Startup Blog
Know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em
A common perception is most entrepreneurs are gamblers by nature. While I think this is true, there’s more nuance to it. Most successful entrepreneurs aren’t betting on a game of pure blind luck like roulette. You’ll find them perhaps at the Blackjack table, a game...
Handing over the keys before retirement
You’ve spent a lifetime building your business. Years of sacrifice, toil, sweat and tears. Eventually, every business owner faces a point in time when they must consider an exit strategy. With proper planning, there’s every reason to think that it will end up in good...
The 5 People Any Entrepreneur Needs to Start a Business
We’re entrepreneurs. We like to be the only cooks in our kitchen. We single-handedly plan the menu, prep, cook, serve, host and clean up. That’s fine for a dinner party here and there, but utter idiocy for sustaining a profitable restaurant. One of the top reasons new...
Starting up a business in recessionary times
I’m not much of an alarmist but those of us with a pulse can agree that the recession signals are flashing yellow right now. Staggering inflation, stock market losses, geopolitical strife and big tech layoffs suggest we may be approaching a period of recession, even...
Small Businesses Offering Larger Incentives
Almost two-thirds of small businesses were hiring or trying to hire in September, according to a report from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), but 46% reported they couldn't fill those job openings, well above the 48-year historical average of...
The Crucial Counterpunch of Strategic Planning
We’ve all seen wickedly smart, creative and successful people torpedo their small business into the ground. They typically look upon their strategic business plan as a straight, unfettered, golden path to success. Their entrepreneurial hopes and dreams march in unison...
Get Ready, Get Set, Go Global
Are you a small business owner in need of some jet fuel to boost your website? A new Commerce program may have up to $4,000 worth of free jet fuel for you. Whether you need an e-commerce site built from scratch, are already selling online locally or nationally, or...
Working Washington Round 5 Opens August 17
Working Washington Grants: Round 5 (WWR5) Program offers one-time grants to small for-profit and non-profit businesses that have experienced financial hardship due to Covid-19 and related public health measures.
Protect the value of your intellectual property.
Most creatives are in the idea business and our currency is often naivety in our own worth. We tend to think we can’t possibly be the first person to come up with an original thought, recipe, tattoo, line of code, slogan, illustration or music hook. Surely it’s all...