Advising

5 Marketing Moves Small Business Owners Should Make Today: Insights from Regional Experts

In this article, we've tapped into our Expert Network marketing professionals to bring you five actionable tips you can implement today (not someday) to make a real difference in your small business's reach and impact.

Entrepreneur Q&A: Transforming Business Through a Person-Centered Approach – Discovery Horse, Fort Ripley, MN

While it’s common for small business owners to take on multiple roles, Sara and Matt knew they were ready for growth, but they needed guidance on how to approach financing and make strategic business decisions. We recently caught up with Sara to see how their business has transformed over the last year.

From Overwhelmed to Empowered: Tips for Effective Networking

With a little bit of intention-setting and some networking know-how, you'll be making meaningful connections in no time.

Don't Get Lost at Sea: The Importance of Strategic Planning

Strategic plans not only help provide clarity, but they can also assist in driving accountability amongst team members.

Simplify your tax season: 5 steps for business owners

Tax season can feel a bit overwhelming for many business owners. Here are some steps to help you stay organized, streamline your processes, and hopefully reduce your stress.

Profit Mastery: What is it and how can it benefit my business?

Profit Mastery® is a two-day, in-person workshop to help you dig into your business finances. Gain the knowledge and skills you need to help your business achieve financial success.

Managing Imposter Syndrome: Strategies and Support for Business Owners

In the unpredictable world of businesses ownership, these feelings are commonplace and sometimes intensified by the novelty and isolation of entrepreneurship.

Navigating the New Federal Beneficial Ownership Reporting Requirement for Business Owners

Navigating the complexities of business ownership can be challenging, especially when new regulations come into play. One such recent development is the introduction of new federal reporting requirements by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). This article aims to break down these new requirements, making them easily digestible for you, the small business owne

The Seasonal Business Dilemma: Strategies for Success Amidst Uncertainty

Seasonal businesses thrive when the weather and demand are predictable, but what happens when nature throws a curveball? Whether it’s an unexpected lack of snow, fires, drought, or other uncooperative seasonal shifts, here are some savvy strategies to keep your business afloat and thriving even when the weather doesn’t cooperate.

What is predatory lending and how can you avoid the traps?

Predatory lending has a long history in the United States and often operates under the guise of helping business owners in times of cash flow needs. During these times, business owners may feel tempted to enter a non-beneficial relationship with a predatory lending product.

How to Work with Local Colleges to Find the Right Student Intern for Your Business

So, you think you want to hire an intern. How do you find one? What kind of work is suitable for an intern? Should you pay an intern? Below is a practical, how-to guide for determining if an intern is a good fit for your business and how to find one.

AI & Small Business: How to stay ahead and stay safe

Artificial intelligence is everywhere in the news today and a primer of what it is and what it does can provide a basis for ensuring that you and your business stay safe online and mitigate risks.

Sustaining a small northern town with access to shelter, hardware and sandwiches

Access to capital is a significant barrier that these businesses often face and yet they are essential to local economies.

Joyful Growth: Increase success in an impactful way

As an entrepreneur or CEO, maximizing success is undoubtedly one of your top priorities. What if you could increase success while also experiencing more fulfillment and joy?

Be Strategic: What is it and why should I apply?

The Be Strategic program allows business owners to work on their business, collaborate with non-competing businesses, benefit from experienced business advisors, create a strategic business plan for growth and build business confidence.

User-Generated Content: Your Secret Marketing Weapon for Summer Success

Leveraging UGC saves you time and resources and adds a genuine and relatable touch to your marketing.

Harnessing Cash Flow Projections to Transform Your Sales Goals

Cash flow projections serve as a business's financial compass.

3 Strategies for Small Business Growth

Accessing business advising, leveraging working capital loans and tapping into networks are three basic strategies to deploy as you grow your business.

Sunsdahl Supports Tower Community Through Entrepreneurship

For entrepreneur Dianna Sunsdahl, the idea to purchase a building in downtown Tower, Minnesota, came from wanting to do something for the community.

Tap into a Collective of Wisdom and Grow Your Business with the Women’s Business Mastermind

A mastermind is a small group of individuals, in this case women business owners, who come together to share ideas, knowledge, and resources in order to achieve a common goal.

Get to Know Our Growing Wisconsin Team

The Entrepreneur Fund recently expanded to serve 12 additional counties in northern Wisconsin.

Attracting Top Talent: How to Become an Employer of Choice

If you want to attract and retain employees that are the right fit for your company, start prioritizing these seven objectives to become an employer of choice in the months ahead.

