Posts Tagged ‘Getting Started’
4 Effective Tools for Breaking into Real Estate
The diploma’s in your hand. You’re smiling for pictures and savoring the moment of triumph. You did it; college is over—but now it’s time to find a job. That’s the tricky, existentially dreadful part. You’re just starting out, with fewer funds than you might like, loans and bills, and no connections or cred to your…
Read MoreHow to Market Research Like a Pro
Researching your particular market for the latest insights into what consumers want is a vital aspect of any contemporary business’s success, but many of today’s professionals are struggling to really tackle market research like a pro. While we’re often told that third-party outsourcing is the simplest and most effective way to research our markets, for…
Read More7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Considering Franchising
If you’re considering franchising as an alternative to your 9-to-5, you’ve come to the right place. But wait! Before you make any rash decisions, like quitting your job, there are a few things you should consider first. Yes, franchising is a great way to own your own business because it’s a concept proven to work,…
Read More8 Tips for Quantifying Traction in Your New Venture
What is the definition of traction for a business startup today? According to most investors I know, traction is some clear evidence that the “dogs are eating the dog food”—usually meaning that you have at least one customer paying full price for your solution. If your phone app or service is free, then the number…
Read MoreDo You Want to Control Your Business Destiny?
There is nothing quite as thrilling in business as igniting a startup and watching it blossom. Especially when starting a company with personal savings or money from relatives and friends, early signs of success are intoxicating. Each new customer, each mention in the press or online adds to the feeling of early accomplishment. And it…
Read MoreFranchising: Your Escape from Corporate America
Corporate America provides you (and your family) with stability. It gives you a steady paycheck, health benefits and more. All you have to do is work…which can sometimes seem like a life sentence. You slave away from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M.—and more often than not, you work overtime, including weekends—taking precious time away from…
Read More7 Tips to Test Your Idea as a Part-Time Entrepreneur
Many experts will tell you that you can’t succeed as a part-time entrepreneur, as any good startup will require a 100 percent commitment of your time and energy. But not many of us have enough savings to live for a year or more without a salary, fund the startup, and still feed the family. Thus…
Read MoreFranchise Funding: Preparing to Finance Your Franchise
So, you’ve identified the golden franchise opportunity that suits your skill set and needs. What’s next? Funding. Two significant expenses to consider are the initial franchise fee and ongoing royalties. The franchise fee is the nonrefundable, one-time price to operate a franchise using the franchisor’s model. You usually have the choice to pay it in one lump sum…
Read MoreQuick Stay-at-Home Guide to Starting a Small Business
Many parents are opting to stay at home while the kids are growing up. Some are supplementing their family’s income by working from home, often launching a new business enterprise there. Here’s a quick stay-at-home guide for starting your own small business. Decide on Your Business Structure Most in-home businesses begin as sole proprietorships. This…
Read More7 Keys to Improving the Odds on Your New Idea Success
In my experience, consummate entrepreneurs tend come up with more startup ideas than they can ever implement, and some of the ideas may not even make business sense. But how does any entrepreneur know which ideas to implement, and which ones are best left behind? After all, most great breakthroughs, like a computer in every…
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