For many small businesses, temporarily closing the doors is often less of a choice and more of a necessity. Whether you are closing for business or personal reasons, efficient planning will come in handy as you slow down your business activity, and again when yo;re ready to restart your business one day. Plan Your Timeline When temporarily closing your business, you will need to figure out a timeline. Are you planning to close for a few months, a few years, or indefinitely? The timeline is a crucial part of the checklist because it...

An independent contractor (also known as a consultant or freelancer) does not regularly work for an employer, but instead performs work on a temporary or as required basis, according to their employment contract. If yo;re thinking of hiring an independent contractor here are some factors to consider: 1. Money matters One of the main reasons businesses outsource labor is to save money. It might not add up at first - independent contractors usually receive a higher hourly rate than an employee - but over time, employers usually see savings...

Street vendors - and NYC hot dog carts in particular - seem to have been around for ages. Recently, the mobile food movement has gained popularity and now street vendors are taking their business nationwide. Whether you plan to operate an ice cream truck, pretzel stand, or gourmet food truck, this guide will walk you through the must-know details of starting your mobile food business. For a crash-course on mobile food businesses, read these articles from Business.gov: Becoming a Street Vendor; Where Do I Start? How to Start a Food...

How do you open a franchise? Is buying a franchise the same as owning your own business? How do you know that a franchise will be profitable? Since the Community launched in 2009, members have posted questions and concerns like these about franchises. For this reason, w;ve created this-ultimate guid- as a go-to resource to help you assess franchising opportunities. Opening a franchise can be different than starting your own business. Below, we have pulled together some of our business articles related to specifically to franchising....