Plan Your Business Archives

8 Things You Need to Know Before Starting a Business

Nothing can fully prepare you for starting your own business—but you can learn from others who’ve been there. We asked eight founders and advisors in The Oracles what they wish they’d known when they were starting out....

byThe Oracles

April 2, 2019

A Tale of Two Entrepreneurs: Which One Are You?

Jennifer stands proudly with her management team at the New York Stock Exchange. Today’s the big day that she — and every entrepreneur — lives for. As the clock strikes 9:30 a.m., she rings the...

byDan Abbate

March 30, 2019

6 Leadership Traits for Becoming a Successful Entrepreneur

I’ve been blessed to work with many great mentors and at some of the world’s best startup companies. I’ve done extensive research on what successful startup entrepreneurs do, how they act, how they think and the...

bySteve Kahan

March 16, 2019

9 Ways to Conquer Fear and Realize Your True Potential

Everyone experiences fear. What defines you is how you face it. We asked these successful entrepreneurs and advisors in The Oracles to tell us how they manage their biggest fears. 1. Don’t avoid your fear — leverage...

byThe Oracles

March 15, 2019

The Truth About Turning Your Passion Into a Successful Business

By age 13, I had developed a passion for programming, which lead me on a professional roller coaster ride. Eventually, I became the first corporate director of e-business at Cummins and a partner as well...

byBrian Rowe

March 11, 2019

5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Starting a Business

When I launched my business 35 years ago, I had a strong business idea and motivation to work for myself. I also had so many external challenges and worries facing me from the get-go. Could...

byBrian Winch

February 27, 2019

How I Conquered My Fears and Became an Entrepreneur

Have you ever dreamt of becoming an entrepreneur? If you answered yes, what’s stopping you? According to Gallup, 25 percent of adults in the U.S. have thought about starting their own business but have yet to...

byRaya Khashab

February 25, 2019

Startup Toolkit: Essential Resources for Entrepreneurs

Starting a new company is rewarding, exciting and completely overwhelming. Every new business endeavor comes with a host of issues and responsibilities to fall upon your shoulders. So, if you’re an overwhelmed entrepreneur, where should...

byNikki Richard

February 15, 2019

Be Your Own Boss: I Started a Business and Here’s How You Can, Too

The prospect of starting your own business venture can procure all kinds of doubts: How will I get it off the ground? Is my idea good enough? Will people care about it? What happens if...

byZach Benson

February 13, 2019

7 Steps to Turn Your Great Idea Into a Profitable Business

The world can always use more great ideas that foster changes and improve lives. But, what would be even better is if those ideas were turned into profitable businesses that provided a product or service...

byJohn Rampton

February 11, 2019

7 Lessons Business School Won’t Teach You — But Being an Entrepreneur Will

You learn many critical skills in business school: self-discipline, strategic thinking, better time management and a broader worldview, amongst many others. Also, you learn useful academic theories and how to apply them to real-world problems....

byChris Porteous

February 8, 2019

10 Questions Every New Startup Founder Has (and Should Be Able to Answer)

Launching a startup can send even the most Type A founder into a whirlwind of questions and concerns. Will this idea work? Where to begin? What am I missing? While your questions may be specific...

bySusan Guillory

February 5, 2019

The Most Valuable Lessons These 6 Top Entrepreneurs Have Learned

The entrepreneur’s journey is full of challenging and enlightening lessons. If paid attention to, these lessons can take your business to the next level. These top entrepreneurs and members of The Oracles reflect on some of their...

byThe Oracles

February 3, 2019

4 Business Goals for First-Time Entrepreneurs

As a first-time entrepreneur, your journey will be filled with opportunities for evolution, personal growth and the first taste of what it means to be your own boss. In order to achieve all of the...

byJessica Thiefels

February 1, 2019

Hidden Startup Costs Entrepreneurs Should Know About

While it's ideal to start a business with extra financial cushion, this isn't always realistic. There will always be certain expenses you’re prepared to anticipate, like filing taxes and incorporating or forming an LLC, but...

byMyCorporation

January 30, 2019

Find Your Why and Identify Problems Worth Solving by Collecting and Connecting the Dots

The following is excerpted from "Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Earn Your Freedom and Do Work That Matters" by Steve Glaveski. Published by Wiley January 2019. All rights reserved. In the past 10 years, I’ve...

bySteve Glaveski

January 29, 2019

How This Entrepreneur Created the Ultimate Job Search Site

Beeya is a metasearch engine for jobs founded by CEO Ladan Davia. The company aggregates job listings from all the major job search sites in one place. It helps job-seekers save time and resources by...

byNav

January 26, 2019

How to Choose a Business Name That Aligns With Your Brand Tone

Imagine walking into a fashion boutique called “Surfside Vintage” and finding yourself in a shop offering a variety of sleek, cutting-edge urban trend styles. You would probably do a double-take, maybe even walk back outside...

byGrant Polachek

January 22, 2019

5 Steps to Transform Your Idea into a Profitable Business Using Crowdfunding

If you’re an entrepreneur with a new business idea, landing investors and launching your business can pose a paradoxical “chicken and egg” scenario: You need one to get the other, so how do you get...

byThe Oracles

January 20, 2019

8 Reasons to Start Your Business in 2019

Are you dreaming of starting your own business but hesitant to get things moving? If so, you’re not alone. Many future entrepreneurs face the same concern, never quite sure if now is the right time. However,...

byNav

January 19, 2019