Financial management is essential to startups. According to research from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 20% of businesses fail in their first year. This rate increases as time passes, with 30% failing in the second year and 50% failing by the fifth. Effective financial monitoring and allocation in the initial stages of establishing ...

Researching social media tools, services and software, collating desired features, assessing effectiveness and narrowing potential candidates will require a comprehensive strategy. These guidelines and comparison tool, created by Mark W. Kaelin for TechRepublic Premium, will help your decision makers evaluate available social media solutions and find the best ones for your business. From the guide: ...

Anybody can be an entrepreneur, but not everyone can be a successful one. Starting a business requires more than passion, drive and entrepreneurial spirit; an entrepreneur should continuously develop, hone and improve certain skills to help them establish and maintain a successful business. The good news is that these skills can be learned, so every ...

This article dives into the critical comparison between online business vs. brick-and-mortar stores, outlining the advantages and challenges each model presents. Katie-Jay Simmons, writing for TechRepublic Premium, provides a comprehensive overview, plus actionable insights and practical tips, to help entrepreneurs and small business owners make informed choices on the best type of operation to choose. ...

Striking out alone has its challenges, especially if you are a first-time business owner. To generate this list, we considered current tech and consumer trends to identify the tech businesses with the most profit potential. Our guide includes 10 excellent ideas for beginners, including businesses that leverage advanced skills like fluency in multiple programming languages ...

A solid and effective marketing strategy can make or break a startup. But limited budgets also mean startups can’t roll out extensive marketing campaigns. Startups can navigate limited resources and experience growth by implementing smart and targeted marketing strategies. This guide, written by Agatha Aviso for TechRepublic Premium outlines 10 marketing strategies for startups, with ...

In today’s marketplace, identifying a profitable niche can significantly increase your chances of success. Our article guides small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs on how to pick a business niche with actionable strategies and practical tips for pinpointing your focus, conducting market research and building your brand. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to ...

Mental stimulation is the propellant that helps founders gain traction in the early days, but it’s easy to lose over time. The amount of work combined with the erratic lifestyle can often leave you feeling uninspired. At some point in your entrepreneurial journey, you will undoubtedly face a crossroads where you will have to decide ...

Startups are often glorified as a dream job where anyone with an idea can set out to save the world. Once a startup has achieved success, it comes to an end as an IPO — one final moment where the heavens open up and cash rains down on founders. In reality, an IPO is intensely ...

When you were a kid, did you ever get so excited about a new toy that you rushed to put it together, tossing the instructions to the side? If you then realized you missed a few steps, it probably became infinitely less fun. That’s what it’s like for startup founders who forgo proper legal standards ...

Having an online presence is crucial for any business. However, just having one is not enough. With millions of competitors across the web, standing out is essential. This guide, written by Agatha Aviso for TechRepublic Premium, outlines 10 ways to build an effective online presence for your business, with key action steps to help you ...

No matter what product is to be sold or what service is to be offered, starting and operating a small business takes courage, fortitude and lots of planning. One of the first, and also one of the most serious, accounting mistakes small businesses to make is not creating a cogent, coherent and practical chart of ...

Raising venture capital funding can be a risky business if you aren’t realistic about what to expect. TechRepublic Premium presents five things to think about if you are considering raising your first round. The article includes advice from Mark Casady, Founder & General Partner at Vestigo Ventures and Board Member of Mass Fintech Hub. Featured ...

Too many founders are raising funding for the wrong reasons. Not only that, some are blindly pitching venture capital firms, unprepared to explain why they need the funding and where it will take their company. Before seeking funding, you should ask yourself why you need VC funding. More importantly, you should be asking yourself if ...

Convincing someone to lend you millions of dollars to fund your weeks-old business idea is no easy task. When you take into account the fact that an average venture capital investor will potentially see thousands of pitches in a year, it becomes exponentially harder to prove your business as a worthy investment. If you think ...