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创业压力是真实的:为什么72%的创始人面临心理健康问题

2025-08-16 14:32:03

The elevator pitch sounds perfect. Revenue’s climbing. The team’s executing flawlessly. But here’s what doesn’t make it into the investor updates: the founder hasn’t slept properly in three months, lives on a cocktail of caffeine and anxiety, and secretly Googles “Am I having a heart attack?” at 3 a.m.

Sound familiar?

You’re not alone. And more importantly—you’re not broken.

The Numbers Don’t Lie (But We Do)

Let’s cut through the LinkedIn success theater for a moment. When researchers at USC and UC Berkeley dug deep into the entrepreneurial psyche, they uncovered something startling: 72% of entrepreneurs wrestle with direct or indirect mental health challenges. That’s nearly three out of every four founders walking around with invisible wounds.

Think about your last networking event. The confident pitches. The casual mentions of “crushing it.” Behind those polished exteriors? A epidemic of silent suffering.

The data gets more granular—and more sobering. Depression affects 30% of entrepreneurs. ADHD? 29%. Substance abuse creeps into 12% of founder lives, while bipolar disorder touches another 11%. These aren’t just statistics. They’re the people building tomorrow’s world, carrying tomorrow’s burdens.


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Why Startups Are Mental Health Minefields

Building a company from scratch isn’t just challenging—it’s a systematic assault on psychological well-being. Every day brings fresh opportunities for your brain to catastrophize.

Financial uncertainty doesn’t just stress you out during business hours. It follows you home. Creeps into conversations with your partner. Makes you question whether that grocery purchase was “necessary.” Investor pressure transforms every meeting into a performance where failure feels existential.

Then there’s the loneliness. Leadership is isolating by design. You can’t vent to your team about cash flow concerns. Your co-founder’s dealing with their own demons. Friends outside the startup world don’t understand why you’re “choosing” this stress.

Recent surveys paint an even bleaker picture. Over half of founders 54% experienced burnout in just the past year. That’s not a bug in the system. That’s the system itself, grinding humans into productivity dust.

Eighty-three percent report high stress levels. Three-quarters battle anxiety daily. These aren’t weakness indicators—they’re predictable outcomes of an inherently unsustainable lifestyle.


6 Daily Routines to Help Founders/Leaders Stay in Top Mental Health


The ‘Touched with Fire’ Phenomenon

There’s something almost poetic about entrepreneurship’s relationship with mental health. Researchers call it being “touched with fire”—that same creative intensity that drives innovation often comes packaged with psychological volatility.

The landmark study revealed that 49% of entrepreneurs report at least one mental health condition themselves, while 23% have family histories of mental illness. Combined, that 72% figure represents more than coincidence. It suggests entrepreneurship either attracts certain psychological profiles or creates them.

Maybe both.

Depression and ADHD top the list, which makes sense when you consider the entrepreneurial demands. Depression’s perfectionism pairs dangerously with startup pressure. ADHD’s hyperfocus can fuel breakthrough innovations—until it doesn’t, leaving founders crashed and empty.


Why Well-Being and Mental Health is Vital to Long-Term Business Success


Therapy: From Stigma to Strategy

Here’s where the conversation gets interesting. Progressive founders have stopped treating therapy like admitting defeat. Instead, they’re approaching mental health like any other business investment—strategically, consistently, and with clear ROI expectations.

Platforms like BetterHelp, Headway and Meru Health have eliminated traditional therapy barriers. No more searching for providers. No more insurance headaches. Just accessible, quality mental health support designed for busy lives.

Some venture capital firms now include mental health stipends in their founder packages. Why? Because a mentally healthy founder is a better investment. Period.

The math is simple: therapy costs hundreds per month. Replacing a burned-out founder costs hundreds of thousands—and that’s before calculating opportunity costs, team disruption, and strategic momentum loss.


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Five Evidence-Based Strategies That Actually Work

Strategy 1: The Sacred Shutdown

Block 60-90 minutes daily for complete disconnection. No Slack. No email. No “quick check” of anything startup-related.

This isn’t rest—it’s cognitive maintenance. Your brain needs processing time to consolidate information, generate insights, and restore creative capacity. Think of it as scheduled defragmentation for your mental operating system.

Strategy 2: Information Diet Revolution

Stop consuming anxiety-inducing content. News feeds, social media doomscrolling, industry drama—all of it spikes cortisol unnecessarily.

Replace reactive consumption with intentional inputs. Long-form articles. Audiobooks during walks. Conversations with people outside your industry bubble. Your mental state directly correlates with information quality.

Strategy 3: Therapeutic Consulting

Reframe therapy as specialized consulting for your most important asset: your mind. Just as you’d hire experts for legal, financial, or technical challenges, mental health professionals offer expertise in psychological optimization.

