process of buying or selling a business
Selling a business you've spent years to build or taking the huge risk of buying one will be the most important transaction you will ever make, so many choose to work with business brokers. The broker's fee is typically 5 percent to 10 percent of the purchase price, either paid by the buyer or the seller. If you're selling, the broker may also charge a retainer fee...
Business Culture
Stay competitive--at home and globally--by developing your corporate culture
Your corporate culture is an important part of your company's image, because prospective clients, and even your competitors, will judge you in part on how your employees interact with each other and with the public. That's why many companies, small and large, are including business etiquette training as part of their corporate culture management. Today's etiquette...
Business Financial Planning
Create the right business financial plan for your company
Business financial planning is an essential element of a business plan. A well organized financial plan attracts potential business investors and gives your company economic focus. It allows you to assess the current financial situation while forecasting where you will be in the future. If the forecast is appealing, maintain current goals. If the company's future monetary...
Business Name Meanings Key Terms
Some key terms for finding out about business name meanings and what's behind them
To those who ask "what's in a name?" a small business or midsize business owner might respond: quite a lot. Many businesses are always looking for effective naming that identifies the business correctly, promotes associations with a product or service and catches the public eye, reaching out to the business target audience. Knowing about some common key terms for...
Business Name Meanings News and Trends
Finding out about business name meanings and business name research with some help from online sources
So what's in a name? Well, a lot, according to most market research. Consumers gravitate toward products and businesses with the right associations in their monikers, and for new startups, a name can be almost everything.For businesses that are just getting off the ground, where that baby still isn't named yet, the web can be a great help in figuring out what others are...
Business Name Meanings
The meaning of a business name impacts customer perception
You should carefully choose the meaning of a business name to reflect both your business and the customers you want to serve. Although Juliet told Romeo that a rose by any other name would still smell as sweet, don't believe it when it comes to your business. Like Romeo and Juliet's romance, a haphazardly selected name can doom your business before it even starts.Potential...
Business Plan Consultants Key Terms
Learn more about what consultants can do for a business plan
A business plan is the first step in getting the financial backing to start a business. The business plan should be well researched and presented to potential investors in a clear, concise manner. Business plan consultants can assist a business to organize and present a business plan for this occasion. Business plan consultants can help with market research, organizing financial...
Business Plan Consultants
Hiring help is the next best thing to writing your plan yourself
Preparing a business plan is an important step for any business, but it's a critical step for securing financing. For that reason, many business owners hire consultants to help them research, organize, and present all the relevant business plan information to potential investors. The most important factors to consider when comparing consultants are: Experience – how many...
Business Plan Software Basics
Use business plan software to help run your business
Business planning software is a great tool for your business. It can help you start your business, maintain your business, keep track of your business' records, including financial records, let you import records you may already have on other programs and analyze your business. With so many business plan applications available at your fingertips, you'll wonder why you...
Business Plan Software Key Terms
Understand the basics when it comes to business plan software
Writing a business plan doesn't have to be an overwhelming task. Finding a good business plan software can mean the difference between weeks of sifting through information and days of easily constructing a solid informational piece.Business plan software comes either templated or in an interactive format. Both options have their advantages and disadvantages. They also share...
Business Plan Software
A good solution will help you transform an idea into a reality
Formulating a business plan from scratch can seem overwhelming, but the task is now much easier thanks to a variety of software applications. Before you choose a business-plan software consider several key questions: What are the compatibility requirements? Will it run on your current PC or do you need to upgrade? Does it require a separate application like Microsoft Word or...
Business Plans Key Terms
Understanding crucial elements needed to write a successful business plan
A business plan is a critical tool for obtaining a business loan or the backing of an investor. It gives investors a full understanding of what your company is, the product or service you provide, your goals and aspirations for the company and how likely you are to be successful in your endeavors.As you put your business plan together, you may find several elements that you...
Business Plans News and Trends
Keep your finger on the pulse of business proposals, templates and developments
Professional business plans are often some of the first things new small business owners consider. You need to know the direction you are going, where to focus, who your customers are or will be. A business development plan will put in writing your goals, budget and ideas. Of course, it may also be a prerequisite for a small business loan.It never hurts to get a lay of the land...
Business Service Franchise Opportunities
Consider the business services opportunities to fit your entrepreneurial goals
Business service franchise opportunities can include many different business fields such as advertising, accounting, business consulting, direct mail, employment agency, equipment repair and sales, janitorial, printing and publishing, sales training, security and shipping, just to name a few.Starting a franchise is not a one-size-fits-all deal. Even if you think you'd be great...
Calculating Startup Costs
Avoid a cash-flow shortage by building a cushion into your budget
Most people who start businesses seriously underestimate the amount of money it will take to get the enterprise off the ground. When calculating start-up costs for your business, make sure to separate out the items that will be ongoing business expenses from the one-time items needed to launch your operation. Here's a good way to calculate them: Establish your vision for the...
