Entrepreneurship Skills Can Last A Lifetime

When it comes to adapting to the ever-changing and complex world of work we currently inhabit, the qualities of entrepreneurs are probably up there. After all, to cope with the demands of startup life, entrepreneurs often have to be open-minded, confident, creative, determined, and disciplined, all of which are qualities that are valuable in whatever form of life we find ourselves.

It’s perhaps no surprise, therefore that there is a growing interest in developing entrepreneurship skills in young people, with a number of platforms available for youngsters to put their skills to the test. Read more.

How Generation Z Is Altering the Face of Entrepreneurship for Good

For the longest time, my generation, the Millenials, were touted as the Entrepreneurial generation. For the most part, we have lived up to the billing. However, as the world evolves, the art of business evolves with it, and it turns out that Generation Z has more to do with this evolution than many care to admit. 

Generation Z entrepreneurs are springing forth at such a startling rate that a recent Gallup Student Poll found that 40 percent of students surveyed from grades five to 12 stated they wanted to run their own business. Then, 24 percent said they have already started. At this rate, it isn’t at all challenging to see Generation Z take over as the most Entrepreneurial Generation. Read more.

As you’re shopping on November 28th #SmallBusinessSaturday please remember that some of your neighbors may own local franchises and as such, are #smallbusiness owners just the same as local Mom & Pop owned businesses. So, #shopsmall #shoplocal and #shopfranchise as you can. Thank you!

Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses Are Vital to Our Economy and We Must Nurture Both

Urban entrepreneurs and small businesses may originate and operate differently. But for each to flourish, they require resources and professional expertise that increasingly are not evenly applied. Yet, both are vital to Main Streets, neighborhoods and the financial revitalization of cities.

Far too often, the resources needed to foster hubs of activity focus more on tech startups than the more traditional small businesses like coffee shops, cleaners and hair salons.

But small businesses need nurturing, too, given their significance to national and local economies —  two-thirds of new jobs and 44 percent of U.S. economic activity. Read more.

The Launch: Shining A Spotlight On Female Entrepreneurs

Until recently, the entrepreneurial field was typically reserved for the male gender, but it has increasingly been infiltrated by strong, fearless, and intelligent women in recent years. The Launch is a PR business and coaching company with the sole mission of shining a spotlight on these enterprising women through the power of publicity.

Led by award-winning PR mogul Lynn Mooney, The Launch was created with the female entrepreneur and startup in mind. The brand takes Mooney’s decade of industry experience and creates DIY PR digital products for those businesses who want to get the word out but lack the big agency budgets. Read more.

6 Reasons to Appreciate Entrepreneurship This Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is upon us once again, a time when Americans eat delicious food, spend time with family, and (hopefully) step away from work. And as always, it’s the perfect opportunity to reflect on what you’re grateful for.

And why not? After all, gratitude has been proven to increase health and happiness. In fact, studies have shown that people who practice gratitude experience fewer aches and pains, feel healthier, are more resilient, and even sleep better than those who don’t. Thanksgiving or not, everyone should make a habit of practicing gratitude. Read more.

If you’re traveling this holiday week, please stay safe. Take extra time if you’re driving. Be patient if traveling by plane. And, be alert if vacationing. Enjoy. #Thanksgiving #travel #staysafe

Franchises are Small Business Too!

Franchises are small business just like Mom & Pop businesses on Main Street, USA. And, just like those independent business owners, franchise owners take entrepreneurial risk, invest their life savings, work long hours, give back to their local communities, compete with big box retailers and much more.#SmallBusinessSaturday #ShopSmall #ShopLocal #ShopFranchise #DineSmall #DineLocal #DineFranchise

45 facts about small businesses in America

Data from 2017 and 2018 showed that fewer than 80% of businesses make it beyond their first year, while only around half survive for at least five years or more. In 2019 small businesses provided employment for nearly 60 million workers, and the pressure of making payroll every week can be decimating if sales don’t meet expectations. And that was before the pandemic took its toll, shuttering thousands of small businesses, some closing temporarily but many for good. Small Business Saturday—when independent sellers hold sales and specials to attract holiday shoppers away from Amazon and big-box retailers—falls on Nov. 28 this year. Supporting these businesses has quite possibly never been more important. Read more.

