Bizfilings Expert Insights

Tom Szaky shares how TerraCycle got started, how it continues to grow, and future plans for the company. He uses a three-question model to determine how to take materials that were typically considered unrecyclable, collect and reuse the materials in over 20 countries. The company deals with two to four million pounds of garbage weekly, and future plans include collecting containers, cleaning and refilling them. They partner with organizations to create programs that recycle these materials, giving companies an edge over the competition.

Egg Marketing President Susan Guillory discusses the most effective way to attract new customers through social media engagement and providing articles or other content that demonstrate your expertise to prospective clients.

Start Small Think Big Founder Jenny DaSilva shares the story of her business and how it provides critical assistance for new small business owners in a variety of ways.  DaSilva also explains how patronizing local business benefits your entire community and why November's Small Business Saturday is the perfect time to make it a priority.

Listen as Elvis Gooden, interim president and CEO, and chief financial officer of the NFL Alumni Association, talks about the support available to NFL retirees who become entrepreneurs and why so many NFL players start their own businesses after retirement.

Kindness Hall Founder Allen Hecht explains how kindness or "mindfulness" towards others can not only have an impact on society but on how employers interact with employees and how businesses treat customers.  Hecht also cites a tremendous amount of business research to confirm how simple but purposeful kindness can make a big difference in the successof a business.

Alexis Brachel, senior manager in business licenses, governance and risk compliance at CT Corporation, walks us through the steps of ensuring compliance is securing a construction business license.  She explains the compliance required when expanding a business, reorganizing at your existing site, and keeping up with changing rules.

Tungsten Branding President Phillip Davis offers his expertise on how to name your new business in a way that conveys a clear message and leaves people wanting to know more about it.  Noting that a business name should be a "conversation starter versus a conversation stopper," Davis walks us through his decision to name his own business and offers several tips on what to avoid when choosing a name.  Finally, he explains how to determine if anyone else has the name you have in mind for your business and what steps to take once you've made your decision.

Listen to Blair Anderson, President of the National Association of Non-Profits, discuss considerations for starting and managing a non-profit, plus common mistakes to avoid.  Anderson tells us what makes a non-profit different than a traditional business, how your approach to taxes will differ, and the keys to making your non-profit a success.

Electronic filing and reporting make it easy for small businesses to operate in multiple states. If you’re looking to grow your business outside of the U.S., Canada is a great place to start. Traci Houck of CT Corporation talks about why Canada is a great place for companies to expand their operations without creating a large burden on current operations.  

BizFilings Service Operations Consultant Tim Jensen talks about the factors to consider when incorporating, and gives suggestions for when it’s appropriate to incorporate in a “business-friendly state” like Delaware or Nevada.  Jensen tells us how to factor in tax and regulatory environments and also details how your legal structure affects where you should incorporate.

Small Business and Entrepreneur Council President and CEO Karen Kerrigan joins us to discuss how existing and aspiring small business owners should approach the regulations imposed on them by all levels of government.  Kerrigan explains how to factor the time and money needed for compliance and what resources will make your life easier.  She also details why she sees the federal regulatory environment getting more favorable to business owners and what challenges still remain.

Jeff Williams, chief coach at Bizstarters, a company focusing on the explosive growth of baby boomers starting new businesses after age 50.  Williams explains why the number of new business owners who are 50 and older is soaring and why they tend to be more successful than their younger counterparts.  He also walks through some of the challenges unique to starting a business later in life and how to decide if this is a good idea for you.

Remodeling expert Shawn McCadden explains the critical steps in launching a contracting or construction business.  He explains the differences between the two types of businesses, the right entity to establish, and which insurance and liability policies are necessary.

Teresa Goody, founder and CEO of The Goody Group, speaks about why it is critical to establish a structure for your new business and how to make sure you're choosing the right one.  She also discusses what to look for in your local laws and regulations to help set your business on firm legal ground.

The good news is you can start an online business within hours.  The bad news is that anyone else can do it too, so how can you prepare for success?  Small Biz Lady Melinda Emerson explains why a good business plan is the best place to start and what priorities ought to be in that plan.  Emerson also points out where to find help for establishing your formal business entity and taking care of other important legal requirements.  She also offers advice on how to stand out from the crowd by providing an excellent customer experience on the very first day.

Pabir Nijja turned a struggling pizza restaurant in California into one of the most popular restaurants in town. Nijjar shares why he decided to pursue the business and why it became such a great success.  Nijjar walks us through many things any aspiring restauranteur need to know, from permits and licensing to building your reputation in the community and turning a profit.