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
Write a Business Plan for Your New Restaurant
When you apply for financing for your new restaurant, your lender may ask you to submit a business plan along …
Evaluate the Asking Price of a Business
Two of the most difficult parts of buying a business are learning to evaluate the asking price and proposing a …
How to Write a Business Plan for Your Franchise
When you apply for an SBA loan, a term loan, or another form of financing, you may need to present …
Negotiate the Terms of an Acquisition
Once you’ve found a business that meets your criteria and you’ve vetted it with your accountant and attorney, your focus can …
Create a Business Plan That’ll Help You Attain Financing for Growth
When you apply for an SBA loan, a term loan, or seller financing for a business you plan to buy, …
Write a Business Plan to Finance Your Startup
When you apply for financing for your new business, your lender may ask you to submit a business plan along …
Develop a Business Plan That’ll Help You Attain Financing
When you apply for an SBA loan, a term loan, or seller financing to buy a business you’ll need 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 …
Grand Opening: How to Create the Hype You Need to Make Your First Day a Success
Lots of work goes into starting a small business, and your first day is a major achievement for you as …
Share Your New Contact Information with Your Employees and Network
Before parting ways with your employees, contractors, suppliers, and others you work with on a regular basis, take time to …
What Do You Want Your Business to Be Known For?
How can I help my business stand out? New and seasoned business owners alike struggle with this question. To find …
Before the Handshake: How to Vet Your Job Candidates
It isn’t easy to find great job candidates. It’s harder still to know whether the people you’ve shortlisted will have …
Strategies to Improve Your Business Social Media Profile
Having a social media presence for your business is essential these days. But with approximately 3.5 billion internet users worldwide, …
Reasons You Might Need a Franchise Partner
Is a franchise partner right for you? There are a number of reasons you might say yes. Let's dive into …
What is Discovery Day and How Should I Prepare?
Discovery day is an event franchisors hold to showcase the business to prospective franchise unit owners. This event provides the …
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 …
Which Business Expenses Are Deductible?
One of the easiest ways to save your business money is to reduce your income tax bill. Doing this means …
How to Tell Your Employees Your Business Is Closing
Early in the closing process, you should tell your employees your plans to close and dissolve your business. Federal and …
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 …
Your Guide to Reading a Franchise Disclosure Document
When you're evaluating a franchise for purchase, one of the documents the franchisor will share with you is the franchise …
When Do I Need a Tax Attorney?
Is your business facing tax challenges? Are you working through an audit? Are you up against some complexities in determining …
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. …
Understanding Small Business Income Tax
When you chose a legal structure for your business, your selected impacted the taxes you’ll pay for your business’s activities. …
Small Business Financing 101: Term Loans
Loans are one of the most common sources of capital for small business startups. For your venture, you might consider …
Cover Your Small Business Construction or Renovation Costs
It can be expensive to start a small business, especially one that requires a high-traffic physical location. Many business owners …
How to Hire the People Who Will Make Your Small Business a Success
Will your idea succeed? The answer can depend on the people you bring on board. That's why it's vitally important …
Lease or Buy a Site: How to Make the Right Call for Your Small Business
Location is a factor you can’t afford to get wrong. As a new owner, you must spend time assessing your …
Small Business Financing 101: SBA Loans
SBA loans are one of the most commonly used ways to cover early-phase costs. Named after the Small Business Administration …
Small Business Financing 101: Asset-Backed Financing
There are many ways to finance a business. One that few business owners consider is asset-backed financing, an option that …
Every Startup Needs an Attorney. Here's Why.
An attorney can be an invaluable member of your team, especially as you work through the startup stage of your …
Small Business Financing 101: How Commercial Real Estate Loans Can Help You with Your #LocationGoals
Disclaimer: This article was written to help you evaluate your commercial real estate loan options. It should not be construed …
Small Business Basics: How to Attain a Tax ID Number for Your Small Business
If you're starting a small business, you may need to set up a tax ID number, also known as an …
Your Go-to Guide to Commercial Leases
If you choose to rent a storefront or commercial property, you may be required to sign and abide by a …
Small Business Financing 101: How to Save on the Equipment You Need to Start or Grow Your Small Business
When you’re starting or growing your business, you need to navigate every expense carefully to stretch your dollars. And, for …
Small Business Financing 101: Angel Investors
Angel investors are individuals or networks of people who invest in new, small, or growing businesses to provide them with …
Small Business Financing 101: Portfolio Loans
Portfolio loans are one of many options you can pursue to raise cash for your small business. Sometimes called a …
Should a Commercial Bridge Loan Be Part of Your Financing Strategy?
