Whether you're planning on buying your favorite neighborhood laundromat or expanding your network of Krispy Kreme donut franchises, you're probably going to need some type of business financing. If purchasing a business, you will likely need acquisition financing, but beyond that, you'll need readily available capital so you can invest in inventory, facilities, marketing, and staffing to ensure a profitable and growing business.

For many entrepreneurs, choosing what to sell online is one of the most difficult steps of starting an online store. After all, the products should entice and appeal to the target audience while being profitable and easily sourceable.

It’s the season of giving, and it’s the season of spending. From grocery store trips to online shopping and charitable donations, this is the time of year when American consumers spend the most money.

Owning and running a small business is an incredible feat that is not for the faint of heart. You have a passion and you’re making money doing it, which is amazing! But, to make sure your business is staying relevant in today’s point-and-click world, you need to take the proper steps. Having a solid online presence is essential!

Defective and dangerous products cause thousands of injuries in the United States every year. Any consumer who suffers personal or property damage from a faulty product may seek restitution from the manufacturer or seller of that product. Parties that are potentially liable for the sale of a defective or dangerous product include the manufacturer, a manufacturer of component parts, the wholesaler, and the retail store that sold the product to the consumer.

The budget cycle is the period of time between one budget and the next. It involves a series of steps that form a cycle.

The budget cycle involves the creation of the budget, its validation (by testing current versus expected performance), the examination of variances (actual versus budget performance), the implementation of any corrective actions, and the revision of the budget based on feedback.

Buyers are evolving faster than sellers.

A major factor in the growing gap between buyer and seller is the rise of millennial decision-makers. There are more than 11 million Millennials worldwide on LinkedIn alone. Mobile technology, increased information, more market transparency, and data analytics are some of the elements shaping how Millennials make buying decisions for their organizations. Sellers must adapt to the following shifts in order to win the attention, business, and loyalty of millennial buyers. Check out our latest infographic for five need-to-know characteristics of millennial buyers.

Franky Descoteaux is a speaker, business coach, podcast host, video producer, and consultant for startup, growth, and crisis-stage businesses and nonprofits. She has launched four businesses and two nonprofit programs, coached a number of entrepreneurs, and managed several crisis turnarounds. Skye Learning was thrilled to feature Descoteaux in Introduction to Small Business Management, a course in Skye’s Certificate in Small Business Management.

Dreams of financial independence and career flexibility drive many people to start new businesses, but only half of those enterprises survive after five years. Although the payoffs can indeed be significant, many who hope to start a business underestimate the required upfront and ongoing commitment to maintain the business.

Check out our latest infographic and learn about some of the challenges you might face when starting your own business.

Small business, which is defined by the Small Business Administration (SBA) as a company with fewer than 500 employees, is vital to the health of the U.S. economy. Today, more than half of America's workers either own or work for a small business. 

Why do people want to own or manage a small business? They'll tell you that running a small business lets you control your own destiny. You get to pick the people you work with. You establish your own work-life balance. You decide how much risk you want to take. And you enjoy the rewards of success.