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A business owner sitting at a table counts piles of money from a grant she's won

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 …

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An attorney sits at a desk ready to help with an acquisition.

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 …

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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 …

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A person with a clipboard reviews the actions they plan to take as the new owner of a business

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 …

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Owner Actions Connect: Customer Service Consultants

Looking for a pro who can help your customer service team perform at its best? Consider these options: Owner Actions …

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The interior of an office building

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 …

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An accountant sitting at a desk in an office is ready to help an owner sell a business

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 …

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Owner Actions Connect: Collections Service Providers

Looking for a collections team to help you collect on past-due accounts? Consider these options:   Owner Actions is in …

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A business owner sets up a data room

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 …

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A person holding a tablet stands by a stack works to reduce technology downtime for a business

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, …

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A person with a magnifying glass and a pen works through an offer for a small business

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 …

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Owner Actions Connect: Bankers

Looking for a banker who can help you secure the funding you need? Consider these options: Owner Actions is in …

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Owner Actions Connect: Industrial Designers

Looking for an industrial designer who can help you prototype your idea and adjust it to its final form? Consider …

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Owner Actions Connect: Web Designers

Looking for a web designer who can help you create a site that converts visitors into paying customers? Consider these …

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Owner Actions Connect: Graphic Designers

Looking for a graphic designer who can help you create a logo, signs, or marketing materials? Consider these options: Owner …

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Owner Actions Connect: Virtual Assistants

Looking for a virtual assistant who can help you take on the tasks weighing you down? Consider these options: Owner …

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Owner Actions Connect: ROBS Advisor

Looking for a ROBS advisor who can help you use your 401(k) or retirement to fund your business idea? Consider …

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Owner Actions Connect: Manufacturing Consultants

Looking for a manufacturing consultant who can help you find efficiencies, eliminate bottlenecks, or expand your capicity? Consider these options: …

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Owner Actions Connect: Licensing Specialists

Looking for a franchise coach or consultant who can help you find franchise opportunities, understand the financing options available to …

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Owner Actions Connect: Franchise Consultants

Looking for a franchise coach or consultant who can help you find franchise opportunities, understand the financing options available to …

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Owner Actions Connect: IT Services

Looking for an IT manager who can help you with network issues, technology selection, security, and strategy? Consider these options: …

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A pile of thumbs up buttons

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 …

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A businessperson thinks carefully about his strategy to grow through acquisition.

What to Consider Before Buying an Established Business

As a business owner, you know the importance of growth. Efforts to grow organically through increased awareness, by building a …

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A person talking on the phone is ready to tell the IRS he is closing his business

Tell the IRS and Other Tax Agencies That You’re Closing Your Business

Once you’ve decided to dissolve your company, tell the IRS and your state and local tax agencies your plans for …

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A person with a pen in hand completes a form to terminate employee benefits.

How to Terminate Employee Savings and Benefit Plans

There are many steps to winding down your business’s operations. Once you fulfill your business’s outstanding orders and release your …

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A person sitting at a desk holds papers that indicate he needs to settle with creditors before closing his business

How to Settle with Creditors Before Closing Your Business

If you’re following our closing guide, then you’ve already reported your planned closure to your landlord, bank, suppliers, utility providers, …

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A person talks on the phone to report his business closure to creditors

How to Report Your Business Closure to Your Creditors

One step many owners miss in the closing process is notifying creditors. This must-do step is important because it helps …

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Owner Actions Connect: CFO

Looking for a outsourced CFO? Consider these options: Owner Actions is in no way affiliated with these providers, and we …

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A person thinks about the mistakes to avoid when buying a second business.

Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a Second Business

From overlooking key issues to making missteps in negotiations, there are mistakes to avoid when buying a second business. In …

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Host a grand opening event to celebrate your first day of operations.

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 …

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A manager browses resources to help her employees transition their health insurance plans.

Help Your Employees Transition to Government-Sponsored Health Insurance

Did your business offer health insurance? If so, you might wonder how your team will maintain health care coverage until …

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A person works at a computer to set up his web domain.

