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Buy a Business, Start a Business or Buy a Franchise?
Should you Buy a Business, Start a Business or Buy a Franchise? Which is best for you? What are the pros and cons of each choice? This compact chart will help with your decision making.
Holiday Books on Finance and Entrepreneurship
A list of recent books (partially via NDE) of possible interest to entrepreneurs and investors. To be upfront, the only ones on the list that I have read are the first two -- Schramm's and Fisher's, which are both excellent -- and so with the rest you're on your own:
Build Your Boats Before You Need Them
A lot of folks thinking about starting a business spend all their time doing the typical start-up stuff like incorporating, finding office space, and designing business cards. All good and needed steps mind you, but don’t neglect the most important step.
Top Ten Myths of Entrepreneurship
This is a guest post by Scott Shane as a follow up to his entrepreneurship test. He is the A. Malachi Mixon Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies at Case Western Reserve University. He is the author of seven books, the latest of which is The Illusions of Entrepreneurship: The Costly Myths That Entrepreneurs, Investors, and Policy Makers Live By. Many entrepreneurs believe a bunch of myths about entrepreneurship, so here are ten of the most common and the realities that bust them:

Build your you hub
Today’s happening small business entrepreneur has several businesses, maintains multiple web sites, blogs at a couple places, has written a book, and has profiles on half a dozen social network sites. I havn’t even mentioned that they have also thrown themselves into a couple cool new beta start-ups, projects and fun not-for-profit adventures.
The Art of Speed: Conversations with Monster Makers
I had a blast organizing and moderating the “Art of Speed” panel at the incredible SXSW conference a few months ago. It was standing room only (at least from what I could see), and I learned a ton from some of the best at creating monster hits.
Do You Really Know Bill Gates? The Myth of Entrepreneur as Risk-Taker
Before I had to establish my no-blurb/no-review policy for books due to volume (picture: one day’s mail), I received an e-mail from Rick Smith, the founding CEO of the World 50, one of the most exclusive senior executive networking companies on the planet, with members and contributors like Bono, Francis Ford Coppola, and Phil Knight…

How Small Business Can Also Offer Perfect Customer Service
Internet has made business operations easy and at the same time extremely difficult too. While you have better access to target markets, your customers have similar access to your prospects. Just one dissatisfied customer can negatively influence hundreds of other people online. Poor customer service can mar your company’s growth and can even bring your business down permanently. So, if your customers are not happy with your service (and they might not tell you directly about it) – then you have a thing or two to worry about.
Web Design & Development - Why the Huge Range in Pricing?
As in any industry where people specialize, the specialists can be costly and the freelancers generally cheaper. This holds true for the web development industry. Unfortunately, paying a higher price is no guarantee that your web site will be developed with the traditional creative and writing skills required for the design portion of the site. On the reverse side, using a freelancer because ‘it’s a great deal’ may get you great design but also a site that hasn’t been developed for user functionality and vice a versa. Design and web development are two distinct skill sets.

The Rising Cost of Healthcare…Can Small Business Keep Up?
Three words. Health Care Reform. Combined, they have become a hot topic in recent months. Although the thought of any reform on America’s health care will affect all Americans, a special group of interest is small business. As Capitol Hill struggles to create a bill that will satisfy all, small businesses face a critical turning point in regards to keeping up with healthcare changes.
Factoring Offers Hope for Companies Struggling with Cash Flow
Major companies have steadily increased the lag time in paying invoices which can stretch smaller firms significantly. Consider factoring, or selling off accounts receivables for instant cash. Factoring can help companies gear up for busy seasons or survive challenging times.
Factoring Can Provide Funds for Businesses in a Cash Flow Crunch
The process of factoring, or selling off accounts receivables, can be a valuable lifeline when companies hit a cash flow crunch. Find the right partner by seeking out a funding firm that deals with exactly your specifications. How does factoring work and what should you ask before getting involved?
Start A Business - Out Of The Comfort Of Your Own Home
Everyone dreams of starting their own business, but surprisingly few people actually go through with it. This is uncalled for, because it is now easier than ever before to start a business and live the lifestyle that you have always dreamed of. With the internet offering more opportunities than ever before to start earning the money that will exceed many expectations, giving people the chance to have more free time, travel, and set their own hours without the demands of a boss or manager. This greatly increases one's quality of life and leads to a decrease in stress.