California Business for Sale
Finding and purchasing a business for sale in California
California businesses for sale offer several advantages over starting a new business. When you buy a California business it will already have a client base, an established name and a source of revenue. It will also have trained employees, established relationships with vendors and an existing business plan. You will likely need to make many changes, but purchasing a preexisting...
Car Franchise Opportunities
If you're driven to succeed, car franchises can put you in the fast lane
Car franchises can really rev up your income. After all, Americans spend billions of dollars on auto products and services each year. Car franchise opportunities allow you to tap into this ever-growing market with a proven business model and a wealth of resources to help get your business into high gear quickly. Car franchise opportunities span a wide variety of fields within the...
Children Franchise Opportunities
A breakdown of the top franchises for kids
Many people share the lifetime goal of one day being a business owner. Owning a franchise for kids can very much fit into this picture. Franchises often have a method of doing business that has proven successful, which means less risk to the franchisee. Children's franchises have boomed over the last few years as society places more and more importance on the happiness and...
Choosing the Right Franchise
Invest in a proven business concept and get a head start to success
Buying a franchise is a safe way to exercise your entrepreneurial muscles on a proven business model – if you choose the right one, that is. If you do, you'll reap the benefits, which include: Reduced risk Access to instant customers and branding Unprecedented product research and group buying power Free marketing, courtesy of corporate advertising campaigns Dedicated...
Cleaning Service Franchise Opportunities
Finding the right cleaning service franchise to invest in.
If you have always wanted to be a business owner, franchising might be the right solution. The advantages of franchising include working for yourself but not by yourself, an established service and reputation, training and marketing. A cleaning service franchise is an excellent one to buy into. There are many to choose from, providing a wide variety of services and ranging from...
Closing a Business
Going out of business takes planning
Ending a business is not always a bad thing. Sometimes it may mean the start of retirement or the beginning of a new business venture. Whether your business is a sole proprietorship, a partnership or a corporation it is always good to make a plan for your business closing. In some cases you may choose to sell the business but in other cases business closure is necessary. Failed...
Clothing Donations
Your business can collect clothing donations as a tax-deductible, not-for-profit charitable event
Many organizations accept clothing donations for homeless families living in the United States and for children living in low-income households, whose parents can't afford to buy them clothes. Donating clothing to these organizations is tax deductible. Your company can benefit from collecting clothing from your employees, customers and neighborhoods to donate to these...
Coffee Franchise Opportunities
How to choose the right coffee franchise for investment.
Coffee franchises have grown to become some of the most successful and lucrative industries in the world. Coffee drinking has become an important tool for fueling social gatherings in our modern age. Many professionals even work from coffee houses. If you are considering opening a coffee franchise, you have many to choose from. There are some that have thousands of locations...
Computer Franchise Opportunities
Starting your own computer business franchise
Purchasing and operating a computer franchise offers several advantages over establishing a new business. A good franchise already has an established name, a working business plan and a reliable reputation. The franchisor will usually provide you with ongoing support and a list of potential customers so you have a solid foundation to start with.With a computer franchise, you will...
Creating a Great Business Plan
Learn how to write a business plan that puts you in business
A business plan is like a road map that shows where your business is going and how it's going to get there. This detailed look at where your business is heading can do much more for your business than simply provide you with a route to follow. You can use it to convey your vision to potential investors, attract key employees, prospect for new business, or deal with suppliers. When...
Creating an Elevator Pitch for Your Startup
Share your passion in 100 words or less
Entrepreneurs use the term "elevator pitch" to describe the short period of time – maybe 30 seconds or less, or about five floors riding on the elevator – to communicate a business idea. During this brief encounter, you are selling your dream and, depending on your audience, asking your listener to become part of that dream. You can deliver an elevator pitch...
Education and Training Franchise Opportunities
Jump start your education and training franchise opportunities now
Educational franchises provide their owners with a direct way to make a difference in people's lives. Education is a huge industry, and it’s phenomenal growth has contributed directly to the large number of franchises available. Whether an education franchise focuses on adults or kids, you can find opportunities in just about any area that interests you. Art programs,...
Evaluating a Small Business for Sale
Buying a business? Make sure you're striking a good deal
Determining the value of a privately held small business for sale is far trickier than figuring out the value of a new home. One reason why: Business owners have every reason to keep profits looking low at tax time and many reasons to inflate the value when it comes time to sell. Here are a few keys to valuing a small business for sale: Know the selling prices of similar...
Expanding through Acquisition
How to get more customers by buying them
The usual roadblock for any successful small business is scale: How do I grow once the model is working?Of course, some small businesses scale naturally through franchising or by adding sales territories. But many simply reach a natural ceiling. It would be hard -- and probably uncompetitive -- to start a nationwide roofing or plumbing company, for instance.That doesn't mean...
Family-Owned Business Organizations
Stay abreast of issues, news and trends by joining family-owned business organizations
If you own a company in the family business, you would do well to partner with an associations for family business to strengthen your business expertise and credibility. Business organizations bring together professionals with similar goals and challenges. Members of family business organizations come together from across industries, but all share the same objective of expanding...
