Category: Running a Business

What’s the one thing that unites a company that grows crickets for food, one that solves an embarrassing health problem, and one that sells beverages that are helping to save the planet one bottle at a time? They’ve been helped by a small business mentor. While their stories are inspiring and instructive, the best part is that you can steal their secret to success, and it won’t cost you a dime. Cowboy Cricket Farms When Kathleen Rolin told her husband… Read More

If you’ve ever applied for a personal loan or credit card, you understand that you’ll have to come prepared with an idea of the questions you’ll be asked. For non-business lines of credit, these can be fairly simple, including basic estimations of your income, debt, and a few pieces of verification info to ensure you’re really who you say you are. Because personal credit is based on personal credit history, it’s easy for the bank or lending institution to run… Read More

Tax season is coming—it’s inevitable. Getting your books tax-ready ensures you’re compliant with the IRS recordkeeping requirements, meaning no late fees, no surprises, and a successful tax return that won’t cost you extra time later on (we know you’re busy). Services like Bench can help you catch up on your bookkeeping, but for you do-it-yourselfers, this step-by-step guide will help get you through your bookkeeping backlog in no time. Step 1: Collect Receipts & Invoices Start by collecting all receipts… Read More

Have you recently started consulting, opened an online or physical store, picked up freelance work, or started a side gig? Congratulations, you’re now a business owner! Even if you haven’t formed a business entity, such as a limited liability company (LLC) or S corporation, you’re running a sole proprietorship. One of the best parts of being a sole proprietor is that you don’t have to file a separate business tax return. Instead, you’ll report your business income and expenses on… Read More

We all know how important it is to brand your business. The names, logos and symbols that identify the brand you use in marketing your products or services can be legally protected as trademarks. The information below will help you grow your business while you guard your brand. Register your trademark at the federal level Trademarks can be protected under both state and federal law. But it’s important to know the difference between the two systems.   In most states… Read More

How much does it cost to open a restaurant? While the median cost is around $275,000, the numbers fluctuate significantly. Some restaurant owners may be pleased to find they can open their doors for as little as $125,000, though others may be looking at a bill that exceeds a cool half million. There are a plethora of reasons for cost fluctuations, but one definitive reason is varying license and permit fees. How much will licensing and permits cost for your… Read More