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Business Planning

Our business planning hub has all of the essential tools, strategies and insights needed to build and maintain a successful small business — a complete resource for starting, managing and growing your business. Discover everything you need to know at business.com.

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Latest: Advice, Tips and Resources

Article
Goodbye 9-to-5: How to Become a Full-Time Airbnb Entrepreneur
By Mark Fairlie | October 30, 2024

Find out exactly how thousands of Americans are replacing their traditional jobs and becoming full-time Airbnb hosts – so you can do it too. You'll take control of your life, earn more than you do...

Article
Think Like a Startup, Scale Like an Enterprise: Balancing the Best of Both Worlds
By Mark Fairlie | October 30, 2024

Both startups and enterprises must disrupt and innovate to survive. Learn how thinking like a startup and scaling like an enterprise can help ensure success.

Businesswoman on the phone
Article
Would You Make It on Shark Tank? The Importance of Scalable Business Models
By Jamie Johnson | October 30, 2024

Scalability is a crucial factor in business growth and success. Learn the components of a scalable company and how to scale your business.

Article
8 Keys to Upscaling Your Business
By Asim Rais Siddiqui | October 30, 2024

Upscaling your business is a risky decision, but you can minimize those risks with a sustainable business growth strategy. Find out the dos and don'ts here.

Article
How to Expand Your Revenue Sources
By Mark Fairlie | October 30, 2024

The most successful businesses have several revenue sources. Learn how to increase yours.

Article
14 Tools to Track Key Performance Indicators for Your Business
By Lauren Kubiak | October 29, 2024

Key performance indicators (KPIs) measure how effective your company is at achieving its goals. Learn how to find the right tools to track your business.

accountants using computers and calculators
Article
Is Your Small Business Achieving Profitable Growth?
By Emil Abedian | October 29, 2024

Small businesses must understand if their growth is profitable. Learn about the profitability-growth relationship and achieving profitable growth.

Article
Visualizing Success: How to Set Up Effective Quarterly Goals
By Julie Thompson | October 29, 2024

Breaking goals into small, actionable initiatives allows your employees and clients to become more productive over shorter time frames.

Article
Q1 Reflections: Important Ways to Take Stock of the First Quarter
By Sean Peek | October 29, 2024

The most successful businesses set goals and review them quarterly. Find out why setting goals is important and how to evaluate your Q1 goals.

group of young adult friends sitting on a couch watching TV together
Article
TV Executive Ken Basin Explains Why Hollywood Imploded [Full Q&A]
By Antonio Ferme | October 29, 2024

The Business of Television author has a few ideas to rescue networks from their own bad decisions.

Article
Tips for Setting Better Business Goals
By Simone Johnson | October 29, 2024

Learn how to create better business goals that can help guide your company.

Article
The Pros and Cons of Virtual Offices
By Jennifer Post | October 29, 2024

Virtual offices haven’t lost their popularity but do they have more cons than pros at this point? Here is what you need to consider.

Article
The 7 Biggest Challenges of Starting a Business (and How to Overcome Them)
By Jennifer Dublino | October 25, 2024

Starting a business is a difficult endeavor. Learn the biggest challenges that come with entrepreneurship and how to overcome them and find success.

Article
Why You Should Develop a Relationship With a Business Lawyer
By Mark Fairlie | October 25, 2024

Hiring the right business lawyer is crucial. It's also helpful to develop a strong relationship with them as your business grows. Here is what you need to know.

Article
Brick-and-Mortar vs. E-Commerce Stores: How to Leverage the Best of Both
By Jennifer Dublino | October 23, 2024

Brick-and-mortar and e-commerce stores have compelling benefits. Learn to leverage the best aspects of both to create an excellent customer experience.

Article
Your Guide to Creating a Small Business Marketing Plan
By Skye Schooley | October 23, 2024

A marketing plan is essential for winning over customers. Follow these marketing plan templates and guidelines to create your marketing plan today.

Article
From Mall Madness to Sadness: Why Shopping Centers May Soon Be Obsolete
By Jamie Johnson | October 23, 2024

Find out how to keep your mall-based business alive and how to embrace e-commerce as shopping centers decline.

Article
8 Ways to Make Your Business’s Computing Eco-Friendly
By Julie Thompson | October 22, 2024

Learn five ways to improve your bottom line and create a more sustainable business environment by using practices such as cloud-based computing.

Article
7 Ways to Build a Successful Construction Business
By Jennifer Dublino | October 22, 2024

Reputation is crucial to a construction business because the stakes are high. Learn how to build a successful construction company with the right tools.

Businesswoman walking through an airport
Article
International Business Etiquette From Around the World
By Danielle Fallon-O’Leary | October 21, 2024

Business has gone increasingly global throughout the past several decades. Understanding international business etiquette is key to your worldwide success.

Article
How to Celebrate National Women’s Small Business Month
By Mona Bushnell | October 18, 2024

October is National Women's Small Business Month, which means it's time to celebrate women-owned businesses everywhere.

rainbow slinky
Article
The Slinky Was Originally Designed for Navy Warships
By Ali Saleh | October 16, 2024

“A spring, a spring, a marvelous thing!”

Robert Irvine Overcoming Impossible book cover
Article
Robert Irvine’s Advice to Get Your Business Cooking
By Maya Afilalo | October 16, 2024

The Food Network host and Overcoming Impossible author shares his tips on scaling up with the right mindset.

Woman holding a Stuckey's bar in a diner
Article
How Stuckey’s Chair Rebuilt an American Snack Empire (Full Q&A)
By Dawn Allcot | October 16, 2024

A Q&A with Stephanie Stuckey

Sail to Scale book cover
Article
The Dangers of Scaling Your Startup Too Fast (Full Q&A)
By Antonio Ferme | October 16, 2024

An interview with Sail to Scale co-author Mona Sabet

Article
Take Your Restaurant to the Next Level: 13 Tips for Busy Owners
By Mark Fairlie | October 16, 2024

Opening your restaurant is only the first step. Embrace these strategies to keep your food establishment thriving.

Article
How Do HIPAA Laws Impact Employers? (HIPAA Compliance Checklist)
By Adam Uzialko | October 16, 2024

This guide includes everything employers need to know about HIPAA requirements, as well as a HIPAA compliance checklist.

Article
How to Write a Company History
By Skye Schooley | October 15, 2024

A well-written company history on your website can do wonders in attracting customers to your brand. Here is how to write one.

Article
9 Elements of a Successful Financial Plan for a Small Business
By Jamie Johnson | October 15, 2024

Improve your chances of growth and success by covering these bases in your financial plan.