Starting your business

You have a business idea. Now it's time to turn it into a reality with these how-to guides and practical tips that will set you up for success.

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How to Start a Life Coaching Business

Learn how to start a life coaching business and grow it, beginning with a business plan to identify your niche and establishing an online presence for your business.

8 Simple Steps to Starting and Growing a Towing Company

Learn how to start a tow truck business with this helpful guide. Plan out the moving parts of a towing business and find a winning strategy to grow yours.

What Are the Benefits of Direct-to-Consumers Businesses Over B2B and B2C?

Learn the similarities and differences between companies that are structured to function as direct-to-consumers, business-to-business and business-to-consumers.

How to Prepare for Your Business Grand Opening (With 10 Grand Opening Ideas)

Take these steps to narrow down and finalize your grand opening ideas for your new business. Having a clear plan for your grand opening makes the event go smoothly.

Casual vs. Fine Dining: What to Know When Starting a Restaurant

Learn about casual vs. fine dining definitions and all the differences and factors to consider when starting your own casual or fine dining restaurant.

Start and Grow Your Dump Truck Business

Do you know how to start a dump truck business? This is a promising field to get into for truckers and entrepreneurs alike. Find out what you need to know.

How to Start a Home Daycare

Learn how to start a home daycare. Find out how childcare can be a rewarding and lucrative career opportunity for people who like working with children.

13 Steps to Turn Your Business Idea Into a Workable Strategy

Give your latest business idea a shot at success. Learn how to turn an idea into a business plan that transforms your concept into a tangible product people can use.

Are You Ready To Be an Owner Operator?

Find out if it's time for you to take control of your truck driving career as an owner operator and what steps are necessary to start your new business.

Why Defining Responsibility in a Workplace Is a Must

Outlining the responsibilities of each employee in your workplace can promote key factors that contribute to an effective business. Learn more here.

Food Cost Formula: How and Why to Calculate It

Understand what the food cost formula is, how to calculate food cost percentage and how to use food cost percentages to improve your restaurant’s cost efficiency.

The Basics of Opening a Bakery

Explore the costs, financing and permits needed when opening a bakery. Get tips on how to open a bakery and hire employees to help your startup succeed.

Commercial Truck Leasing: A Guide for Business Owners

Learn all about leasing a commercial truck for your business in this guide, which covers leasing vs purchase, advantages of leasing and costs to expect.

When and How to Increase Prices

Determine if and when your business should increase product or service prices, and learn about methods for raising prices without losing customers or revenue.

Business Name Generator

Consider using one or more of these 26 company name generators to help you find the best name for your business.

How to Calculate Profit Margin for Your Small Business

Learn how to calculate profit margin and measure the health and performance of your business. Here are three different profit margin formula examples.

What Are Small Business Grants and How to Get Them

Find out more about small business grants, including who is eligible, where to find them and simple tips about ensuring your application process starts well.

21 Small Business Associations to Know

Learn how small business associations can benefit small business owners like you, leading to increased success through networking, education and support.

Employer's Guide to Understanding IRS CP-575 Form

Find out what IRS Form CP-575 is and what it means for your business. Learn why it's important to save it in a secure location and what to do if it's misplaced.

An Intro to Tax ID Numbers for Small Businesses

Find out more about tax IDs and which ones you might need for your business.

Hobby vs. Business: Pros and Cons, the Logistics and More

Learn about the different hobby vs. business pros and cons, how to turn your hobby into a business and when to make the transition.

Running a Business from Your Home: Pros and Cons

Weigh the pros and cons of running a home business, and learn tips for running a successful home-based business if you decide it's right for you.

Recovering from Business Failures

Recover from even the worst business failures quickly and profitably by following these crucial strategic steps.

10 Tips for Acquiring Your First Clients or Customers

Explore tips for acquiring your first client, including how to target and attract the right customers.

Hiring and Managing Employees in a Family-Owned Business

Manage your family-owned business effectively and fairly with these helpful tips, whether you only work with family or share duties with non-family employees.

