You'd probably need to get the prototype built before you go to a manufacturer, unless you have a previous relationship with a company who is willing to work with you. There a lot of... (more)

You need to work out what your numbers are on the expense side first, then determine what you bring in terms of value to the table to price your services accordingly. Since you are in the... (more)

Many personal trainers do business under a name other than their own. For example, someone named Angela Smith may want to do business as "Body by Angela" or "Angela Smith Personal... (more)

There are two important steps you can take to protect your personal assets when starting a company. First, make sure you are operating as a corporation or a limited liability company. A local... (more)

If this is the type of arrangement you choose to make, you'll need to do a lot of due diligence. It's best to talk to people who have actually done this to get an idea of the "ins and... (more)

What you're suggesting here sounds much more like a loan than an investment. Think of an investment as someone buying a percentage of ownership in your company in exchange for a sum of money that... (more)

It sounds like everything is set. Now, you need customers. Your next move will depend on what you're selling. Are you in a high "traffic" area? Do you have all the names and contact... (more)

Start with your own industry and see if you can find someone who will build something for you directly, or can refer someone who can "freelance" for you. You can also use the internet... (more)

This is a tough situation. Patents just aren't that protective anymore. I own a corporation and I stopped signi (more)

I'm going to assume that when you write "venture capital" what you really mean is an investor -- someone who will write a check in exchange for a share in your business. For the record,... (more)

What kind of marketing support is the manufacturer giving you? Do you have any sales sheets? Do they do any social media or other forms of advertising? Next big question: What's your... (more)

It depends on several factors. Begin by asking yourself what makes your Internet cafe different or special. Is it the cool place to be because of the decor or music? Is it in a popular or... (more)

The simple answer is by doing your homework and persevering. First, you have to know two things: What demographic markets comprise your 2,000 to 4,000 site visitors and what kinds of services they... (more)

Any time you want to launch or resurrect a business, you have a couple legal issues to consider when choosing a name. First, you want to be sure that the name is available with your state's... (more)

Shuttering a business because the other partner won't pony up is a clear sign of discord. The partner demanding the contribution could either be trying to (unfairly) precipitate a rift, or could be... (more)

Numbers are the language of business. It is critical to "know your numbers" on the expense side before plunging into any business venture. You're talking about starting something... (more)

I would suggest a strategic mixture of all of the above. Start by sending the owners on your target list some information about your company, such as your mission statement and any materials... (more)

Membership websites come in all shapes and sizes, and include everything from simple blogs that require a login to rich content sites with privileged access to premium content based on the status... (more)

Any time you form a new company you are, essentially, starting from scratch in building up the business credit associated with that company. If you don't have a bank account or other credit... (more)

It's good that you're considering professional advice at the beginning of the startup process. As a professional advisor myself, I'm often consulted only after a business has launched and... (more)