Small Business Resources

Information and tools to help your business succeed

Starting and Running Your Business

For many small businesses, location can be a key factor in long-term success. For this reason, choosing the best site should be a careful, methodical process covering a...

With technology playing a critical role in the daily operations of most companies, a growing number of small business owners are investing in the financial protection...

The Business Plan and Beyond

A business plan is a formal statement addressing a company’s purpose and goals, sales and marketing strategies, and financial background. This manuscript...

Lay the Groundwork

Entrepreneurs launching new businesses must recognize and understand their own strong points and limitations to compete in a crowded market. Learning to...

Determining Your Capital Needs

"Capital," in investment terms, is money to finance the purchase of equipment, supplies and products. When you buy new equipment, the money spent is...

Get a Handle on Capital

The prospect of financing a new business can make the most fearless entrepreneur shudder – and with good reason. Lack of capital is one of the primary reasons...

Capital & Cash Flow

Sources of Financing

Business capital comes in many forms. In fact, businesses use a variety of financial resources to grow, acquire assets and expand product and service offerings...

It’s no real surprise that money flowing into a business receives a lot of attention, which is why so much emphasis is placed on tracking sales and revenues...

Small business owners face a number of challenges in growing and operating their companies, but advances in technology have simplified one facet of business...

At its core, a business relies on a steady flow of cash. At any stage of a business, cash is the crucial lifeblood that feeds its vital organs to ensure its survival through...

Tools for Your Business

Choose the Right Corporate Structure

Most small businesses start as sole proprietors or partnerships. Then, as they grow, they may set up a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or a Corporation to help...

Cash Budgets

Budgets are short-term plans for how businesses will operate, how money will be spent, how income and revenue will be received. A good budget enables a...

There are two basic ways to maintain your books and keep track of income and expenses: The cash method and the accrual method. It is possible to use both...

The Income Statement

The Income Statement is the most basic way a company keeps score. The Income Statement, sometimes called a Profit & Loss statement or P & L, lists business...

How to Evaluate a Balance Sheet

The Balance Sheet details what a business owns, what a business owes, what a business is worth, and how shareholders financed the business. While some...