Death and Disability: Is Your Franchise Unit Protected?

It’s hard to consider certain possibilities in our life. Whether it’s creating a will, designing an exit plan, or getting affairs in order, people naturally stray away from activities that have to do with their potential demise or disability in the future. I admit planning for the possible early end to your life is never…

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7 Keys to Making a Micro-Business Your Success Path

In the last few years, I’ve heard more and more about a new type of small business, called a “micro-business” (or micro-enterprise). These are usually characterized as owner-operated, with five employees or less, and less than $250,000 in sales. With the low cost of e-commence entry, and powerful Internet technologies, they require minimal capital to…

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Avoid These 3 Risks When Seeking Investors

Becoming a small business owner is a stressful prospect. Even the most experienced in their field struggle when they go from being under the safe gaze of a corporation to being completely on their own. Double that stress when it comes to financing their venture. Even bootstrap startups are going to struggle with funding after…

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The 3 Most Powerful Words for Startups

If you understand them, you can help any size company succeed. In my last article, I spoke about a growing and costly language gap between big businesses and startups and why bridging it is critical. The reason is simple. Large and small businesses need each other. Startups need large businesses because they have the systems, brand awareness, distribution and expertise…

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The 3 Words That Matter Most to Entrepreneurs

There is a growing and costly language gap between big businesses and startups, and the stakes have never been higher. News flash #1: Startups could really use the help of large businesses. Established companies have the systems, brand awareness, distribution and expertise to turn the seeds of ideas into flourishing gardens of possibility. #JustwhatIneed News flash #2: Established businesses…

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How to Be Innovative after Years of Doing the Same Thing

In today’s crowded marketplace, innovation is a key factor for any self-respecting company that wants to constantly evolve and achieve new things. But the reality is that there are plenty of obstacles along the way, including boredom, restlessness and an understandable amount of fluctuation in the enthusiasm department. So how should a business go about…

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4 Ways to Give Your Small Business More Online Security

Picture this: you just started a small business. You’re growing your company, adding new contacts, new customers, and increasing your profits. You’re busier than you’ve ever been before. But then something happens. Your website gets hacked. Highly sensitive information is exposed. There are liabilities, legalities, and you’re at a loss. You’re devastated. Your once-beautiful dream…

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A Brief Guide on Workers’ Compensation

From incidents such as a fractured bone or arthritis to the most unfortunate cases, up to and including death, both employees and employers should know the basic information and tools regarding employee claims and workers’ compensation. Can Incidents Be Avoided? Below is a list of accidents, injuries, and conditions that employees may encounter during the…

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10 Strategies to Minimize the Perils of a Startup

There is an old saying that good lawyers run away from risk, while good businessmen run towards risk. Entrepreneurs see “no risk” as meaning “no reward.” In reality, all risks are not the same. Many risks can be managed or calculated to improve growth or provide a competitive edge, while others, like skipping quality checks…

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Comfort Zones Aren’t All That Comfortable

The origin of the phrase ‘comfort zone’ is a tricky one, mostly because we all have a personal definition and understanding of the term. But when it comes to performance, it’s relatively straightforward: the comfort zone is a behavioral state in which a person operates in an anxiety-neutral condition, using a limited set of behaviors to…

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