How important will my management team be to venture capitalists?
Finance & Capital mentor Guy Kawasaki responds: The strength of your start-up's management team is absolutely critical to your succe... Read more
Financing a Small Business
Recent Financing a Small Business Articles
The Classic Bootstrapper
A candle maker's frugal ways recall the bootstrapping techniques of yesteryear Don't look to Paul Aldrich for clues on how to boot... Read more
Beware the Venture Catalyst
Heard about venture catalysts? These newfangled matchmakers may have great connections to angel investors and venture capitalists, but they may also be br... Read more
How do I structure a work-for-equity deal?
Law & Taxation mentor Chip Morse responds to the following question from an inc.com user: I have finally found the perfect "ange... Read more
Can you grow a small, bootstrapped company into a success without lying?
Ethics in Business mentor Jeffrey Seglin responds to the following question from an inc.com visitor: Can you grow a small, boots... Read more
Making Connections
Inc. magazine's editor-in-chief discusses how growth businesses are transforming the urban landscape; the hubris of the new Internet incubators; and... Read more
Harnessing Student Power
With only $125 and unpaid help from college students, Ron Vos was able to grow his youth-oriented marketing service into a $1 million venture. Read more
Rambling for Gems
Here's how one woman turned an impromptu vacation into a thriving jewelry design and manufacturing business. Read more
Charting Value
Here's how John Ford grew an idea from his wife's law school notes into a multimillion-dollar publishing enterprise. Read more
Great Companies Started for $1,000 or Less
Profiles of seven entrepreneurs who transformed start-up capital of $1,000 or less into companies with revenues of $1 million or more. Read more
Up the Drywall Ladder
When he found out his boss was taking a vacation and he'd be out of work for two weeks, Joe Serrato decided to strike out on his own. With some broken-down e... Read more
Webaholic's Big Break
Desperate for customers, Ken Burke wangled a deal to get a booth at the pricey Online Expo in Los Angeles in exchange for giving seminars during the show. Th... Read more
Bidding on Linux
It's cheap and it works. But can you run your company on Linux? Read more
Great Bootstrapping Secrets: 45 Ideas that Can Save Your Business Money
Here are 45 money-saving ideas that can help your company do more with less. Read more
Boing! Whiz! Bang! Dunk!
Dancing chefs and blue martinis -- iLounge sounds like a rowdy day of fun and games. But despite its hilarity, iLounge offers some hard-core business lessons... Read more
Company for Sale by Owner -- or Maybe Not
In today's overheated mergers and acquisitions market, it's no surprise that many entrepreneurs are thinking of selling their company. But who should be the ... Read more
How can I successfully market my new business?
Marketing & Advertising mentor Jay Conrad Levinson responds to the following question from an inc.com user: What suggestions do ... Read more
What business questions concern a venture capital firm most when evaluating a potential investment?
Law & Taxation mentor Richard S. Morse Jr. responds: The venture capital firm will conduct reference checks on the management team, ... Read more
How do I reach a niche business market?
Marketing & Advertising mentor Jay Conrad Levinson responds to the following question from an inc.com user: We have a small, s... Read more
Where Has All the Money Gone?
With an unprecedented amount of capital flowing through the equity and debt markets, you'd think anyone can raise money for just about anything. But unless y... Read more
Seven Entrepreneurs in Search of a Deal
From new twists on time-honed tactics to the brave new world of Internet financing, here are strategies that can help land your business in the money. Read more
The Quotable Entrepreneur: Rob Wood
"Private equity is like dating -- they're not permanent relationships. With a VC you get married -- either you're with them for a long time, or there's a ... Read more
How do I protect my ideas when meeting with people who could help me?
Finance & Capital mentor Guy Kawasaki responds: When you are presenting information to potential investors, you have to be careful... Read more
What legal questions most concern venture capital firms considering an investment?
Law & Taxation mentor Richard S. Morse Jr. responds: Venture capital firms will look at the scope and duration of any existing non... Read more
What questions should I ask venture capitalists before accepting their money?
Law & Taxation mentor Richard S. Morse Jr. responds: Too often, in my experience, entrepreneurs are looking for money from any ... Read more
I'm starting a business but have no market research budget. What are some inexpensive techniques?
Marketing & Advertising mentor Jay Conrad Levinson responds: The least expensive marketing technique of all is to create a question... Read more
Capital Training
BELLEVUE, WASH. -- Roxanne Benton Darling toyed with starting a business for two years. "I've started and stopped a couple of times, but for whatever reas... Read more
Think Multipurpose Marketing
Effective marketing strategies always work double time -- feeding off each other and creating a ripple effect. Just like multi-function equipment, your ma... Read more
Making Friends: The Name of the Angel Game
I am on the advisory board of a company that is creating a very interesting software product. As an Internet-based product, it's in a white-hot market spa... Read more
Do Sole Proprietors Need an Employee Identification Number?
Q: I'm starting a business as a sole proprietor. I don't plan to have any employees. Do I need an employee identification number, or can... Read more
Attract Angels of Support
A growing number of universities are willing to "preseed," or invest in companies in their most infant stages. Here's an example of someone who was touche... Read more