Sponsored by Lesley University: In 2015, I attended an event in Boston held specifically to connect women entrepreneurs looking for startup funding with investors. The Boston Women’s Venture Summit, hosted by Babson College, was where I learned just how much the city of Boston was focusing on becoming a hot spot for startups, particularly women-led startups. Even the city’s … [Read more...]
How to Transition into Entrepreneurship
So you want to start a business, but you don't yet have a game plan. Need some solid tips to get you started? You’ve come to the right place. For the purpose of this article, we’ll assume that you are working full-time right now and dreaming of having your own business. You know you have something to offer a client or customer (skills or products). You are not afraid of … [Read more...]
Starting a Business? Here’s What You Need to Know [Infographic]
Globally, the median amount required to start a business is $15,000, but 29% of businesses fail when the owner runs out of money. That’s because 82% of startup funding comes directly from the owners or their families. Only one out of 100 entrepreneurs will ever get venture capital to help make their businesses successful. [Tweet "Only 1 in 100 entrepreneurs will get venture … [Read more...]
Root Causes of Working IN Your Business, Not ON Your Business
One of the most common issues facing my solo-entrepreneur clients is frustration, often followed swiftly by fatigue. Suddenly swamped by so many roles, so many decisions, so many tasks, while trying to conserve expenditure – weariness sets in. What started as a dream business idea, to hone and drive further, has now become a 24/7 job, with no escape route. You realize you’re … [Read more...]
Are You Ready to Turn Your “Side Hustle” into a Business?
Side hustles are generally born out of necessity or passion. They tend to maximize our skills and capacities or release our creativity. Converting a side hustle into a business is often a slippery slope because whether your side hustle is born out of necessity or born out of passion, the realities of formalizing a business can be disheartening. A side hustle that generates … [Read more...]
5 Rookie Business Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make
As a business owner, there are some mistakes that you simply shouldn't make. Here are five rookie business mistakes that you need to avoid: 1. Bad Customer Service We have all experienced bad customer service at some point in our lives that has made us turn down a sale. Many times we walk out of a store because we are not greeted as we enter or as we shop. This is bad … [Read more...]
5 Steps for Going from Concept to Creation
There’s no doubt about it. Ideas are all around us. Have you ever watched the show Shark Tank where people come in with fantastic ideas that actually work? For most, taking those ideas from concept to creation is difficult. Let’s discuss a few steps to help you get started. 1. Research Your Idea Find out if this is something that’s been done before. Is there a way to … [Read more...]
Connecting Women to Investors at Capital W: The Boston Women’s Venture Summit
Investor and businesswoman Sheryl Marshall started working with women-owned businesses and women venture funding in 1999 after spending years working in financial services where she fielded tons of calls from women looking for capital. She recalls, “Back then, only 2% of venture funding went to women-owned businesses, and most of that 2% went to iVillage.” This lack of … [Read more...]
3 Steps To Take Before Starting A Business
The other day I was watching a re-run of the show Reba and thought, “This is a great topic for a blog post!” Reba’s younger daughter needed money for her college fund. Since Reba and her husband were divorced, she asked him if he could help. In Reba’s mind, the way he could help the most was by selling his country club membership that he had for over 15 years. Doing that … [Read more...]
The Trademark Application Process Takes Longer Than You Think [Infographic]
Did you know that it could take anywhere from seven months to more than two years to get a federal trademark registration? A new Trademark Timeline infographic from Innovation to Profits (shown below) reveals that there are three primary things that can cause delays in the trademark registration process: 1. Office Actions These come from the examining attorney at the U.S. … [Read more...]