If you haven’t decided what kind of small business you want to open, you may want to read this to get an idea of which industries have a limited, if any, future. The economy may be improving, but a recent report by IBISWorld shows that many industries continue to decline into oblivion. Considered to be dying, these industries have a declining life cycle, where revenues and the number of companies have been in decline for the past decade, and have a forecast of continued decline in the next five years. Whether it be due to outsourcing, offshoring, or being rendered [...]

If you own a small business and are considering whether or not to accept credit cards, you may be unsure of what to do. Some believe that the fees and other hassles of doing so aren’t worthwhile while others want to cash in on this potentially lucrative form of payment acceptance. What is best for your business?
Below are some of the pros and cons of accepting credit card payments for your small business.
Pros
Access to More Customers
Seventy eight percent of Americans own at least 1 credit card. As most of these individuals likely prefer to use credit cards for at least [...]

Sure, some analysts say that the economy is rebounding, but are you feeling it?
Whether the economy is rebounding or not, the experiences of the past few years have taught many of us that times can get very hard here in the United States. With this in mind, you may wonder why or how anyone would start a business during tough economic times.
Naturally, starting a business in a down economy will be more difficult than when good times are rolling. However, if you are willing to put in the time and effort to do so, the rewards can be outstanding.
Let’s take [...]

This news story from The Daily Dose, “YouTube to Give Away $50 Million in Free Advertising for New Video Program,” indicates that YouTube is giving away up to $50 million to entice small-business owners to sign up for a video advertising service called Google AdWords for video. The service is meant to replicate features from Google’s AdWords for search, such as pay-per-click, but for video advertising instead. 

If you’re not already doing so, you might want to consider using YouTube to promote your small business Here are five tips to get your started.
Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
Before you do [...]

Card readers for mobile phones are a modern convenience many small businesses have heard about but maybe haven’t considered as a serious option due to cost constraints. Many companies offering these readers require a small business owner to sign a contract, purchase the reader and pay monthly fees and usage rates. On top of this, the phone must be a smart phone with internet capabilities. The cost and commitment to this technology might be dauting, but don’t be discouraged. Plan ahead to prepare for these costs and your business can have versatile payment options.
The Phone & Monthly Plan
Smart phones can [...]

Nearly 80 percent of small business owners apply for financing at some point during their career, many seeking financing during the start-up phase of their businesses. In fact, even if you manage your business cash flows effectively, should your business experience interruptions or other unexpected events, you may need to gain access to additional financing to keep your company operating.
Times When Your Business May Benefit from Financing
Imagine this. Over the last two to three months, in preparation for a new product launch, you’ve spent several thousand dollars working with online and offline marketing firms to create and run social [...]

One of the biggest challenges that today’s small business owner faces is that of limited resources—be it money or manpower.
The challenge is even greater in a struggling economy where everyone is forced to do more with less, and competition is fierce.
As such, the fewer out-of-pocket expenses an owner incurs, the greater the likelihood of staying in business and “staying in the black“.
Conserving cash is crucial.
 Which is why more and more businesses are viewing bartering as a smart and creative way to conduct business. Although bartering originated centuries ago, it is regaining its popularity in current times.
According to Wikipedia, “The worldwide [...]

Do you ever wish you could walk into a Target or Walmart and find your product on one of their selves?  You’re not alone.  It is the goal of many small business owner to grow his/her venture to make it more profitable. Thus, it is a common dream for most small business operators to have their products distributed through ‘big box’ stores or major retailers. 
But the path to the shelves of major distributors and retailers is not a smooth one. It is rough and challenging. That is why not all small businesses succeed in making it big and getting into [...]

One of the questions any potential lender will ask the start-up business applicant seeking financing is “when to you expect to start making a profit?”
To have a logical, reasonably accurate answer will be essential if your presentation is to be professional and get the attention you deserve.
Calculating when you will start making a profit is an exercise called conducting a “breakeven analysis,”  which is essentially an exercise in simple mathematics.  It basically helps you figure out at what point your business can start making profit by letting you know how much you have to make in sales to cover your [...]

Cupcakes are the all rage these days, and cupcakes shops are springing up right and left.  Our featured startup this week isn’t another cupcake shop though.  No, no.  This business is much more creative than that, not to mention it won’t hurt your waistline.  See the picture below?  Those aren’t cupcakes; they’re soap.  Not just any soap, but all-natural, chemical-free soaps that look and smell good enough to eat from Sugar Rush Bath Company.
Tavia and Carla have an amazing line of all-natural bath products at Sugar Rush Bath Company.  It all began with Tavia looking for soaps that would soothe [...]