Remedy #2 for product launches & start ups -- "Plan."
A strong, well-thought-out plan is essential for three reasons: 1. It's necessary to convince management/investors they should buy into the idea 2. It helps collaborators know what's needed to accomplish the mission 3. It forces you to think through all the potential pitfalls that may arise
Remedy #1 for product launches/start ups: Part 2
Beware of these 3 serious errors: 1. Incorrectly identifying your prospects' real & recognized needs 2. Failure to properly & precisely position your product 3. Overestimating/Underestimating the size of the market -- both in units & dollars
M is for Marketing
If you’re just starting up in business, marketing is probably the most crucial element for you. Get this wrong and you don’t have a business. Get it right and you could take off like a rocket!
The Instruction Manual for the Entrepreneur’s Mind
What are the secrets of the world's most successful entrepreneurs? Open the instruction manual for the entrepreneur's mind to find out what are the mental strategies enable to do what others only dream of.
Does Your Marketing Plan Live in a Drawer?
Your marketing plan was created for a reason. The motivation being to meet revenue targets, increase market share, attract more ideal clients. How can you help make sure the plan gets put into action? Click here for tipa on turning plans into action.
Starting a Business During a Recession
When entrepreneurs start a new business they often have a nasty habit of paying little attention to whether or not the timing it right for that business idea. Some will start their business either way, no matter what the data (or the bozos) say. And some of those entrepreneurs are going to be successful in spite of the worst of odds. But today’s economic uncertainties actually puts the question of timing front and center in the entrepreneur’s minds eye.

The Small Business Grant Misnomer
Business owners seeking grants for their businesses must understand the process. Grants, just like other methods of financing, have their unique qualities. Knowing how and when to access grant funding is important in not wasting time and money, then not winning the grant.
How Home Staging Compares to Other Business Types
The Staging Diva®, compares home staging to other business types in consideration of the current economy.
The Startup investment paradox - why less is more!
Given that many business investors are on their way to the poor house, most start-ups are not going to secure investment until they become real companies. Here are five reasons why they may be better off.

Why an Outstanding Resume is Not Enough to Get an Interview: Reason 5
Many people think that a powerful, well written résumé is sufficient to give them the edge needed to secure a job interview. While an outstanding résumé is absolutely necessary, it may not always be sufficient. This is the fifth in a series of short articles which outlines the factors, other than your resume, which could determine whether you will be amongst the chosen few from the multitude.
Why Companies Go Bust – 10 Tips To Rescue It
More companies are going bust in this economic downturn. You need to read this before you become one of them.
How to overcome the fear of owning a business?
It’s a mixed feeling - both scary and exciting to own a business, especially when you are a first time business owner. The fear of failing can be overwhelming and in most cases prevents an individual from buying a business. However two things can help you overcome the fear and they are knowledge and self confidence. Sounds simple? It is simple. By the time you finish reading this article, you will know how to obtain the right information, ask the right questions, and how to think like an entrepreneur. All these actions will give you the self confidence you need to become a business owner.
The American Dream, Part II of II
This is part II of a two part article. The first part looks at the questions a prospective business owner must consider when pursing "The American Dream". In part II we will compare buying a franchise or existing business to starting a business from scratch.

This is the best time to invest in yourself and buy a business
Every day we all wake up to more negative news about the economy and the state of the financial market. We turn on the news to listen to the so called experts telling us what to do with our investments. Here is a thought that I would like everyone to consider " Invest in yourself by buying a business". I am not talking about just any business, but more specifically a Franchise business.
SEO versus PPC – The Famous Debate
I often get asked the question: “Which is better Search Engine Optimization or Pay per Click Advertising?” The truth is that both are excellent online marketing strategies and it all really depends on your existing circumstances, goals and budget.

