Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Melissa Houston covers financial issues that affect women in business. Are you ready to start a business? There are many things to ...

Elysse Bell is a finance and business writer for Investopedia. She writes about small business, personal finance, technology, and more. Samantha (Sam) Silberstein, CFP®, CSLP®, EA, is an experienced ...

Investopedia contributors come from a range of backgrounds, and over 25 years there have been thousands of expert writers and editors who have contributed. Trevor Williams / Getty Images If you have a ...

Don’t let economic fears deter you from starting a business. A well-planned and researched business idea can still succeed even in a challenging economy. Before launching your venture, focus on ...

You need to think of what you want and whether your plan’s findings suggest you’ll get it. For instance, is your objective to gain freedom from control by other people? If your plan shows that you’ll ...

If you're thinking about wading into entrepreneurship for the first time, keeping your day job is a great way to test the waters without making a full-time commitment. Being a small business owner is ...