Articles

Often we are unsure how extensively our faith should impact our businesses.

As Christians in business, we encounter the allure (sometimes subtle and other times quite overt) of money, stuff, and the power of influence.

Life involves both gain and loss. Although much is risked in business, there are things you must purpose not to lose.

Good shepherds love their sheep and lead them to green pastures and clear water.

When Jacob Nisley started JN Pallet, located in Conneautville, Pennsylvania, in 1985, he did so with the purpose of growing a family business that would provide not just a means of livelihood but...

If you are among those who are striving to create a culture of entrepreneurship for your family, consider carefully how you shape that culture in order to nurture and encourage entrepreneurial...

God needs somebody with enough internal motivation to get up at dawn, spend time in prayer, unlock the plant, work all day in production, lock up the plant, eat supper, and then go to a school...

By using a methodical process of starting a business—and with God’s guidance—you will hopefully develop a high-quality business idea that can be pursued with confidence and enthusiasm.

It is now time to decide the method of launch, which includes starting up from scratch, buying into a franchise, or buying a business, which may not be as far out of reach as some assume.

All investments have a degree of risk. Have you lost money to scams? A godly investor avoids all speculations and seeks to use his Master’s money with wisdom and diligence.

In order to survive, every business needs to make a profit. What are good pricing methods? Is your pricing fair? 

This Workshop gives practical applications of Strategic Planning. Learn how to take your strategy, plans, and ideas and implement them with simplicity and consistency.

Getting ready to start a business? Not quite there yet, but preparing? Want to? Wonder if business ownership is for you? Does small business fit your Anabaptist lifestyle?

As men family leaders, we are constantly concerned about our ability to provide adequately.

Life as an entrepreneur is a wild ride, full of ups and downs, hills and valleys, and rife with the opportunity to be sanctified by God as he uses our business challenges to sharpen us, increase...

Chopping out a new road isn’t glamorous or romantic.

What determines the success of a business venture? Wade Myers suggests the following formula: Entrepreneur + Business Model + Resources + God’s Providence = Success.

Business taxation is complex, and many business owners choose to rely on tax professionals to prepare and file their business tax returns.

Farmers are not exempt from Christ’s command to render unto Caesar the taxes owed him. Farmers have their own unique set of rules and advantages in the federal tax code. Jacob Dietz looks briefly...

Financial statements provide insight and financial data from which informed decisions, crucial to profitable financial activity, can be made by management. A thorough understanding of the balance...

What does it take to qualify for a loan?

The balance sheet is an indicator of the long-term cumulative health of your business. It is also the best starting point for reviewing financial statements.

Teamwork is a method of operation in which a group of individuals submit their opinions and interests to the unity and efficiency of the group.

What keeps people motivated to continue coming to work for you? Fair compensation and benefits are a key attraction that will keep your employees with your company for a long time.

Developing employees can seem like a huge undertaking when you are already busy as the owner/manager of your business.

“I just want my kids to be happy and to get along.” Parents try to make sure their children are happy and get along in the family business, only to discover that the second generation is unhappy...

The complexities inherent to family businesses can lead either to creative energy and generations of profitability, or into a maelstrom of troubles and premature dissolution. Family businesses...

Compensation of family employees may create problems for family members in the business as well as those who are not. The journey of successful family business management and governance eventually...

To hire more strategically, site down and pla the key positions, list responsibilities for each, develop ideal profiles, create a proper compensation plan, and prioritize each position.

Most conversation comes easily and spontaneously, but when we need to address a sensitive issue, conversation can be very difficult.

Employees are not machines with nuts and bolts holding them together. Working with your people will be much more enjoyable if you learn to love them.

When you meet your partner, your employee, or your fellow worker on the other side, what story will you hear about how you changed their life?

What does the Bible say about communication? What are you communicating to the people around you? Communication is an important aspect of all relationships.

Christ is glorified when men live out His commandments in their everyday working lives, and professing Christians who fail to do so bring swift reproach to Christ’s name.

Open, honest, and clear communication is essential when relating to each other, especially in a family business.

A family business is not only a financial asset, but it is a collection of values, reputation and memories.

Transitioning a business within a family from one generation to another has its own challenges. But what about transitioning a business through sale to a third party?

Continuous Improvement is the way to deal with obstacles in your business, but where to begin? You must first determine if you are trying to solve a problem or simply improve a process or ...

Does God give guidance for believers trying to conduct business operations in our complex, modern economy? The answer is a resounding “Yes!”

Everyone knows the classic American poem about a girl and her lamb, "Mary Had a Little Lamb." What can explain this poem's longevity and effectiveness?

A customer’s attitude about your business will directly influence how much he is willing to pay you—and whether he will even pay you at all. You can influence how your customers feel by giving...

An effective salesperson is one of the key forces behind every successful business. Before a purchase is completed, your customers will speak to an employee—a salesperson.

For many of us, the title "salesman" conjures up an image of someone who is smooth-talking, calculating, and deceitful.

You cannot create customer service by opening up floor space and installing a desk with an employee behind it. Customer service is an attitude within the company, and it speaks for itself.

Do you know if your advertising dollars are paying off? Or like John Wanamaker said, do you know that half of your advertising dollars are wasted, but you don't know which half?

Getting an effective marketing program rolling can be bumpy, but Roy Herr demonstrates a well-rounded approach. When all three parts of the marketing wheel—branding, lead generation, and lead...

Marketing today is more complicated than simply putting out a sign and displaying fruit or vegetables on a table at the end of the lane or at a farmers’ market. As Christians, we find ourselves in...

Our people have always been innovators: improving their tools, their techniques, and their situations.

Caring for your customers and letting them know that you appreciate their business is simply good manners.

Your marketing people should have an organized, functional toolbox from which they can pull the appropriate tools they need to get the message to the marketplace.

Clear messaging is the very heart and soul of effective marketing.

Sometimes the same strengths that help build a thriving family business can also become its weakness. One of the best ways to make certain that a family’s strengths do not become the business’...

Claiming to be transparent is not the same as actually being transparent.

Why does the gross profit percentage shown on my business Profit and Loss report change from year to year, if the profit markup I use remains constant?

Building and maintaining a business driven by positive Anabaptist values is impossible without some support from like-minded men—men who have similar values and are on a similar path.