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

Maybe cash flow feels tight. Maybe you want to hire, buy equipment or stop putting things off. Whatever the motivation, a business loan may be your first stop. In fact, it’s where roughly 37% of business owners turned in 2024 (similar to the prior year), according to the Fed’s Small Business Credit Survey. Finding a loan can be confusing and time consuming, but the U.S. Chamber of Commerce wants to help by pointing business owners toward current loan programs and financing re

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

These final weeks of the year are the time to step back and look at your business without the usual pressure. Review what you built, evaluate the work that paid off and adjust the parts that kept you stuck. That way, you’ll kick off 2026 with direction instead of more guesswork. Here are 10 grounded ways to close out the year with purpose: • Look at what you planned and what got done. Measure the gap so you know what needs attention. • Revisit your income goals. Set a target

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

Most people don’t start a business because they have a grand plan and a sure route to success. They start because they’ve hit their limit: the paycheck, the boss, the bureaucracy. Frustration, it turns out, is one of the best startup fuels there is.   The fuel is so potent it’s practically an economic engine. Just look at what it’s set in motion:   About 5.5 million new small businesses launch in the U.S. every year. Those small companies make up 99.9% of all firms nationwi

If you’re running your business from a kitchen table, garage or spare bedroom, you’re in good company. According to the SBA, about half of all small businesses start at home in the U.S. In fact, some of the world’s most recognizable brands began the same way. Apple started in a garage, Amazon in Jeff Bezos’ home and Clif Bar in its founders’ home kitchens. Even Google began in a dorm room (and later, a rented garage) before turning into what it is today. These stories prove t

Every business starts with a vision, but even experienced professionals can lose sight of the basics when things get busy, challenging or frustrating. Those are the times when we tend to skip past the hard questions and focus more on day-to-day activity versus real direction. In Your First Business Blueprint  I challenge my readers to stop and assess their foundation first (even if they’ve been in business a while). And this isn’t about mission statements or big-picture strat

Behind every thriving business is someone who stayed the course when others decided to go back to their 9-5 jobs. The people who succeed aren’t always the most creative or well-funded. They’re the ones who stay focused, keep learning and take consistent action. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel to stand out. The basics, done well and done consistently, make all the difference. Here’s what separates the entrepreneurs who last: They know their “why.”  Purpose fuels them when

Shark Tank is fun to watch, right? Well, it’s not exactly the full picture of what starting a business looks like.

If you’ve been thinking about starting something of your own, now might be the time to take that idea seriously.

If you’re serious about starting a business, here’s your task: Stop spinning your wheels and start asking yourself the hard stuff.

Starting a business is hard enough. Don’t make it harder by believing things that simply aren’t true.