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...

Organizations that help launch successful start-ups were hot during the dot-com era when there were tens of thousands worldwide, according to statistics from the National Business Incubation Association (NBIA).  Since the dot-com bubble burst in 2000, the number of business incubators has dropped to 7,000 globally and 1,400 in North America. However, they still serve more than 27,000 companies and are responsible for more than $17 billion in annual revenues (also in North America). Following...

by Reed Richardson. Matt Mireles vividly describes it as his “hallelujah moment,” that point in time two-and-a-half years ago when the notion of starting his own business suddenly made perfect sense. “After trying a number of other things in my life, I still felt like I hadn’t quite found my niche,” recalls Mireles, who is the founder and CEO of the Silicon Valley–based startup SpeakerText. But after a five-week entrepreneur’s course at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, he says...

When does (and when doesn't) a business loan make sense for your small company? By Reed Richardson Whether you're a budding entrepreneur looking for seed money or an experienced owner of an established small company seeking to fund an expansion, capital is the fuel that makes small businesses go. When choosing between the two main types of funding-debt vs. equity - there are advantages and disadvantages to each. And, particularly in the current economic climate, the choice over whether or not...

By Adducent Perhaps you need to do something new, a change from what you've been doing or you hope to build the financial security you aren't able to find by working for someone else. Maybe you can't find the right job to suit you and having your own business could be the solution. Whatever the reason; if you have the "itch" to have your own business you have two choices: Do you start a business? Do you buy a business? Why start a business when you can buy one? A start up: Has no...

Is My Personality Right for This? By Chris Freeburn Many people dream of being their own boss - of setting their own hours, making their own terms, and having the big office where all the important decisions are made. It's a tempting idea, one nurtured by a national culture that prizes the ideal of the rugged individual who strikes out and remakes the world according to his or her vision. And every year, tens of thousands of Americans launch their own businesses, hoping that their...

1. Start Smart 2. Plan Ahead 3. Set up Systems 4. Seek out Sales 5. Aim for Growth 6. Leverage Opportunities 7. Plan Your Exit 1. Start Smart. Identify a niche. Don't compete to be the lowest cost provider. Look for what makes your product or service unique and adds a special value for the client and charge for that value. Every business has many facets. Start with what you know and like; start a business that has meaning to you. Keep in mind that we don't know what the future holds, many...