Business Planning Tools

Provided by MasterCard | MasterCard®

Today, it is more difficult than ever for businesses of all sizes to anticipate changes and plan appropriately for the future. Recognizing changing industry conditions and being nimble enough to quickly adapt are of special importance to small businesses who often lack the human and monetary resources to forecast market developments..

Read resources here
http://www.mastercardbusiness.com/apmea/en/smallbiz/businessplanning/businessplanning.html

How to Assess a Direct Selling Opportunity

by Josh Spiro

Despite the pyramid and Ponzi schemes that imitate direct selling, there are plenty of legitimate opportunities to be found. Here's how to tell the difference.

Read his informative article here
http://www.inc.com/guides/2010/07/how-to-assess-a-direct-selling-opportunity.html?partner=newsletter_Startup

10 Tips for the First Time Entreprenuer

by Scott Gerber

Advice from a young entrepreneur in the trenches

Whenever possible, I encourage up-and-comers and established entrepreneurs to mentor the next generation of dream-seekers; for it is this insight and insider education that will provide the foundation for the entrepreneurs of tomorrow. With that, here are 10 pieces of advice that I wish someone had given to me before I launched my first venture.

Read article here
http://www.entrepreneur.com/startingabusiness/youngentrepreneurscolumnistscottgerber/article203254.html

40 Green Business Tips

posted by Melissa Hincha-Ownby

I am a big fan of The Green Girls blog; yesterday blogger MonicaF created a list of 40 eco-friendly changes that businesses can make. Each of these changes is a step towards a more sustainable business and most of the changes are low-cost and low-hassle.

Read more on this here
http://www.mnn.com/eco-biz/sustainable-business-practices/blogs/40-green-business-tips

Paying Yourself: From Startup and Beyond

Determining your salary is one of the most important decisions you'll make as a business owner. Here's how to do it. So how do you know what is enough to get by and what you are worth? You have to do some planning and simple mathematics, and then budget that amount into your income and cash-flow projections so that you know how much operating capital you will require during the formative stages of your company's development.

Read article here
http://www.entrepreneur.com/money/moneymanagement/article80024.html

Free Hard to Find 800 Numbers

Great Resource with lots of companies and retailers listed!

Read list here
http://www.hardtofind800numbers.com

5 Alarming Facts On Why Most Home Business Owners Fail and How To Overcome Them

Written By: Rebbekah on November 30, 2009

Read her blog post here
http://advantagemarketingforyou.com/5-alarming-facts-on-why-most-home-business-owners-fail-and-how-to-overcome-them

Free Hard to Find 800 Numbers

Great Resource with lots of companies and retailers listed!

Read list here
http://www.hardtofind800numbers.com

Struggling to Successful Entrepreneur – 5 Part Series

Sponsored by Chris Makell, Radiance Marketing

Struggling to Successful Entrepreneur – Part 1
If you’re an entrepreneur, the title of this post didn’t surprise you and likely intrigued you. Good. My intent for this series, “Struggling to Successful Entrepreneur” is to help you to go from overwhelmed, frustrated and painfully close to burned out.
http://radiancemarketing.com/2011/struggling-part-1

Struggling to Successful Entrepreneur – Part 2
Struggling entrepreneurs who want to play small is why I’ve created the Think Big…Play Bigger™ Business Growth Model. It is a way of moving forward in your business from where you are to where you want to be. You can learn more about the model on my website.
http://radiancemarketing.com/2011/struggling-part-2

Struggling to Successful Entrepreneur – Part 3
Before I tell you how to go from overwhelmed and struggling to successful as an entrepreneur so that you can Think Big…Play Bigger™ in your life and business. We have to talk about something that was a big ah-ha for me and a lot of my clients.
http://radiancemarketing.com/2011/struggling-to-successful-entrepreneur-part-3

Struggling to Successful Entrepreneur – Part 4
So how do we become the strategic successful entrepreneur who thinks big…plays bigger? What are the 3 keys nearly every entrepreneur underestimates? You begin by focusing on fundamentally growing your business. Not with tactics but with a strategy. It sounds simplistic, I know.
http://radiancemarketing.com/2011/struggling-to-successful-part4

Struggling to Successful Entrepreneur – Part 5
So focusing on my strengths is the first key, what the next one you need to be strategic and successful? I want you to ask yourself, “What is it that I want my business to do?” Very few of us think about the “what” of our businesses. What do you want your business to do?
http://radiancemarketing.com/2011/struggling-to-successful-part5

10 YouTube Videos Every Entrepreneur Should Watch

View slide show here

http://www.inc.com/ss/10-youtube-videos-every-entrepreneur-should-watch?utm_source=running-a-business&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=incid37860week24#2%C2%A0%C2%A0

Four Mistakes That Can Kill Your Small Business

by Carol Tice

"That's the assertion of author and business-management expert Mark Stevens. So, what are these four fatal flaws that could doom your business? Here is Stevens' list.."

Read article here
http://www.entrepreneur.com/blog/219751

How Business Planning Leads to Better Management

by Tim Berry

What many business owners fail to understand is that good planning equals good management. Let me explain. Planning is about managing resources and priorities in an organized way. Management is related to leadership, and it’s related to productivity.

Read article here
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/219424

Seven Ways Solopreneurs Can Grow a Home Business

by Carol Tice

With a little creativity you can keep expanding your home business, without hiring employees or renting an office. Here are seven tips for increasing revenue at your home business while keeping it a one-person show.

Read article here
http://www.entrepreneur.com/blog/219433

4 Characteristics of Great Logo Design

View slide show here
http://www.inc.com/ss/4-characteristics-of-great-logo-design?partner=newsletter_Startup#0

Self-Employment Basics (3 Articles)

The 6 Principles of Success
by Salman Amin, Business Insider
http://www.inc.com/articles/201103/6-principles-of-success.html

Why a Clear Focus Is Essential to Success
by Martin Zwilling, Business Insider
http://www.inc.com/articles/201103/why-a-clear-focus-is-essential-to-success.html

Do You Have What It Takes to Start a Business?
by Martin Zwilling, Business Insider
http://www.inc.com/articles/201103/do-you-have-what-it-takes-to-start-a-business.html

25 Most Influential Women Tweeting About Entrepreneurship

by Holly Reisem Hanna

With women starting new businesses at twice the rate of men, and with women dominating the social media realm, I knew that there was no shortage of women tweeting about entrepreneurship.

Read her list here
http://www.theworkathomewoman.com/25-most-influential-women-tweeting-about-entrepreneurship

What It Takes to Succeed As an Entrepreneur

by Michelle Juergen

Venture Capital Investor Brad Feld on What It Takes to Succeed As an Entrepreneur
and dives into the trenches of entrepreneurship to learn what makes some businesses successful.

Read article here
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/219337