A lot of businesses get started with way less money than you’d think. They bootstrap, get resourceful and tap into the people and support systems they already have. About 42% of the roughly 35 million small businesses nationwide started with less than $5,000 in capital, according to SCORE. So yeah, you don’t need a pile of cash, but you have to be willing to work from the ground up. Here’s one way to do it: start with the barest version of your business and your minimum viabl

When I sat down to write the third book in my business startup series, The Small Business Growth Blueprint , I wanted to dig down into what it really takes to keep clients for life in this fast-moving digital world. You know the one, where your next competitor is a screen tap away and it’s easy for customer to move on. I did some research and also reflected on a few of my own long-standing client relationships to come up with a list of must-haves for successful client retenti

Most businesses don't lose customers all at once. They just kind of slink away quietly in the space between the sale and the follow-up that never comes.   But it doesn't have to be that way. Here's a quick gut check right out of my new book, The Small Business Growth Blueprint: How to Grow Your Business and Turn Customers Into Lifelong Fans ,   the newest addition to my small business startup collection.   Run through these five and be honest with yourself. If any of them hit

A lot of people want a side business but aren't sure where to start. Here's a simple filter you can use before putting time & resources into an idea.

I'm putting the finishing touches on my new book, The Business Money Blueprint: How to Find Funding, Close the Deal and Act on Your Plan  and getting ready to hand it off to my copyeditor, but I wanted to share a sneak peek into the self-funding chapter. Along with the usual suspects (like your own savings, credit cards, friends & family, etc.) I dug around and found enough "options most people overlook” to fill a whole chapter. Here are five that don’t require a “yes” from a

I was reading Forbes  Careers Newsletter the other day and this stat caught my eye: 62% of workers either already have a side hustle going or are planning to launch one. That's a lot of people out there hustling on the side, but it makes sense at a time when we can all use some extra cash and the job market is a bit shaky (on a good day). Of course, having a side hustle and running a profitable business are two very different things. One supplements your income while you keep

Self-funding doesn't have to mean emptying your savings account. You can bootstrap your company using strategies most entrepreneurs overlook. Some are unconventional. Some require creativity. None of them require a massive bank balance or perfect credit score. Here are six: Vendor credit or payment terms. Most suppliers offer net-30, net-60 or even net-90 payment terms. Translation: you get the inventory or materials now and pay later. This keeps more cash in your pocket upf

Every so often, startup culture declares a new “right way” to become an entrepreneur. Raise venture capital, disrupt something, copy something that’s already working…the list goes on and you get the picture. Now that the pendulum is swinging again, millennials are choosing where to step off instead of hanging on for the full ride. A recent Entrepreneur  article says more millennials are skipping the startup grind altogether and buying existing businesses instead. The approach

If building or growing a business is on your agenda for 2026, there’s no need to start from zero on funding. In fact, many small business owners miss out on grant opportunities because the information feels scattered, outdated or unreliable. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has done some of the sorting for you. Its CO— platform maintains a “live list” of more than 100 grants and funding programs for small businesses. It pulls together federal, state, nonprofit and corporate oppor

A good business plan isn’t a document you just file away. It’s a tool you can use all year to guide decisions, track progress and course-correct when needed.   And when goals are tied to your plan, those priorities become actionable instead of just aspirational.  Here are some steps you can take right now to turn your 2026 New Year’s goals into a plan you can actually use:   Start with just one or two core goals, not everything at once. Break each one of those goals down into

Every new year brings a rare opportunity for a goal reset. For business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs, 2026 doesn’t need to be about doing more. It can be about doing the right things, in the right order and with intention.     Here are seven steps you can take right now to set clearer priorities right out of the gate:   Write down one clear, overarching business goal for the year.   Define what “progress” looks like in measurable terms that you can track and act on.   Id

We’ve reached that point in the year when the pace eases just enough to think clearly. The inbox quiets down, meetings taper off and for a brief moment, there’s time to step back. Use this pause to put a few fundamentals in place before January brings a full calendar and fresh expectations. 1) Starting a new business in 2026? Get your idea into a single, concise paragraph. Write it the way you’d explain it if someone asked what you’re working on. What are you offering, who is

Getting a business plan down on paper (or screen) is a big accomplishment, but it doesn’t build the business for you. It’s up to you to turn that plan into clear actions you can actually follow without getting overwhelmed or pulled in twenty different directions. Here are four ways to make your plan useable in the real world: Focus on the first 30 days. Don’t try to do everything at once. Identify what needs to happen in the first month to prove your idea, build momentum or

Financing a small business is stressful for everyone; there’s just no point in sugarcoating it. The “How will I fund my business?” question carries pressure, uncertainty and real consequences, especially when you’re making decisions that affect both your business and your household. It’s a big hurdle, and most people feel it. Here are four grounded ways to approach it: Expect your first dollars to feel personal. Most founders start with savings, part-time income or sweat equ

Gen Z isn’t waiting for permission. They’re starting businesses earlier and faster than any generation that came before them. A couple of years ago Samsung and Morning Consult did a survey and found that 50% of Gen Zers want to become entrepreneurs or start their own businesses. These aspiring entrepreneurs top out at 28 years old now, and they grew up watching traditional career paths change overnight. Here’s what the rest of us can learn from them: Move fast when it’s calle

If you’ve been thinking about starting a business, this is your moment. The tools, technology and support available today make it easier than ever to turn an idea into income. You don’t need permission, perfect timing or a big investment. You just need to start. Entrepreneurship isn’t only for people with deep pockets or big networks anymore. The digital age leveled the field. Anyone with drive, focus and a willingness to learn can build something of their own. Here’s why the

Starting a business doesn’t take a perfect plan or a million-dollar idea. It takes focus, direction and the willingness to begin. Every successful entrepreneur starts the same way: by deciding to move forward. From there, it’s about figuring out what you’re good at, who you want to serve and how to build something that fits your life. Progress comes from small, steady steps. Here’s how smart entrepreneurs set themselves up for success: Start small, think big.  Every strong bu