Entrepreneur’s Thanksgiving: Reasons to be thankful in running a business

Thanksgiving is such a special time, and for those of us who have been fortunate enough to be able to start a business, we have more to be thankful for than ever. I was thinking of my own life as an entrepreneur and CEO of CorpNet. Every day running a business, marketing my business, working with my treasured small business employees and customers, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for so many things. Read more.

5 Ways Entrepreneurs Can Ease the Inevitable Holiday Stress

For the better part of my life — well into my adult years — I celebrated the holiday season much like Ralphie in A Christmas Story. I welcomed the season by hanging holiday lights, starting Christmas music as early as Thanksgiving and re-watching every classic Christmas movie all month. It was the time of year that I allowed myself the indulgence of acting much younger than my years reflected.

Then something happened that changed all of this for me. I became an entrepreneur. Read more.

Entrepreneurs: What Are You Most Thankful For?

“As an entrepreneur, I am most grateful to those first few customers who took a chance on us during the early days. The first customers are far and away the hardest to secure. Every enterprise startup needs a first customer who believes enough in the startup idea to look past startup risks and is willing to invest into the future potential of the product. Thank you!”

Marius Moscovici, Founder & CEO, Metric Insights

More quotes by Entrepreneurs.

5 Ways Entrepreneurs Can Get Ahead Over the Holidays

With the holidays coming up, most of the world is looking forward to taking a week or two off from work, spend time relaxing, vacationing and spending time with family. Not entrepreneurs!

While most sane founders do, of course, spend at least a few days soaking in the holiday cheer with their loved ones, we can’t help continuing to work on our business to prepare for an even stronger new year — especially because we know our competitors are doing the same. Read more.

As you’re shopping on November 28th #SmallBusinessSaturday please remember that some of your neighbors may own local franchises and as such, are #smallbusiness owners just the same as local Mom & Pop owned businesses. So, #shopsmall #shoplocal and #shopfranchise as you can. Learn about Small Business Saturday.

Business Ownership: Deciding If Franchising Is The Best Route For You

Currently, there are more than 30 million small business owners in the U.S., and of those, nearly 800,000 are owned franchise businesses. Although franchise owners are considered small businesses, they have a lot of advantages that go-it-alone company startups do not share. There is sometimes a substantial investment upfront to invest in a franchise; however, the benefits are numerous. 

Although some people might consider franchise owners to be the epitome of Type A personalities set to revolutionize the world, many real franchise owners might indicate quite the contrary. Franchising is a system that operates on replicating the success of others. Read more.

Pope inspires young entrepreneurs to rebuild economy

Pope Francis urged young economists, entrepreneurs and business leaders Saturday to promote post-pandemic development models that involve the poor.

Francis, in a videotaped message for a forum of young people in Assisi, Italy, said the worst reaction once the coronavirus pandemic ends would be to “fall even more deeply into feverish consumerism and forms of selfish self-protection.” Read more.

Understanding SBA Loan Types

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers an array of loans designed to give entrepreneurs a boost when starting or growing their businesses. 

These loans feature favorable interest rates, extended payback terms, and flexibility in use of proceeds. With the myriad types of loans available and complex applications, many small business owners turn to an SBA loan specialist like Benetrends to help them navigate the process.  

As seen in the recent post, SBA Loans: What They Are and How to Get Them,  understanding SBA loan types is an important step. Here is a look at the most common SBA loans, their criteria, uses, interest rates, and details. Read more.

Entrepreneurship Is Accelerating at the Fastest Rate in Decades During This Pandemic

As officials in many areas impose new pandemic lockdowns and restrictions going into the holiday season, things can seem bleak. Depression rates are up, people are fleeing cities in droves, elected leaders regularly violate their own orders, and fraud is rampant in the government’s COVID-19 stimulus programs.

It’s understandable to feel frustration and despair. But more Americans are pushing past the grimness to create and invent during this challenging time. Entrepreneurship continues to soar during the pandemic, as displaced dreamers and imaginative doers spot new opportunities and build new businesses at a record pace. It may be one of the few 2020 bright spots. Read more.

Our goal is to help current and aspiring entrepreneurs architect a plan of continuous accelerated movement toward a pinnacle of desired success, even if and when previously thought to be unattainable. This process has been developed around our proven e-IDEA (explore, identify, develop, execute & analyze) methodology. Deployed effectively, it is key to sustainability and ultimately, to success… Acceler8Success! Learn more.

