Start Your Business Library
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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: Portfolio Loans
Portfolio loans are one of many options you can pursue to raise cash for your small business. Sometimes called a …
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 …
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: …
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 …
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 …
Term Loans for Franchisees
When it comes to financing a franchise opportunity, loans are one of the most common sources of capital. Many commercial …
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 …
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 …
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 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 …
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 …
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. …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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, …
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 …
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 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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Smart Play: Buy a Low-Risk, High-Margin Business in a Growing Industry
If want to buy a business, then you’ve probably thought about operating one that’s novel, trendy, or exciting—one that’ll impress …
Pro Tip: Set Up an Entity Before Buying a Business
When most people set out to “buy a business,” what they’re really doing is buying a company’s assets. Many are …
Small Business Basics: Choose a Business Structure
As you work through the steps of starting your business, you’ll need to choose a business structure. The choice you …
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 …
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 …
How to Interview Vendors and Suppliers for Your Business
If the success of your business depends on inventory, parts, inputs, or other entities’ products, you'll vendors and suppliers who …
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 …
Understanding Small Business Income Tax
Is your business required to pay small business income tax? The answer is that it depends on your business structure. …
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 …
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 …
Tips for Forming a Partnership to Start a Business
It can be expensive to start a new business. Partnering with another person can be a great way to cover …
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 Loan
There are many ways to finance a business. One that few business owners consider is an asset-backed loan, an option …
Your Go-to Guide to Raising Capital for a Startup
Real estate, equipment, inventory, technologies, wages, and insurance are some of the many costs you’ll need to cover when starting …
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 …
Small Business Financing 101: Angel Investors
Angel investors are individuals or networks of people who want to find and invest in new, small, or growing businesses …
Small Business Basics: Permits and Licenses
Do you need a permit or license to run your small business? You might, depending on your line of work, …
Small Business Basics: Sign Up For a Business Credit Card
Obtaining a small business bank account is important, but you should also get a business credit card to track your …
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 where they'll conduct “business activities.” These activities might include …
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, …
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 …
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 …
Finance Your New Franchise with an SBA Loan
If you plan to buy into a franchise, you may be wondering about the SBA loan program you can use …
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 …
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 …
Buy a Business That Is Not for Sale
If you're an aspiring entrepreneur who wants to buy a business instead of starting one from scratch, you likely know …
How to Find a Manufacturer for Your Products
If you decide to outsource production, you’ll need to find a manufacturer that can meet your timelines, standards for quality, …
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 …
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, it's important to spend time assessing …
Your Go-to Guide to Financing a Franchise
Franchise fees, real estate, equipment, and inventory are some of the many costs you’ll need to cover when starting a …
Your Go-to Guide to Commercial Leases
If you choose to rent a storefront or commercial property for your business, you may need to sign and abide …
Why Seller Financing Can Be a Great Source of Capital
Seller financing is often a great option for buying a business. Let's dive into what it is and why it …
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. …
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. …
Preliminary Due Diligence: How to Evaluate a Business Before Buying It
It can be exciting to find a small business that meets your criteria for acquisition. But do you know how …
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 best …
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 …
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 …
Your Go-to Guide for Financing an Acquisition
Have you thought about taking out a loan to buy a business? Many owners do. There are lots of loan …
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 …
What Kind of Insurance Do I Need for My Business?
Have you thought about the types of insurance your business will need? If you haven't, take time right now to …
Assess Your Skills, Interests, and Goals Before Searching for a Franchise Opportunity
If you're like many aspiring business owners, you know the benefits of opening and operating a franchise unit. But you …
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 …
Location Can Be the Make or Break Factor for Your Franchise's Success
Most franchisors provide their franchise unit owners with a territory in which they can own and operate a business. For …
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 …
Considering a Franchise? Here's How to Make a Smart Call.
Thinking of owning a business? Franchises make it easy, but it's risky to go after any opportunity without some careful …
Restaurant Loans and Other Ways to Raise Cash
Real estate, equipment, inventory, technologies, wages, and insurance are some of the many costs you’ll need to cover when starting …
Small Business Basics: How to Attain a Mailing Address for Your Home-Based Business
Do you need a separate mailing address for your business? Many small business owners say yes. That's because there are …
Which Path to Entrepreneurship Is Right for You?
Wondering how to become a business owner? There’s more than one way to reach this goal. In this article, we’ll …
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 …
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 …
Should You Outsource Your Manufacturing or Produce Your Products Onsite?
Outsource manufacturing or produce on-site? You'll need to give this question some thought as you decide how and where you’ll …
Small Business Financing 101: What Is Creditor Insurance?
When you take out a mortgage, loan, or line of credit for your small business, your lender may ask you …
Write a Business Plan to Finance Your Startup
If you're applying for a loan, grant, or another form of funding for your new business, you'll need to create …
Where to Start When Starting a Business
When you're starting a business, you need a plan—a checklist—that will help you stay organized and ensure that you're covering …
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 Basics: Attaining a Business Bank Account
Ready to spend money on your business or accept money from your customers? If so, you'll need to take on …
Loans to Consider to Buy a Business
Loans are one of the most common sources of capital owners use to buy a business. Many banks offer three …
Nine Tasks to Take on Before Buying a Franchise
Thinking of buying a franchise? You aren't alone. The number of people interested in this path is on the rise, …
Pre-acquisition Action Items: Steps You Must Take Before Buying a Business
Buying a business is a complex process. One of the smartest moves you can make is to spend time studying …