Financial Franchise Opportunities
Investing in a financial franchise
Purchasing and running financial franchises provides various benefits over starting up new businesses. A franchise will have a name that is already established, an existing business plan that has been tested and ongoing support from the franchiser. When you make a franchise investment, the ground work will have already been done for you. As with any business, there are no...
Financial Modeling Education and Training
Employ financial modeling education and training to help manage capital assets
Financial modeling can be useful in valuing a business, estimating cost of capital, analyzing financial markets, and working with interest rate models, just to name a few. Whatever your need for financial modeling, it's imperative to receive the proper financial training and education to get the models correct. A poorly constructed financial model can lead to lost earnings and...
Financial Modeling Key Terms
Know key concepts used in financial modeling
Financial modeling is a way for businesses to analyze the future of current financial standings. In order to understand the process and concepts common to financial modeling, a person working with the model should have a good understanding of accounting and financial analysis. This gives a person the knowledge to interpret and analyze financial statements of a business to...
Financial Modeling
Use financial modeling to predict business performance
Financial modeling is the act of creating a tool to forecast project, business and investment performance. To operate efficiently, a financial model must predict the outcome of several different probabilities and what-if scenarios. Financial models general include several financial documents including balance sheets, income and cash flow statements and other analytical reports...
Financing for Growth or Expansion
A big opportunity can imply a big investment - and that means credit
It's a story as old as the hills. After circling a giant customer for years hoping to snap off a piece of the big time, suddenly you've got the contract. But meeting their expectations will cost plenty — new capacity, new people, raw materials, technology. The obstacles are significant, but the opportunity is huge. What do you do next? Here are some tips on getting...
Finding Doctors for Your Medical Practice
Get the best doctors for your medical practice
If your hospital or healthcare center is in need of a few new doctors, do not worry. There are plenty of resources available to business owners in the health industry when it comes to finding good doctors. You just need to know the reputable places to look. Finding a doctor often seems intimidating to many healthcare organization owners because it is so important to find one that...
Finding Industry Events and Conferences
Gain knowledge and improve your business skills
There's a tendency among busy professionals and other types of small business owners to keep the head down and nose to the grindstone. But you shouldn't allow the daily grind to keep you from attending or participating in industry events and conferences. These events provide a great opportunity to make important connections and stay on top of industry changes. As a...
Finding an Office-Ready Home
House hunting hints for home-based businesses
Finding a new house is no picnic — you've got to consider the basics, such as the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the architectural style, the yard and, of course, the price. Then you've got to consider the appeal of the neighborhood, the quality of local schools and access to shopping and entertainment. Add the fact that your new abode also needs to house an...
Food Franchise and Restaurant Franchise Opportunities
Food franchises can satisfy your craving for business success
Many Americans dream of one day owning a restaurant. Few, however, actually live that dream. That’s because opening a restaurant is not, in fact, a piece of cake. It’s hard work. It requires long hours, high risk and, usually, lots and lots of money. Still, there’s help for folks who are hungry to discover their inner restaurateur, and it comes in the form of...
Forklift Rental
Find a forklift rental when your business needs it
Forklifts are necessary in warehouses and industrial settings, but companies don't always need one available all the time. Many companies offer forklift leasing and rental to businesses. You can rent and lease forklifts for any length of time that you need to. If you only need a forklift on a seasonal basis or to handle a special workload, consider short term rentals....
Franchise Opportunity Listings
Buying a franchise? Where to look and what to look for
Franchises are like food: There's something out there to suit everyone's tastes. As such, a franchise can be the perfect business for a budding entrepreneur. The options are incredibly diverse, and the business models — already developed and refined by someone else — proven. With a minimal investment, franchisees get the inspiration and support they need to...
Franchising a Business
Expand your business without having to take on all the risk yourself
Do you have a successful small business you'd like to expand or a new concept that you think is ripe for franchising? These days, franchising is being used by more businesses and more types of businesses than ever before. Almost any product or service can be franchised. Developing a franchise concept allows you to expand your business without personally funding the growth. To...
Free Small Business Counseling
Is there any value to free advice? More often than you might think
Free small-business counseling: It sounds too good to be true, right? Well, if you know where to look, there's plenty of free advice available, much of it extremely high quality. Using the right networks, you can find seasoned professionals who will help you get your business off the ground or take it to the next level. Keep in mind that: Some focus on particular groups...
Free Web Site Submitting Services
Improve your web site's page ranking with free web site submitting services
Free web site submissions disprove the old axiom that you get what you pay for. It's important to optimize your site for search engines. Using free web site submitting services is one step in bringing in web traffic.Take advantage of free URL registration/web site submission and and start with the following basic steps:1. Edit your content for your target keywords in the meta...
Government Assistance for Entrepreneurs
Government grants and loans for small business: reality or fantasy?
We've all heard it; Government Assistance for Entrepreneurs is out there! The government gives out piles of money to small business owners. Free for the asking--government grants for entrepreneurship, government grants small business owners can use for start up costs! Is it true? The short answer is "no". The government isn't in the business of giving grants to...
