Small Business Resources

If you're currently working for the man but dreaming of being your own boss, check out these articles on making the transition from fulltime drone to small-business owner. Note: these articles were originally written for IT business owners, but the tips apply to nearly any industry.

• 5 Things to Do as a Fulltime Employee to Prepare for Starting a Business
• Checklist for Starting a Consulting Business: 10 Things to Do First
• 7 Tips for Moonlighting Your Way to a Fulltime IT Business
• How to Budget Your Way to a Successful IT Business Launch
• How to Quit Your Job to Start a Business: Advice from Techpreneurs
• Home Business 101: How to Say No When People Ask You to Run Errands
• To Dress or Not to Dress: The Home-Based Business Owner's Dilemma
• Tips to Stay Focused & Productive at Your Home-Based Business
• Starting a Business? Networking Dos and Don'ts
• How to Start a Business: A Checklist for Month 1

It's not easy doing everything on your own, but it can be easier. Check out these articles for tips on everything from time management to taxes.

• Building a Foundation as a Freelancer with Diana Schneidman
• 5 Questions Freelancers Should Ask their Insurance Agents
• 14 Essential Time Management Resources for Freelancers
• Success through Freelancing with Chike Uzoka
• The Freelancer's 6-Question Guide to Knowing When to Outsource
• How to Be a Productive Freelancer When Cabin Fever Sets In
• Big "Game" Hunting: A Guide for Freelancers
• Freelancers: Time to Focus on Small Business Taxes
• Get Ready for the Freelance Revolution
• Errors and Omissions Insurance for Freelancers
• Do Freelancers Need Insurance?

Dig into research on small-business owners, including surveys, behavior analysis, and in-depth guides. We look at what business owners are doing and help you understand the risk management implications so you can protect your business better.

So you're ready to hire your first employee – or you've been ready so long you can't put it off anymore. Great. Review these tips to make sure you make the most of the time and money you'll put into growing your team.

• 3 Blunders that Can Tank Your Small Business Culture
• Hiring? Better Update Your Professional Liability Insurance
• 4 Overlooked Ways Your Business Changes When You Make Your First Hire
• How to Write a Killer Job Description in 4 Easy Steps
• 5 Interview Questions that Could Get You Sued
• How to Fight Your 4 Big Employee Risks with Business Insurance
• Employee vs. Contractor: Save Money by Choosing Right
• 3 Employees Every Business Needs (And 2 to Avoid at All Costs)
• 3 Shocking Insurance Claims Caused by Small Business Employees
• 5 Surprising Tips that Will Turn Your Company Culture into a Force of Nature
• 4 Important Things Most Small Businesses Forget When Training Employees
• Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI): What Small Businesses Should Know
• 5 Sure Signs You're about to Hire a Rock Star
• 3 Sure Signs You're about to Hire a Dud
• 5 HR Pros Reveal the Secret to Hiring the Right Employees the First Time

Ready to squeeze the most out of every minute you devote to your business? Find out what the experts recommend to increase and maintain top productivity.

• Home Office Hacks for Higher Productivity
• 5 Ways to Maintain Small Business Productivity During the Holidays
• 14 Essential Time Management Resources for Freelancers
• How to Monetize Your Commute

How many hours of your life could you save through organization? Get your house in order and enjoy lower stress and better business outcomes.

• 5 Habits to Ditch to Improve Organization and Cut Your Stress
• Organization 101: Why Organizing Your Business Matters
• Small Business Spotlight: Getting Organized with HAUTE Headquarters
• Keeping Track of Business Paperwork
• Best Organizational Apps and Hacks for Small Businesses

Over the years, we've interviewed dozens of business owners about how they work, what they've learned, and how they give back. Read those conversations here for inspiration and insight.

• Mobile App Lessons from Oasis Day Spa
• Changing Lanes with Royce Leather
• Business Growth Tips from Catprint
• Crowdfunding with Peggy Jean's Pies
• Crowdfunding with Zest Tea
• Natural Disaster Aftermath with eMazzanti Technologies
• Hiring Summer Help with The Voice of Your Customer
• All in the Family with The Bookkeeper
• Family Ties with Fashion Stork
• Through the Years with Netfloor USA
• Over the Years with Three Brothers Bakery
• Prepping for the Holidays with Ruffit Dog Carriers
• Customer Appreciation with Artful Conceptions
• Getting Organized with HAUTE Headquarters
• Prepping for Tax Season with InDinero
• Going Green with JVM Design
• Fostering a Family Business with Pinch Provisions
• Combat to Career with VetLaunch
• How HAUTE Headquarters Kept its New Year's Resolution
• Smarter Web Design with Rock Candy Media
• Ghost Stories with the Worthington Inn
• Giving Back with Elisa Contemporary Art

Curious about what kinds of business owners get insurance from Insureon? Watch some of our customers tell the story of their business and why they chose us.