Today’s edition of Acceler8Success Cafe for Sunday 11.22.20 is our Weekly Recap where we share links to each day’s newsletter from the previous week and a preview of that day’s most popular shared article. We’re pleased to report that the relaunch of Acceler8Success Cafe has been a success as evident by the increasing numbers in views on and shares from our site, across social media and from the many messages received. Thank you to all our readers and previous and new subscribers for helping to put Acceler8Success Cafe on the road to success!

Monday 11.16.20

How Being An Entrepreneur Outside of Your Business Life Creates Success

You can find entrepreneurs in everyday people, the kind of people you see at the grocery store, and in your neighborhoods. Everyone has entrepreneurship inside of them; it’s just how they use it. Some of these people create opportunities for their business, and others create opportunities for their life. Very few people can do both.  

David Baker is one of the people who live an equally exciting business and personal life. An author, speaker, and advisor of entrepreneurial experts, this guest on Making Bank is a successful man who launched a 25-year career of advising experts in their fields. Being called the “experts’ expert,” Baker is here to discuss how his life is just as exciting outside of his work life, how when you get caught up in current success it can cause damage. Read more.

Tuesday 11.17.20

3 Tips for Solopreneurs to Stay Ahead in a Constantly Changing World

Sodan Selva was on the fast track early in his career. He went to grad school, studied economic development and landed a job in investment banking.

But his dream wasn’t to be an investment banker. His dream, from the time he was 9, was to be a musician. So he saved up his money as an investment banker, then quit his job and struck out on his own. It’s the stuff legends are made of—the young and passionate dreamer turning his back on the cushy and safe but also stuffy and boring desk job to carve his own path, to follow the road less traveled, to chase the muse that had grown in his heart since he was a young boy.  

Two decades later, Selva’s analysis of this first bold move of his career is succinct: “That was my first majorly failed entrepreneurial adventure. It was all passion, no product market fit.” Read more.

Wednesday 11.18.20

This Is An Entrepreneurs Surefire Weapon Against Burnout

Entrepreneurs are responsible for forging their paths forward in business, but that can lead to burnout, fast.

The best way for entrepreneurs to fight against burnout is by developing emotional intelligence. Here are a few ways this commonly misunderstood soft skill will help protect your mental health and transform your day-to-day. Developing emotional intelligence will help you… Read more.

Thursday 11.19.20 Special Franchising Edition

6 Ways Being in a Franchise System Helped Me Survive Covid-19

Want to know one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made as a small business owner? Whether or not to become a franchisor and turn my brand into a franchise system. Turning Code Wiz into a franchise system came with many hard moments that challenged me as an entrepreneur. But becoming a franchise system has also rewarded me in ways I could have never even imagined. The other thing I could have never imagined? Living through a global pandemic as a business owner and leader. 

But here I am. The proud owner of a franchise business and a survivor of 8-months of Covid-19 and the health and economic impacts it created. I am grateful every day – for both the health of my family and that I turned my business into a franchise. Because turning my business into a franchise system helped it survive Covid-19. Read more.

Friday 11.20.20

How we can revive entrepreneurial courage in America

Thirty years ago, Fortune Magazine ran a story proclaiming much hope and optimism that our nation was in “a golden age for entrepreneurs” that makes these “the best of times for launching a business in the U.S.

The evidence in 1990 was clear: Our economy was expanding, with new opportunities for new-starts. Personal capital was plentiful. And the power of the computer had leveled the playing field for the smallest of businesses. Read more.

Saturday 11.21.20

What Does Entrepreneurial Freedom Mean to You?

For many people, one of the main motivations behind starting their own business is the idea of the freedom it represents. In many ways, this is quite a bizarre concept because most of the small business owners I know are also some of the hardest working people I know. Despite this, I know very few who, once they have made the leap, would go back to the 9 to 5.

Entrepreneurial freedom is about so much more than escaping the same old, same old of the working day. It’s about being the master of your own destiny and reaping the rewards of your own endeavours. Read more.

Our goal is to help current and aspiring entrepreneurs architect a plan of continuous accelerated movement toward a pinnacle of desired success, even if and when previously thought to be unattainable. This process has been developed around our proven e-IDEA (explore, identify, develop, execute & analyze) methodology. Deployed effectively, it is key to sustainability and ultimately, to success… Acceler8Success! Learn more.

7 Ways Successful Entrepreneurs Refuel Over the Weekend

As entrepreneurs, we don’t treat weekends like other people do. When the concept of a weekend began, it was because the workweek (Monday through Friday) was supposed to be for labor, and the weekend (Saturday and Sunday) was dedicated to rest. 

