All topics
Every guide on the site, grouped by topic. 153 articles and counting.
Getting Started
Turn an idea into a plan and a launch.
Planning Your Idea
- Building a Strong Business Plan
- Analyzing Your Competitors
- Doing Market Research on a Small Budget
- Finding Your Niche in the Market
- How to Create a Business Model Canvas
- How to Protect Your Business Idea
- Setting Business Goals and Objectives
- Testing an Idea Before You Launch
- Writing a One-Page Business Plan
Getting Started
Structure and Setup
- Choosing a Legal Structure for a Small Business
- A Pre-Launch Checklist for First-Time Owners
- Corporations Versus Smaller Structures
- How a Partnership Works and What to Agree Up Front
- How to Choose a Business Name
- Limited Liability Companies Explained in Plain Terms
- Opening a Separate Business Bank Account
- Registering a Business and Getting Licenses
- Setting Up a Home Office That Works
- Sole Proprietorship Basics for New Owners
Money and Rules
Finance, legal basics and risk.
Money Basics
Rules and Risk
Bookkeeping and Accounts
- Bookkeeping Basics for Small Business Owners
- Choosing Between Cash and Accrual Accounting
- Gross Margin and Net Margin Explained
- Handling Late-Paying Customers
- How to Do a Break-Even Analysis
- Invoicing Customers and Getting Paid on Time
- Preparing Your Records for Tax Season
- Reading a Profit and Loss Statement
- Tracking Business Expenses Without the Stress
- Understanding a Balance Sheet
Financing Options
- Business Funding Options Compared
- Bootstrapping a Business With Your Own Revenue
- Business Grants Explained
- Crowdfunding as a Way to Fund an Idea
- Giving Up Equity: What Investors Typically Expect
- How Small Business Loans Work
- Personal Guarantees and Risk to Your Own Assets
- Understanding Interest Rates and Total Borrowing Cost
- What Lenders Look For in a Loan Application
Customers
Marketing, pricing and selling.
Marketing and Sales
- Marketing Strategies for Entrepreneurs
- Defining Your Target Market
- Getting Started with Online Marketing
- How to Develop a Unique Selling Proposition (USP)
- How to Leverage Social Media for Business
- How to Write a Business Proposal
- Increasing Sales with Effective Sales Techniques
- Negotiating Prices With Customers
- Pricing Strategies for Entrepreneurs
- Setting a Marketing Budget
- Understanding the Sales Funnel
Brand and Content
- Building a Brand for a Small Business
- Content Marketing for Small Businesses
- Designing a Simple Logo and Visual Identity
- Email Marketing Basics
- Press and Local Media for Small Businesses
- Search Engine Basics for Local Businesses
- Telling Your Business Story
- Writing a Brand Voice Guide
- Writing a Website Homepage That Explains What You Do
- Writing Product and Service Descriptions That Sell Honestly
Customer Service and Loyalty
- Customer Service Fundamentals for Small Businesses
- Asking for Reviews and Responding to Them
- Building a Referral Program
- Collecting and Using Customer Feedback
- Handling Complaints and Difficult Customers
- Keeping Customers: Retention Basics
- Loyalty Programs for Small Shops and Services
- Mapping the Customer Journey
- Return and Refund Policies Customers Understand
- Setting Customer Expectations Clearly
Running and Growing
Metrics, skills and growth.
Growing and Exiting
Measuring and Deciding
Owner Skills
- 10 Essential Business Skills for Entrepreneurs
- Effective Time Management for Entrepreneurs
- Importance of Business Networking
- Learning From Failure and Setbacks
- Overcoming Common Business Obstacles
- Productivity Tips for Entrepreneurs
- Setting Boundaries Between Work and Personal Life
- Strategies for Effective Business Communication
- Strategies for Managing Stress as an Entrepreneur
- The Role of Mentorship in Business Success
- Top Business Skills for the 21st Century
Team and Operations
Hiring people, managing suppliers and keeping work running smoothly.
Hiring and Managing People
- Hiring Your First Employee
- Delegating Tasks as the Owner
- Employees Versus Independent Contractors
- Giving Useful Feedback and Reviews
- Interviewing Candidates Fairly
- Keeping Good People: Employee Retention
- Managing Remote and Part-Time Workers
- Onboarding New Team Members
- Setting Fair Pay and Benefits
- Training Staff Without a Big Budget
- Understanding Payroll Basics
- Writing a Clear Job Description
Operations and Suppliers
- Business Operations for Small Companies
- Business Continuity and Contingency Planning
- Choosing a Business Location or Workspace
- Choosing and Working With Suppliers
- Inventory Management Basics
- Managing Workflow and Bottlenecks
- Negotiating With Suppliers and Vendors
- Planning Shipping and Fulfillment
- Quality Control for Small Businesses
- Writing Standard Operating Procedures
Business Types
How the basics differ for service, freelance and online businesses.
Service and Freelance Businesses
- Starting a Service Business
- Avoiding Burnout as a Solo Business Owner
- Building a Portfolio and Proof of Work
- Finding Your First Clients
- Managing Client Relationships
- Pricing Your Time: Hourly Versus Project Rates
- Scoping Projects and Avoiding Scope Creep
- Starting as a Freelancer
- Turning a Side Business Into a Full-Time Business
- Writing a Service Contract Outline
Selling Online and Locally
- Starting an Online Store
- Accepting Payments Safely
- Building a Home-Based Product Business
- Choosing What Products to Sell
- Dropshipping: How It Works and Its Trade-Offs
- Opening a Small Local Shop
- Product Photography and Listings for Online Sales
- Sales Tax and Online Selling: General Concepts
- Selling at Markets and Pop-Up Events
- Starting a Subscription or Membership Business