When it comes to real estate purchases or improvements, many business owners find that they need fast access to capital. …
Small Business Basics: Sign Up For a Business Credit Card
Obtaining a business bank account is important, but you should also consider signing up for a business credit card to …
Strategies for Naming Your Business
Your business name is important: It may be the first impression your customers have of your business. The right name …
Why You Might Need a Registered Agent
Most businesses are required to register in the states or territories in which they plan to conduct “business activities.” These …
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, …
Finance Your New Franchise with an SBA Loan
If you are considering the purchase of a franchise, you may be wondering about SBA loans, one of the most …
Investing in a Franchise: What It’ll Cost and What You Can Afford
When you're buying a franchise unit, cost may be one of your biggest deciding factors. But what you may not …
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 …
A Crash Course on Franchise Agreements
After reading the franchise disclosure document (FDD) and taking part in discovery day, you may be given a franchise agreement. …
Asset-Backed Financing for Franchise Owners
There are many ways to finance the purchase of a franchise unit. One that few aspiring business owners consider for …
Considering Franchisor Financing? Here’s What You Should Know.
Does the franchise you're considering offer franchisor financing? These programs are a popular way to cover the startup costs of …
Studying Your Target Franchise’s Requirements
Every franchise has a set of requirements prospective owners must meet to begin the ownership process. In this article, you'll …
Who’s on Your Team: Navigating Franchise Brokers, Coaches, and Consultants
When searching for a franchise, you may come across a franchise broker, coach, or consultant who offers to help you …
Smart Play: Franchise Resale Opportunities
Sometimes, it's better to buy an existing franchise unit than start a new one. The benefits of these “franchise resale” …
Considering a Franchise? Here's How to Make a Smart Call.
Thinking of owning a business? Franchises make it easy. Still, these opportunities shouldn't be pursued without some careful consideration. You'll …
Get Started with Advertising on Social Media Platforms
If you want to boost your business, advertising on social media is a must. Unlike the old-school approaches of newspaper …
Social Media Campaigns: How to Track Your Success
Using social media for your business is vital, but it’s not enough to simply post content. You need to track …
It May Be Time to Update Your Business’s Logo
Over time, some logos grow stale. This is especially true for logos that lean heavily into a design element that’s …
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 …
Why You Should Spend Time Writing a Great Job Posting
When you post a job, you’re presenting your business to a wide pool of candidates for the very first time. …
Solution Finder: Online Point-of-Sale Systems
Virtually every business needs a system to collect payment and track sales. New point-of-sale (POS) systems are robust tools and …
Solution Finder: Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
If you employ others—and plan to make more hires as you grow and scale your business—consider applicant tracking systems (ATS) …
Schedule Smarter: How to Staff Your Business to Save Costs and Minimize Stress
Employee scheduling can be a manager’s nightmare, but it’s a must-do task for accomplishing workflows, meeting customer demands, and accommodating …
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, …
Learn to Delegate Business-Critical Tasks
Many small business owners find it hard to delegate tasks, not only because their business is a product of their …
The Right Accountant for Your Acquisition
A knowledgeable business accountant is a must for any small business acquisition—and for all the work that follows. Here's why: …
Conduct Your Own Competitive Analysis in Ten Simple Steps
Competitive analysis can help you identify your competitors, find out what and how they’re selling to their customer base, and …
The Pros and Cons of Buying an Established Business
Before you decide whether buying a business is the right path for you, take some time to learn about the …
Lease-to-Buy: Could It Work for Your Acquisition?
There are lots of ways to finance a business acquisition. Few prospective business owners consider lease-to-buy, an option that can …
How to Renegotiate a Purchase with the Seller
Due diligence is one of the most important tasks you’ll take on when buying a business. Through the process, you’ll …
How to Find Businesses That Are for Sale
After you look into the benefits and risks of acquiring a small business and decide which kinds of operations suit …
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 …
What You Need to Know About Debt Consolidation Loans for Your Business
Business debts can build up. With high costs of startup, ballooning operating inputs, economic fallouts, and other expenses, it can …
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 …
Setting Up Terms and Conditions That Will Protect Your Business
Does your business need terms and conditions for product use, services, your websites, or other parts of your operations? Often, …
How to Review Vendor and Supplier Contracts
Your business may depend on numerous vendors, suppliers, and distributors who have unique policies, procedures, and practices. Before signing agreements …
Safeguard Your Business from Modern Security Threats
Security threats to businesses have evolved. Five years ago, network security was mostly a function to keep hardware assets operating …
Transfer the Ownership of Your Business to a Trust
As a business owner, you know how important it is to have a plan in place for your business. You …
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. …
Is a Distressed Business a Good Opportunity?
Distressed businesses exist in every industry. Some can be great opportunities, especially when they're purchased for a low price and …
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 …
How to Find a Second Business to Acquire
If you own a business and are interested in growth, you may want to find a second business to acquire. …
Find an Accountant for Your Acquisition
A knowledgeable business accountant is a must for any small business acquisition—and for all the work that follows. Here's why: …
How to Renegotiate with the Seller
Due diligence is one of the most important tasks you’ll take on when buying a business. Through the process, you’ll …
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 …