• R&S Accounting and Tax Services
• Provost Studio
• RCC HR Consulting
• T&T Cleaning
• Greenfin Construction
• Can't Dutch This French Fries
• Dogtown Roadhouse
• Callie's Cuties Bake Shop
• The Traveling Spa
• NSOne Managed DNS
• Guardian Solutions
• Bruner Landscapes, LLC
• Peachjar
• Best Chance Employment Services
• JM Images Photography
• CherryPickingProperties, LLC
• Shoe Bakery

Looking for daily tips from folks who've been there? Follow these Twitter accounts for insight from some of the savviest entrepreneurs in your field.

• 3 Twitter Accounts Small Business Owners Need to Follow
• 5 Twitter Accounts Architects Should Follow
• 6 Twitter Accounts Consultants Should Follow
• 5 Twitter Accounts for Food Business Owners to Follow
• 10 Twitter Accounts for Dentists to Follow
• 25 Twitter Accounts Every IT Consultant Should Follow
• 5 Twitter Accounts for Insurance Agents to Follow
• 6 Twitter Accounts for Photographers to Follow

Ready to make a major change in your business? These checklists will help you rest easy knowing you haven't forgotten anything.

• New Office Checklist
• New Employee Checklist
• New Product Checklist
• New Service Checklist
• Business Trip Checklist

Whether you're ready to take the plunge into website ownership or trying to make the most of your existing online presence, these articles can help you make more money online.

• Why Mobile Matters for Small Businesses
• Building a Business Website? These 7 Questions Will Show You When to Outsource
• How to Create a Small Business Website that Pays for Itself
• 3 Key Elements Every Small Business Website Should Have
• These 4 Elements Will Make or Break Your Online Presence
• Why an Online Presence Can Make or Break Your Small Business

Data breaches can cost small businesses big money. These articles can help you protect your finances by keeping customer data safe.

• More than 1/3 of Small-Business Owners Don't Update Their Software
• 3 Documents and Files to Toss to Cut Your Cyber Liability Risk
• Data Breaches Cost 2.5 Times as Much as Burglary
• After a Data Breach, More Communication Is Better
• Hello? It's Me. I'm Hacking You
• Bleep Bleep Bloop Bloop You Just Got Hacked Again
• Lawsuits, Extra Business Expenses, and Frustrated Customers: The Aftermath of a Data Breach
• The October 1 Card Reader Update Deadline Nobody Is Talking About
• The Small Business Guide to Cyber Liability Insurance
• Yes, You Can Prevent Data Breaches
• Want Bigger Clients? Beef Up Your Cyber Security
• Reminder: It's Your Job to Keep Customer Data Safe
• Customers Don't Trust Businesses When It Comes to Data Security
• Top 8 Data Breach Misconceptions
• eBook: Building Cybersecurity in Small & Midsize Businesses

Want to do better by Mother Earth without draining Father Wallet? Check out these budget-friendly tips for an eco-friendly business.

• 5 Ways Going Green Can Keep Your Commercial Insurance Premiums in Check
• The Commercial Property Insurance Benefits of an Energy Audit
• Does Workers' Compensation Pay for Bike-to-Work Injuries?
• How to Manage Cyber Liability Risks When Recycling Your Electronics
• 5 Helpful Accounts to Follow for Small Businesses Going Green
• Workers' Comp Benefits of Going Green
• What Climate Change Means for Small Business Insurance

There's more to business ownership than money in, money out. Master your finances with our guides to taxes, loans, and paying yourself.

• Freelancers: Time to Focus on Your Small Business Taxes
• Reminder: Small Business Insurance Is a Tax Write-Off
• How to Get Your Business Taxes Under Control
• Before Deducting Your Company's Liability Insurance, Check with an Accountant
• Understanding the Loan Amount My Business Can Afford
• Avoid the Nightmare of Disaster Recovery Loan Paperwork with Business Interruption Insurance
• SBA LINC Connects Small Businesses with Potential Lenders
• How Much Should You Pay Yourself?
• Micro Business Tax Savings Opportunities

Tired of worrying about every little thing that could go wrong? You're in the right place. Use these tools to get a clear idea of which insurance policies you may need and what you can expect them to cost.

• Policy Buddy
• Small Business Insurance Costs Report

Want to make sure you're keeping your risk low and getting the best deal on business insurance? Check out this eBook with 59 ways to manage risk and cut insurance costs.

Read answers to some of the most common questions we hear form small-business owners trying to navigate the world of commercial insurance.

• What Is an Additional Insured?
• What Is All-Perils Coverage?
• What Is Coinsurance?
• Business Insurance Loss Runs: Everything You Need to Know
• What Are Admitted vs. Non-Admitted Carriers?
• What Is a Triple-Net Lease?
• What Is a Minimum-Earned Premium?
• What Is Vicarious Liability?
• What Is Claims-Made Insurance Coverage?
• What Is a Certificate of Liability Insurance?
• What Is Builder's Risk Insurance?
• More FAQs

Get plain-English definitions of insurance lingo, concepts, and ideas so you can understand your risks and keep your business protected.