Finance Your Business

How to Fund Start-up Costs with Owner’s Contributions

Team ZenBusiness October 3, 2023

As a first-time business owner, it’s important to keep track of the money going into your business. To do this, you must record capital contributions, which is the money that you, the owner, use to start and maintain your business. This article will explain what a capital contribution, also known as an owner’s contribution, is ...

A Guide to Applying for Grants: Empowering Underserved Entrepreneurs

Team ZenBusiness October 1, 2023

Starting a business can be an exciting and rewarding journey, but it often comes with financial challenges, especially for underserved communities and minority entrepreneurs. Fortunately, there are various grants available to help fund your business dreams and make them a reality. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of applying for grants, providing ...

PPP Loan Forgiveness Status for 2023

By Bill Bauer October 1, 2023

If you received a PPP loan for your business during the pandemic, you may still be able to get forgiveness for the loan. We’ll discuss the requirements and steps for applying. As we enter 2023 and the fourth year of the “new normal” with COVID-19, many small businesses are still struggling. The U.S. Small Business ...

Freelance Finances Made Easy

By Marshall Lee September 1, 2023

Make your money work for you When you work for yourself, when self-employment is your gig, and whether you call yourself a contractor, a freelancer, a solo entrepreneur, or plain old “self-employed,” it’s great to be the boss. You get to bid on projects that appeal to you, negotiate your rates, meticulously log your hours, ...

What Women-Owned Businesses Need to Know about Business Funding: Interview with Stephanie Hanbury-Brown

By Janet Attard September 1, 2023

What role does funding play in the size of women-owned businesses? Is lack of financing the reason women-owned businesses tend to be smaller than men-owned business? What should women know about finding investors for their startup? Stephanie Newby, former Managing Director of the Golden Seeds® network of angel investors, shed light on these and related ...

How to Craft a Passionate and Impression-Leaving Elevator Pitch

By Steve Strauss August 1, 2023

Elevator pitches are important, no matter what your business. If you haven’t heard the term before an elevator pitch is business lingo for a proposal that can be explained in a short length of time, say 30 seconds or so. Elevator Pitch: A Real-World Example The need for a good one was driven home to ...

Insurance Guide: Health Savings Accounts (HSA) for the Self-Employed

By Marshall Lee August 1, 2023

For the self-employed, healthcare is a paradox: when you’re paying for insurance out of pocket, even basic coverage can sometimes cost you an arm and a leg; on the other hand, if you stupidly forgo insurance, then you run the risk of actually losing an arm and a leg. The good news is that, if you’re self-employed, ...

Why Do Venture Capital Firms Invest in Corporations More Than Other Businesses?

Team ZenBusiness July 2, 2023

If you’re an entrepreneur looking to secure funding for your business, understanding why venture capital firms prefer investing in C corporations is crucial. Venture capitalists, who are investors seeking high-growth potential, often lean toward C corporations due to the many advantages they offer. In this article, we’ll explore the reasons behind this preference and shed ...

What is Sweat Equity?

Team ZenBusiness July 2, 2023

Have you ever heard the term “sweat equity” and wondered what it means? You’re not alone. But since sweat equity can be a major part of a business startup, it’s important to understand it. In this article, we’ll explore the concept of sweat equity, how it works, and how you can properly value and utilize ...

8 Finance Tips for Those Who Are Self-Employed

By Samantha Acuna June 1, 2023

In August 2021, the number of self-employed Americans reached 10.253 million. Working for yourself has many advantages, but one drawback is having to manage your business’s finances on your own. It’s scary to manage finances by yourself when you’re self-employed, especially if accounting isn’t your area of expertise, but it pays to stay on top of ...

What Investors Want to See in a Financial Forecast

By Steven Byler June 1, 2023

Out there talking to entrepreneurs, I often get asked about what investors are looking for in a five-year financial forecast. First off, what is a five-year forecast? Your first reaction is probably, “It’s impossible to predict.” Startups are volatile; there’s risk, and it’s heightened. So, yes, it’s not possible to predict, but that’s not the ...

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