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You have a great idea and you are ready to start your business. You have done all the research and have learned the intricacies of business management. To put this into practice, you need to have money to invest. Read More

Hiring and managing employees is one of the most demanding and challenging aspects of business ownership. This guide consolidates many aspects of finding, hiring and managing employees, and offers suggestions for keeping your team motivated and collectively focused on the success of your business. Read More

If you are in the market for business financing you may have noticed that the SBA is tentatively reporting a healthy increase in small business lending.

However, finding the right bank for your small business financing needs can still be a time-consuming challenge.

So just who is lending? And what is your best strategy for finding and approaching a bank? Here are five tips to help you find small business friendly banks Read More

The challenges of raising investment capital for your business and how to best prepare for an investor have been well documented by many industry experts. Darrin Redus of JumpStart has witnessed scores of presentations over the years and has found that many entrepreneurs routinely miss a few key areas. He provides his suggestions that should help Read More

In a bid to improve customer service in its Cadillac showrooms, General Motors is turning for help from one of the world’s top outfits for making patrons happy — Ritz-Carlton. Smart move. Ritz-Carlton is known for exceptional customer service that inspires loyalty. That we all could be coached by them. Read More

Is it possible to support learning and development in your business AND save money? Yes, once you have a planned strategy and proper systems. Here are 3 steps Read More

11 Lessons I Learned Raising Venture Capital

We recently just completed raising venture capital, (a Series A financing), in which we raised $1.1M. The round was led by MentorTech ventures, with participation from Amicus Capital and prominent Bay Area and Seattle angels. We started fundraising in earnest in August of 2009, so from start to finish it took us 8 months. Raising money was a lot harder and took a lot longer than we expected, but obviously with determination and a bit of luck it can be done Read More

In business, customers, clients and LOYALTY are to be won, earned and prized, not taken for granted. What better place to learn about "butchering" a sale than in...two butcher shops. One where my wife and I walked out angry and disattisfied, one where we are treated like family Read More

Many salespeople and customer service reps operate under the illusion that customers are a pain to deal with. The real pain, though, is when there are NO customers. Read More

There are important legal considerations to keep in mind when buying a business. Read this guide to understand what you can expect, and what to look out for when you're in the market to purchase an existing business. Read More