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What business owner isn't trying to save money today? While online businesses often don't have the overhead that comes with a big office and lots of staff, we are often hit with lower profit margins that come with online competition and numerous businesses out there competing with our goods and services. We find ways to get creative about getting our message ...

Millions of workers are quietly toiling in their cubicles and dream of breaking free from corporate culture. Almost a quarter of full-time or part-time working Americans have considered leaving a job to become self-employed, according to a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll taken in July. Many others don't want to ditch their day jobs but want to dabble in side projects to earn ...

Charlie Tyler had a surefire solution to many companies' problems -- or so he thought. Determined to strike out on his own, this Baton Rouge, Louisiana, CPA saw businesses struggling with tracking and collecting their employees' attendance records. So he and a partner dove right in to become value-added resellers of software designed to streamline those functions. But Tyler's “can't-miss" solution ...

Who makes your favorite shoes or outfits? What beverage calls your name when you need a pick-me-up? Whose movies won't you miss? Whose help do you seek when you want a project done right, at home or at work? All of these questions involve your reactions to a particular brand - a collection of assumptions about quality, appeal and reliability that ...

This article has been excerpted from Ultimate Guide to Personal Finance for Entrepreneurs by Peter Sander with J. Jeffrey Lambert, available from Entrepreneur Press. Business operations, business finances and personal finances are inexorably linked in the triangle of entrepreneurial finance. Decisions and actions at one point in the triangle will most likely-in at least some way-affect a decision made in another. ...

Buying a Franchise: A Consumer Guide When you buy a franchise, you often can sell goods and services that have instant name recognition, and get training and support that can help you succeed. But purchasing a franchise is like every other investment: there’s no guarantee of success. The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, has prepared this booklet to ...

It's not so hard to see why consumers would be drawn to ads for business opportunities that trumpet "be your own boss," "set your own hours," "work from home," and "earn money quickly." But the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says that business opportunity promotions like these often are scams that take consumers' money and fail to deliver on the promises. Before ...

Many successful entrepreneurs have similar traits and characteristics. Learn what these are and what you can do to improve on your own. *FICTION*: To be an entrepreneur, you must be born that way. *FACT*: Anyone can learn to operate like an entrepreneur. h4. What are the similarities of successful entrepreneurs? • Persistence • Desire for immediate feedback • Inquisitiveness • Strong ...

h4. Determine Your Business Activity Do your customers come to you, or do you go to your customers? Do you have employees? Do you manufacture products for distribution? Answers to these questions can quickly narrow down your location choices. If your type of business depends heavily on pedestrian or drive-by traffic, such as a florist, gift shop, or clothing boutique, you'll ...

When beginning a business, you must decide what form of business entity to establish. Your form of business determines the amount of regulatory paperwork you have to file, your personal liability regarding investments into your business, and the taxes you have to pay. The most common business structures include: *Sole Proprietorship* - A business owned and managed by one individual who ...

[photo:38116] One of the first decisions that you will have to make as a business owner is how the company should be structured. This decision will have long-term implications, so consult with an accountant and attorney to help you select the form of ownership that is right for you. h4. In making a choice, you will want to take into ...

The Business Development Strategy is used to underpin your main Business Plan and essentially it sets out a standard approach for developing new opportunities, either from within existing accounts or by proactively targeting brand new potential accounts and then working to close them. This document highlights the key issues you should consider prior to compiling your own plan and will hopefully ...

Inquisitive entrepreneurs and small business owners can find inspiring insights and common sense answers from two industry pros on MainStreet. Each week Dani Babb, a small business expert and the dean of Andrew Jackson University’s College of Business in Hoover, Ala., and Dr. John Rutledge, the chairman of private equity investment firm Rutledge Capital, offer their advice to scores of entrepreneurs ...

1. Bring a Wingman Rather than flying solo at your next networking event, bring a friend, co-worker, or business associate along with you. This "security blanket" will boost your confidence as well as your comfort level and immediately removes the bulk of reluctance associated with attending a networking event by yourself. Next Tip>> [page] 2. You Are Not Alone If you ...

The success of a business idea largely depends on the financial planning behind it, says Joseph Parrino, a longtime women's clothing store owner who decided to branch out into the housing rehab business. “I knew from experience that without the proper backing, I wasn't going to be able to make a go of the new enterprise,” Parrino says. “What I didn't ...

In business, there are no guarantees. There is simply no way to eliminate all the risks associated with starting a small business - but you can improve your chances of success with good planning, preparation, and insight. Start by evaluating your strengths and weaknesses as a potential owner and manager of a small business. Carefully consider each of the following questions: ...

Breakeven analysis is a tool used to determine when a business will be able to cover all its expenses and begin to make a profit. For the startup business, it is extremely important to know your startup costs, which provide you with the information you need to generate enough sales revenue to pay the ongoing expenses related to running your business. ...

In order to determine how much seed money you will need, you must estimate the costs of your business for at least the first several months. Every business is different, and has its own specific cash needs at different stages of development, so there is no universal method for estimating your startup costs. Some businesses can be started on a shoestring ...

Before seeking financial assistance, ask yourself the following: • Do you need more capital or can you manage existing cash flow more effectively? • How do you define your need? Do you need money to expand or as a cushion against risk? How urgent is your need? You can obtain the best terms when you anticipate your needs rather than looking ...

h4. Buying a Business Many find the idea of running a small business appealing, but lose their motivation after dealing with business plans, investors, and legal issues associated with new startups. For those disheartened by such risky undertakings, buying an existing business is often a simpler and safer alternative. h4. Advantages The main reason to buy an existing business is the ...