By Janet Attard
The single most important thing you can do before you apply for a business loan is to get to know the local resources available to help you. In the United States, there are a wealth of Federal, state and local resources such as the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), SCORE, and economic development agencies that exist specifically to help small businesses grow. (more…)
By Winmark Business Solutions
You can still be successful even if you don't possess every skill needed to run a small business. There are, however, certain qualities that you should possess if you're to be successful. Let's take a look at them: (more…)
By Winmark Business Solutions
If you don't want to start from scratch, buying an existing business may be an excellent alternative. Let's take a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of buying an existing business. (more…)
By Janet Attard
What does it take to start and succeed in business? That's a question I get asked a lot by startups and by owners of existing businesses that aren't living up to the owners' dreams. Although there is no one answer that fits all businesses, there are a number of practices followed by successful, happy business owners. No matter what you sell, you'll be ahead of the game if you live by these 10 essential rules for succeeding in your own business. (more…)
By Winmark Business Solutions
Starting a small business takes a lot of courage. But, as they say, courage doesn't pay the bills. To be successful — to stay in business — you need more than courage. You need a combination of hard work, skill, perseverance and good old-fashioned luck. (more…)
By Winmark Business Solutions
If you're currently employed, you have first-hand knowledge of what it's like to be an employee. If you think going into business for yourself will mostly mean doing the same thing, but for yourself, you're in for a surprise. Small business owners are responsible for the entire business, which involves a lot more than just providing goods or services. It's likely that all the administrative and managerial duties currently performed by your employer will fall on you. (more…)
By Winmark Business Solutions
Owning a small business is not just another job. It's a totally different lifestyle. You have to ask yourself whether you're ready for a complete commitment to the success of your business. Just as importantly, you have to ask your partner, if you're in a relationship, whether he or she is completely committed. (more…)
By Winmark Business Solutions
In some situations, you may want to operate your business under a different name than the one on your articles of formation or other filings. Typically, this is most true for sole proprietorships that may want to distinguish between business and personal activities, but other entity forms may do this as well to highlight different activities within an organization. (more…)
By Janet Attard
The holiday shopping season has started. The shoppers are looking in your windows, walking in your doors and making purchases. Nevertheless you could be losing sales every time a customer walks out the door. Here's why—and what you can do about it. (more…)
By Winmark Business Solutions
One of the best-known and most widely used business entity forms is the corporation. The main advantage of a corporation is the liability protection it provides the owners or shareholders of the business. Liability is limited because the corporation is a legal entity that is separate from its shareholder owners. Forming a corporation is more complicated and more expensive than forming a sole proprietorship or a simple partnership. However, the formation process is not that difficult. (more…)