Set Up Your Web Domain

When you’re building your online presence, there are two steps you’ll need to take right away: claim your domain name …

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Be sure to share your contact information with the people you want to stay connected with.

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 …

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A person is thinking, "How do I get my business to stand out?"

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 …

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Job candidates work through the employment screening process

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 …

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A person sitting at a table is reading about how to improve her business social media profile

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, …

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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 …

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A retail storefront that may require an owner to set aside money for business construction or renovation costs

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 …

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A person types on a calculator and holds 100 dollar bills, determining how to save on equipment costs

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 …

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A person sits at a desk reading a computer to determine if portfolio loans are a wise choice for a business

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 …

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A franchise broker sits at a desk in front of a computer

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 …

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A man sitting at a computer thinks about using his retirement savings for his business acquisition.

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 …

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An accountant is sitting at a desk, prepared to help with an acquisition

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: …

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A person sitting at a desk talks on a phone, trying to find a second business to acquire

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. …

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A buyer attempting to renegotiate a deal shakes hands with a seller

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 …

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A person signs documents to make a business deal official

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 …

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A seller, a new owner, and a team of professionals work through the steps of completing a sale of a business

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 …

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A professional tax accountant is prepared to file the final tax filings for a small business

Navigate Your Final Tax Filings for Your Small Business

There are many steps to closing your business. After completing projects, selling assets, and paying debts, you’ll need to make …

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An interviewer shakes hands with an applicant while working to hire for a small business

How to Hire Employees Who Will Make Your Franchise a Success

Will your franchise succeed? The answer can depend on the people you bring on board. That’s why it’s vitally important …

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A row of storefronts that could be acquired by owners who choose to lease or buy one for their franchise site.

Lease or Buy: How to Make the Right Call for Your Franchise Location

For most franchises, location is a factor you can’t afford to get wrong. You’ll need to spend time assessing your …

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A business owner boxes up inventory and equipment he plans to sell

How to Sell Your Business’s Remaining Inventory, Equipment, and Items of Value

An important step of closing your business is selling off the assets it needed to conduct its operations. Before proceeding, …

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A calculator, which lays on a spread of hundred dollar bills, could help prospective franchisees calculate the costs of a term loan.

Term Loans for Franchisees

When it comes to financing a franchise opportunity, loans are one of the most common sources of capital. Many commercial …

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A person looks down at the customer list on his phone and will call his customers to tell them his business is closing

How to Tell Your Customers Your Business Is Closing

Ready to tell your customers about your impending closure? This is an important step you’ll need to take when you’re …

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A business owner holding cash uses a calculator to determine how much more she'll need to cover the costs of a business acquisition.

Consider Asset-Backed Financing for a Business Acquisition

There are many ways to cover the costs of a business acquisition. One that few owners consider is asset-backed financing. …

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A person sitting at a design thinks through his website design strategy.

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 …

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A picture containing cloudsDescription automatically generated

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 …

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Cash piles grow from passive income streams for a business.

How to Build Passive Sources of Income for Your Business

Most often, your revenue will come from delivering high-quality products or services to your customers. But, sometimes, you can boost …

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A person presses a pay key on a keyboard to apply discount codes

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 …

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A group of professionals sits at a table and listens to an investor pitch

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 …

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A picture containing text, computer, computer, personDescription automatically generated

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 …

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A person shakes hands to buy a business from another person to attain a competitive edge

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 …

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A team of professionals work through their first board meeting.

How to Hold Your First Board Meeting

One of the first things you’ll need to do after incorporating your business is arrange your first board meeting. This …

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A woman is struggling to juggle tasks because she needs to delegate her work.

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 …

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A team of people celebrate when hearing about their small business benefits

Small Business Benefits: Your Guide to Getting Started

One of the best ways for your small business to attract and retain an employee is by offering them benefits. …

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A person holding a tablet reads about competitive analysis

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 …

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A business owner and an attorney sit at a desk discussing the letter of intent they drafted

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 …

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A person sitting at a desk reflects on the pros and cons of buying a business

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 …

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A person at a desk is looking at his computer screen to learn about the fundamentals of buying a business

The Fundamentals of Buying a Business

Wondering how to buy a business? Many people do, especially when they see the benefits others have achieved by taking …

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A smiling hostess welcomes customers who find her restaurant.

