BizOp Blogs

As the economy slumps, many entrepreneurs are looking past consumer Web sites to focus on products and services for companies. BusinessWeek: As far as entrepreneur Dries Buytaert is concerned, a startup with smart ideas and driven people has a good chance of surviving, whatever the economic climate.... More

WSJ: Here’s a new twist on startups: Buy a brand first – then start your company. At Circlerbrands.com, there are several for sale, like “We Do the Math” for aspiring accountants or “BloomService” for someone looking to get a foothold in the floral industry. Each brand already has a registered... More

New York Times: Creative inspiration often strikes at the most unexpected times – in the shower, while out for a walk or lying on the sofa — and with depressingly less frequency at the office when workers are actually paid to generate it. But business travel can be fertile ground for discovering... More

WorldNetDaily: Substitute brains for bucks. Make ‘creativity not cash’ your start-up mantra. Map out a budget you feel comfortable with and work within it. Barter early and often: It’s one of the smartest start-up moves you can make. One entrepreneur we know traded fitness workouts... More

Power Home Biz: Obtaining funding to start your business can be a difficult process, but there are a few things you can do to increase your chances. Here are some tips: * If you are seeking only a few hundred or a few thousand dollars, you should first look to friends and family and then to the banks.... More

Brent Bowers, a longtime small-business editor at The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, is author of The Eight Patterns of Highly Effective Entrepreneurs, now out in paperback (Doubleday). In the February 26 edition of the New York Times, Bowers writes an excellent article. Here is a portion... More

CNNMoney: Question: How can I write a winning business plan with ever-changing financial information? – Emmanuel, Nairobi Answer: Writing a business plan can be one of the most frustrating tasks for a small business owner, but it is also one of the most important. First off, stop worrying so... More

Growthink blogs: From our experience consulting to entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small businesses over the past ten years, we’ve gained much exposure to the realities of starting and growing businesses. We thought it would be interesting — and hopefully instructive — to lay out some... More