ND Small Business Development Centers
ND Small Business Development Centers

Powering the creation, growth, and success of small business in North Dakota.

Posts Categorized
Advisor Knowledge Base

Why Is Bookkeeping So Important in Your Business?

Categories: Advisor Knowledge Base

When becoming a business owner, many different areas will need to be focused on. The financial side is one of them, and an important one at that! Bookkeeping tracks and records your business’s financial transactions and is recorded based on your company’s accounting principles and documentation. Some of this documentation will consist of receipts, invoices, […]

The Importance of Developing Business Skills

Categories: Advisor Knowledge Base

Running a small business can be tricky. Owners often get caught up in running the day-to-day business and don’t prioritize time to work on the business as well. This is never a good idea. Spending time looking at how the business is functioning internally and externally is an important task that key decision-makers should routinely […]

Asking Difficult Questions

Categories: Advisor Knowledge Base

Business can be exciting and edifying but often challenging when getting into the details of starting, maintaining, and expanding. That’s why, in business, asking the right questions is paramount. Business owners are often so close to their ideas and passions that they lose focus on what drives their success. All businesses need creativity and enthusiasm […]

Workforce and Your Business

Categories: Advisor Knowledge Base

“How will I make my business operate if I can’t find employees?” is a challenge small business owners and entrepreneurs face as they build and sustain their businesses. In addition, how will they compete as small or new businesses in a very tight labor market? The United States had 10.1 million job openings as of […]

The Four Intangible Capitals

Categories: Advisor Knowledge Base

As we talk about business succession, there is, more often than not, a bank involved and is typically working with the buyer to obtain financing. We often hear about the 5 C’s of credit and how that impacts the buyer’s ability to obtain funding. However, there is also 4’C of Capital that the business has, […]

Preparing to Exit Your Business

Categories: Advisor Knowledge Base

No matter how much you enjoy working in your business, inevitably, there will come a time when you want to retire and/or sell your business. With baby boomers marching into retirement by the thousands, up to 70% of small businesses in ND are expected to change hands during the next decade. But are you ready […]

Hiring Employees: Where Do I Begin?

Categories: Advisor Knowledge Base

Hiring your first employee can be exciting but also nerve-racking. There are many questions that surface when you are ready to hire your first employee(s). These questions can bring about many layers. The first question that is usually asked is: Where do I begin? You should already be registered with the Secretary of State and […]

What is Blockchain and How Might it Impact My Small Business?

Categories: Advisor Knowledge Base

By connecting a user to a transaction, Blockchain can play a larger role in identifying risks and fraud. Blockchain is similar to an audit trail but uses technology instead of physical paper as documentation. Therefore, individuals within the finance department need a solid basis and understanding of technology and Blockchain technology. Additionally, it is even […]

Are You Paying Too Much In Merchant Fees?

Categories: Advisor Knowledge Base

Over the last five years, point-of-sale technology has rapidly advanced. What once was a quarterly visit from multiple merchant companies trying to underbid each other’s rates has evolved into feature-rich integrated software solutions tied to your bank account. Companies like Stripe and Square offer a plethora of services to assist business owners, like mobile swipe […]

Why Go Through the Hassle of Writing a Business Plan?

Categories: Advisor Knowledge Base

“A business plan is a document that defines in detail a company’s objectives and how it will achieve them,” according to the Business Plan: What It Is, What’s Included, and How To Write One article in Investopedia. There is no wrong way to write a business plan. The plan is your plan and should meet […]