The first step of your entrepreneurship journey is to determine if you’re ready to start your own business. If this is your first business, you may have a lot of doubts and questions around starting a business: Should I start from scratch or buy a franchise? Is my business idea any good? Or how much…
About the Author
Blake Stockton
Blake Stockton is a staff writer at Fit Small Business focusing on how to start brick-and-mortar and online businesses. He is a frequent guest lecturer at several undergraduate business and MBA classes at University of North Florida. Prior to joining Fit Small Business, Blake consulted with over seven hundred small biz owners and assisted with starting and growing their business.
As an entrepreneur, Blake has owned multiple online businesses. Now, he creates online courses that teach local marketing strategies. As a creator, Blake enjoys creating YouTube videos that teach biz owners the latest local marketing and business strategies.
When Blake isn't writing, he is spending time with family, performing improv and sketch comedy, and doing outdoor activities.
How To Test A Business Idea
So you have a business idea and want to know if it will work? While there is no way to guarantee a business idea will be successful, there are ways to better understand its risk of failure. Testing a business idea is the most overlooked part of starting a business. Don’t skip it! As a…
How to Start a Travel Agency From Home
Starting a travel agency from home begins with deciding whether you’ll start from scratch, join a host agency, or buy into a franchise. Before opening, you’ll want to organize your legal documents, such as your business registration and Seller of Travel license. Using the latest software, such as video chat, will allow you to do…
How to Start A Boutique In 6 Steps
If you’ve decided to open a boutique you will need to gather research, obtain capital, create a business plan, file legal permits, and market your business. Depending on the size, location, and type of boutique you want to start, it can cost anywhere from $75,000 to over $500,000 to open. Income potential for the owner…
15 Small Town Business Ideas
In small towns in particular, businesses need to appeal to a wide base of customers. Unlike urban areas, small towns have a limited amount of customers to earn revenue from. Businesses such as hair salons, hardware stores, and dog groomers tend to succeed because they fulfill common needs for small town residents—but if you’re looking…
16 Home Office Setup Ideas
The COVID-19 pandemic may be causing you to work from home for the first time in your career. This transition is even more difficult if your kids are out of school and at home. As a first-time remote worker, you may be wondering, how do I best set up my office for success? In this…
18 Compelling Reasons to Start a Business
While there are an unlimited number of reasons to start a business, there are several that signify someone is well-suited to be a business owner. Many people start a business for the lifestyle benefits, such as a flexible schedule. Others start a business to better align with their personality traits, such as being comfortable with…
15 Best Fitness & Gym Franchises in 2020
As fitness becomes more of a lifestyle than a trend and people are conscious about getting fit, entrepreneurs are taking advantage of this by investing in gym and fitness franchises. Fortunately, there are different fitness franchises to choose from, with an average cost of around $350,000. We researched data on the 15 best-performing gym franchises…
Best 12 Types of Online Businesses to Start in 2020
An online business is a digital-based business built on the internet. Types of online businesses vary greatly from online coaching to a subscription box service. Utilize currently owned resources such as a smartphone and computer to create an online business for no-cost such as a vlog on YouTube or a T-shirt design company. For each…
6 Best Online Incorporation Services in 2020
Online incorporation services help business owners form a corporation, such as a C-corporation (C-corp) and S-corporation (S-corp). A business owner needs to register their business as a legal entity to protect against personal financial liability. The best incorporation services provide a great customer experience through an easy to use software, educational materials, and friendly customer…
12 Best Businesses to Start in 2020
The best businesses to start are usually easy to set up, have low startup costs, high profit margins, low competition, or are in a growing industry. Growing industries mean less competition and more customers. If you’re seeking financing, consider a business idea that’s more likely to receive funding, such as a franchise. Here are 12…
21 Effective Mission Statement Examples
A mission statement is a short, meaningful sentence (or several sentences) that summarizes the purpose that drives your business. A good mission statement says why you do what you do. When a company considers new opportunities, it relies on the mission to make appropriate decisions. Additionally, when the business is sold to a new owner,…
