by Jackie Beck

What’s the one thing you need to start a small business? It may not be what you think. Read the rest of this entry »

by Jackie Beck

If you want to go into business for yourself, you might think you’ll need a lot of money to get started — maybe even a small business loan. But that’s not necessarily the case. There are plenty of businesses you can start for little to no money — in some cases just for the cost of getting a business license. (Always check to see if one is required in your area for the type of business you’re thinking of starting.) Read the rest of this entry »

by Jackie Beck

“Begin with the end in mind” is one of Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People — but it’s also a great thing to do when starting a business.

And I mean that literally: figure out an exit strategy for your business before you even get it started. Read the rest of this entry »

by Jackie Beck

Taxes can be a confusing subject if you’re self-employed. Actually (if you’re in the U.S. at least) taxes can be massively complicated and confusing period, no matter what your employment status. The tax code is huge, and it’s probably safe to say that no one person actually knows everything in it. Read the rest of this entry »

by Jackie Beck

Health insurance may not be top of mind if you’re thinking of striking out on your own — since you’re probably busy thinking about business ideas. But if you live in the U.S., making sure you’re able to get health insurance is one of the most critical things to plan for before you make the leap. Read the rest of this entry »

by Jackie Beck

Have you ever thought about becoming self-employed, only to be stopped in your tracks by fear of the unknown? Jana at Daily Money Shot recently posted about exactly that: the self-employment fear factor. She listed several specific fears related to becoming self-employed. Read the rest of this entry »