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Thinking of starting your own cleaning business? It's a great opportunity for anyone who is hard working and responsible, and you can start working from your own home with only a minimal investment for start-up expenses. You can expand the business at your own pace and hire extra staff on an "as needed" basis.

Every business needs a mission statement, to serve as a blueprint for business planning and decision-making. A mission statement that clearly states the business’ purpose and goals will inspire your people to pull together as a team to accomplish that purpose, and will give management and stakeholders a means of measuring its success.

No matter how experienced a speaker you are, rehearsals are necessary each time you make a presentation.

Preparing for a seminar is not only hectic and time-intensive, it can also be incredibly stressful for the organizers. It's inevitable that something will go wrong. But you can stay ahead of the game and maximize the number of things that go right with some careful planning.

This is the final article on conducting a due diligence review when purchasing a business. This article lists relevant records, contracts, financing and credit arrangements, and brokerage commissions relevant to the transaction.

VI. Administrative Records.

Administration includes all of the procedures, policies and records related to the day-to-day operations of the company. A well-run company keeps good, thorough, accurate records. You will need to review copies of all the administrative reco...

In our last post we discussed the importance of a due diligence review when you're considering purchasing a business, and covered the questions that should be answered with respect to the business' financial and corporate history. This week we talk about legal and regulatory matters, customers, goodwill, market share and potential for growth.

Today we start a 3-article series on how to conduct a due diligence review when you are considering buying an existing business. Part I of the series covers the financial, corporate and historical data you should look at with your accountants and your lawyer. If you're thinking about purchasing a business, there are many issues you need to consider and many documents you need to review with your legal and financial advisers before you close the deal. It's not only important to know the current status of the business, but also its past history, its long-term viability, future market opportunities, and potential for growth.

You've invested a lot of time, money and resources into your business - you need to protect not only the business, but also your employees, your premises, your assets and your future. You cannot afford to leave yourself exposed to unnecessary risk. Stinting on your insurance as a means of saving money is false economy - it's a short-term saving, at the expense of future viability.

Determining the Coverage You Need

Do you know what types of insurance coverage your business actually needs? Each ...

You've finally found an ideal location for your business, and you can start negotiating the lease with the landlord. But what should you be looking for in the commercial lease agreement? Before you sign anything, review the lease and make sure it answers each of the following questions:

1. Will you be given a copy of the building inspection report? If not, can you arrange for your own inspection?

2. Is a drawing of the leased premises attached with the demised area clearly marked?

3. What is ...

If you're starting up a business, cost drives every decision you make. And when it comes to business equipment, you need to determine whether it is most cost-effective and advantageous to lease or purchase the equipment necessary to your business.

There are essentially three options available for acquiring the equipment you need: a straight lease, lease-to-own (a "finance lease"), or outright purchase.  The term "business equipment" can apply to anything you need for your operations, including ...