You have an incredible business idea swirling around in your brain, and you’re itching to get started. You’ve done all of your research, and know what you need to do to start a business, but you’re stuck on one very important thing. And without getting past this, you’re unable to move forward on actually starting your business. But you're just not sure how to name a business - it feels like such an important decision and holding up your potential names to other big brands just doesn't feel right. This step in starting your business is incredibly common for tripping up new business owners. It f ..read more

It’s all too easy to hear about someone being scammed and think - Wasn’t it obvious something was off? Especially as scammers become more and more savvy. We can confidently say from experience that these common trademark scams look real. Real enough that a Google search was necessary before deciding to throw the mail in the trash. And now, we’ve come across another business scam to warn you about: a fake check scam. How the Scam Works With this scam, a new lead decides they’d like to work with you, they agree to the total project cost, and they let you know that they’d prefer to pay ..read more

You’ve been part of group coaching programs - some good, some not-so-good and you’ve been considering adding them to your offer lineup. In theory it makes great sense - they’re more affordable than 1:1 coaching, your members get a great community and accountability, and it’s a good way to make your coaching more accessible. But you’re still wondering if it’s the right path for you. Should you really create a group coaching program?  Advantages of Creating a Group Coaching Program  Time and Money As a business owner, your time is your most valuable asset. And as you grow, it’s only na ..read more

You’ve found a business name you LOVE, and it just feels right but you’ve discovered that someone else is using the same name for their business. Should you go back to the drawing board? Or is it okay to copy a business name and use it for your own business?  Well … maybe. But also, maybe not.  Four Questions to Ask  The last thing any of us want to get is a cease and desist letter because we accidentally stepped on the toes of another business. So, it’s important to consider the name you choose carefully. Before going any further, pause and ask yourself these questions: Is the ..read more

Your weeks have become so packed that you’re frantically running from task to task, attempting to check off as much of your to-do list as possible, and yet somehow still ending each week feeling like you didn’t get enough done. AND that you have an entirely new mountain to climb the next week.  Congratulations! You know it’s time to make a hire and get some help, but you want to make sure you do it by the book and employment law? It feels like another mountain in and of itself. Good news! We’re here to help. First, before we dig into employment law for small business, we need to take a m ..read more

Your hobby has become a business, and you’re using our No-Nonsense Checklist to Starting a Business to make sure that you are dotting your i’s and crossing your t’s when it comes to getting everything squared away - legally. And, you’ve come to the decision that the cons of using your home address as your business address outweigh the pros, and definitely want to go a different route.  A great option that offers both professional credibility and safety? A Virtual Address service. These services give you a real address to use for all of your outwardly facing business ..read more

Working from home is one of the greatest perks of entrepreneurship for many small business owners. No commute, no dress code, the ability to throw in a load of laundry throughout the day … it's no wonder that so many people are interested in working remotely, and entrepreneurs have the ability to guarantee permission from the boss.  But if you are newer to starting a business and haven’t quiteeee gotten all of your foundations set up (you need this free checklist, in that case) you might not have gotten to the point where you have to formally submit your business address. A ..read more

Unless you’re a graphic designer, you’ve probably come to know and love a certain graphic design tool for its ease of use, elaborate library, and built-in templates. For those of us who are not design-gifted, Canva has quickly become THE go-to design tool around.  Businesses need so many different graphics, and Canva has made it so simple for business owners to keep up with that constant flow. They’ve also made it incredibly easy to create your own offers, or parts of your offers. Need a workbook for a course you’ve made? Or a client style guide to send to your clients? Canva allows for e ..read more

Every time tax season rolls around, it sends many entrepreneurs into confusion. What forms do you need to send? Who should you expect to receive forms from? What do all of these different forms mean? And what in the world is the difference between a 1099-K vs 1099-NEC?!  1099 Forms The forms that are most common for small business owners, and also can be the most confusing, are the 1099 forms. These forms are used to report non-employment income to the IRS. If a business pays out more than $600 in non-employment income to a taxpayer during the year, they are required to issue a 1099 to th ..read more

You’re out to dinner with your friends, and the waiter drops off one check instead of splitting it for each of you. Someone says “let’s just Venmo one person instead of asking for it to be split”, and you all agree. So, one friend pays for the entire bill, and the rest of you each pull out your phones to open Venmo and send over your payment to them. And then it hits you - this is so simple and so easy, what if I had my clients pay me through Venmo? What is Venmo? If you haven’t heard of Venmo yet, it’s an app where you can easily send and receive cash. It’s most commonly used between friends ..read more