How to Find a Business Partner (and vet them)

Find a business partner to help your company grow. From silent partners to general partnerships, there are multiple partnership options to consider.

Comparing Small Business Checking Accounts

Find the best small business checking account for your business. Learn the pros and cons of each to help you make the right choice for you.

What Does Price Elasticity Mean for Small Businesses?

Find out what price elasticity means and how it helps businesses determine the optimal price for their products.

How to Start a Business: Do's and Don'ts

Thinking about starting a business but unsure of where to begin? Use this guide to understand the steps you need to take to lay a foundation for your business' success.

Business Licences and Permits: An Overview

Learn about business licenses and permits you may need for your own business in this comprehensive guide.

VA Business Loans: An Overview

VA loans help veterans and their loved ones achieve their career goals. Learn more in this comprehensive guide.

Opening a Franchise: Do's and Don'ts

Learn what a franchise is, dos and don'ts when opening one, the costs involved and how to hire employees to work at the franchise.

How to Choose the Right Project Management Methodology for Your Business

Learn about some of the main project management methodologies used today and discover how they can benefit your business workflow.

Getting a Business Coach: How to Find a Good Fit

Discover the benefits of working with a business coach and how to find a coach that meets your professional needs.

Common Office Layouts: How To Choose the Best One for Your Business

Learn what an office layout is, possible office layout options for your business and tips for picking the best layout for your company.

Making an Operational Plan for Your Business: Key Concepts

Operational plans are a useful business tool. Learn what an operational plan is and how to write one. Review answers to frequently asked questions about these documents.

Choosing a PR Agency: 5 Considerations

Learn what public relations is, the services PR agencies offer, what to look for in a PR agency and how to choose the best one for you.

Veteran-Owned Business? Benefits and How to Get Certified

Learn what a veteran-owned business is, the benefits of getting certified and how your business can potentially qualify.

Website vs Mobile Apps: What's Right for Your Business?

Learn what a mobile website and app are, discover the differences between the two, and review tips for choosing the best one for your business.

Women- and Minority-Owned Business: How to Get Certified

Learn what a women- and minority-owned business is, what it means to get certified and how your business can earn its certification.

What Is a Small Business? Understanding Definitions and Benefits

Learn the qualifications to be considered a small business for various industries.

How to Start an Online Business: Best Practices for Entrepreneurs

Learn how to start an online business including projecting costs and creating a business plan.

A Guide to Accounting Software for Your Small Business

Learn why it's important for a small business to use accounting software, view features to look for and explore possible options to consider.

Wholesale Buying: Steps for Your Business

Wholesale buying allows businesses to acquire products and materials at an affordable price point. Learn more in this comprehensive guide.

Budgeting in Business: Best Practices and Examples

Learn about best practices for creating and maintaining a business budget.

What Is the Definition of Target Audience? An Introduction

Identifying your target audience is an important part of creating effective advertisements. Learn the target audience definition and the importance of this term.

Donations for Tax Deductions: A Guide for Businesses

Learn everything you need to know about tax deductions for donations to make smart financial decisions for your business, including how to claim exemptions and how to choose a charity.

Registering a Domain Name for Your Business: Best Practices

Learn what a domain name is, why you need one and how to set up a business domain name.

Starting, Growing and Managing a Fully Remote Business

Tips for identifying (or pivoting to) a new remote business opportunity and hiring and managing a distributed team.

Business Loan Rates: Key Considerations

Learn what business loans and business loan rates are as well as some of the most common business loans and the average loan rates for each.

Small Business Insurance: What Policies Do You Need?

Learn about the types of insurance that small businesses should consider.

Series A, Series B and Series C Funding: How Do They Work?

Learn about the purpose of Series A, B and C funding and how each impacts a business.

Break-Even Analysis: A Guide for Business Owners (With Examples)

Learn about what breaking even means and how to perform a break-even analysis for your business.

