Article Library
Select a category below to narrow your search:
- All
- Build Your Brand
- Buy a Business
- Buy a Franchise
- Close Your Business
- Connect
- Find the Right Systems
- Grow Through Acquisition
- Improve Your Competitive Position
- Lead Your Team
- Navigate Your Legal and Risk Needs
- Plan for Succession
- Prepare for Startup
- Restaurant
- Sell Your Business
- Take on Tax and Financial Concerns
How to Set the Right Prices for Your Products and Services
The formula to set prices is easy. First, sum up your costs per unit. Then, add a reasonable profit margin. …
Owner Actions Connect: Human Resource Managers
Looking for a human resource manager who can take on your business's people-related tasks? Consider these options: Owner Actions is …
How to Use Loans and Lines of Credit to Help Your Business Grow
After covering startup costs, many owners struggle to find the capital they need to go after new opportunities or invest …
Thinking of Hiring an Accountant? Start Here.
Every business has accounting needs. There are financial standards, valuations, and tax concerns to keep up with and work through. …
The Ratios You Need to Measure Your Business’s Success
How do you know when your business is succeeding? You might look at the number of sales you make. Or, …
How to Use Your Retirement Account to Fund Your New Franchise
There are many ways to attain the funding you need to purchase a franchise unit. But if the idea of …
How to Use Your Retirement Savings to Fund Your Business Acquisition
You have many options for attaining the funding you need to finance a business acquisition. But if the idea of …
How to Find Franchise Opportunities That Suit Your Skills, Interests, Goals, and Budget
Many sites list franchise opportunities, making it easy for prospective owners like you to find and compare options. But, sometimes, …
Small Business Basics: Attaining a Business Credit Card
Obtaining a business bank account is important, but you should also consider signing up for a business credit card to …
Small Business Financing 101: Small Business Grants
Too many people tell small business owners that they can't attain grants. But the truth is that there are quite …
Your Go-to Guide to Creating a Business Strategy
No matter where you are in your ownership journey, you must create a business strategy. Your strategy should do more …
What You Need to Know to File Your Business’s Patent and Trademark Documents
If you’ve developed a unique product or a design, you should take steps to protect it. Filing for a patent …
Small Business Basics: Attaining a Business Bank Account
Every small business needs a bank account. It's key for spending money on your business or accepting money from customers. …
Small Business Financing 101: Venture Capital
When you’re looking into financing options for your small business, you may wonder whether venture capital should be part of …
Selling Your Business? You'll Need a Sales Agreement.
One of the final pieces of selling your business is signing off on the sales agreement. Once your buyer has …
Business Tours for Prospective Buyers
One of the ways prospective buyers will size up your business is by touring your site. In this article, we’ll …
Close the Deal: The 11 Things You Need to Take Ownership of a Small Business
A great deal of work goes into finding a small business to buy. Once you’ve found one, completed the due …
Smart Strategies for Finding a Business Broker
When you’re selling a business, you might choose to work with a business broker, a professional with experience in marketing …
Buy a Business: The Sales Agreement
After you’ve found a business to buy, evaluated its viability, and negotiated its terms, your attorney will draft a sales …
The Terms of Your Sales Agreement to Buy a Business
After you’ve sourced a business, evaluated its viability, and negotiated its terms, your attorney will draft a sales agreement that …
Close the Deal: 11 Things You Need to Take Ownership of a Small Business
A great deal of work goes into finding a business to buy. Once you’ve found one, completed the due diligence …
Your Go-to Guide to Completing the Sale of Your Business
Completing the sale of your business is a major milestone. In this article, we’ll explain the last step—the closing process …
What an Earnout Means for the Sale of Your Business
When you put your business up for sale, you might receive offers that include terms for an earnout. An earnout …
Solution Finder: Website Analytics Programs
How is your website performing? We should all be asking this question on a regular basis, any time changes are …
How to Design and Print Interior and Exterior Signs
Roadside signs, building-mounted signs, and interior signs can help you make a great first impression for your business. In this …
Your Go-to Guide to Setting Up Healthcare Benefits
Is your small business looking into healthcare insurance? This could be a smart move. It's one of the most sought-after …
Retirement Plan Selection: How to Find the Best Option for Your Business
Retirement plan selection is a task you can't afford to get wrong. Here's why. Retirement savings plans are one of …
Understanding Small Business Sales Tax
The United States doesn’t levy a federal sales tax, but many of its states do. And within those states, various …
Small Business Basics: Permits and Licenses
Do you need permits or licenses to run your business? You might, depending on your line of work, location, and …
How to Create a Social Media Content Calendar
The world of social media is constantly in flux with new platforms, new algorithms, and new trends. Staying on top …
Owner Actions Connect: CFO
Looking for a outsourced CFO? Consider these options: Owner Actions is in no way affiliated with these providers, and we …
Your Go-to Guide to Financing the Purchase of a Franchise
Franchise fees, real estate, equipment, and inventory are some of the many costs you’ll need to cover when starting a …
Marketing Channels That Can Help Your Business Grow
Many small business owners succeed when they experiment with marketing channels to spread awareness of their brand. You can, too. …
Celebrate Opening Day for Your Franchise
Lots of work goes into starting a franchise unit, and your opening day is a milestone achievement. To celebrate, think …
How to Create a Product Prototype
Producing a product? It’s a great idea to start with a prototype. This will help you experience it and understand …
Can I Be a Franchise Owner Without Working Onsite?