Thrashing: The Productivity and Company Killer
Every company struggles balancing long term strategy with achieving short term goals. But many companies easily fall into the trap of taking on too many short term projects. Taken too far, it can paralyze a company and keep you from achieving your goals. Learn to recognize signs of thrashing and how to keep it from draining the life out of your company.
What I Learned From Leon Ho About Long-Term Goal Setting
When I interviewed Leon Ho, Creator and Owner lifehack.org, we chatted as if we had known each other for years but in fact, it was the first time we had spoken! The interview was great and time flew by. Leon shared his knowledge on such subjects as building customer relationships, making that jump from Technician to Manager, shaving hours off his working day, long-term goal setting, delegation skills, sharing his passion for productivity and, of course, blogging.
Enterprise Readiness Keeps Success within Your Sights
Whether you are starting a new technology company or launching a new product, you typically have less than two years before you have to be profitable. For most, that means they have to be able to sell their products to large enterprise customers. Once the clock is ticking, many crack under the pressure. But those who embrace enterprise readiness are beating the clock and their competition.
Six Factors to Entrepreneurial Success
Most of the new jobs added to this economy over the last years have been from Start-ups. But business start-ups are risky. What can be done to enhance the success of these start-ups? Here are six factors found to be consistent among most successful start-ups.

Why you should consider franchising
If you dream of one day owning your own business but are discouraged by the idea as it seems too daunting and risky, franchising could be the answer you are looking for.

What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chain/purchasing professionals today? (Survey Result 15)
There are many factors both internally as well as externally that are affecting supply chain/ procurement practices today. From the growing talent vacuum to the continuing lack of collaboration between Finance, IT and Purchasing relative to corporate initiatives. What in your own experiences and opionions are the top 3 issues that procurement professionals face?
Managing Your Virtual Workforce Effectively
Overcome virtual workforce related challenges and increase business productivity and profitability Most entrepreneurs having a virtual workforce continuously find themselves struggling with issues of communication, trust, work control, productivity and accountability. Here are some points to ponder if you wish to make your virtual workforce more efficient.

Run Business 2.0 with Web 2.0 Tools
Do you know that apart from blogs, bookmarking, and Orkuts there are many other Web 2.0 tools that you can utilize within your organization? The basic premise of Web 2.0 is the use of tools online, rather than on your desktop. It enables collaboration with a larger audience and encourages knowledge sharing – particularly useful for small businesses and start-ups. Here are some Web 2.0 tools that you can use.

Simplify Your Business With Virtual Technologies
Do you spend endless time and resources on tasks like data back-up, managing client records, collaborating different communication channels, and so on? Small businesses and start-ups can manage their business processes more efficiently by intelligently using virtual technologies. Online subscription-based services help in streamlining many critical business activities. Here are some of the virtual technology services that every small business owner should consider.

Six Life-Threatening Marketing Problems
90% of start ups don’t make it past their first year; while 90% of the survivals don’t live long enough to celebrate their 5th birth day. I don’t want to paint a gloomy picture here, but it’s the brutal fact all entrepreneurs have to face. As an education marketer, I have dealt with hundreds of business owners struggling to promote themselves through conventional advertising, and I can honestly tell you that the #1 reason for failure is lack of cash reserve to bring product to market, in another word, it’s a marketing problem. Here’s a checklist of six symptoms, and if left untreated, could develop into life threatening marketing problems.

Your billion $ idea
How do you know if your fabulous new business idea will make you fabulously rich? Read this insightful article to test your startup idea.
What does 2008 have in store for small businesses?
What does 2008 have in store for small businesses? Helen Dowling from Exceptional Thinking has a look at this topical issue.
How Do African Businesses Get Start Up Capital?
Hi again, sorry again for the long pause. It seems to be occurring more than what I would like, but things have been moving at whirlwind pace recently. Anyway, this is a question for all of you entrepreneurs, business students, professors, and others in the know on the inner workings of start ups in Africa. How did you or someone that you know get start up funds?

Venture Capital. What is it?
Venture Capital is money invested in a higher risk business than most traditional lenders will consider lending money to.

