Financing a Small Business


Recent Financing a Small Business Articles

How to Identify Your Target Customers

The clock is ticking on our 20-minute business model. Today's task: Describing potential customers for the new business - in five minutes or less.  Read more

Fundraising Saga of a Desperate Entrepreneur - Part 4

In this last part of founder and CEO of HappyFamily Shazi Visram's launch story she talks about becoming profitable without private equity funding.  Read more

Steve Case: IPOs Are Good for You

The founder of AOL makes a good case for why an IPO is often the best exit strategy for a company's founder. But Case has his reasons, and they may not be yo...  Read more

Sometimes, You Need Millions of Dollars to Grow a Start-up 

In 2009, in order to build her organic baby food company, Shazi Visram raised $11 million--fast. Last year, HappyFamily Brands's sales hit $35 million.  Watch video

Start-ups to SEC: Move Faster on Crowdfunding

CircleUp, AngelList, and other start-ups presented testimony today urging lawmakers to get moving on crowdfunding legislation promised in the JOBS Act.  Read more

Too Sexy? 'No VC Wanted to Touch Me With a Barge Pole' 

Cindy Gallop, founder of MakeLoveNotPorn, explains how every obstacle she encounters only proves why she must launch her "real-world" sex sites.  Watch video

Most Important Rule in VC Negotiations

Negotiating with potential investors is never easy. Here's one option you never want to take off the table.  Read more

4 Things to Consider Before Selling to a Private Equity Group

Private equity groups have money to spend. But would they be a good buyer for your business? Here are four things to consider if a PEG comes knocking.  Read more

Does Google Ventures 'Lowball' Start-ups? Kevin Rose Responds

Last week, Y Combinator's founder argued that Google suckers start-ups into bad deals. Google Ventures partner Kevin Rose responds.  Read more

Nitty Gritty Advice on Raising Venture Capital

Does your big business idea need investment to realize its potential? Entrepreneurs who have been through the process of raising money have practical tips--a...  Read more

What's the ROI on Your Company?

Before you approach an investor to fund your growth strategy, make sure you are able to articulate what they will receive in return.  Read more

2 Reasons to Avoid Venture Capital

Many growth company CEOs believe they need to raise venture capital to achieve success. Here are two reasons to reconsider.  Read more

Need Start-up Help? Try L.A.

Silicon Beach is home to increasingly more incubators and accelerators. Here are three cool programs to consider.  Read more

Choosing the Right VC is More Important Than Any Hire You'll Ever Make

Puretech Ventures' David Steinberg talks about building a successful partnership with a VC firm.  Read more

When Kickstarter Campaigns Go Bad

What happens when supporters do their part, but you can't do yours? Here's how to avoid upsetting your new fans.  Read more

Small Business Owners Not Looking to Borrow

Don't blame the banks. While it can be difficult to get loans, the SurePayroll survey of small business owners finds most are not trying to.  Read more

When Joe Bastianich Bet It All on Babbo 

Restaurateur Joe Bastianich and his business partner, chef Mario Batali, took on a massive debt before their first restaurant together--they now have 23--too...  Watch video

9 Wildly Successful Kickstarter Campaigns

These cool tech projects didn't just meet their funding goals--they soared right past them.  View slideshow

Small-Business Owners Brace for Hurricane Isaac

All entrepreneurs must have a comprehensive disaster recovery plan and a good insurance policy. Here's how to get started.  Read more

Financing Tricks from Inc. 500 Companies

Most of the rapidly growing private companies in this year's Inc. 500 funded their growth through personal savings and cash flow. Here's how.  Read more

Still Growing, Still Independent, Still Happy

Life After the Inc. 500: Elizabeth Elting has grown Transperfect Translations by over 30 percent annually since 2000 without a dime of outside funds--and she...  Read more

Why Your Idea Isn't Worth Anything

Seasoned investors say that nine times out of 10, an entrepreneur is too busy focusing on the "idea" to think through the business model.  Read more

13 Stealth Ways to Save Money When Starting Up

An extra expense here, an unneeded office perk there: The numbers really add up. Young entrepreneurs highlight small ways businesses can save a lot of money.  Read more

TARP Becomes Trap for Many Small Business Lenders

Hundreds of community banks have yet to exit the Treasury's bailout program, and in their scramble to leave, small businesses will pay the price.  Read more

VCs' Nastiest Interview Trick

Most of the entrepreneurs I meet will walk right into this one. Here's how to be prepared.  Read more