Most franchises ask owners to work a minimum number of hours onsite each week. Many want their owners to commit …
How to Design Your Website to Amplify Your Brand
Your business’s website is one of the most important tools in your arsenal. Once a tool to list the products …
How Buying a Business Can Give You a Competitive Edge
As a business owner, you know the importance of growth. You may already be growing organically through increased awareness, by …
Expand Your Business into a New Region
Want to expand your business (or overcome stalls in growth)? You might look to new markets to extend your reach …
Using Authorized Signers for Your Business
As your business grows, you may need some assistance navigating the everyday tasks of operations, including signing checks, paying bills, …
Considering Discount Codes for Your Business?
A 2020 survey found that 88 percent of consumers in the United States used coupons or discount codes when shopping …
The Pitch: Keys to Winning Over Investors and Others
Most small businesses rely on outside sources of funding, especially when they’re starting up or ramping up to expand their …
Why You Need an Employee Handbook for Your Small Business
Your employee handbook outlines the rules and expectations you, the employer, have for your team members. Your handbook should inform …
Brand Differentiation 101: How to Set Your Business Apart
It can be tough for customers to distinguish between two rival brands, especially when the price points, products, and services …
Simple Strategies to Reduce Labor Costs
Labor costs may be one of your biggest expenses. And, if you're like many business owners, this could be a …
Small Business Benefits: Your Guide to Getting Started
One of the best ways to attract and retain employees is by offering them benefits. In this article, you’ll learn …
Why Seller Financing Can Be a Great Source of Capital
Seller financing is often a great option for financing a business acquisition. Sometimes called a seller’s note, this form of …
The Right Attorney for Your Acquisition
Buying a business? It's a must to include an attorney on your team, especially as you work through the complex …
Too Much Risk: The Parts of Your Business That Will Scare Off Potential Buyers
Many prospective business buyers are risk-averse. They’re quick to spot the threats, red flags, and uncertainties that could impact a …
Why You Need a Letter of Intent (LOI) to Purchase a Business
When you find a business you'd like to purchase, your attorney will draft a letter of intent (LOI) to indicate …
The Mistakes You Must Avoid When Buying a Business
From overlooking key issues to making missteps in negotiations, most first-time business buyers make mistakes when buying a business. In …
The Fundamentals of Buying a Business
Many professionals dream of owning a business. But when they consider the costs of startup, the time that’s required, the …
How to Connect with the Owner of Your Target Business
Your research, conversations with key industry players, and searches on business listing sites should help you find some high-potential businesses …
Preliminary Due Diligence: Evaluate a Business for Acquisition
It can be exciting to find a small business that meets your criteria for acquisition. But before pressing forward with …
Post-Transition: The Actions You Need to Take As the New Owner of a Business
You’ve spent months searching for a business to buy, pouring through financials, negotiating offers, and navigating financing. Now you’ve closed …
Find a Partner to Buy a Business
Thinking of finding a partner to buy a business with? There are lots of reasons to choose this option. Partners …
How to Negotiate to Buy a Business
Once you’ve found a business that meets your criteria and you’ve vetted it with your accountant and attorney, you'll start …
How to Use 401(k) Financing for Your Business Acquisition
You have many options for attaining the funding you need to finance a business acquisition. But if the idea of …
How to Elect Your Business’s Board of Directors
Is your business a public company? If so, it will need a board of directors that represents its shareholders’ interests. …
Consider Using an SBA Loan to Buy a Business
SBA loans are one of the most commonly used ways to finance the purchase of a business. Named after the …
Due Diligence for Buying a Business
In the due diligence process, you’ll review the ins and outs of the business you intend to buy. You’ll gather …
Motivate Your Employees with These Simple Practices
You’ve likely heard the statistics on employee engagement in the workplace. Or, you may have had your own struggles rallying …
Small Business Basics: How to Register Your Business with State and Local Governments
After selecting your business’s name and choosing its structure, you may need to register your business with your state and …
Best Practices for Employee Performance Evaluations
Does your business conduct performance evaluations for its employees? If so, your team is likely benefiting. Employee performance evaluations can …
Consider Changing Your Business Structure
When you formed your business, you may have pictured what your business could become and chose a business structure that …
Manage Your Business: How to Collect Your Business Receivables
Looking for better strategies to collect overdue business receivables? In this guide, we’ll help you establish procedures that will eliminate …
Find Your State or Territory Labor Office
Have you hired employees? Do you plan to do so in the near future? If so, be sure to connect …
When You Can Sell Your Business Without a Broker—and When You Really Shouldn’t
Selling your business alone is no easy feat, but with the right amount of research and an eager commitment to …
How to Find an Accountant Who Can Help You to Sell Your Business
An accountant can play an important role in helping you sell your business. They can organize your company’s financials and …
Buy a Business That Is Not for Sale
Lots of business owners get their start by chasing down an idea and building a business around it. Many others …
Why Choose Asset-Backed Financing?