This isn’t about being “broken.” It’s about performance enhancement at the cognitive level.

Strategy 4: Founder Circles

Isolation amplifies every startup stress. Regular check-ins with fellow founders create pressure release valves while providing practical problem-solving support.

Find your people. The ones who understand why you’re excited about customer acquisition costs and retention metrics. Who don’t judge your weekend work sessions or celebrate your pivot decisions.

Strategy 5: Rest as Competitive Advantage

Elite athletes don’t apologize for recovery time. Neither should elite entrepreneurs.

Harvard Business Review research consistently demonstrates that rest fuels productivity, not vice versa. Your best ideas emerge during downtime. Your strategic thinking clarifies during breaks. Your leadership improves after real sleep.

Schedule rest like you schedule investor meetings. Protect it with the same intensity.

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The Bottom Line: You Are Not Expendable

Products can pivot. Markets can shift. Strategies can evolve.

But you? You’re irreplaceable.

The startup world celebrates grinding until breaking, wearing exhaustion like achievement badges, sacrificing mental health for mythical “success.” That’s not just unsustainable—it’s stupid business strategy.

Your mental health isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s foundational infrastructure for everything else you’re building.

If you’re reading this while running on three hours of sleep, double-checking Slack notifications, wondering if that chest tightness means something serious—stop. Breathe. You’re human first, founder second.

Taking care of your mind isn’t weakness. It’s the smartest investment you’ll ever make.

Because the world needs what you’re building. But it needs you healthy enough to build it.

Sources & Further Reading

  1. Freeman, M.A. et al. “Are Entrepreneurs ‘Touched with Fire’?” UC Berkeley/UCSF Study
  2. Sifted Research: “Founder Burnout Statistics” (2025)
  3. Entrepreneur Magazine: “Scaling Without Burning Out” Analysis
  4. Harvard Business Review: “The Science of Strategic Rest”
  5. Momentum Psychology: “Entrepreneur Mental Health Guide”

Ready to prioritize your mental health? Start with one strategy today. Your future self—and your startup—will thank you.

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The post Startup Pressure Is Real: Why 72% of Founders Struggle with Mental Health appeared first on StartupNation.

如何从独资企业转换为LLC或公司

2025-08-14 13:22:54

There comes a point in every growing business where “just me” isn’t enough anymore.

You’ve built something real from scratch, but now you’re wondering if your current setup can handle what’s coming next. You may be signing bigger contracts, thinking about hiring help, or simply losing sleep over the personal liability sitting on your shoulders.

If you’re planning to transition from a sole proprietorship to an LLC or corporation, this guide has you covered.

You’ll learn exactly why, when, and how to make the transition, plus a clear understanding of the key protection benefits. I’ll also help you decide whether an LLC or a corporation is better for your business needs.


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Why Transition from a Sole Proprietorship to an LLC or Corporation at All?

Let’s say your small design studio just signed its first five-figure client. You’re excited, but there’s a nagging worry in the back of your mind. What happens if something goes wrong? What if the client isn’t happy and decides to sue?

If this happens, your personal assets are at risk.

When you operate as a sole proprietor, there’s no legal separation between you and your business. Your house, your savings, your car and everything becomes fair game if someone comes after your business.

That’s why many small businesses eventually transition from a sole proprietorship to an LLC or corporation.

The turning points usually hit around the same time. You’re hiring your first employee, entering into larger contracts, or seeking funding to expand. Banks and investors take LLCs and corporations more seriously than sole proprietorships.

Beyond liability protection, you’ll unlock tax advantages to help you save thousands each year. The credibility factor also matters. Clients tend to trust businesses with formal structures more than individual contractors.

According to GovDocFiling, converting a Sole Proprietorship to an LLC or Corporation requires a similar process in all US states; however, there may be different fees, rules, and regulations in various states. Forming an LLC in Texas requires paying a minimum $300 to the registration department. 

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Know Your Options: LLC vs. Corporation

The transition from a sole proprietorship to an LLC or corporation doesn’t have to be overwhelming when you understand your options. The choice mostly involves finding what fits your situation and business goals.

Why Choose an LLC

For context, the primary benefit of an LLC is that it gives you the most flexibility with fewer headaches. You can choose how you’re taxed, whether as a sole proprietor, partnership, S-corp, or C-corp.

There’s minimal paperwork once you’re set up, no board meetings, no complex record-keeping requirements. If you’re running a small family business and want fewer compliance headaches, an LLC is usually the better fit.

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Why Choose a Corporation

On the other hand, corporations come in two flavors: C-corp and S-corp.