However, when you’re an entrepreneur, you’re always on. The weekend just means two more work days, and many aren’t dedicating any time to rest. But when we start burning the candle at both ends—eliminating all chances for rest and recuperation—we start working against ourselves and snuffing out our creative energy. Read more.

Make Mindfulness a Habit

Developing a sustainable meditation practice is hard. So hard, in fact, that when I start working with executives, most tell me that they’ve tried meditating, but only a very few report having a regular practice. This isn’t because they don’t see benefits. Many say things like, “I noticed a clear difference in how my day went when I started it with meditation — I would be more focused and less likely to get sidetracked.” Or, “On days I practice meditation, stresses would more easily flow off me.”

Still, very few of these executive stuck with it, because they struggled to find the time (“I did my meditation for two weeks, then work got really busy and I fell off the bandwagon”) or because after a while they felt their practice “wasn’t working” or that “my mind was just too busy to quiet down.” Read more.

5 Remote Work Practices for Better Work-Life Balance

Eight months into a pandemic with many of us still working from home, a healthy work-life blend may feel unattainable. According to Telus International, four out of five respondents have found it challenging to shut off from work in the evenings.

That same survey found that over half of respondents have not taken a mental health day since they started working from home due to the pandemic, despite 97 percent saying that vacation days while working from home are important in order to recharge. Read more.

What’s Your “Ought Self” Like?

Our ideal self is the person we want to be. Our ought self is our understanding of what others want us to be—what we ought to be and do. Then there is our actual self. What happens when our actual self doesn’t match the ideal or ought selves?

E. Tory Higgins defined the relation between these various selves—actual, ideal and ought—in his self-discrepancy theory. The ideal and ought selves are our “guides” or standards that we use to organize information and motivate action. The motivational properties of these selves are related to the specific emotions that are associated with the discrepancy between the actual self and either the ideal or ought self. Read more.

What Does Entrepreneurial Freedom Mean to You?

For many people, one of the main motivations behind starting their own business is the idea of the freedom it represents. In many ways, this is quite a bizarre concept because most of the small business owners I know are also some of the hardest working people I know. Despite this, I know very few who, once they have made the leap, would go back to the 9 to 5.

Entrepreneurial freedom is about so much more than escaping the same old, same old of the working day. It’s about being the master of your own destiny and reaping the rewards of your own endeavours. Read more.

Teaching Entrepreneurship Will Be Key To The Post-COVID Recovery

The impact of COVID-19 has sent unemployment soaring. Over the past six months, communities of color have been the hardest hit, with more than 3 million Black Americans now without a job. Six in ten Latinx Americans say their households have experienced job losses or pay cuts as a result of the pandemic.

But Black and Latinx people were facing an economic crisis long before the arrival of COVID-19. The typical net worth of a Black family was already ten times lower than that of a white family. At the start of this year, the unemployment rate for young Black workers was at 16 percent, higher than the COVID-fueled national rate that prompted trillions of dollars in federal relief from lawmakers. That rate has since increased to a startling 28 percent. COVID-19 has only exacerbated the existing racial gaps in our economy. Read more.

Startup Week 2020: Could the pandemic lead to more entrepreneurship?

The economic news these days is mostly terrible. The pain caused by the pandemic is real and visible, and the numbers we can put to it are staggering: the highest unemployment since the Great Depression, hundreds of thousands dead, and $16 trillion in economic damage in the US alone.

Yet there glimmers of good news if you pour over the data. New businesses are being formed at a higher rate than last year, both nationally and in Alaska.

Over the last five years, the state has fit a particular pattern of growth and decline, according to the Census Bureau’s Business Formation Statistics. When the economy was in recession from 2015-18, business starts were up. Read up.

Austin and Salt Lake City Are the Hottest Startup Hubs Today. Here’s How They Became Boomtowns

Austin and Salt Lake City are, once again, Inc.‘s No. 1 and No. 2 Surge Cities. Austin boasts the greatest density of high-growth companies and the highest rate of job creation of any city on this year’s list. Salt Lake City ranks third for high-growth-company density and eighth for net business creation. What made them surge? Key recent developments in each city tell the story. Read more.

The Success Habits of QB and CBD Entrepreneur Carson Palmer

Former NFL Pro-Bowler Carson Palmer is the latest high-profile pro athlete to get into the CBD game. Palmer won the Heiman trophy winner in 2002 and went on to spend 15 seasons as an elite quarterback.

