Employer demand for verifiable skills is reshaping how credentials are evaluated across the labor market. For self-employed professionals and small business owners, understanding this shift is a competitive advantage. The conversation about workforce development has changed substantially over the past several years, and most of the attention has focused on what this shift means for … Continue reading “Skills, Credentials, and the Self-Employed Professional: What the Workforce Development Shift Means for Independent Business Owners”
Written by Candace Sigmon
For first-time founders and side-hustle starters trying to turn a skill into income, starting a business with minimal funds can feel like a constant trade-off between speed and safety. The core tension is simple: big goals show up fast, but cash runs out faster, and those early entrepreneurial challenges can make every decision feel risky. … Continue reading “A Practical Guide to Launching Your Business with Minimal Funds”
Written by Maria Sy
When it comes to improving fitness or supporting fat loss goals, cardio machines are often one of the first places people start. They’re accessible, easy to adjust, and offer a clear way to track progress over time. But not all machines deliver the same results. Some focus on lower-body endurance, others engage the full body, … Continue reading “From Treadmills to Rowers: The Best Machines for Calorie Burn”
Written by Richard Mead
With Tax Day behind us and Financial Literacy Month coming to a close, many small business owners are taking a step back to look beyond annual filings and toward their overall financial health. For the self-employed and small businesses, financial management isn’t just a seasonal task — it’s a year-round responsibility. From tracking expenses to … Continue reading “How AI Is Helping Small Businesses Build Financial Resilience – Beyond Tax Season”
Written by Mindy
Starting a business always comes with risk. Markets shift, customer expectations change, and competition continues to grow. That’s why many entrepreneurs are looking for models that offer more stability and structure from the start. The automotive repair industry stands out in this regard. It’s built around necessity. People rely on their vehicles every day, which … Continue reading “Why Automotive Repair Franchises Are a Smart Business Choice Today”
Written by Candace Sigmon
For self-employed US individuals and new business owners, the workday can feel like a never-ending pileup of client requests, admin chores, and decisions that can’t wait. The core tension is simple: entrepreneur time management gets harder as soon as the business gets real, and resource limitations for startups mean there’s no extra staff to catch … Continue reading “Save Time and Grow Your Business with These Essential Apps”
Written by Candace Sigmon
Business technology is the nervous system of your organization. When that system lacks transparency, your company operates in a state of perpetual reactive stress, often referred to as a “visibility gap.” This gap represents the disconnect between what your IT infrastructure is actually doing and what your leadership believes is happening. Limited IT visibility is … Continue reading “The Silent Growth Killers: How Limited IT Visibility Drains Your Bottom Line”
Written by Candace Sigmon
Launching a business as an entrepreneur with a disability requires a strategic mix of financial instruments tailored to your operational needs. By blending non-repayable grants, low-interest microloans, and private equity, you build a resilient foundation while maintaining control. Navigating these diverse funding streams with a clear plan ensures long-term sustainability without compromising your vision. This … Continue reading “Mastering Startup Capital as an Entrepreneur with a Disability”
Written by Eunice Smith
A franchise’s profitability is shaped by more than location, marketing, or product quality. The people interacting with customers every day often have the biggest influence on whether a business grows steadily or struggles to keep momentum. That is why employee training deserves far more attention than it usually gets. Many franchise owners focus on visible … Continue reading “Why Investing in Employee Training Can Multiply Your Franchise Profits”
Written by Katie Vlietstra
At the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), we are committed to supporting the millions of independent workers, freelancers, and small business owners who power the American economy. Today, new artificial intelligence (AI) tools are giving self-employed professionals the ability to streamline daily operations, increase productivity, and reduce costs, allowing them to focus more on … Continue reading “AI Tools Are Helping the Self-Employed Work Smarter and Grow Their Businesses”