There are few moments in the life of a business as consequential as Launch Day, the moment you finally get to lift the veil on the project you’ve been working on. It’s a heady time, one that is a mix of excitement (“Holy cow, we’re finally doing this!”) and anxiety (Holy cow, we’re actually doing this!). Though I work with businesses at every stage of their life cycles, I still get a thrill out of being a part of an entrepreneurial kickoff. Over the course of my career, I’ve helped guide what seems like countless startups and young businesses as they’ve launched and scaled. Before cofounding ..read more

On today’s Business Beat, Jeff Sloan shares NerdWallet’s list of grants specifically for women entrepreneurs. If you’re a woman or if you know a woman who wants to start or grow their business, but is in need of capital to get it really rolling, check out these grant opportunities and others. Tune in to the Business Beat, below, to learn more:   Tune in to News/Talk 760 AM WJR weekday mornings at 7:11 a.m. for the WJR Business Beat. Listeners outside of the Detroit area can listen live HERE. Are you an entrepreneur with a great story to share? If so, contact us at editor@startupnat ..read more

Venture capital funding, while essential to the startup growth ecosystem, is a funding source that makes its way into only a small percentage of companies seeking critical startup and growth funding. The companies that get venture capital fill a narrow band that meet certain strict criteria, leaving many other highly meritorious and worthy companies out in the cold. Venture capital funds are managed by fund managers entrusted to ensure that the tightest standards are applied to ensure adherence to the criteria checklist. Participation in the funds is limited only to the most wealthy individua ..read more

While the pandemic has shaken the world from every corner, it’s also motivated new businesses to think smarter.  From automating mundane processes to satisfying changing customer demands, startups count on agility and creativity to see them through. The fruits of that labor are finally clear as we witness revolutionary business ideas changing the startup world as we know it.  In this article, we’re sharing five business ideas that will continue to impact the startup landscape well into the future.  1. Tips, tricks, and reviews   While sharing informative content can be ..read more

Throughout the last year, a myriad of U.S. employees quit their jobs, leaving many positions unfilled. And today, companies are still struggling to fill positions as we enter the new year. The reasons for the mismatch between labor offering and demand are multifold: People are increasingly handing in their notice because they want a better work-life balance, greater benefits, and a more flexible approach to their work. The current turmoil in the labor market will not go away anytime soon. Hiring and retaining talent is harder than ever, as people look for what’s best for them – leaving sentime ..read more

There are countless articles on the web about how to A/B test your website and optimize it post-launch. While these guides are helpful, we recommend you do one better: apply conversion thinking in the planning stage. Doing so after your website has launched is a bit like building a house before the foundations: a bad (and probably quite expensive) idea. In this article, we’re going to share five conversion tips and tricks that all of our projects swear by that you can include in the preliminary stages of building your startup’s website. StartupNation exclusive discounts and savings on Dell pr ..read more

Are you finally ready to follow your dreams and be your own boss? Do you have an incredible idea for a business that can really help solve a problem that you just know many consumers face? Becoming an entrepreneur is exciting and you probably want to jump right in now. However, it is important to take a moment to first think of some critical factors that can make or break your business. I built my business to help others build six- and seven-figure companies on a bootstrap budget using SEO, so I know a thing or two about setting up a startup for success. I’d like to share some of my own tried ..read more

It’s hard to see any area of work and life that has been left untouched by COVID-19. This unprecedented pandemic has impacted industries and businesses of all sizes, and that includes the gig economy. In March, media like The New York Times predicted the erosion of the gig economy. However, many months later, the reality is that there has been an adverse impact, but there has also been a positive outcome. As a freelancer, you have the opportunity to make changes that address this impact and continue to work on your own terms. StartupNation exclusive discounts and savings on Dell products and ..read more

Starting a business is thrilling. You’re finally taking your business idea and turning it into a reality. And to do that, you have to check some exciting tasks off your list, like thinking of a name and decorating your office space. Unfortunately, not all tasks are going to be “fun” ones. There are a number of behind-the-scenes responsibilities that you can’t afford to ignore. And yes, some may even consider these tasks—*gasp!*—boring. 5 “boring” startup responsibilities Everyone’s preferences are different. Some people aren’t bothered by tedious tasks like paperwork. Others? Well, they procr ..read more

A new year means a clean slate for business. If your business is still in sole proprietor status, now is the perfect time to start thinking about incorporating as a registered entity formation. What registered entities should entrepreneurs incorporate as? Here are a few popular options for entrepreneurs planning to exit sole proprietor status. Limited Liability Company (LLC) Corporation S Corporation Nonprofit Corporation Limited Liability Company (LLC) Which type of business benefits as an LLC? An LLC is a popular entity formation, thanks to providing limited liability protection and ease ..read more