How local partners helped Superior Waffles open its doors and expand into catering

The Entrepreneur Fund and regional Small Business Development Centers have a strong track record of collaboration with a common goal of small business success.

3 Strategies to Consider When Preparing For Your Busy Season

How you manage your business during transition seasons will determine how ready you are for high season success. And the steps you take during the peak season will prepare you for the slower seasons.

5 Strategies to Get Your Team Aligned and Focused on the Same Goals

Here are five ways you can continually and consistently clarify expectations while improving communication and collaboration with your team.

Ebbs Fills Land Management and Training Need in Ely

Since connecting with the Entrepreneur Fund in 2021, Ebbs has grown his business through various EFund lending and advising services.

Framing a strategic plan for business expansion with Anderson & Hammack Construction Company

Ready to expand their business, Nick and Robyn partnered with the Entrepreneur Fund on financing and strategic planning that has positioned them for growth.

Supporting the Growth of the Local Food System Through Specialized Loan Programs and Business Services

The Healthy Food Fund is a specialized loan fund with low rates and competitive terms for local grocery stores, convenience stores, and food producers looking to upgrade equipment, access working capital or purchase commercial real estate.

What is Our Secret Sauce for Small Business Growth?

Our secret sauce is what makes our organization and our client’s experience unique.

Growing & Brewing with Purpose – Warrior Brewing Company

A personalized lending package enabled the veterans to purchase equipment, obtain licensing and pay the first few months of start-up costs such as utilities and rent.

How to keep your business growing in 2023: Six tips from EFund CEO

Entrepreneur Fund CEO and President Shawn Wellnitz recently shared his expertise with Business North in their Directory 23 issue, which asked industry experts about their business predictions for 2023.

Strengthen staff engagement & retention – Year-end strategies

An effective year-end performance appraisal, while seeming like a lot of hassle, can promote all of these engagement factors.

Growing Manufacturing on the Iron Range with Advanced Machine Guarding Solutions

The Entrepreneur Fund has business advisors located throughout northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. We are invested in the communities we serve. Our teams know their clients well and want to see them succeed.

Cook's Country Connection: A one-of-a-kind community hub

Entrepreneurs like Lois are why we do what we do. Every day, we partner with entrepreneurs and small business owners across all industries and across a mostly rural region of 43,975 square miles because we believe they create vibrant, healthy communities.

EFund collaboration with UMD accounting class connects students with local businesses

Since 2019, Entrepreneur Fund has worked with the accounting class to connect students with our Duluth-area clients.

Small Business Tax Prep: Year-End Tips

Being prepared for taxes as opposed to scrambling in the eleventh hour isn’t really all that tough - it just takes a little foresight and follow through.

How to Have Hard Conversations with Positive Intent as a Small Business Owner

Whether you are amid difficult change, or having your best year, use these strategies to proactively reduce and prevent challenges.

Q&A: Get to know EFund business developer JoAnn Smith based in International Falls

If you are in Koochiching or northern St. Louis County, you may be working JoAnn in the near future.

Application Open for Fall 2022 Be Strategic Courses in Superior, WI and Grand Marais, MN

Jasper Company grows hospitality roots in chosen home of Ely

Since working together on their first loan in 2005, the Beans family has seen the Entrepreneur Fund as a valued long-term partner in business growth and creativity.

Better Understand Your Business Financials with these Tools and Resources

If you’re a small business owner looking to better understand your finances, you’ll want to bookmark this article and the tools/resources linked.

Rising Interest Rates and Ongoing Inflation: Things to Consider for Your Business

Hiring in a Competitive Environment: 3 Expert Tips for Employers

Spring Clean Your Marketing: 3 Things To Do Today

Diversifying the Outdoors with Northside Bags

Fighting for You and Your Business

Surviving the staffing shortage: A guide for small business employers

New Substance Abuse Residential Treatment Center Meets Critical Communiyt Need

Ubet You Can Turn Your Passion into a Business

Serving Up Resilience at Sulu’s Espresso Café in Tower

Financing to Take Mahkahta Trucking to the Next Level

Stepping into the Driver’s Seat with Dock 5

Animal Haven Thriving From Creative Partnership

Building Sustainable Growth with Broking’s Transport in Grand Rapids

Discovering Points Unknown in Cook County

Tackling the Community Child Care Shortage Through Entrepreneurship

Succession Planning Strategies: 5 Things to Know About Preparing Your Business for Sale

Northland Strong – Business Tips and Advice from Regional Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurial Life Coach Breaks the Cycle of Poverty in His Community

The dos and don’ts of building a business

Coffee sources from the heart – Duluth Coffee Company

Ursa Minor Brewing opens in Duluth’s Lincoln Park