Recently, Palmer partnered with CBD brand Level Select as an investor and spokesperson, making him the latest pro athlete to jump on the CBD train. The former QB never expected to be part of a CBD company, but a chance meeting with Erick Dickens, CEO and Co-Founder, Kadenwood, LLC, on a golf course changed that. Read more.

Houston-based Pepperoni’s growing popularity among consumers is based upon consistency in delivering high-quality NY Style pizza, exceptional customer service and excellent unit-economics. Coupled with a strong branding program, technology integration and low-investment level, Pepperoni’s, founded in 1990 is positioned to be the next disruption in the Pizza segment of Franchising. Request Info

This millennial couple earns $6 million a year from YouTube and real estate—here’s how they spend their money

This story is part of CNBC Make It’s Millennial Money series, which profiles people around the world and details how they earn, spend and save their money.

In 2017, Kevin Paffrath’s dream was to earn over $1 million a year from The Paffrath Organization, the real estate business he owns with his wife, Lauren, in Ventura, California.

In 2020, the couple earned $1.075 million in May alone. “It was absolutely surreal,” says Lauren, 30, of the moment they crossed into the seven-figure-a-month territory. Read more.

How we can revive entrepreneurial courage in America

Thirty years ago, Fortune Magazine ran a story proclaiming much hope and optimism that our nation was in “a golden age for entrepreneurs” that makes these “the best of times for launching a business in the U.S.

The evidence in 1990 was clear: Our economy was expanding, with new opportunities for new-starts. Personal capital was plentiful. And the power of the computer had leveled the playing field for the smallest of businesses. Read more.

How Women Entrepreneurs Benefit from Mentorship

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) calls mentoring “the missing link to small business growth and survival.” A survey by the UPS Store showed 70 percent of small businesses that received some sort of mentoring survived past the five-year mark. That’s double the survival rate of non-mentored companies.

For the women-owned business, this mentorship can help overcome some of the additional hardships they face due to their gender. For example, women-owned business loans are more difficult to secure and pay inequities between men and women are still an issue. Mentoring can help the women-owned business by providing crucial tips for starting a small business—or sustaining it. Read more.

If you’re looking for a business lending source to help finance your start-up or manage your future wealth, contact us today. Benetrends Financial, a pioneer in the industry, has helped thousands of potential small business owners like yourself secure funding over the past 35 years. Learn more.

6 Ways Being in a Franchise System Helped Me Survive Covid-19

Want to know one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made as a small business owner? Whether or not to become a franchisor and turn my brand into a franchise system. Turning Code Wiz into a franchise system came with many hard moments that challenged me as an entrepreneur. But becoming a franchise system has also rewarded me in ways I could have never even imagined. The other thing I could have never imagined? Living through a global pandemic as a business owner and leader. 

But here I am. The proud owner of a franchise business and a survivor of 8-months of Covid-19 and the health and economic impacts it created. I am grateful every day – for both the health of my family and that I turned my business into a franchise. Because turning my business into a franchise system helped it survive Covid-19. Read more.

Are you thinking of going into business for yourself and learning how the choice of a franchise can “jump-start” the process and your earning potential? Learn how.

Acquiring A Franchise System Requires Due Diligence On The Survival Of The Franchise Model

For several years private equity and other investors have been well advised to put analysis of joint employer and employee misclassification risks on their due diligence list. Assessing the degree to which a franchise program is at risk for a joint employment finding includes reviewing arrangements like training of franchisees’ employees, assuming responsibility for management of units or requiring the use of employee-management software. This assessment has now become a normal area of investor inquiry. Read more.

Are you ready to franchise your business or put your recently franchised brand on the right track? Learn how.

About the Franchise News Podcast

Host Jack Monson reports every Wednesday on the latest news for franchises and small business owners including government relations issues, brands’ news, industry events, and franchise professionals’ moves. Check it out!

How franchise execs tackle mental health issues

A photo montage of producer and actress Reese Witherspoon is floating around, drawn from her  TV and movie roles and purportedly showing her decline during the pandemic.

In January, she’s literally wearing rose-colored glasses, looking hopefully toward the sky. In March, she’s intensely talking on the phone but still perky and blonde. By September, her hair is a mess and her face haggard. Her comment on Twitter: “Yup.”

