Franchising: The Advantages and Drawbacks

There are many advantages to buying a franchise over starting a business from scratch. Ordinarily a franchise offers the owner a degree of security and stability, with help, advice, and support at hand should any problems arise. There are drawbacks, however, such as the restrictions on what you can and can’t do with the business being a prime example.
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Startups Need to Embrace Zero Paid Media Marketing

The power and influence of paid media advertising, including print ads, TV commercials, radio, and even online digital campaigns is waning, in favor of unpaid earned and owned messaging from your website, social media, key market influencers, and existing customer word-of-mouth. But startups need to remember that even zero paid media doesn’t mean that marketing is free.
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In Search of the Perfect Fish Oil

When Joar Opheim was growing up in northern Norway, he competed in gymnastics, a sport known for its punishing training regimens. What Opheim didn’t imagine at the time was that, years later, he would move to the U.S. and build a thriving business producing his own high-quality fish oil.
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Crowdfunding is Being Oversold

I think so-called “crowdfunding” is being oversold. Many people seem to think it’s going to mean a lot new investment money for U.S. startups. I don’t think so. Not yet. Maybe never.
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Maximize Tax Deductions Now to Save on 2013 Taxes

Tax deductions can be quite valuable, because they reduce taxable income for the year. For example, a self-employed individual or independent contractor in the 25% tax bracket can save $25 in income tax for every $100 in deductions, while also saving as much as $15 in self-employment taxes for every $100 deduction from taxable income.
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Essential Steps to Launch a Startup, Part 3

When you have the startup capital you need to get down to business and you’ve acquired the resources you need to begin making money, you’re almost ready to open up your doors. First, though, you have to make sure you are doing all everything required to operate within the bounds of the law.
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