by Erin McDermott. Psst. Is that silent partner you’re seeking really the best move for your small business? When it comes to finding additional funding these days, it’s sometimes a tough road. As a result, people are looking at other avenues of capital, taking on all types of new partnerships, and even tapping into money through crowd-funding sites such as Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and AngelList. Traditionally, silent partners have been the go-to investors, often family and sometimes...

by Erin McDermott. Jim Angleton Jr. started attending his father’s company meetings when he was 7 years old. He watched and learned as the venture-capital firm invested in dozens of small companies. His dad died a few years ago. Though the two had what Angleton described as “very painful, heartfelt discussions” with an estate planner about what the father wanted for the future of his company after he died, crucial decisions needed to made shortly after he passed—and soon. “There was a...

Statistics show consumer buying is low, and many small businesses are facing sluggish sales. Beginning in March, the NFIB’s small business optimism index fell three months in a row after six months of rising. And, falling sales were cited as the number one business problem by one out of four business owners, particularly in the services sector.  Only 23 percent of owners reported higher sales, while 36 percent reported lower sales. However, there are some small business sectors that are showing...

Many small business owners say that overhead costs are one of the leading concerns, or even barriers, to starting or growing a business.  Most of those costs are associated with office space and other equipment. Today, however, business owners have the option to lease on a monthly or annual basis virtually anything from computer software and printers to delivery vans and specialized production machinery. Renting, as opposed to purchasing outright, can deliver important benefits to small...

Do I Need One? How Do I Go About It? By Christopher Freeburn You're ready to take the plunge. You have a good idea for a new business. You've done the requisite soul-searching and determined that owning your own business is the thing for you. You've spent some time researching the idea and you've figured out where you will locate the business, who your customers will be and what sort of market exists for the business. Now it's time to sit down and create a real business plan. Benefits of...