Franchise leaders can no doubt relate as the COVID-19 crisis drags on. And while the Witherspoon montage is silly, the subject of maintaining mental health, from the executive suite to the front lines, is serious. We asked franchise leaders what they’re doing after six months and counting of non-stop stress. Read more.

Evolving Worker Classification Standards and the Future of Franchising

From a ballot measure in California, to a court decision in Massachusetts, to federal regulations proposed by the Department of Labor, several recent developments could impact whether a franchisor’s independent franchisees are deemed to be “independent contractors” or “employees” of the franchisor. As such determinations strike at the heart of the traditional franchise model, all franchisors should remain up to date on these developments. Read more.

Tough Times Reveal Character

What would it mean, and to how many people, if you shut your doors today? In addition to your employees, those people would include your lenders, your landlords, your suppliers, even your accountant and attorney—as well as your community, from the local food bank to the Girl Scouts to No Kid Left Behind to… well, you get it.

As bad as you may feel you have it right now, there are a lot of people counting on you, and in so many ways… your young employees seeking career training and guidance or helping their families pay the bills, your management team and back room staff, even your franchisor. So it’s on you, as a leader, whether you like it or not, to lead. Read more.

Please remember that many small businesses and restaurants are franchises owned by a single person. So, please keep that in mind during the upcoming #SmallBusinessSaturday which is put on annually by American Express the day after Black Friday. And, if AMEX hasn’t allowed a particular franchise into the program (yes, there are still limitations for franchises in Small Business Saturday rules) please shop or dine there anyway. It’s important we support small business and franchising at all levels and everywhere as we continue to fight through the effects of COVID. Read about Small Business Saturday.

Brick and Mortar Business in These States Are Rebounding from the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause pains for the nation’s brick-and-mortar locations. While some areas of the country are seeing a glimmer of hope, others are still struggling through the recovery.

A new study from Zenreach, a retail marketing technology company, found that foot traffic to the nation’s retail and other locations has remained steady throughout most of the pandemic, although at roughly half of the pre-pandemic levels. Read more.

Remember, there are many that cannot go home for Thanksgiving. Let’s be sure to keep them and their families in our prayers throughout the holiday season and that they at least get to come home at some point, safe and sound. To all serving our country, including their families, thank you for your service and sacrifice that allows each and every one of us to enjoy the freedoms we typically take for granted. Thank you! – Acceler8Success Cafe

How to Check That DEI Efforts Are Working at Your Company

Introducing and monitoring diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts can sometimes seem like a daunting task for small businesses. While owners are often already stretched thin by being forced to wear several hats, there are steps small businesses can take to set up DEI programs and measure the progress of new or existing initiatives. Read more.

“Find a customer with a true need then build your business plan around solving this gap. Developing a business and then trying to find a customer is the wrong way around and will make an entrepreneur destined to fail.”

Robert Herjavec, Entrepreneur, Shark Tank Celebrity

55% of Entrepreneurs Worry About Fraud Due to COVID. Here’s the Solution

When the pandemic pushed everyone remote, suddenly freelancers and small businesses used to doing business in cash started accepting digital payment options. According to one study, this shift caused a surge in fraud concerns. New data just released by Paysafe found that 55% of entrepreneurs say fraudulent transactions is one of their top worries since the pandemic started. As cybersecurity for freelancers becomes a more critical topic, one area people should pay attention is to payments. Read more.

Why Partner With Benetrends For Your Small Business Loan Needs?

You’re ready to begin your entrepreneurial journey, and you want to know: “What are some of my options for funding a business?”

To find the right solution, one that is absolutely right for your business and its growth, Benetrends Financial helps you customize a funding option that best meets your current and future needs – a service that other funding companies don’t provide. Learn more.

Kevin O’Leary: Why young people should start a side hustle right now

According to investor Kevin O’Leary, you’re never too young to start a side hustle and grow a business – and now, while social distancing due to Covid-19, O’Leary says it’s the perfect time to do so.

“Say you’re in high school … why don’t you start a business while you’re sitting around the house? Barriers to entry are very low,” he tells CNBC Make It. “Why wait?”

The pandemic shouldn’t be a deterrent, as “some of the greatest businesses are founded in times of extreme stress,” he says, using the example of crowdfunding platforms Indiegogo and Kickstarter, which both started during the Great Recession, in 2008 and 2009 respectively. “These were businesses started out of necessity that are now global.” Super successful companies, like Airbnb, Uber, NerdWallet, Venmo and Square, also came out of the Great Recession. Read more.

