business

If you’ve been thinking about opening up shop as a business owner, then something you’ll need to learn is how to take payments from buyers.

Yes, some of them will be happy to place an online order with no customer service required. However, others are going to want to talk to you to get a better understanding of what you’ll provide for them in exchange for their hard earned money.

This is where invoicing comes in.

Simply put, an invoice is a document that a seller issues to a buyer to clarify the terms of a purchase.

You can think of an invoice as a simple agreement that spells out the deliverables that will be exchanged when two parties transact.  [Read more…] about What Is an Invoice and How Do I Write One?

While you were probably misled to believe that  forming an LLC was complicated, it’s actually very easy to do. Did you know that nearly half of all Americans own or work for a small business? And, if you’re one of the millions of people who own their own business, you have a lot of decisions to make.

What’s the best way to organize all of my receipts? How do I find good employees? The challenges of owning your own small business can be overwhelming at times.

One of the biggest challenges small business owners face is when and how to file for an LLC. Turning your small side project into a legal entity such as an LLC is a big step, but a necessary one, if your business is growing fast or you want to add a layer of legal protection.

In this article, we’ll discuss the eight steps to forming an LLC, so you can rest assured that you know how to handle the situation. Of course, there are other legal entities you could consider too, so check with a legal adviser if you’d prefer to form an S Corp, C Corp, or Non-Profit instead.

Now then, let’s get started!

[Read more…] about Steps to Forming an LLC in 30 Minutes or Less (Without a Lawyer)

Looking to start a business with little to no capital and worried it might take money to make money?

Well, there’s good news and bad news.

The bad: 29% of new businesses fail through lack of capital.

The good: you don’t need masses of money to get started. Simply, it doesn’t always take money to make money. Having cash from the outset is an obvious advantage. However, a lack of it shouldn’t dissuade you from giving it a shot.

After all, some of the biggest companies in the world had the humblest of beginnings. Jeff Bezos started Amazon from his garage; Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak founded Apple in the same way. [Read more…] about Fact or Fiction: Does It Take Money to Make Money?