Category Archives: Resources

Venture capitalist is a broad term used to describe investors that make “high risk” investments in young companies. These investments typically involve equity (ownership) positions, but are often combined with debt. Why would I seek venture capital for my company? … Continue reading →

Getting a small business loan is not easy. Here are some tips from Robert Seiwert that offer a glimpse into how bankers think. 1. Get to know  bankers at several  institutions. Find out which banks in your area make loans … Continue reading →

You cannot operate a business at home successfully if you try to do it in a casual, ill-planned way. First, find out if you are suited for a business in a domestic environment.  To be successful, you must treat your … Continue reading →

This is excerpted from an article written by David F. Carr for Forbes magazine. Not long ago, I was helping a small business set up a new e-mail system when the owner’s assistant told me to set her password to the … Continue reading →

Step1: Determine unique characteristics, approximate size and location of your trading area. How far will your average customer travel?  The Statistics Family Expenditure Survey can identify what the average household spends on goods and services. Population forecasts for your area … Continue reading →

What is cash flow, and why is it important? Simply, cash flow shows how cash comes into and goes out of a business. Cash flow statements report where money comes from, where it goes and when the cash flows occur. … Continue reading →

In his book, The Road Ahead, Bill Gates of Microsoft writes of “friction-free capitalism” made possible by developments in communications, chief among them the Internet and its World Wide Web. In this context, “friction” is everything that keeps markets from … Continue reading →

Background work assess your strengths and weaknesses establish business and personal goals assess your financial resources identify the financial risks determine the start-up costs decide on your business location do market research identify your customers identify your competitors develop a … Continue reading →

 The “spark” for many entrepreneurs is seeing an opportunity that doesn’t yet exist. Ted Turner, for example, launched CNN because he perceived that people wanted more television news than they were being offered. It took a lot of patience on … Continue reading →

It helps to improve your chance of success if you know what not to do. The most frequently cited reasons for start-up business failure are: Lack of money: This is the equivalent of saying the patient died because he or … Continue reading →