Help Your Customers Find Your Restaurant

Your site is selected. Your team is in place. You’ve got a killer concept and a menu to match. All …

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A board of directors table has seats waiting to be filled.

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. …

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A person talks on the phone to find businesses for sale

How to Find Businesses That Are for Sale

Maybe you’ve heard about the benefits of buying a small business, and you’ve even decided which kinds of operations you …

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A person sits at a computer attempting to register a business with a state

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 …

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A manager and an employee work through one of their regular performance evaluations

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 …

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A person uses a computer to register in business directories

Directories That Can Help Others Find Your Business

Yellow pages and Who’s Who lists may not be relevant for your business today. Instead, there are many other directories …

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A person holds a credit card she obtained for business expenses.

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 …

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A new restaurant kitchen that is financed through asset-backed financing

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 …

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Two people sitting at a table read through some franchise requirements.

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 …

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A person types on a computer keyboard to search for franchise opportunities

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, …

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A person sits on a couch and reads a franchise disclosure document

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 …

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A group of managers work on ideas for collaborations

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 …

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Sixteen headshots of people who could represent a business's customer personas

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 …

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A person sitting at a computer decides whether to invest in a distressed business.

Should I Buy a Distressed Business?

You can find distressed businesses in every industry. Some can be great opportunities, especially if they can be bought for …

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Security cameras improve the security of a business

Site Security: How to Protect Your Business Location

Theft and vandalism are two security problems that could drive up costs for your business. There are costs to replacing …

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An approved stamp is used on a patent or trademark application

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 …

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A person in an office smiles while considering a franchise model to grow his business

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 …

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A person sitting at a desk uses tax software for a small business

Solution Finder: Tax Software

Business taxes can be challenging to navigate, but tax software solutions can make tasks like state and federal filings and …

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A person holds a credit card while using a payment processing system

Solution Finder: Payment Processing Systems

Almost every brick-and-mortar business—and those with on-the-go sales teams—needs a physical system for processing payments. When your team needs to …

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CRM systems

Solution Finder: Customer Relationship Management Systems

With customer relationship management (CRM) systems, you can manage your customer data across every part of your business. Many of …

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A person at a computer is on the phone working with a ROBS advisor to set up a rollover as business startup from his 401(k).

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 …

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A modern-looking cafe sits in a great location for a restaurant: right on the corner of a popular area.

Find a Great Location for Your Restaurant

Need a great location for your restaurant? Lots of factors come into play. To start, you’ll want to be close …

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A prospective franchise unit owner considers asset-backed financing.

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 …

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Two prospective franchise unit owners read a franchisor financing terms document with another professional

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 …

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A designer works on creating a logo for a business.

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 …

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Two people sitting at a desk enjoy the benefits of partnership

Partnering to Raise the Capital You Need to Buy a Business

It can be expensive to buy a business. In many cases, the costs are far higher than a person can …

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Adding machine tape shows many inputs as an owner tallies up his startup costs.

Small Business Financing 101: Estimating Startup Costs

What does it cost to start a business? It varies for every company, but having a guide you can depend …

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A person shakes hands to buy a business.

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 …

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A person holding a pen signs documents to dissolve a business

How to Formally Dissolve Your Business

If your business is organized as a partnership, LLC, or corporation, then you may need to file dissolution paperwork to …

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It's easy to set up email addresses that suit your small business.

Small Business Basics: How to Set Up Email Addresses for Your Small Business

Every small business needs an email address to communicate with customers, vendors, distributors, and employees. Many need multiple addresses, not …

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Two people sit at a desk and read an LOI document

The Reasons 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 …

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An accountant sits at a desk with a computer, reviewing financial documents.

Find an Accountant for Your Acquisition

You’ll need to find a knowledgeable business accountant for any small business acquisition—and for all the work that follows. Here’s …

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