Business Startup Tips

Open source software is a wonderful playground for technonerds, some of whom end up contributing valuable improvements to the software. But does it stand up as a sensible business model for a software developer? Online I.T. columnist Selena Sol argues yes.

Are you ready for retirement? Have you saved or are saving enough to be able to maintain your current lifestyle? Here's a look at different retirement plans and what they include.

The most important step in successful data mining mission is setting objectives ahead of time. Two top data mining consultants, Rob Gerritsen and Estelle Brand, talk about how to prepare for success.

When a communications satellite went on the fritz recently, it played havoc with the work of many companies and professionals. Not so in the case of tech service firm DecisionOne Corp. They had a contingency plan.

This year, something hit me. Of all the computer consultants and small companies with whom I interact and have as clients, only a handful have a written business plan. Why?

The second part of our "Small Business Primer" series.

The third part of our "Small Business Primer" series.

The fourth part of our "Small Business Primer" series.

If you want to know how well your business is doing, you need to look at two things: 1) what you planned for and 2) how closely you followed your plan.

Don't think you need a business plan? Well you do if you want to know where to take your business. Here's how to create your plan and what to include in it.