This Is An Entrepreneurs Surefire Weapon Against Burnout

Entrepreneurs are responsible for forging their paths forward in business, but that can lead to burnout, fast.

The best way for entrepreneurs to fight against burnout is by developing emotional intelligence. Here are a few ways this commonly misunderstood soft skill will help protect your mental health and transform your day-to-day. Developing emotional intelligence will help you… Read more.

Seeking guest blog posts about or related to entrepreneurship and small business ownership for Acceler8Success Cafe. First paragraph or two will be posted on our site with direct link to the post on your site. Please contact us via email to info@Acceler8Success.com. Thank you!

Meet the small business owners who pivoted to digital-first offerings – and thrived during lockdown

When the pandemic first hit, small businesses had to quickly come to terms with the “new normal,” be it social distancing regulations, implemented capacity limits, or forced lockdowns. While 2020 was a challenging time for all, some small business owners found ways to show their creativity, resilience and adaptability in the midst of the pandemic. Read more.

Please remember that many small businesses and restaurants are franchises owned by a single person. So, please keep that in mind during the upcoming #SmallBusinessSaturday which is put on annually by American Express the day after Black Friday. And, if AMEX hasn’t allowed a particular franchise into the program (yes, there are still limitations for franchises in Small Business Saturday rules) please shop or dine there anyway. It’s important we support small business and franchising at all levels and everywhere as we continue to fight through the effects of COVID. #shopsmall #dinesmall #shoplocal #shopfranchise #dinelocal #dinefranchise

SCORE topics: Is the time right for business ownership?

In the midst of all the uncertainties that have characterized the business and finance world in 2020, one of my biggest surprises has been the increasing number of people seeking out advice on franchised business ownership as a career option.

In addition to their desire to explore creative business opportunities, many of my clients have been motivated by a wish for greater control of their financial security in their work and professional lives but they are also concerned about the inherent risks of business ownership. As I explore the risk/opportunity balance with prospective franchisees, these are some of the factors we discuss regarding how to minimize the risk side of the opportunity equation. Read more.

How to Support the Woman Entrepreneur in Your Life

Women entrepreneurs are all around you, despite facing a myriad of challenges.

Challenges such as pay inequity or having a tougher time receiving traditional loans, 40 percent of new entrepreneurs each year are women. In fact, it’s often the fact that women want the chance for better income the serves as the impetus for starting a small business.

How can you provide small business support to support these scrappy entrepreneurs seeking to beat the odds? This article enumerates ways to offer real support to female entrepreneurs, be they family members, friends, or owners of small businesses you frequent. Read more.

3 Tips for Solopreneurs to Stay Ahead in a Constantly Changing World

Sodan Selva was on the fast track early in his career. He went to grad school, studied economic development and landed a job in investment banking.

But his dream wasn’t to be an investment banker. His dream, from the time he was 9, was to be a musician. So he saved up his money as an investment banker, then quit his job and struck out on his own. It’s the stuff legends are made of—the young and passionate dreamer turning his back on the cushy and safe but also stuffy and boring desk job to carve his own path, to follow the road less traveled, to chase the muse that had grown in his heart since he was a young boy.  

Two decades later, Selva’s analysis of this first bold move of his career is succinct: “That was my first majorly failed entrepreneurial adventure. It was all passion, no product market fit.” Read more.

10 Business Skills for 2021 That You Can Master on Weekends

In business, you should always be growing. And part of that is learning new skills and trends that are happening in your industry. It’s hard to find time for professional development but with early Black Friday deals on courses in the Entrepreneur Store, you might be able to work something out. Learn more.

Are you ready to own your own business?

Small business and restaurant resales are on the rise making it an excellent time to consider owning your own business brokerage office. National broker firm offers:- Executive business opportunity- Low initial investment from $25k- Various profit centers- Excellent commissions- Growing database of buyers, businesses & franchises- Initial training, marketing assistance and on-going support- Network of 70+ offices throughout the U.S. and abroad- Brand founded in 1981. Learn more.

Bilingualism in Business: 6 Ways To Improve Your Spanish Proficiency

Being bilingual offers many professional advantages. Regardless of your native language, learning another language can give you a competitive edge in the business world.

Spanish, in particular, is useful. For instance, with more than 52 million native and Spanish-language speakers, America is now the second-largest Spanish-speaking population in the world after Mexico.