There are many ways to finance a business. One that few business owners consider is asset-backed financing. Many banks and …
Set Up a Data Room to Sell Your Business
When selling your business, potential buyers will want to view some of your core business documents. Financial, procedure, and personnel …
Grand Reopening: Create the Hype You Need to Make Your First Day a Success
Closing on your new business is a major achievement. Celebrate it by planning a grand reopening event that reintroduces your …
Solution Finder: Fleet Management Systems
It isn’t easy to oversee a fleet of vehicles—or the drivers who operate them. Your carefully planned schedules can change …
Build Your Customer Base through Collaborations
Of all the ways to grow your business, one of the simplest is setting up collaborations with people who work …
Build Your Business Credit Score with These Simple Steps
Lenders, creditors, suppliers, and insurance companies may be looking at your business credit score. Why? Often, it's to check on …
Take Steps to Reduce Technology Downtime
Network infrastructure downtime is sometimes unavoidable. Even the most advanced networks in the world at places like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, …
Solution Finder: Internet Security
Every day, businesses—big and small—are hit by viruses, hacking attempts, and phishing attempts. The costs to undo the damages they …
Every Small Business Needs an Attorney. Here's Why.
An attorney can be an invaluable member of your team, especially as you work through the complex parts of starting …
Why You Need to Develop Customer Personas
Businesses that excel in meeting their customers’ needs have one thing in common. They know their customers deeply. They understand …
Is a Distressed Business a Good Opportunity?
You can find distressed businesses in every industry. Some can be great opportunities, especially if they can be bought for …
A Primer on Buy-Sell Agreements and Buy-Sell Insurance
Are you a co-owner or a partner in a small business? If so, you might consider buy-sell agreements or a …
Strategies Every Business Owner Should Consider to Reduce Estate Taxes
As your business grows, it's likely you'll start thinking to the future—to the sale of your business and to the …
Site Security: How to Protect Your Business Location
Theft and vandalism are two problems that could drive up costs for your business. There are costs to replacing what’s …
How to Reduce Your Tax Liability When Selling Your Small Business
Taxes are an important factor in the sale of any small business. Here's why: Proceeds owners receive from the sale …
Preliminary Due Diligence: Steps to Should Take Before Making an Offer on a Small Business
It can be exciting to find a small business that meets your criteria for acquisition. But before pressing forward with …
Grow Your Business with a Franchise Model
Have you developed a business with a winning concept, solid strategy, and scalable model? You might consider franchising it. In …
Best Practices to Optimize Your Production Line
Want to build smarter products, realize cost savings, or remove complexities? In this article, we share some of the practices …
Incorporating Manufacturing Standards in Your Production
Manufacturing standards can help your business produce products in the most efficient, safe, and sustainable ways possible. Designed well, your …
Points to Keep in Mind When Paying Your Business Broker
Brokers play an important role in the sale of your business, and most are compensated when the work is complete. …
Solution Finder: Inventory Management Systems
Looking for real-time inventory visibility? There are lots of systems that can help you track what you have on hand, …
Strategies to Collect the Money Your Business Is Owed Before Closing Your Doors
When you’re closing your business, one of the most important steps you should take is claiming your business’s outstanding accounts …
Small Business Financing 101: How to Use Your Retirement Account to Fund Your Small Business Startup
Many small business startups rely on loans for their early capital needs. But if the idea of hefty loans and …
Assist the Buyer of Your Business Through the Due Diligence Process
Before making an offer for your business, most buyers will ask for a period of due diligence. This block of …
How to Set Up Social Media for Small Businesses
Whether you’re a local shop or an e-commerce store, establishing your business’s social media presence is vital. Now, it’s more …
Small Business Basics: Insurance
Have you thought about the types of insurance your business will need? If you haven't, take time right now to …
Franchisor Training: What to Expect
After signing your franchise agreement, you can enroll in franchisor training. This is a program your franchisor may offer to …
How to Attain Financing for Franchise Construction or Renovation
There are many costs to starting a franchise unit. After the franchise fee, one of the most significant costs is …
How to Create a Logo for Your Brand
Your business’s logo screams a message about your brand. It tells your audience if you’re legitimate, demonstrates that you’re in …
Location Can Be the Make-or-Break Factor for Your Business’s Success
For on-the-go businesses, such as roofing companies, concrete designers, or cleaning businesses, a facility's location is important. A central location …