Launching a new business is often filled with equal parts of excitement and trepidation. It can even be overwhelming at times. Because there are so many details involved, especially when it comes to startup taxes, you want to be extra careful. Sales tax and your compliance with federal and state income tax laws creates extra challenges for most startup owners, and you want to avoid mistakes at all costs. Below are six common tax mistakes startups make that you need to be aware of. #1: Tax deduct...

​ For many employees, just hearing the words, "team building" and "ice breaker," are enough to send them on an extended vacation. While they understand your intentions, traditional team building activities can be a source of stress for some of your employees. Yet, team building activities are good for your staff and your company, so how do you encourage happy participation? Let's look at five team building activities for startups that are exciting, fun, and less emotionally painful for your team...

Building a strong brand isn't just about solving customer problems; it's about outshining the competition. You need to know how much customers care about the problem before you put too much time and effort into solving it, says 3-times founder and early-stage accelerator leader Brian Scordato. And understanding what customers care about most in the product you're developing is key to creating something they love and establishing a differentiated position in the market. Here, Scordato shares the ...

Do startups offer vacation time? How much vacation time is normal? Does everyone get the same amount? Because this can be such a hot topic for your newly hired team, we look at what startups need to know about vacation policies. Today's workers, especially Millennials , don't like the traditional model of earning vacation where you have to wait months or even years to get two weeks of paid vacation. To cater to this growing subset as well as the generation of workers coming up behind them, you w...

An accelerator program can have a profound effect on the success of your startup. As well as receiving expert advice and guidance from seasoned mentors, you'll be learning from the rest of the cohort. You'll also have access to resources, networking opportunities, and potential investors. Most accelerators last several weeks, if not months, with an intensive schedule that requires lot of your time, effort and sustained focus. To help you maximise the benefits, Zach Anderson Pettet shares he...

As a startup owner, you wear many hats, and so do your employees. One of those many hats may be that of a hiring team and interviewers. Hiring is often a task that everyone must assist with on top of everything that's on their plate. To help you have the most effective recruitment and hiring process possible, check out these four tips for startups looking to improve their interview process.   #1: Prepare for the interview Many startups overlook this important first step. It's easy to do, es...

As the owner of a startup, you understand that money is often a challenge when it comes to hiring. This makes it extra hard to compete for the best talent, especially when the economy is hot, and the jobless rate is low. So, the question is out there, "How do you hire a top-notch team when you are competing against the big guys?" Take a look at these five ways startups can attract great talent in a competitive market. #1: Create an employer brand You are probably well-versed in how to create a b...

Running a new startup is tough. It takes long hours, lots of sweat equity, and tremendous planning. While you may have a handle on getting your startup off the ground and bringing your products or services to market, do you know what you need to do when it comes to your finances? One of the most important things you can do is prepare good financial statements. Why? It's the only way you, your board, your staff, and your investors will know where you stand. Good reporting helps you with financial...

You can find many articles on the internet about how to get funding. In fact, you may have even gotten loads of advice on how to get venture capital from business leaders in your community. The one problem, though, is few people tell you what to do with it once you have it. Let's take a look at things startups need to consider once they receive venture backing. Plan your budget wisely Your venture capitalists are going to want an accounting of where you are spending your money. They will expect ...