How to Approach Buying an Existing Business

Buying an existing business is a great way to hit the ground running in the world of entrepreneurship. Because an existing business already has a legal structure, employees, a customer base, and is making a profit, you get to skip over one of the most challenging aspects of owning a business – starting it. But you still need to do …

Thinking About Small Business Bankruptcy? Consider These Factors First

Although often perceived as a worst case scenario, bankruptcy can be an appropriate way for small businesses to recover from unmanageable debt by reorganization, reducing personal liability or liquidating business assets. Sometimes small businesses (or their owners) must turn to bankruptcy when cash flow slows or business expenses cannot be met. There are three types of bankruptcy filings available. If …

Entrepreneurial Anguish: The Cost of Doing Business

Building a business empire, enterprise, or even just a start-up has its price. The image of the confident and charismatic CEO often falls short of reality. Before, during and after public visibility often comes personal self-doubt, anxiety and mental anguish. Many business owners don’t readily divulge the distress they feel because they don’t perceive it as a positive for the …

Mentorship Matters: How to Learn From Leadership

Early in my Marine Corps career, one of our instructors told us “watch the leaders above and below and pick out the tools you believe would work for you. Discard those that are ineffective or not part of your style. In this way, we work to put leadership errors into the past.” Watching others perform their chosen craft provides lessons …

Is your startup making these 3 costly mistakes?

“Entrepreneurs are the action athletes of the business world.” Stephen Kotler made this observation in his book, The Rise of Superman. Kotler founded his writing on the importance of “flow” for action athletes to be successful in their endeavors. You might have heard of the concept of “flow” being referred to as being “in the zone” or “dialed in”. One aspect …

YOU LIED! Lessons in Business Fraud Prevention

In hindsight, I should have asked more questions. One of the most well known of Master Sun’s instructions is that “all warfare is based on deception.” The business community adopted many of Sun Tzu’s teachings in the last twenty years. Thus, in some manner, thousands of people engage in deceptive interactions with their fellows in countless different matters. Depending on …