Launching a successful business takes more than a promising idea. Entrepreneurs must carefully research, plan, finance and establish their ventures while preparing for the practical demands of business ownership. This article discusses 12 essential steps for turning a business concept into a legally established, properly funded and operational enterprise.

Cash is king in both business and life. Unfortunately, many family business owners who have structured their companies as C corporations run into cash flow problems in their personal lives. A stock redemption is one potential solution for generating some liquidity from the family business in a tax-savvy manner. This article provides the basic details of this strategy.

Suggestion boxes can work wonders. They cost little to set up and, over time, at least a few of your employees' ideas will likely save your company money and help it operate more efficiently. This article offers eight steps to a successful suggestion box program. A sidebar provides a brief history of the suggestion box, which starts in 1894.

Is now the time to grow your business? The answer will depend on the specifics about your company, such as its mission and market. One thing, however, is usually true: Businesses that fail to grow tend not to last very long. Competition is fierce in almost every industry. This article discusses some sound practices in planning and executing a business expansion.