Personal finance articles related to money in micro and small businesses.
A Freelance Writer Reflects on Five Years In
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In early 2018, I left my corporate career in human resources to go on what I then called a sabbatical. Five years later, I’m a freelance writer, business coach, and writing mentor. The in-between is a journey I reflect on often, and I’m grateful to…
20 Best Business Ideas For Stay At Home Moms
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Are you looking for ways to earn extra income while staying at home with your kids? The good news is that stay-at-home moms can make money in many different ways. Whether you need a side income, a replacement for a full-time job,or want to turn…
Who Can Open a SEP IRA?
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A good part of the working population in the United States has some type of retirement plan investment account. Most individuals contribute to either an employer-sponsored retirement plan like a 401(k) account or a Traditional Individual Retirement Account, known by the IRA acronym. People who…
Who Should Invest in a Solo (Individual) 401k?
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It’s essential that all Americans have access to some kind of retirement savings account. The government and IRS always need to support this access because Social Security distributions are not intended to be the total extent of one’s retirement income. For individuals employed by mid…
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According to the “Freelance Forward: 2021” study conducted in the fall of 2021, some 59 million Americans performed freelance work in the prior 12 months. That’s more than one-third (36%) – of the entire U.S. workforce. So, chances are you’ve been hearing a lot about…
Advantages of a Business Credit Card for Self-Employed
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Whether you’ve just started a new solo business venture or you’ve been an entrepreneur for years, it’s wise to consider all the advantages of using a business credit card. Sole proprietors and small business owners are often so busy running their companies they overlook the…
What Do I Need to Be a Successful Social Media Manager?
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If you’re like most people, you spend quite a bit of time hanging out on social media. Companies know this and take great care to cultivate an online presence that engages, delights, and supports their target market. But, chances are, the firm’s CEO isn’t cranking…
Tax Fraud – Are you unintentionally committing it?
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Before you start to panic, understand that committing tax fraud involves more than making common mistakes on your income tax return. But there are numerous types of tax fraud and evasion that could result in civil or criminal penalties. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) treats…
What Do I Need to Be a Successful Virtual Assistant?
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Becoming a virtual assistant is an increasingly popular way to have a freelance, home-based business. You get to set your hours, work remotely, and choose who you work with. But what does it really take to be a successful virtual assistant? We’ve got all the…
What Does it Take to Be a Successful Freelance Writer?
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You’ve thought about becoming a freelance writer for years. It seems like the perfect way to express yourself while earning a living. But, you know you won’t become an overnight sensation. You wonder: what does it actually take to be a successful freelance writer? Growing…
Side Hustles to Pay Off Debt Quicker
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Does your debt prevent you from living a stress-free life? How often does your debt come between you and your financial goals? Paying down debt can be a difficult task, but not an impossible one. There are a few different methods of paying off your…
What Are the Best Sites to Increase My Skills?
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Online learning is everywhere. That isn’t hyperbole. According to Small Business Trends, 98% of US corporations said they intend to incorporate online learning in 2020. It’s no wonder then that Udemy and Codecademy are household names. With the online learning market booming, how do you…
Should You Ever Work for Free?
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It’s always exciting to hear from customers or potential clients when you’re self-employed. But, if you’ve been in business long enough as an artist, musician, blogger, speaker, photographer, designer, coach, or personal trainer, there’s a good chance someone’s asked you to perform quality work without…
15 Significant Challenges of Entrepreneurship + the Fixes
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Lots of people are drawn in by the allure of entrepreneurship. After all, you get to ditch corporate life and call all the shots. But, while there’s a ton of potential upside, running a business is not always glamorous. You’ll need to do a lot…
Should I Work Full or Part-Time as I Build My Business?
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You’ve finally decided to start your own business. That’s exciting — congrats! You’re passionate about your idea and confident in your ability to pull it off. Still, you’re not sure how to fit being an entrepreneur into your life – especially your professional life. The…
Use Social Media to Save Money Marketing Your Business
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Entrepreneurs and small businesses nowadays are taking full advantage of social media to promote their companies, products, and services. And why shouldn’t they? Social media marketing is a form of “earned media” (as opposed to paid media) as it is driven organically by word of…
Federal Funds Rate: How it affects you
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You might have heard of the Federal Reserve and the terms federal funds rate, and discount rate. But what do they mean? And more importantly, how do they affect you? The short answers are: The Federal Reserve is the central bank system providing financial services…
How Can Networking Help My Business Thrive?
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At its core, networking is about meeting people and expanding your circle so you can get more done and make a more extensive impact. Often viewed as a helpful tool for job seekers who need to connect with hiring managers, networking is just as critical…
Is Hiring a Coach Worth the Money? (and do I need one?)
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You’re ready to make a significant change or to improve some part of your life. But you’re struggling to do it on your own. You’re finding it challenging to stay on top of “all the things” to know, or with motivation or mindset to reach…
What is Impostor Syndrome and Can it Affect My Finances?
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You get an acceptance letter from your “reach” college. You land your dream job. Your annual review is glowing. You ace a challenging certification exam. You get a promotion at work. Your small business is thriving. These are all examples of times when you should…
Pros and Cons of Hiring Friends or Family
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When you own or manage a small business, you need to wear many hats to run and grow your enterprise. However, there will come a time when you need to hire employees. When you reach that point, it may be tempting to enlist the help…
Which of My Business Ideas is the Best to Pursue?
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You’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Maybe you have family members or friends who’ve started successful companies. You’re realizing a hobby you enjoy could bring in money if you made it a business. Diversifying streams of income is something you want to pursue. There are…
Best Career Path to Follow, Passion or Profit?
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Determining whether to prioritize the pursuit of wealth or personal fulfillment is perhaps the most critical aspect of choosing a career path, making a professional pivot, or pursuing an entrepreneurial idea. However, it’s not necessarily easy to pick which path to take. You need to…
Is Joining a Coworking Space Worth the Expense?
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If you work remotely or have a home-based business, you may question whether working from home affects your productivity. While you thought it would be great to work in sweat pants and prep for dinner during a quick work break, maybe even throw in some…
Turning a Hobby into a Business, any Tax Benefits?
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You started out designing t-shirts for a family reunion. Before you knew it, requests for other designs were trickling in. Does this sound familiar? Maybe it isn’t graphic design. Perhaps it’s dog walking, babysitting, reselling, or crafting. If you’re like most people, you have a…
What Business Structure is Right for My Business?
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After lots of dreaming and planning, you’ve settled on a business idea. You’ve chosen a name, identified target customers, started networking with other entrepreneurs and have a color scheme planned for your website and marketing materials. But before you get too excited, there are many…