Entrepreneurs can sometimes become so enamored with their own business idea that they don’t know if it’s viable. Recent statistics from the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Advocacy show that about 20 percent of small businesses fail during their first year, and a third make it to the 10-year mark. While it’s good to be passionate...

Are you writing (or rewriting) your company’s mission statement? It’s a task that can take almost as much time and thought as constructing your business plan. A company mission statement is an abbreviated version of what your business does. The best ones do wonders for the brands and corporate cultures they represent. Your mission statement...

Many people come to America to fulfill the dream of a better life. They want better access to education, employment, housing, and, at times, improved health care and a more developed infrastructure. Often, immigrant entrepreneurs start businesses, work in professional services, retail, restaurants, real estate, technology, healthcare or construction. They sometimes own franchises and small...

The vision statement and the mission statement may sound similar. They are both important aspects of business planning, branding, and goal-setting. However, they serve very different purposes. The mission statement is about your company’s commitment to its existing (or soon-to-exist) relationship with customers. Your vision statement is all about your company’s future dreams. Where the...

If you’re considering launching a startup, small business or purchasing a franchise, then you’re probably thinking about your finances. Perhaps you’ve even thought about how business credit cards can help you finance operations and manage cash flow. Yet, you want to make sure you make smart business decisions about how and when to use credit....

The internet offers a wealth of free business information and advice. You can find articles on everything from writing the perfect business plan to the ins and outs of marketing your business. While quality, in-depth articles can be valuable tools, you need to sit down and read them. I prefer business podcasts, because they’re easier to...

While there’s no age limit to entrepreneurial success, it’s younger entrepreneurs who often get more attention in the news. Every day I get an email or two from PR firms asking me to write stories about a client, often a company run by a young founder. However, if you’re starting a new business, it’s not just...

No one works harder for your business than you. It’s your baby, and you put in the blood, sweat and tears to make it a success. Of course, it’s not just your effort that propels a business toward success. You must hire incredible talent and use the most effective tools and technology to power your...

If you’re running a business, you likely already realize the importance of choosing and registering a unique business name. Your chosen name should be memorable to your customer base. But, it also should be available online. If your business name is already in use, customers will be confused. Even worse, you may find yourself on...

Nobody likes to waste money, even if they have more than they could ever need. For businesses, every dollar wasted is a dollar that could be put toward reaching additional customers or improving your products. One of the biggest problems is that too many companies spend too much toward unnecessary expenses. They often do this...