Category: Starting a Business

How to Get Money to Start a Business in 2025

How to Get Money to Start a Business in 2025

Key takeaways: If you need money to start your business, keep in mind that many successful businesses get creative and use a combination of personal savings, side hustle income, and strategic small business loans rather than waiting for perfect funding conditions. Learn how to layer multiple funding sources together—like microloans, crowdfunding, supplier credit, and business credit cards—to create a more flexible and resilient financing strategy. Build your business credit profile to position your business for more opportunities in the future. … Read More
Top Business Loans and Grants for Native American Entrepreneurs in 2024-2025

Top Business Loans and Grants for Native American Entrepreneurs in 2024-2025

There are about 49,000 American Indian and Alaska Native-owned small businesses in the US, according to US Census Bureau research. Indigenous entrepreneurs in the USA often face significant financial challenges, however: 56% of Native and Indigenous entrepreneurs cite financial issues such as raising capital or budgeting as their biggest challenge, according to a Breaking the Blueprint HubSpot blog survey. 16.3% of Native households don't use banks, due to high poverty rates, systemic racism, and lack of brick-and-mortar institutions on reservations,… Read More
Why Businesses Are Choosing LLCs Over Corporations

Why Businesses Are Choosing LLCs Over Corporations

In the past, when people thought about starting a business, they often imagined a big corporation with lots of employees, strict rules, and a board of directors. Today, however, a lot of small businesses and startups are choosing a different business structure called an LLC, or Limited Liability Company. There are several reasons why they prefer LLCs over corporations, from simpler management to tax flexibility and better personal liability protection. Let's explore in greater detail why LLCs have become so… Read More
Start and Fund a Pressure Washing Business This Year

Start and Fund a Pressure Washing Business This Year

Mause Ramirez, owner of MCS Cleaning Services in San Francisco is known as Señor Ramirez to his customers and community. He’s passionate about cleaning windows, and it shows.  “What I like most is the transformation of dirty surfaces, like fences or walls,” he enthuses.  “Many times, owners don’t realize that letting dirt accumulate on these surfaces can lead to deterioration, which can be much more costly to repair or replace,” he says. “Seeing the owner’s smile when they see the… Read More
Why Now is a Great Time to Start a Home Services Business (And Which Ones are Trending)

Why Now is a Great Time to Start a Home Services Business (And Which Ones are Trending)

The best path to entrepreneurship isn’t always by coming up with a unique business idea. “Follow the money,” the saying goes.  Right now, home services businesses are outpacing all other industries in new business openings growth, according to Yelp data.  Entrepreneurs can often get started with relatively low startup costs, depending on the specialty they choose. Many successful home service businesses begin with just one person and basic equipment, then expand as they gain customers. If you’re thinking about creating… Read More
Do You Need a Business Coach or Mentor To Get to the Next Level?

Do You Need a Business Coach or Mentor To Get to the Next Level?

“Initially I never thought I wanted or needed a business coach,” says Barbie Clemons, a licensed massage therapist and Gentle Scar Therapy Specialist, who owns Calming Waters Massage in Yarmouth, MA. “My business was going ok, no issues or problems and I seemed happy with the way things were.”  But a chance email led her to eventually work with three business coaches, who have helped her breathe new life into her business. “My income from teaching clients has increased 40%”… Read More