Being a good leader comes naturally to some, while for others, it is a learned skill. But no matter who you are or which category you fit into, there’s always room for improvement. If you want to improve your leadership skills, here are 8 ways you can start. 1. Be accountable Everyone makes mistakes from time to time, from the top all the way down, but it’s how these mistakes are handled that matters. If you as the leader make a mistake but are full of excuses or try to blame it on someone or something else, what does that say to your employees? Remember, you are the leader and  ..read more

Balance sheets make up the core of bookkeeping. These financial records track every credit or debit for your business, noting them under assets and liabilities. Assets refer to anything that is useful or has value to the business (like cash on hand or inventory). Conversely, liabilities refer to anything that will cost the business money in the long or short term. Tracking liabilities is important for any business that wants a clear picture of its cash flow and company value. This guide will discuss what liabilities are in greater detail and how you can record them.  What’s the difference ..read more

Starting a business is expensive and entrepreneurs are always looking for ways to save money. Here are some free resources and services that will help you grow as a business and a businessperson. US Small Business Administration. Some of the best free resources for small business owners in the United States are actually offered by the government–the US Small Business Administration (SBA) has tips, articles, studies, and even granting opportunities. The agency’s business plan worksheets are fantastic for those just starting up or those seeking another round of funding. For those with more exper ..read more

Key performance indicators (KPIs) are data that measure how effectively a business is progressing towards a strategic business objective. These measurements can reveal how well teams or the business as a whole are performing over a specific time period. The late Peter Drucker—father of modern management—once said that “[i]f you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.” This principle is actualized through KPIs. Let’s take a deep dive into KPIs and answer some of the following questions: What is a KPI? What are examples of KPIs? How do you create KPIs? Do small businesses need KPIs ..read more

For decades now, it’s been a game of catch-up for women in business—and they’ve gained a lot of ground. From 2019 to 2023, the number of new women-owned businesses grew at nearly double the rate of businesses owned by men. But the struggle is far from over. The statistics on women-owned businesses below highlight just how far women have come and the disparities we’ve yet to overcome. How many women-owned businesses are there in the U.S.? Women are now majority owners in at least 35 percent of U.S. employer firms. In total, women own 13.8 million businesses employing 10 million workers and gen ..read more

For small business owners, the adage “you have to spend money to make money” rings particularly true, especially when it comes to inventory. However, managing a healthy, cash-flow positive business sometimes means turning to additional financial tools – and this is where inventory financing can be a game-changer. Here, we’ll unpack everything small business owners need to know about inventory financing. From its workings and benefits to how it can be secured and the array of options available, learn the answers to all your inventory financing queries. What is inventory financing? Inventory fin ..read more

Chinese culture is known for many things. Not only are they know for their business sense, but for their philosophy as well. So it’s no wonder that one of their most popular philosophers, Confucius, has a number of quotes related to running a business. Here are 5 of the best quotes by Confucius on running your small business: Perseverance “It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.” When applied to running a small business, it means you shouldn’t panic even if growth is slowing down. As long as your small business is not shrinking or losing money, you should n ..read more

The number of small businesses has been increasing in the United States over the past several years. Last year, the White House announced that more than 10 million small businesses were created in 2021 and 2022. Along with its growth in the total number of businesses, the U.S. is also seeing growth in the number of women-owned businesses in the country. The number of women-owned businesses in the U.S. increased 13.6% from 2019 to 2023, making up 39.1% of all of the country’s businesses, according to research from Wells Fargo. In total, women own 13.8 million businesses employing 10 million wor ..read more

Creating and maintaining a vision for your company is just as important for your businesses long-term success as marketing and selling is. Vision not only motivates you and your employees, it helps you stay focused on the goal and work together toward something. Visualizing goals “If you want to reach a goal, you must ‘see the reaching’ in your own mind before you actually arrive at your goal.” – Zig Ziglar Researchers have proven that visualizing an outcome and the process you’ll use to get there can substantially increase the likelihood of you reaching your goal. Whatever your busines ..read more

LEHI, Utah—March 5, 2024—Lendio, the nation’s leading small business financial solutions platform, announces today it has surpassed over $15 billion in funding for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). That equates to over 400,000 SMBs receiving loans and financing through Lendio and a network of 75 lenders in its marketplace. The need for SMB funding is a critical need, with 77 percent of small business owners saying they are concerned about their ability to access capital. A top reason for SMB failure is lack of funding or working capital.  “Our mission is to create a world where sm ..read more