U.S. based organizations that don’t communicate in Spanish are overlooking a significant audience of multicultural consumers. How significant? U.S. Hispanic buying power is now greater than the gross domestic product of Mexico. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that a growing number of professionals are eager to learn Spanish for business purposes. Learn more.

Acceler8Success Group has achieved success in many aspects of small business and franchising. Widely recognized as industry leaders and influencers, Acceler8Success Group leadership have extensive experience as entrepreneurs in small business and restaurants, as senior-level executives within nationally recognized brands, and as franchisees within successful franchise systems. Learn more.

How Being An Entrepreneur Outside of Your Business Life Creates Success

You can find entrepreneurs in everyday people, the kind of people you see at the grocery store, and in your neighborhoods. Everyone has entrepreneurship inside of them; it’s just how they use it. Some of these people create opportunities for their business, and others create opportunities for their life. Very few people can do both.  

David Baker is one of the people who live an equally exciting business and personal life. An author, speaker, and advisor of entrepreneurial experts, this guest on Making Bank is a successful man who launched a 25-year career of advising experts in their fields. Being called the “experts’ expert,” Baker is here to discuss how his life is just as exciting outside of his work life, how when you get caught up in current success it can cause damage. Read more.

Here’s why you should teach kids entrepreneurship early in life

We’ll always need doctors, lawyers, accountants, but entrepreneurs have always been an imperative breed required to bring innovation and impact the way the world shapes. The last 50 years have witnessed some of the most important innovations from entrepreneurs from companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Google.

Today the world is changing at a dynamic pace, and advancement in innovation is happening across all sectors. This ever-evolving environment calls for coaching our kids with certain entrepreneurial or problem-solving skills early in life to stay abreast of their chosen career path in the future. Read more.

About Global Entrepreneurship Week – November 16-22

Global Entrepreneurship Week is a collection of tens of thousands of events, activities and competitions each November that inspire millions to explore their potential as an entrepreneur while fostering connections and increasing collaboration within their ecosystems.

Diversity is a driver of innovation and economies suffer if a nation or group of people are underrepresented or face structural barriers – the world needs more entrepreneurs. Powered by the Kauffman Foundation, Global Entrepreneurship Week has expanded to 170+ nations since its launch in 2008 with 20,000 partner organizations now serving as GEN’s community-building backbone.

Through GEW, GEN seeks universality, striving to be inclusive of individuals and communities who have traditionally faced barriers to entrepreneurship whether minority groups, cumbersome traditional institutions or those pushed to the side by strong competition. Learn more.

7 Tips for Emerging Creative Entrepreneurs

In many ways, it’s easier than ever to become a successful creator. Ideas can potentially spread virally thanks to social media and online platforms. As an entrepreneurial artist, you can create an amazing life for yourself. However, it may require you to take your focus off of superstardom and shift it toward monetizing what makes you happy. Having realistic expectations and clear, attainable goals, will go a long way in helping pave the path towards your future. Read more.

Why entrepreneurs need to stop glorifying persistence

Let’s talk about one of the most popular terms in entrepreneurship: persistence. It has an excellent reputation and is often spoken about with reverence and respect. But I don’t care for it too much. I think persistence is overrated.

A lack of persistence is a problem, but too much of it might be worse. See, I’ve seen my fair share of entrepreneurs who kept barking up the same tree and kept pushing the same shit. They lived through pivot after pivot while congratulating themselves on their persistence. Read more.

Research: The Average Age of a Successful Startup Founder Is 45

It’s widely believed that the most successful entrepreneurs are young. Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg were in their early twenties when they launched what would become world-changing companies. Do these famous cases reflect a generalizable pattern? VC and media accounts seem to suggest so. When we analyzed founders who have won TechCrunch awards over the last decade, the average age at the time of founding was just 31. For the people selected by Inc. magazine as the founders of the fastest-growing startups in 2015, the average age at founding was only 29. Consistent with these findings, Paul Graham, a cofounder of Y Combinator, once quipped that “the cutoff in investors’ heads is 32… After 32, they start to be a little skeptical.” But is this view correct? Read more.

Our goal is to help current and aspiring entrepreneurs architect a plan of continuous accelerated movement toward a pinnacle of desired success, even if and when previously thought to be unattainable. This process has been developed around our proven e-IDEA (explore, identify, develop, execute & analyze) methodology. Deployed effectively, it is key to sustainability and ultimately, to success… Acceler8Success! Learn more.