Government to Consumer Markets
Tap into government to consumer markets to take advantage of the offerings
Government to consumer markets provide numerous opportunities for consumers, both private and commercial, to take advantage of the many government offerings available. G2C business involves everything from grants and loans to copies of property transactions and credit reports. Government contracts can be very lucrative and constitute a huge market for government to consumer...
Health and Beauty Franchises
Franchise opportunities in health, beauty and wellness translate to big profits
The beauty, health and wellness industries earn hundreds of billions of dollars each year. Franchise opportunities abound in these industries and are an attractive option for anyone thinking about starting a health and beauty business. Health and beauty franchises offer numerous benefits to start-up entrepreneurs, including:Brand recognition—Many health and beauty franchises...
Hiring Family and Friends
Smart strategies for employing relatives and people you know
A long-standing rule in business says never hire friends or family. The fear is that personal or family relationships can too easily wreak havoc in the business environment. Although this may prove true in some instances, family and friends often make highly-motivated, hard-working employees and it is a talent pool you should not overlook. There are simple steps you can follow to...
Home Service Franchise Opportunities
Investing in a home service franchise
Owning and operating a home care service franchise offers many benefits over starting a business. A franchise will have an established name, an existing and tested business plan and ongoing support from the franchisor. You will reap the benefit of having the ground work already laid out for you when you buy into the franchise.As with any business, there are no guaranties when you...
Home-Based Business Information Resources
How to use home-based business industry resources to start your business and boost profits
Home-based business industry reports from the Small Business Association claim over half of all small businesses are based from the home. With so many changes in communication and online commerce, you can choose to run your own business from the comfort of your home, eliminating overhead and high costs associated with renting or owning a separate building.Use home-based business...
Home-Based Jobs
How to find a legitimate home based job that fits you
Home based jobs have become a popular trend, and many employers are happy to allow some of their employees to work from their home offices. You could also seek home based part time jobs in addition to your regular full-time job to earn extra cash. If your job doesn't allow home based employment, you should be cautious when searching for a home based job. 1. Ask your employer...
Hot Franchise Opportunities
Ready to buy a franchise opportunity? Here are the hottest franchise trends and concepts.
Looking for a franchise business opportunity? How do you find the best franchise to buy, now? For help with how to buy a franchise, the best franchise to buy, and the hottest franchise opportunities, concepts and trends right now, you’ve found the right place. Today’s franchise opportunities are making it easier than ever to make the dream of business ownership come...
Hotel and Hospitality Industry Franchise Consulting
Grow your business with hotel and hospitality industry franchise consulting
Franchising in the hotel industry is the industry standard. Other than privately owned small hotels and bed and breakfast-type properties, most new hotels follow the hotel industry franchising model. Hospitality industry franchise consultants can help you to find the right property for your budget and style, as well as assist you in the opening and setting up of the hotel. Hotel...
How to Protect Yourself from Franchise Scams
Through due diligence and expert assistance, you could be well on your way to financial and personal freedom.
Buying a franchise offers a relatively cost-effective and smooth entrance into business ownership; separating viable opportunities from snake-oil salesman is the key to a successful venture.
ISP Startup Solutions
Starting an ISP is simple with the right ISP startup solutions
Starting an ISP is a great opportunity to create a profitable business by providing ISP service to hundreds, even thousands, of Internet users. An ISP business has great growth potential, but you have to know where to begin. Therefore, you need to search among the many available ISP startup solutions to help you initiate, manage and market your business. A startup ISP requires...
Internet Franchise Opportunities
What you should know and do when considering the purchase of online franchise opportunities
Internet franchise opportunities are very common. Chances are you've seen hundreds of advertisements for a wide variety of Internet business franchise opportunities. You may have even clicked on a web link to take a look at a franchise opportunity out of curiosity or have a genuine interest in starting your own business. You must research what Internet franchise opportunities...
Keeping Your Corporate Minutes
Effectively recording minutes can help you avoid legal issues
If your business is incorporated, you are required by law to keep minutes of key components of your business activities. Corporate minutes are essentially a written summary of the major activities of the corporation. They typically are a record of what occurred at a specific meeting of a board or a committee. Don't be daunted by the thought of keeping corporate minutes....
Low-Cost Businesses You Can Start
Starting a business can be easy - and inexpensive - with the right venture
If you dream of being an entrepreneur, but lack the big startup bucks required by some new ventures, don't fret. With a little time and not a lot of money, you can still make your business dream a reality. A low-cost business, which requires a minimal investment for supplies and marketing, is perfect for whetting an entrepreneurial appetite if you're: Already employed, but...
Making the Most of Business Plan Consultants
Strengthen your business by making the most of business plan consultants
Business plan consultants can bring a variety of skill sets to your company, from helping you set up your office to procuring the right software to run it, setting up a marketing plan and hiring staff. A business plan preparation service can help you to bring in a broader scope of available technology that you may have overlooked. Business plan consulting companies can help to...
