Embarking on the journey of starting a business entails a meticulous blend of vision, strategy, and legal adherence. Outlined within the pages of the Small Business Resource Guide, 2024 National Edition, are ten pivotal steps, each crucial for laying the groundwork and fostering the growth of your venture. From conducting thorough market research to selecting the ideal business structure, every facet is addressed to equip you with the tools needed for success. Find out more about how to start...

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Running a business is a marathon. At every step, business owners make mistakes. But mistakes often don’t make a business fail; instead, it is a business’s response to mistakes that makes the difference. Successful business owners know how to identify their mistakes, focus on what they could have done differently, and can develop a plan to prevent similar errors in the future. Use an Audit to Learn from Business Mistakes Plenty of business owners might think ‘audit’ is...

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There are dozens of business trends currently affecting the market. Among these trends is the rise of microbusinesses and solopreneurs. While not entirely new terms, you’ve undoubtedly heard them more than ever this year. With their newfound popularity, it’s important to understand each one and the lessons you can glean from them. What is a Microbusiness? There are small businesses, and then there are microbusinesses. A microbusiness usually has a very small number of employees,...

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2022 is turning out to be a strange year. Even though it is poised to be the first post-pandemic year with loosened mask mandates, and the return to the office in full swing, many questions can still puzzle potential entrepreneurs. The biggest question, which always resides within the back of the mind, is whether 2022 is the perfect time to launch a small business. What About Yesterday? There is an old saying: “the best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second-best time is...

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Business owners are undoubtedly aware of increased prices. You don’t have to be paying attention to your supply chain to notice them when you can easily find them at the grocery store and the pump. But small businesses must navigate price increasing to continue turning a profit, so how can they do it? Luckily, there are a few aspects of your business that you can evaluate in the face of price increases. Evaluating Labor’s Effect on Raised Prices There is an immense rise in labor...

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If you own a business, then you’ve undoubtedly heard about rising prime rates. And those predictions are in fact coming true, with the first rate hike occurring just yesterday, March 16, 2022. What does this mean for your organization, and how can you plan for success with increased interest rates in mind? Addressing Rising Prime Rates You may already know that increased interest rates affect every facet of the economy. People often associate this rise with changes in their mortgage or...

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Small businesses thrive on working capital, and managing working capital successfully is vital to a business owner. When your business has low capital, it can cause problems like a lack of cash flow, obligations to suppliers and employees, and project-related expenses. Dealing With a Change in Working Capital Always having adequate working capital on hand is a difficult task. What can you do when your working capital is already low? We'll give you four tips from the experts at Falcon...

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There comes a time for every business where you will consider a loan. You may need the additional funds for an expansion, equipment, inventory, or even hiring new talent. If you see a small business loan in the future, you may wonder about your credit score's importance. Just how important is your credit profile when applying for a loan? Follow our guide and learn more about how your credit profile plays a role. What Credit Score is Needed for Small Business Loans? There is no magic...

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When businesses are looking to take out an SBA loan for their small business, they have many options. Two of the most popular options are called 504 loans and 7a loans. It can be difficult to know which is right for your business–let’s take a look at the benefits, drawbacks, and features of each one. The Basics of a 7a SBA Loan Typically, the 7a loan provides greater flexibility than the 504. 7a loans offer a maximum payout of $5 million and technically have no minimum amount (though...

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An SBA loan is a small business loan partially guaranteed by the Small Business Administration.  SBA loans eliminate some of the risks for the financial institution that issues the loan. SBA loans work within a network of approved lenders that lend money to small businesses. While we may know the benefits of an SBA loan, one of the scariest questions to answer as a small business is what to do if you are denied. Determine Why Your Loan Wasn’t Approved According to the American...

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