This is the first in a series of articles on the most important principles of finance. Several years ago I was in an accident, and following it I asked myself, “If I knew that I was no longer going to be able to work, what would I say that would let my message to...
Have you noticed how many skills it takes to be the owner and CEO of a small business? I find it one the joys, and an occasional challenge, of running my own small business. Over the past few years, I have learned a lot about marketing, setting up and maintaining a website, and writing/producing...
Entrepreneurs are all about the hustle. We want to maximize our time. We work in non-traditional spaces. We want to connect with like-minded professionals. Capital One Spark Business is launching a fresh campaign this week called We Work As One. This campaign blends a few elements. Providing a Cafe experience for business owners to network, get work done,...
Leaving your day job to go full-time entrepreneur is as much a financial decision as it is a business one. Will you be able to support yourself during the transition? How will you manage both personal and business finances? Can you successfully navigate the complex world of business accounting and taxes? These might not...
There has been a lot of talk about how hard it is for small business owners to get funding, and perhaps you have experienced this firsthand for yourself. With a good business credit score, you have access to loans which opens up a world of possibilities, from updating equipment and technology to expanding into...
With the holidays here and 2017 quickly approaching, many small businesses are forecasting their end-of-year financials and preparing for new challenges and opportunities ahead. According to Capital One’s latest Spark Business Barometer – a nationwide study of small businesses measuring financial conditions, economic perceptions, hiring plans, and other indicators of small business growth – business...
One of the biggest myths in the small business and entrepreneurial world is that you need funding to succeed. The fact is, less than one percent of businesses are funded by angel investors and only 0.05 percent get venture capital funding. Most businesses will never qualify for this type of funding and very few will...
Business owners or startups seeking loans to fund their ventures can become frustrated when banks and traditional lenders turn them down. If you have poor credit, it can be very difficult to obtain traditional loans. Don’t panic. Studies show that only about 25 percent of a business’ credit comes from credit cards or loans. The...
What’s drives the value of your business? It’s a question I always ask my prospective clients, and about 99 percent of the time, they answer in the form of a question: “Um, revenue?” Most business owners don’t know where the value of their business is locked up. They’re too busy focusing on growth, profitability, and revenue. But...
As a small business owner, you may feel a strong sense of trust in those you employ. And it’s important to trust your employees; trust that they will do a good job, serve the business and the clients well, and respect what you have built together. But this trust should not be at the...