Management Organizations
Professional management organizations offer a wealth of information to the business person
Organizations for management contribute to a search for new ideas to enhance management thinking and practices. Management organizations provide the opportunity for new learning environments and offers a network of knowledge that leads to better understanding of the latest developments in management. These associations are a group of professionals with experiences and expertise to...
Management of a Small Business
How to handle the challenges of small business management
Time management. Change management. Managing employees. As a business owner, you face the dreaded "M" word at every turn. And if you're like most entrepreneurs, you want to run in the opposite direction. But don't. Learning business management is not as daunting as it seems, and the consequences of ignoring the day-to-day running of your company can be...
Merger and Acquisition Analysis
How to approach due diligence in a Merger & Acquisition
You've decided that it's time to grow your business and the best way to do that is through a merger and acquisition. Before taking any definitive steps, though, you'll need to do an acquisitions analysis. Only through an M&A analysis can you determine whether a business merger and acquisition is the way to go.A key component to any merger acquisition analysis is...
Merger and Acquisition Announcements
Track industry trends and changes through M&A announcements
One way to track aggregate changes in your industry is through merger and acquisition announcements. M&A announcements inform of market shifts, changes in stock values and accretion or dilutions of certain economic sectors. They can also alert you to how the market will eventually affect the valuation of your own company's stock. If you are considering engineering your own...
Merger and Acquisition Organizations
Stay abreast of industry issues, news and trends by joining merger and acquisition organizations
If you own a company in the mergers and acquisitions industry, you would do well to partner with mergers and acquisitions associations to strengthen your business expertise and credibility. Industry organizations bring together professionals with similar goals and challenges. Members of industry organizations come from across company divisions, but all share the same objective of...
Minority Business Programs
Government agencies and business associations can help you out
By most accounts, minority-owned and managed businesses still face an uphill battle for acceptance and an equal footing for government and private contracts. Many organizations -- starting with the Small Business Administration (SBA) and branching out to groups both governmental and not -- exist to help level the playing field, and by taking advantage of these opportunities, you...
Minority-Owned Business Classification
Getting the certification seal of approval can bring big awards
There's a multibillion-dollar pie that comes from government and corporate contracts targeted to minority-owned businesses. A variety of federal, state and local government agencies offer minority business certification programs in an effort to help businesses qualify. Before going through certification, investigate: Criteria to qualify Documentation requirements Consider...
Nondisclosure Agreements
Get it in writing to protect your business ideas and assets
When it comes to protecting proprietary information, "Don't ask, don't tell" simply doesn't fly. That's where a nondisclosure agreement (NDA), or confidentiality agreement, comes in. Whether your company needs one depends on a variety of factors, including the nature of your products and business relationships. Nondisclosure agreements can exist between...
Obtaining Proper Licenses and Permits
Start off on the right foot with the requisite authorization and documentation
Most small business owners strike out on their own hoping to answer only to themselves. Many, however, fail to remember that they have to answer to someone else, too: their government. Before you open for business, you must get the green light from your local, state and federal governments. The necessary licenses and permits won't just get you the go-ahead, though; they'll...
Online Entrepreneurship Communities
Learn how to put the power of entrepreneur online forums to work for you
Thanks to the Internet, small businesses and sole proprietors can now connect through online communities for business. An online community for entrepreneurs allows people who don’t fit into other categories to access like-minded people with similar concerns.Entrepreneurs chat with one another through these business online communities. They create an entrepreneur chat...
Opening a Restaurant
Opening an eatery isn't easy, but a detailed plan will keep you focused
The restaurant business is not for the weak at heart. You must have passion and dedication — and a solid business plan. By keeping your operations organized you'll save time and money, and hopefully keep your doors open for years to come. If you're thinking about opening a restaurant, take these steps: Determine the type of restaurant you will own. Write a business...
Operating a Successful Family Business
Family businesses face unique obstacles. Here's where to find help.
No doubt about it, running a business with a spouse, parents, siblings, children or other family members presents unique challenges over and above the usual problems a small business faces. That's why only one in three family businesses survives to the next generation. Here are four essentials for striking the right balance when operating a family business. Set some boundaries....
Oregon Businesses for Sale
Find the perfect business for sale in Oregon
Purchasing a business for sale in Oregon can be as easy as contacting a broker in the area you want to live. In reality, finding the right business to purchase is usually a long and drawn out affair. You will likely need to visit the area a few times, as well hire a lawyer and develop a relationship with a local bank.Potential buyers should have a good idea of what they want to do...
Peer Organizations and Small Business Roundtables
Being a small business owner doesn't mean you have to go it alone
Small business owners often don't have a staff to turn to for advice and are sometimes the only employee. A peer advisory group, or business roundtable, can help with the daily challenges of running a small business. A peer advisory group is composed of small-business owners who regularly meet, usually monthly, to discuss the issues and challenges they face and offer support. ...
