Small Business Guides
Find guides and articles to help you do better business, and understand the often weird world of accounting.
Starting and growing a business
Your intro to the milestone moments in small business.
How to start a business
Thousands of new businesses open every day. If all those people can do it, why not you? Here’s what to do, and when.
How to finance your business
Need finance for your business? Learn about the types of finance, approaching lenders and investors and more.
Growing your business
Are you ready to drop the hammer and take your business to the next level? Let’s look at how to grow.
How to hire employees
Hiring help can improve your business, and your lifestyle. But it’s a big process. Here are the main things to keep in mind.
How to invoice
Looking for help on making and sending invoices and getting them paid? Check out these tips on the art of invoicing.
How to do bookkeeping
Bookkeeping includes everything from basic data entry to tax prep. Let’s look at the core jobs and see how they’re done.
What is bookkeeping?
Whether you’re bookkeeping for a family business, or planning a career in it – this is a good place to start learning.
Guide to inventory
Inventory management is more than just knowing what’s been sold and what you’ve ordered. Find out what else is involved.
Payments
Your intro to getting money in from customers, and out to suppliers and employees. See all payments guides
Profitability ratios: types, formulas and examples
Learn how profitability ratios reveal true margins, guide pricing and costs, and help you grow with confidence.
Money
Your intro to budgeting, cash flow, and what to do when you need more money. See all money guides
How to improve operational efficiency in your small business
Practical steps to cut waste, save time, and run a more efficient business.
Planning and performance
Your intro to business planning, goal setting, key performance indicators, and financial reporting. See all planning and performance guides
How to write a business plan
Writing a business plan will help nail down your idea and give you a blueprint for executing it.
Inventory management system: how to track stock and improve cash flow
Learn how an inventory management system helps you track stock, reduce waste, and keep cash flowing.
Leadership
Your intro to building a vision, establishing consensus, and inspiring action. See all leadership guides
How to develop an effective employee retention strategy
Keep your best people and reduce costly turnover with a practical retention strategy for your business.
Marketing
Your intro to finding and winning new customers, and keeping the old ones. See all marketing guides
Value proposition: what it is and how to create one
Learn what a value proposition is and how to craft one that wins customers for your small business.
Upselling techniques to help increase your revenue
Learn practical upselling techniques to grow your small business revenue and build stronger customer relationships.
Ecommerce
Your intro to starting, managing, and making money from an online business. See all ecommerce guides
What is dropshipping? How it works and how to start
Learn how dropshipping helps you launch fast, cut costs, and sell without holding stock.
Online reputation management tips for small businesses
Learn how online reputation management helps your small business earn trust and win more customers.
Tools and reports
Free templates
Download helpful templates for things like quoting, invoicing, reporting and planning.
Calculators
Use accounting calculators to help plan and run your business.
Glossary
Learn the meaning behind all those weird and wonderful accounting terms.