How to Get a DUNS Number for Your Business

Learn about why a DUNS number is important to your business, plus steps on how to register.

How to Start a Social Media Management Company

Learn the benefits of starting a social media management company, types of services to offer, how to hire employees and the best ways to market your company.

How to Start a Pool Cleaning Business

Learn how to start your own pool cleaning service, how much money you'll need, how to register your small business and the best ways to market your company.

How to Start a Landscaping Business

Learn how to start your own landscaping business, explore the benefits, how to register, how to hire employees and ways to market.

How to Start Your Own Direct Sales Company

Learn what a direct sales company is, how to start one, how to determine the products you'll sell, the estimate of how much it'll cost and ways to market it.

How to Start a Bar: An Overview

Learn how to start a bar and the necessary steps to welcome patrons. Consider marketing, licenses and permits to ensure you're ready for the marketplace.

How to Start a Catering Business

Learn the basics of running your own catering company including coming up with a concept, hiring employees and finding loyal customers.

How to Start a Clothing Line

You have many options when it comes to starting a clothing line. Learn how to go about writing a business plan, establishing prices and creating a marketing strategy for your new clothing line.

Starting a Construction Company: Key Considerations

Starting a construction company takes time and research. Learn the key considerations to starting your own construction business.

How to Start a T-Shirt Business

Starting a t-shirt company requires some forethought and planning. Know what you need to do in order to run a legal and profitable t-shirt business.

How to Start a Business Website (With Downloadable Templates)

Learn how to start a website with these best practices. Select the ideal website design program, know what information to include and review answers to FAQs.

Opening a Restaurant: Startup Costs and Best Practices

Learn the basic costs and responsibilities associated with opening your own restaurant.

Creating a Marketing Plan for Your Business (With Template)

Learn how to develop a strong marketing plan to guide your business development, reach an audience and drive profits strategically.

Finding the Best Business Broker: Things to Look Out For

Learn what a business broker is and how to find one who will benefit your bottom line.

Business Grants for Women: Key Opportunities

Learn about some of the best grant opportunities for women entrepreneurs looking to establish or grow a small business.

9 Steps to Writing a Business Plan (With 2 Templates)

Use business plan templates to help you provide direction for your business, set effective goals and showcase your organization's potential to investors.

Google My Business: How to Get Started

Learn more about how you can use Google My Business to optimize your customer engagement.

Applying for an EIN: Steps to Take

Find out what exactly an EIN is, why and when you should apply for one, the steps of the application process and answers to FAQs regarding EINs.

What Is the Definition of Royalties in Business?

Learn what royalties are and how they are important to your small business.

A Guide to Angel Investors

Learn the basics of angel investing.

Minority Small Business Grants: Where to Find Them and Tips for Writing Proposals

Learn what small business grants are available for minority business owners.

Creating a Business Model Canvas: Best Practices

Learn how to use the business model canvas tool to improve company operations.

How to Get Started With an X (Twitter) Business Account (In 5 Steps)

Wondering if Twitter is the right platform for your business? Take a look at these tips on creating a Twitter account for your business.

Best Practices for Setting Up Business Email

Learn what a business email is, the benefits of having one, tips to follow when creating one and possible options for email services and domains to use.

How to Accept Credit Card Payments: An Introduction

Learn about how to start accepting credit cards at your business.

Examples of Niche Marketing for Small Business

Learn about different examples of niche marketing and how to find a niche for your business.

Investing in the Right Franchise

Learn what a franchise is and how to choose one to invest in.

Domain Name Ideas (and Alternatives) for Your Business: Best Practices

Choosing the right domain name for your website can convey your business purpose and enhance brand identity. Learn more in this comprehensive guide.

How to Determine Pricing for Your Business

Learn what pricing is in business, common types of pricing strategies and price vs. cost.

A Guide To Starting a Vending Machine Business

Start your own vending machine business by following this guide for entrepreneurs.

