Guides
Two libraries. Planning guides cover the numbers behind starting and pricing a business, with worked examples and a calculator for each. Business guides cover running one: paying yourself, taxes, payroll and records.
Planning guides
10 guides, below: testing an idea, choosing a business, franchise or independent, pricing, break-even and costs.
Business guides →
101 guides from GHL Financial on running a business: owner pay, estimated taxes, payroll, S corporations, records and more.
Planning guides
How to Test a Business Idea Before You Spend Money
Seven steps from idea to a go, adjust or stop decision — starting with the costs, not the price.
Sun, Nov 1, 2026 · 6 min read
How to Choose a Business to Start: A Practical Shortlist Method
From a long list to two or three ideas worth testing, based on your skills, time and money.
Sun, Nov 1, 2026 · 5 min read
Franchise or Start on Your Own? How to Compare the Real Numbers
The fees, the evidence and a year-by-year comparison — so you know what the brand has to deliver.
Sun, Nov 1, 2026 · 6 min read
Margin vs. Markup: What's the Difference and Why It Matters
Two ways to describe the same profit — and the pricing mistake that comes from mixing them up.
Fri, Oct 30, 2026 · 6 min read
How to Calculate Your Break-Even Point (With Examples)
Fixed costs, contribution margin and how many sales it takes to stop losing money.
Fri, Oct 30, 2026 · 7 min read
How to Set Your Freelance Rate: A Step-by-Step Method
Why salary ÷ 2,080 undercharges, and a method that covers taxes, expenses and admin time.
Fri, Oct 30, 2026 · 7 min read
What Does an Employee Really Cost? Beyond Salary
Payroll taxes, benefits and overhead — how to estimate the fully loaded cost of a hire.
Fri, Oct 30, 2026 · 6 min read
How Loan Amortization Works (and Why Early Payments Are Mostly Interest)
Why the balance falls slowly at first — and what that means for term length and paying early.
Fri, Oct 30, 2026 · 6 min read
Cash Runway and Burn Rate: How Long Will Your Cash Last?
Net burn, runway, and the practical levers that buy you more time.
Fri, Oct 30, 2026 · 5 min read
Customer Lifetime Value: How to Calculate It and Use It
What a customer is worth — and how much you can afford to spend winning one.
Fri, Oct 30, 2026 · 6 min read