Pricing and Costs of Business Plans
Find the best business plan software, business plan template or service for your budget
Your business development plan budget team is ready to put a sample business proposal together, but they need help. They may not be the experts, and they know there is software, templates and professionals that can help get it done better and faster. This is the time they need to do a little shopping around and compare prices and offerings.Business proposals are like many other...
Printing Franchise Opportunities
Discover franchises in printing and/or copying and start your next career
Printing franchise opportunities can satisfy your desire to own a business and simultaneously offer you built-in assistance, guidance and training to help ensure success. Owning a printing franchise puts you in a market set up for success, because so many businesses outsource printing tasks like hard copies of presentations, invitations, booklets, pamphlets, postcards and lengthy...
Programs for Women Business Owners
In business, it can pay to be a woman owner
If you think you're at a disadvantage as a female entrepreneur, think again. Dozens of organizations and programs have emerged in recent years to help women start and grow their own businesses. Taking advantage of the programs available can help you: Obtain seed money to get your venture off the ground Network with other women business owners Win bids for government contracts...
Protect Yourself with Noncompete Agreements
Protect company knowledge and prevent future litigation
Company secrets and valuable business knowledge can be protected by noncompete agreements between employers and their employees. These contracts or clauses are legal agreements that dictate what company information can and can't be used by current or former employees. Non-compete agreements are more necessary today than ever because of advancing technology. Client information,...
Ratios and Relative Value Analysis Technique for Valuing Firms
Use ratios and relative valuation technique to price your business and investments
The ratios and relative value analysis technique for valuing firms enables a business to determine the value of potential investments and the worth of its own business. These ratios provide a basis for relative valuation techniques that compare one firm to another and to industry averages and norms. You cannot conduct a proper valuation in a vacuum or without a benchmark, and...
Restaurant Business Valuation
Here's what you need to know about restaurant business valuation
A business valuation of a restaurant is an excellent tool if you are looking to buy or sell or if you just want to determine the market value of a restaurant for tax or loan purposes. This valuation of a restaurant is different from a normal business valuation because the restaurant industry valuation is subjective. This subjectivity derives from the high failure rates in the...
Restaurant Business for Sale
Knowing what to do when you want to buy a restaurant business
Before you buy, restaurant business purchases require that you make several decisions, such as where do you want to open the business, whether to buy an independent business or a corporate franchise and how much capital you have available for the purchase. Restaurant business location is important to investigate so that you know your competition. You won't want to open a small...
Restaurant Chains
For hungry entrepreneurs, restaurant franchise opportunities abound
Restaurant chains are everywhere. They anchor suburban strip malls, highway rest stops, inner-city street corners and even small towns’ town squares. For consumers, all those restaurant franchises represent an affordable, reliable meal; for entrepreneurs, however, they represent a reliable business opportunity.Restaurant franchises are an attractive option for would-be...
Sell your handmade goodies to the world
a better alternative to ebay.com
I love to the idea of handmade things. Anything that is not mass produce and one of a kind. I used to sell my handmade items on ebay.com which ranged from greeting cards, organic soaps, jewelries and photographs. But at the end the overhead was too much for me to handle.An ebay listing- 35 cents to list an item- 3.5% commission fee after the item is sold- listing is up for 7 days...
Small Business Advice
Find startup, financial, legal and other helpful advice for small business owners
Small business owners need specific small business help. Although you won't have as many clients and employees as larger businesses, you will still have many things to keep track of, such as business expenses, tax forms, employee information and clients.Some business owners find business startup advice with some of the many software programs and Internet sites available. These...
Small Business Award Programs and Contests
Earning recognition from reputable organizations can boost your corporate image
While marketing and advertising are good ways to drum up business, winning an award or contest from a reputable government agency, professional association or media outlet gets you attention from customers who wouldn't otherwise know your company name. Typically, you can nominate your company yourself. Winning an award or contest can: Provide recognition for outstanding...
Small Business Buyers' Groups
How small businesses can pool purchases for volume discounts
Big businesses, it seems, get volume discounts on just about everything, and until recently, small businesses couldn't compete. But today, small business buyers' groups allow the "little guys" to pool their purchases to earn volume discounts they couldn't get on their own. The top three top tips to small business buyers' groups are: Find local and national small business...
Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR)
How to tap federal research funding and get tech grants
While a great idea may be the kernel you need to start a small business, without the proper research and development, you're unlikely to get too far too fast. There is, however, government funding available that can help ease the burden: the Small Business Innovation Research Program. To qualify for the SBIR program, a company must: Be American-owned, independently operated...
Solutions for Work-At-Home Parents
Can kids and work mix? Definitely if you follow some guidelines.
You love your at-home business. You love your kids. How do you do right by both? To work successfully from home, you need: Dedicated space and time for your business Help with other household tasks Support and ideas from other work-at-home parents
Sports and Fitness Franchises
Profit from trends in health and wellness with a health and fitness franchise
Modern-day consumers are obsessed with nutrition, weight loss, exercise and health. For entrepreneurs who run sports and fitness franchises, that translates into a slim waistline and a fat bottom line. Sports franchises and fitness franchises offer a proven business model and a wealth of resources to assist budding small business owners with business set-up, maintenance, marketing...