A Guide to Customer Relations Management

Learn the basics of customer relations management for business owners.

Creating a Marketing Strategy for Your Small Business

Learn how to develop a marketing strategy for your small business.

What Is the Definition of Sales?

Learn what selling is, the types of selling and the roles that fall under this profession. Use the list of good salesperson qualities to help you make the best hiring decision.

What Is the Definition of Publicity?

If you want to grow your business, publicity will be required so more people know about you. Here is how you can get publicity for your company.

Targeted Marketing Strategies to Accelerate Your Business

Learn what targeted marketing is and explore different strategies your business can follow to successfully target your audience.

How to Start (and Scale) a Food Truck Business

Learn about the licensing requirements, financial projections and marketable strategies that come with starting a food truck business.

What Is a Brick-and-Mortar Store?

Learn what a brick and mortar store is, advantages and disadvantages and alternatives to this type of retail method.

Gmail for Business: Best Practices for Your Business

Learn what Gmail is, the Gmail features that will most benefit your organization and best practices to keep in mind when using Gmail for Business.

Brand Marketing: Building a Business People Trust

Brand marketing builds customer loyalty and attracts top talent. Learn how to define your brand identity, create a strategy and drive growth with your story.

Best Banking Options for Your Small Business

Learn about the best banking options for your small business.

Setting Up a PayPal Business Account: An Intro

PayPal business accounts offer both benefits and drawbacks for companies. Consider what they are and how to create an account before doing so.

What is the SBA? How the Small Businesses Administration Can Help

Learn about the many funding options, training and mentorship programs available through the Small Business Administration (SBA).

What Is a Limited Liability Company (LLC)?

Starting a limited liability company is an easy way to protect your personal assets. Learn about what an LLC is and how to register for one.

Opening a Coffee Shop: A Guide for Business Owners

Learn the basics of starting a coffee business in this quick, comprehensive guide.

How to Start a Cleaning Business: An Intro

In this guide, we'll cover how to start a cleaning business.

Defining and Understanding Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

Learn about total cost of ownership including how it is calculated, how it can impact purchase decisions, how it can be used as a marketing tool and how to reduce it.

What Is a Chamber of Commerce?

In this article, we discuss what a chamber of commerce is, explain its functions and purposes, and outline how to maximize its value for your business.

Running an Advertising Campaign: A Guide for Business Owners

Effective advertising uses paid channels like print billboards, radio, TV direct mail, email and social media to reach audiences and drive customer actions.

Traits of Entrepreneurs: Real World Examples

Learn about the traits of entrepreneurs that make their start-ups successful, so you can identify your own entrepreneurial personality.

Making an Organizational Structure for a Business

Learn the steps for making an organizational structure for your business to implement policies, procedures, management expectations, and more.

Finding Investors: What Entrepreneurs Should Know

Learn about the different types of investments and what they look for in a startup.

Core Competencies: What They Are and How to Identify Them

Find out what core competencies are, examples of common core competencies and the steps you can take to determine your company’s core competencies.

The Recruitment Process: How to Attract, Hire and Onboard Top Talent

Learn about the six stages of the recruitment process lifecycle and why it's important to implement your own recruitment process right away.

Building a Compensation Strategy for Your Business

Building a compensation strategy takes time and research to attract talent and remain competitive. Learn why you need a compensation strategy and how to build one.

The Most Important Business Skills for the Workplace

Determine the type of business skills you already possess and consider three of the most important skills you need to effectively run your business.

Free Ways to Advertise Your Business Online: A Guide

Use this guide to help your business make the most of free online advertising.

What Is a Net Lease in Commercial Real Estate?

Learn all about net leases in commercial real estate and how business owners may benefit from the various types of leases.

How to Find Commercial Lease Space

Finding a commercial lease space for your new business is a matter of finding the right location, size and landlord for your particular needs.

Feasibility Studies: An Intro to Feasibility Analysis

Learn about feasibility studies in business and the steps to conduct one.