Business owners face many hurdles as they build and manage their businesses. Federal and state authorities have set up a wide array of helpful documentation, policies and financial, legal and technical assistance agencies to help small business owners.

This often has the adverse effect of flooding a startup with all kinds of data, requirements and options. Finding out what kind of business structure, financing options, successful practices and regulatory compliance necessary can be a daunting task. Under the weight of these decisions and requirements, and faced with competing priorities for limited resources and time, a majority of small business owners end up doing what they think is best for the short term.

This section discusses a wide range of topics that affect the business owner including: developing a business plan and refining your business model; financing issues, strategies and options; navigating the myriad of retirement and insurance plans for you and your employees; developing strategies to protect company assets; and preparing for proper succession to ensure your business will be around for years to come.