Starting A Gardening Business
Find online (and local) resources that can help you get your commercial garden business growing!
If you've been thinking about turning your gardening hobby into a gardening business, this guide can help you get started. By learning about the many local, regional and national resources available to commercial gardeners, you can increase both knowledge and profit, and build a strong client base in your local community.
Starting a Catering Business
Plan well and reap big rewards
Demand for catering is brisk and growing, which invites new businesses that can be highly profitable with low startup costs. Beyond having a flair for food preparation and stylish presentation, however, a successful catering business must be built on smart planning and an ability to nail cost estimates and master event logistics. Before you launch a catering business you...
Starting a Catering Business
Follow the right steps to make starting a catering business an exciting, successful endeavor
Starting a catering business can be a very exciting endeavor, but one that requires much accountability in areas that include employee, client, and food safety. Many people consider the entrepreneurial route, but it is a risky road to take, especially if you don't set yourself up for success. You don't have to sell a unique product, but you should offer a one-of-a-kind...
Starting a Consulting Business
Consulting can be a lucrative enterprise if you do your homework before setting up shop
If you’re an expert in a field and have a passion for sharing that expertise, you’ve aced two of the most important qualities of a successful consultant. It’s also critical to have a knack for working with a wide variety of personalities, and an unflagging drive to market your services. Whether your specialty is helping corporations recruit chief executives or...
Starting a Craft Business
Take your creative passion to the next level
You love to make handcrafted ceramic bowls. Your friends rave about them. A local shop has offered to sell them. Is it time to turn your hobby into a business? The answer could be yes, but only if you’re ready to pay as much attention to the nitty-gritty details of running a business as you are to the art of creating your product. Before you start a craft business, you...
Starting a Manufacturing Company
The start-up costs can be high, but so can your return on investment
Launching a manufacturing company isn’t for newbies. If you don’t have personal experience in the field, consider partnering with someone who does. Grappling with the regulatory issues alone can be daunting, even for longtime manufacturers. On the plus side, you don’t have to be a major manufacturing powerhouse to thrive. According to the National Association of...
Starting a Nonprofit Organization
How to simplify the maze of paperwork, rules and regulations
Most nonprofits filed with the Internal Revenue Service fall under IRS code 501(c)(3). These organizations include public charities or private foundations, which are established for purposes such as religious, educational, scientific, literary and testing for public safety, to name a few. There are other nonprofits — 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(27) — that are considered...
Starting a Pet Sitting or Dog Walking Business
Turn your love of animals into a business
Professional pet sitters and dog walkers have never been more in demand. That’s because many of America’s 63 million pet owners aren’t always content to leave their animals in the care of the 12-year-old next door. A pet sitter’s duties can range from feeding pets once a day to providing around-the-clock board and care. Dog walkers take dogs for walks once...
Starting a Retail Business
Map your path to profit before opening your doors
Going into business for yourself is rarely easy, no matter what line of work you choose, but retail is among the toughest of small business categories to enter. You will likely need to deal with returns, wholesalers, troublesome customers and inventory. Before deciding to go into retail, ask yourself the following questions: Do I have an extensive knowledge of the product I...
Starting a Security Services Business
Secure your livelihood in this industry that has few barriers to entry
Ever wanted to own your own business? Security guard and patrol services businesses are an increasingly popular choice among start-up entrepreneurs, especially since 9/11 renewed concerns about safety and security. Getting started is relatively simple—you’ll need some licenses and general business acumen, but beyond that, you need only the business skills you’d...
Starting a Service Business
Turn your skills and knowledge into a business
Whether you’re a yoga instructor, a bookkeeper, or a business consultant, if you have solid skills and a track record of applying them successfully, you could have the foundation for a service business. But talent and experience alone aren’t enough to win customers and keep them happy. To stay on top in the service game, you need to have a knack for dealing with...
Starting a Staffing Service
An entrepreneur with strong HR and accounting skills may find a staffing service to be the ideal start-up business
Staffing services fill an ongoing business need and are currently a growth industry in the U.S. While initial outlay can be expected to be high – you may need to pay your employees before your initial clients have paid you – a well-run staffing service can be a profitable endeavor that brings fresh projects and challenges every day. Starting a staffing service is...
Starting an Advertising Agency
Create a start-up business with little capital needed up front
Because advertising agencies provide primarily services, rather than final products, a small ad agency can be a low-cost start-up. If you outsource graphic design, copywriting and production, you can reduce overhead even further. Then as your agency grows, you can bring some of the primary services that you use in-house. Before you start your advertising business, you’ll...
Starting an Event-Planning Business
Be the expert that companies, non-profit organizations and families turn to for their special events
If you’re a born organizer with a creative bent, a head for business and a way with people, you could have what it takes to build a successful event-planning company. Event planners are hired to plan and execute parties, weddings, meetings, conferences, events related to product promotions, parades and more. Among an event planner’s most challenging...
