Guides & Articles on Business Planning
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 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...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
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....
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. ...
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 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 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...
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...
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...
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...
