Like the front page of a daily newspaper, a business plan cover puts the important highlights of the proposal upfront for potential investors to read.

photo credit: ronbrinkmann There are lots of articles and books written about the formula for start-up success, but start-up mistakes are much more consistent. These common mistakes will take even the best idea into start-up dead pool. Greed Getting rich quick only happens playing the lottery. If you are starting a company for a quick [...]

photo credit: tombothetominator Do existing businesses need money? Probably. Is this a time to start a business? Maybe. In either case, the business plan you write today will be different than the one you wrote five years ago. Five years ago money was available. It is still there, but it is a lot harder to [...]

photo credit: zhushmanson Starting a small business has proven to be on e of the best ways to build wealth in America. Over 90% of all millionaires are small business owners. Taking the first step towards financial freedom is the most important thing you can do. Now, financing your business venture can prove to be [...]

photo credit: star5112 “Get an introduction to the venture capitalist.” It’s good advice. It just isn’t always possible, or even likely. Many outstanding entrepreneurs with equally outstanding financing proposals simply don’t have The Introduction. Unsolicited, and un-introduced, financing proposals are typically tossed into the dog pile or slush fund or circular file. In most venture [...]

photo credit: Marcin Wichary Where, oh where, has that business grant gone? Everyone talks about them. Few seem able to actually find them. Some, in fact, claim that business grants are everywhere; some claim they are as rare as a trout tooth. The truth, dear Watson, lies somewhere in between. “Business grants are there for [...]

photo credit: David Boyle in DC We’ve all seen the hype: “We’ll put your plan in front of thousands of investors!” “We’ll write you an award-winning online business plan!” “Only $3,000 for thousands of investors to learn about your company!” I cringe every time I see one of these ads. Vultures are preying on honest [...]

photo credit: rachie lea All businesses start with “the big idea”. The person with the idea often times does not have all of the start up capital that they need to turn this multi-million dollar idea into a reality. The first place that many business owners start to seek funding is from friends and family. [...]

photo credit: NandorFejer If you have ever thought about opening your own business but never found the needed funding for doing so, you may have put your hopes on the back burner. Owning a business can be a very powerful step in life – becoming your own boss can literally change your life. Even though [...]