Startup Articles

Startup - Tips, Training, and News

Cast Your Vision With a Vision Statement

You’re the leader of your business. The visionary. The person in charge. The “Big Cheese.” Your business (and employees) will go in whatever direction you point it. So, it’s your job to cast the vision you have for your company. When it comes down to it, your business’s success depends on the vision you set […]

Funding with credit cards for small business startup

Should You Use a Credit Card to Finance Your Startup?

Over the years, more and more small business founders are turning to credit cards as a viable source for financing a new business. And it’s not hard to see why startup business credit cards have become so popular. Thanks to the 2008 financial crisis, banks have become much more risk-averse, preferring to lend mostly to […]

How to Pitch to Investors

If you’re like many small business owners, you use your personal savings, startup business credit cards, and small business loans to fund your company. But, sometimes, you need more funding to grow. How to pitch to investors Once you find the right private investors for your small business, you will need to plan for a […]

Learn the three startup criteria you business needs to meet.

The 3 Startup Criteria Your Successful Business Idea Needs to Meet

It’s easy to come up with a business idea. You can copy an already successful business. Or, you can build on something you are passionate about. However, it’s difficult to come up with a successful business idea that will lead to a thriving organization. Today, my companies sell recruiting software, payroll software, and accounting software, […]

Business Succession Planning for Your Small Company

Whether you own a startup or an established company, you likely focus on growing your business. That’s why it might be hard to think about the day you step down from your leadership role. But, the earlier you start business succession planning, the easier the transition will be. A business succession plan helps you when […]

man in workpants and button down crossing a finish line with buildings in the background

Track Your Most Important KPIs for Small Business Success

As a small business owner, some days might feel more successful than others. As the owner and CEO of an accounting and payroll software company, I have experienced this first-hand. But, do you use quantifiable data to record your progress? If not, apply your most important KPIs (key performance indicators) to your business practices. KPIs […]

6 Startup Lessons Learned the Hard Way

I started the first of my six businesses 30 years ago. I didn’t have a formal business degree, accounting training, or even an idea for what business I really wanted to start. All I knew was, I wanted to be my own boss and start my own business. Because I was starting at square one […]

5 Tips for Software Entrepreneurs

I’ve been a software entrepreneur for over 30 years now. But a lot has changed since my days of staying up all night to write custom code on black and green screens. Today’s software development landscape is vast, with numerous niches to specialize in. If I was going to start a business in the software […]

Building Brand Awareness vs. Marketing

Marketing can be incredibly expensive. In fact, for many startups, after initial investment and any payroll obligations, marketing campaigns can easily be the most expensive part of your business. If you’re a rookie entrepreneur (heck, even if you’re a veteran entrepreneur), you may feel enticed to blast news and advertisements about your new company and […]

5 Reasons for a Failed Startup

I’ve been an entrepreneur for 30 years. I’m the founder of Patriot Software Company, which presently has six companies under its umbrella, all of which I’ve started. With each one of these business ventures, I learned something new about what it takes to get a business up and running. I’ve also learned a thing or […]