You wont necessarily get customersjust because you have a website
You won’t necessarily get customers…just because you have a website. Helen Dowling from Exceptional Thinking shows you how to turn this around.
The purpose of startup courses
Starting a business and got lots of questions in your head. Helen Dowling from Exceptional Thinking argues the case for business start-up courses.
Learning Organizations is Action Oriented
Execute. Implement. Stop talking and do something. Actions speak louder than words. If you have a learning organization, it needs to be a doing organization too. No matter how you put it, the evidence is rolling in: The distinction between so called “old economy” and “new economy” companies are overblown. Regardless of industry, knowing what to do isn’t enough. Those companies and business units that dominate their competitors win by turning knowledge into action.
Preface - E-COMMERCE FOR DEVELOPMENT: PROSPECTS AND POLICY ISSUES
The OECD has been a pioneer in addressing the challenges and opportunities of electronic commerce and the digital economy in the industrialised countries. It is natural then that the Development Centre should assess the scope for e-commerce in developing countries. But like the sailors in the strait of Messina, the research should avoid at once the scylla of technological pessimism — seeing an inevitably widening “digital divide” between industrialised and developing countries — and the charybdis of exaggerated claims about the Internet’s potential to resolve a host of development problems that have heretofore proved intractable.
Getting Ready for the Transition from an Employee to a Business Owner
Most people nearing retirement age begin to think about what they can do next. Even though you may want to start a small home based business, but you could be stuck wondering if you are too old for entrepreneurship after retirement. You may even think that over 60 is an age that is too old for getting into entrepreneurship.

Other start ups Related Articles

Business Start-up - Don’t Make a False Start.
Business success, in many cases, is dependant on the start that the business gets. For this reason it is critical not to make a false start in a business start up and then suffer the consequences. Unfortunately many business owners do not have the right mind set when preparing to start a business and believe that a good idea and a small amount of research is all that is required to get a business off the ground.
Work At Home Online Business Opportunities - Beginner's Guide
Are you raring to start a work at home online business but a little apprehensive and unsure of the actual start-up process? This article contains some basic guidelines to help beginners get off to a smooth start.
Some Inexpensive Business Ideas For The New Entrepreneur
So you want to start your own business – you are a new entrepreneur so to speak. Maybe you have just become unemployed and are trying to start a business from scratch or you’ve just got the yen to start a new business. In these recessionary times starting capital is going to be tight. So how do you start a new business without spending too much of your hard earned money?
Entrepreneurs – Want to Start A Car Cleaning Business?
In these recessionary times, many of us are seeking to start business with low start up costs. Car Cleaning is one of those businesses that has the potential to be very profitable but has low start up costs. So how do you go about starting such a business?
Business Ideas for Beginners
Millions of people are planning to start a home based business over the next few years. In fact, Forbes magazine suggested the number to be around 79 million. Are you one of them? You have a good start if you know what products or services you will sell, and even better if you have already found someone willing to help you start.
How to Start Thinking Like a Rich Person - Start Small
To start thinking like a rich person does, you need to start small. Save a dollar, invest a dollar, and give away a dollar every day - make it a priority. You'll be amazed at how quickly your mind changes, and how quickly you start accumulating some cash!
Small Business Owners - Seven Simple Steps to Get You Started As an Entrepreneur
Many of my Non-immigrant readers are getting excited to start their own business. Here are some questions I get asked. I am currently on pending adjustment of status and have a work permit. Can I start my business? What are the requirements? Can I start a business in my home country? Can my relative in my home country become my business partner? I want to start my business, but I don't know where to start. I can relate to my reader's feelings, as many of my clients have been there. First, I wish I had answer to all these questions, but I do not. However from my experience I can say that following step by step method has worked for my clients in establishing their business. It can be very challenging to make a decision with a mind confused with too many questions.

No-Cost Marketing Tools For Affiliate Marketers
Did you know that affiliate marketing is the quickest and easiest way to earn a living online? Why is it that? I think it's because of the extremely low start-up costs. Most affiliate programs don't require enrollment fees, so you have not up-front financial investment to be able to start selling other people's products. But also, you can get set up to start with pretty much no cost outlay, too.
10 Ways to Escalate Your Online Presence
One very important thing you need to do is to establish an online presence. This will take time so don’t expect sales to start pouring in by the end of the week! Once you start to create your reputation and build a solid foundation for your business, it will start to grow and sales will increase.

Six Factors to Entrepreneurial Success
Most of the new jobs added to this economy over the last years have been from Start-ups. But business start-ups are risky. What can be done to enhance the success of these start-ups? Here are six factors found to be consistent among most successful start-ups.

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