Startup
How to Know Which Local Events to Sponsor with a Franchise
When you open your franchise, and possibly even before your doors are open, you will undoubtedly be approached by organizations in your community about sponsorships. School clubs need someone to sponsor their programs. The local…
Office Culture Gives a Kick to Your Business Performance
It’s not all about cash flow and sales in a small business. Office culture makes a big difference, too! How people feel in a particular environment can have a big impact on how well they…
Prevent These Common Franchise Challenges
Small business owners have come to understand the importance of having a strong online presence. A well-designed website and top positioning on search engines are particularly essential to this effort. But, small franchise businesses have…
8 Ways to Get Off the Ground with Angel Investors
Angel investors are still the lifeblood of early-stage startups, despite the surge of activity in crowdfunding and an increasing early interest from venture capitalists. According to the Angel Capital Association, at least 300,000 people have made…
3 Franchise Ideas for Creative Minded People
Many times, the people who choose to enter the world of franchising are creative. These are the people who embrace the path to entrepreneurship. Does that sound like you? Not every franchise is built to…
How to Safely Secure Financing for Your Business
If you need financing, what’s the first thing you should do? Head to the bank? Post on Kickstarter? Go on ABC’s “Shark Tank”? In a world where the finance industry has developed a product to…
3 Marketing Tips on a Budget
According to a recent survey, only 15 percent of business owners spend more than $1,000 on marketing each month, while sole-proprietorships spend an average of just $290. In other words, chances are if you own…
5 Ways to Get Other People to Market Your Franchise
When you first open your doors, how will you let your community know you’re in the neighborhood? How will you market your franchise? Most marketing plans, in the beginning, consist of sending out flyers, putting…
Your Startup May Need a Surety Bond
Many new, first-time business owners don’t know about surety bonds until they find out they are required to have them—usually as part of the licensing process. Typically, a government agency in your state or county…
Feeling Unproductive? Why Less Red Might be the Answer
When it comes to concentration, overall quality of work and productivity, our surroundings can have a significant influence. In fact, according to a workplace performance index created by Gensler and Precision Consulting, the single most…