Featured Every year, more baby boomers are delaying retirement and trading in a relaxing round of golf for a busy day setting up shop on Main Street. In fact, just twenty years ago, only 14.8 percent of new entrepreneurs were age 55 – 64, a group that today accounts for almost 25 percent of all…
For many small business owners, business loans are a likely choice for funding, especially loans from the Small Business Administration. These loans offer low interest rates and affordable monthly payments, and are low-risk for lenders since they’re backed by the federal government. Even if…
When working on launching your new business, it makes sense to want to work with partners and vendors you’re familiar with. However, when it comes to business financing, only applying with your personal or local bank could put you at a disadvantage. Many banks across the country offer Small…
After a long career in the publishing industry, Skip Sheppard was ready to take control of his own career and become a small business owner. He looked at convenience stores, pizza shops and beyond, but it wasn’t until he went back to his roots that he found exactly what he was…
When asked about the entrepreneurial journey, Richard Hoad, co-owner of the Parsonage Inn in East Orleans, Massachusetts, says, “There’s a lot of things you have to think about, but just say ‘yes, I’m going to do it.’” Hoad’s advice is sage wisdom for anyone thinking of starting out…
Deciding to make the jump into small business ownership can be a nerve-wracking decision, especially if it means leaving a stable job (and income) to venture out on your own. How can you tell if it’s the right decision – before you’re in too deep? Business coach and franchise consultant Jeff…
From moving on to pursue another venture to finding there’s no longer money to be made, there’s a wide variety of reasons behind why some small businesses must close their doors and stop operating. Whether you’re closing a business voluntarily or not, there’s more involved with shuttering a…
All aspiring entrepreneurs want to know the secret to success. The truth is, there is no scientific formula to ensure that a startup succeeds. However, there are lessons I’ve learned along my own entrepreneurial journey—starting and running my own business and investing in many entrepreneurs as…
We’ve all sat in a job interview and been asked the dreaded question, “What’s your biggest weakness?” And somewhere along your career path, you’ve hopefully learned how to answer this question in a positive light without dropping cheesy answers like “I work too hard” or “I care too…
Picking the right business structure is one of the biggest decisions that entrepreneurs make when starting a new small business. To protect personal assets from…
No longer just a low-fat ice cream imitation, frozen yogurt has exploded in popularity over the last seven years, thanks to the emergence of tart…
An increasing number of entrepreneurs are capitalizing their small business or franchise with their own IRA or 401(k) funds, without taking a taxable distribution or…
If you’re starting a small business, one of the first lessons you’ll learn is that it takes money to make money. A business is an…