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By Alyssa Gregory
Updated June 28, 2017

If you are thinking about starting a small business, you most likely already know what a business plan is and have heard that you need one. But do you truly understand the purpose of a business plan? Does it really matter if you have one for your small business? And how can you create a small business plan that is actually useful? The introduction and tips below will lay the groundwork for creating an effective small business plan for your new business.

This is a start over story. Tim Loney, long-time SMB Nation member and successful MSP, has reached out with a request. Loney is keen on helping his Houston community get back on its feet after Hurricane Harvey. Readers will remember 12-years ago

by Rob Wormley in People Management

Human resources is probably one of the more complicated aspects of running a small business. The complexities of working with people don’t fit nicely on a spreadsheet. Yet HR is incredibly important; employee salaries and benefits make up a huge chunk of your operating expenses.

By: Jayson DeMers

VIP Contributor 

MARCH 21, 2016

You’re excited to start a business. Maybe you have an idea, or you’re just fascinated with the idea of launching and growing your own enterprise. You’re willing to take some risks, like leaving your current job or going without

As I continue to opine post-ChannelCon (the annual CompTIA conference held in early August in Austin, TX), I’ve collected my thoughts about an extended conversation I had with Marc Monday, SAP Vice President, Partnerships and Ecosystems, at the event. Monday and I crossed paths back in the day during his seven-year

Those that know me and the SMB Nation community understand I get my best stories in the hallways and the flyways just outside the formal conference curriculum. Part of that is because I never was a great student. Part of it is the meetings are best without a scripted PowerPoint deck and PR talking points! 

By: Annabelle Short 

When it comes to starting a business, you might be a pro…

But, what about when it comes to working through all the legal issues you must consider as an entrepreneur when launching your start-up?

We have all seen it happen to at least one good person…

Rather it is in politics or small business – someone makes a huge mistake and loses it all.

But, the ironic part about the entire situation is that the mistake was totally avoidable. And, as an outsider, you could totally see that.

Startups usually run on a shoestring, which means that they have limited marketing budgets. In order to reach their target audience and boost their business, startup owners have to be very creative and use every possible digital marketing strategy they have at their disposal. There are lots of cost-effective tactics that can be used, but having a well-defined strategy is essential for their implementation and success. If you do everything properly, you can expect a 50% increase in conversion rates.

By: Pedro Hernandez | May 18, 2017

A Power BI content pack allows Dynamics 365 customers to gain new insights into their business processes.

New solution brings the high quality and reliability of expensive MPLS networks to low-cost broadband with baked in enterprise security

Wilmington, DE– June 20th, 2017 – My Digital Shield (MDS), a leading provider of Security-as-a-Service (SECaaS) for small businesses, announced today the release of OmniWAN, a SD-WAN solution tailored to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

Alicia Sandino

Entrepreneurs and small businesses are getting on board with a virtual phone service. Its mobile-friendly capabilities and business-focused features are just a few of the alluring aspects of this business communication service. Not too long ago,if you were an entrepreneur you had to rely on your personal cell phone plan and phone number to stay in touch with prospects and clients, keeping you from establishing a professional image.