Starting an eBay Business
How to get into the ecommerce game
There’s no doubt, eBay has emerged as the hottest online marketplace in the world. By launching your own eBay business, you can gain access to 200 million shoppers worldwide and nab a share of the $40 billion dollars currently exchanging hands on the online auction site. Getting started is easy thanks to a host of seller’s tools you can find on the site, and start-up...
Startup Business Help For Veterans
Get information about veteran startup business programs
Many veterans are interested in starting up businesses after they've completed their military service. Fortunately, there are many veteran programs out there to help them get started on the road to success. You can find all kinds of startup business help for veterans online, including what it takes to open up a franchise, how to secure financial aid like grants for your...
Structuring a Business Purchase Agreement
Attention to detail is needed to ensure a fair, thorough and smooth transaction
Whether you're buying or selling a business, it's critical that every commercial element of that company is accounted for in the purchase agreement. Fitting it all into a single document is a real challenge, and taking the time to get it right on paper will help make the deal a successful venture for both parties long after the ink has dried. The basics of setting up a...
Tips for Starting a Marketing Business
Finding your niche will make your marketing business have a clear roadmap to success
There are marketing firms that do it all—from event marketing to search engine marketing. Chances are once you’ve found your niche, you will gain loyal customers who want more marketing services than your niche requires. They key is to create your niche first and then broaden your approach to serve existing clients. Otherwise as a startup company that offers a huge...
Tips for Starting a Public Relations Firm
A small boutique PR firm doesnt require a lot of start-up capital, but can provide a measurable return
Publicists are a unique breed. They tend to be extroverted people who can talk to anyone about anything. If you have the gift of gab and a background in communications, a start-up PR firm can be an excellent small business to start. It requires low start-up costs and can grow rapidly from one client to ten. Although starting your own boutique PR firm can be a low-maintenance...
Tips for Starting a Real Estate Business
How to launch the right type of real estate biz at the right time
Considering starting your own real estate agency? If you're fascinated with houses, enjoy meeting people, and know your local area well, you're well-positioned to get started. You have a choice to make up front, however, regarding your business' structure. Will you: Start an independent office Buy a franchise Partner or merge with an established operation Whether you're...
Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC)
Tips for prospective franchisees on how to read the UFOC
If you're in the market for a franchise, know this: Since 1979, franchisors have been required by the Federal Trade Commission to provide prospective franchisees with a Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC) before any contracts can be signed or any money can exchange hands. This valuable and voluminous document contains detailed information about the franchise, which...
Using Business Plan Software
Use business planning software to help you improve your business
It's time to create a plan for your business, and you need business plan writer software to create that plan. However, it's more complicated than simply going to the store to look at all the business plan software applications on the market. You need to do more than shop for the software, load it on your computer and start inputting data. It's essential that you...
Using a Sample Business Proposal
So you need to write a business proposal and need a sample business proposal to get started?
Writing a business proposal can be a daunting prospect, but it can be done. A great shortcut is to find a sample proposal used by others, and use it as a guide for writing your own. But keep in mind that a business proposal is a very personal thing, and just finding a business proposal sample and typing in your own information isn't going to do the entire job for you. You will...
Valuing a Business
You can boost your valuation if you know what counts
Placing an accurate value on a small business is a tricky affair. But it's also an exercise that may be necessary for a variety of reasons. Valuations (or appraisals) are a must, of course, for anyone buying or selling a business. But they are also vital for partnership deals such as yours, as well as buy/sell agreements, family business succession planning, personal and estate...
Veterans at Work
Returning Veterans to the Workplace
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents, or military combat.For the...
Whos Who in Business
Open doors for you and your company by identifying who's who in business
For anyone hoping to build their business or develop a network of business contacts, identifying fellow key decision makers is vital. While watching the newspaper's business section, attending networking events or even just calling the company can tell you the who's who of business, there's an easier and quicker way-- through the use of online directories. Either for...
Women-Owned Business Organizations
Women-owned business organizations offer valuable help and support
Women in business organizations offer entrepreneurs and executives the opportunity to learn new ideas and strategies. Women form partnerships, network with others and have educational opportunities. There's a sense of camaraderie among members that they may not feel in the day-to-day business world.There are many different organizations, depending on where you think you fit...
Working with Business Plan Consultants
Save resources by working with business plan consultants
Professional business plan consultants can help you navigate the evolving business landscape so that you can maximize your efforts. Business plan consultants can serve as third-party sounding boards when you want to incorporate new plans. You can take advantage of the expertise developed by business plan writing services in a number of ways. Business plan consulting companies can...
Writing Winning Proposals
Put your best sales pitch on paper to land major contracts
When a company invites you to submit a proposal or competitive bid for consideration for a specific project or for ongoing work, it's termed an RFP, or Request for Proposal. Your goal in submitting a proposal is to persuade the soliciting company that you can do the job and, ultimately, to receive an invitation to make a formal presentation or win the contract outright. The...
