Starting a Business

Rental properties are a great way to earn income either full-time or on the side. However, some states are better than others regarding returns on these types of investments. This article looks at the 10 best states to buy investment property this year (and the worst states for real estate). 1. South Carolina One of …

Guest post from Jack Hoban. What are Values? According to the dictionary, values are “things that have an intrinsic worth in usefulness or importance to the possessor,” or “principles, standards, or qualities considered worthwhile or desirable.” However, it is important to note that, although we may tend to think of a value as something good, …

Many people are used to reading or hearing of the moral benefits of attention to business ethics. However, there are other types of benefits, as well. The following list describes various types of benefits from managing ethics in the workplace. 1. Attention to business ethics has substantially improved society. A matter of decades ago, children …

Business ethics in the workplace is about prioritizing moral values for the workplace and ensuring behaviors are aligned with those values — it’s values management. Yet, myths abound about business ethics. Some of these myths arise from general confusion about the notion of ethics. Other myths arise from narrow or simplistic views of ethical dilemmas. …

The following guidelines ensure the ethics management program is operated in a meaningful fashion: 1. Recognize that managing ethics is a process. Ethics is a matter of values and associated behaviors. Values are discerned through the process of ongoing reflection. Therefore, ethics programs may seem more process-oriented than most management practices. Managers tend to be …

It’s ironic that a word like “transparency” can have several confusing meanings, even in a business context. While transparency as a concept is often most visible in the realm of social responsibility and compliance, its real benefit is when it’s seen as a business priority. Transparency is about information. It is about the ability of …

What’s an Ethics Management Program? Organizations can manage ethics in their workplaces by establishing an ethics management program. Brian Schrag, Executive Secretary of the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics, clarifies. “Typically, ethics programs convey corporate values, often using codes and policies to guide decisions and behavior, and can include extensive training and evaluating, depending …

Let’s Start With “What is ethics?” Simply put, ethics involves learning what is right or wrong, and then doing the right thing — but “the right thing” is not nearly as straightforward as conveyed in a great deal of business ethics literature. Most ethical dilemmas in the workplace are not simply a matter of “Should …

As opposed to offering opinions without having all of the background and knowledge, I thought it might be more helpful to start a discussion about the questions: Many people have written that Toyota’s problem was that it sacrificed a core value of safety for profit. To frame the issue this generally is to miss the …

Once you learn how to start a nonprofit organization, you’ll realize it’s similar to starting any type of business. It takes dedication, patience, and a trustworthy team. Our systematic approach to starting a nonprofit will maximize your chance of success. We understand that starting a nonprofit is a philanthropic act, and we applaud your initiative. …

When starting a new business, choosing an entity type is one of the most important decisions you must make. Many entrepreneurs are torn between a limited liability company (LLC) vs corporation. While these entities are similar in many ways, they have profound differences that should inform what you choose. LLC vs. Corporation: The Differences LLCs …

Business registration in the U.S. may seem like a challenge, but the process is actually quite simple. Whether you’re doing the work yourself or using a service to move things along, there’s little required to get your company up and running. Below are six steps that will take you through the business formation process. How …

Organizations that qualify as a 501c3 nonprofit can enjoy various tax-related benefits. Although there are different types of 501c organizations, ranging from 501c1 to 501c29, 501c3 nonprofits are unique because their donations are tax deductible. Since they are also exempt from federal income tax, 501c3 organizations are the most sought after nonprofit status.  What is …

Whether you’re starting a new business or converting an existing company to a limited liability company (LLC), the best LLC services can make it easy to do. Typically, LLC business formation services offer assistance with paperwork, filing, and registered agent services. We’ve gathered the top online LLC services according to what we think they do …

Registering your own business doesn’t have to be daunting. Business registration services exist to streamline the process from start to finish while keeping everything compliant down the road. The best business registration services can file business formation documents for you, provide registered agents, and prepare your annual reports. Best Business Registration Services ZenBusiness – Best …

Business licenses and permits grant you the right to legally operate your business in the U.S. However, there are various types of business licenses which are issued by federal, state, and local agencies. Learn which business licenses you need and how to get a business license. How To Get a Business License Each business license …

LegalZoom is a big name in the online legal services sector. Whether you’re a business owner, professional, or looking for personal legal services, LegalZoom offers a one-stop solution for all.  While the online legal service covers intellectual property, personal, and family matters, we will emphasize its business-related services in this review. Continue reading to learn …

All About Business Planning: Complete Manual With Updated Extensive Resources Copyright Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD. NOTE: Your business plan should be highly customized to your current organizational situation. Thus, using a generic business plan template could completely misrepresent the needed focus of your business plan. (This step-by-step manual is a complement to the topic How …

Developing strategy takes time and resources. It requires the time and commitment of some of the most highly paid and highly experienced people in your organization. So, if your team isn’t willing to invest what is needed, I recommend that you don’t do it. Poor planning is often worse than no planning at all. So, …

As the strategy leader, you have seven activities to which I recommend you pay close attention to build a strong strategy that has full buy-in and commitment. Gain your team’s commitment and buy-in to the process If your leadership team members are like most with whom I have worked, they are stretched for resources and …

The historian Alfred Chandler of Harvard Business School wrote a seminal book published in 1977 on the history of strategic decision making at the highest levels of Corporate America , including DuPont, General Motors, Standard Oil and Sears Roebuck. The book was called The Visible Hand: The Managerial Revolution in American Business. In this work …

Legal Structures of Organizations Legal Forms and Traditional Structures of Organizations Market Research — Inbound Marketing Planning Your Research Market Research Find and Feed the Feeling Strategizing Understanding Strategy and Strategic Thinking Competitor Analysis Porter’s Five Competitive Forces (Part I) Porter’s Five Competitive Forces (Part 2) Competitive Intelligence Product Planning Product Management E-Commerce Sales and …

The principles of strategy are timeless. The following notes on the essentials of strategy are drawn from the great works of strategy… Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, Napoleon’s Maxims, Clausewitz’ On War. Though dating up to 2,500 years ago, the advice of these strategists is helpful today no matter your competitive landscape, from high …

There is often a great deal of confusion about the difference between business plans and strategic plans. And, frankly, they are similar in many ways, and since each plan has to be tailored to the organization it is prepared for, one can easily blur into the other. In both cases, you begin with internal and …

Good Strategy Bad Strategy This fresh approach to strategic thinking begins with tales of battles at sea in the days of Napoleon and continues to explain what kinds of strategies have made the difference for modern companies like Apple, Wal-Mart, Cisco, Starbucks and Wells Fargo. Author Richard Rumelt shows that many recent high profile failures …