C-corporations are best if you’re planning to raise outside capital or go public eventually. You can reinvest profits at lower corporate tax rates, but you’ll face double taxation on dividends.

Meanwhile, S-Corps let you avoid double taxation while still getting liability protection. However, you’re limited to 100 shareholders, who must be U.S. citizens.

If you’re looking to raise outside capital and plan for a large team, then a corporation makes more sense. Most investors prefer corporations because of their familiar structure and growth potential.

Service-based businesses with 1–5 employees often thrive as LLCs, while product companies planning rapid expansion usually benefit more from corporations.


Should a Side Hustle or E-Commerce Business File for Incorporation?


How to Make the Transition Step by Step

The transition from a sole proprietorship to an LLC or corporation involves two main areas: the legal paperwork and the practical business changes.

Legal and Administrative Steps

  • Choose your new business structure: Consider your growth plans, tax situation, and need for outside investment. Talk to your accountant about which option saves you the most money in the long term.
  • Pick a business name and check its availability: Most states let you search business names online through the Secretary of State website. Make sure your chosen name complies with state requirements and isn’t already used by another business.
  • File formation documents with your state: LLCs need Articles of Organization, while corporations require Articles of Incorporation. Filing fees typically range from $50 to $500, depending on your state. Also, some states process documents faster for an additional fee.
  • Obtain a new EIN from the IRS: You’ll need this even if you don’t have employees because it separates your business taxes from personal ones. Apply online through the IRS website for free, and you’ll get your number immediately.
  • Create governing documents for your entity: LLCs need an Operating Agreement that outlines ownership, management responsibilities, and profit distribution. Meanwhile, corporations need bylaws establishing how the company operates and makes decisions.
  • Register for state and local taxes: Requirements vary by state but usually include income tax, sales tax, and employment taxes if you hire workers. Check with your state’s revenue department for specific requirements in your area.
  • Notify the IRS about your tax classification change: You can file these documents yourself. Alternatively, you can use services to streamline the process and ensure everything is filed correctly without missing important deadlines.

Practical and Operational Transitions

  • Open new business bank accounts: Keep these under your entity name and completely separate from personal accounts. Mixing funds affects liability protection. Make sure you bring your formation documents and EIN when opening accounts.
  • Update contracts, licenses, permits, and insurance policies: Contact each vendor, client, and partner to notify them of your new legal structure. Most require written notification of the change.
  • Create a transition checklist: List all the people and organizations you need to notify, such as your bank, insurance provider, vendors, and major clients. Also, include anyone you have ongoing contracts with. Set deadlines for each notification to stay on track.
  • Close out sole proprietorship records properly: File a final Schedule C with your personal tax return and start fresh record-keeping for your new entity. Keep detailed records from day one.
  • Transfer business assets and contracts: This includes equipment, intellectual property, customer lists, and existing agreements. Properly document transfers to maintain legal separation between you and your business.

The 7 Benefits of Forming a Corporation


Pitfalls to Avoid When You Transition from a Sole Proprietorship to an LLC or Corporation

You’re not alone if you’re worried about making mistakes during your transition from a sole proprietorship to an LLC or corporation. Here are the most common stumbles and how to sidestep them:

  • Rushing without planning: Don’t file your paperwork in December and expect everything to be ready by January 1st. Give yourself at least 60–90 days to handle all the administrative changes properly.
  • Forgetting about existing contracts and commitments: Your current lease, insurance policies, and vendor agreements were signed under your sole proprietorship. Some contracts require a formal assignment to transfer them to your new entity.
  • Overlooking state-specific compliance requirements: Each state has different ongoing requirements for LLCs and corporations. Some require annual reports, others need registered agents, and many have specific publication requirements you can’t ignore.
  • Underestimating the ongoing maintenance: Your new entity needs separate bookkeeping, tax filings, and record-keeping. Set a budget for accounting software and professional services. Also, set aside time for ensuring compliance.
  • Failing to protect your new entity’s good standing: Missing annual filings or tax deadlines can dissolve your entity automatically in some states. Set up calendar reminders for all required filings and fees to maintain your legal protection.

Ready to Exit Sole Proprietor Status? Consider These 4 Entities for Incorporation


Final Thoughts

Making the transition from a sole proprietorship to an LLC or corporation is a smart move for protection, growth, and peace of mind. However, you don’t have to overhaul everything in a day, take it one step at a time.

The legal protection alone makes this transition worthwhile, but the credibility boost and tax advantages are also worth noting. 

The structure you choose today becomes the foundation for tomorrow’s business growth. Whether your goal is to protect assets or prepare for investors, this transition puts you in control.

Image by pressfoto on Freepik

The post How to Transition from a Sole Proprietorship to an LLC or Corporation appeared first on StartupNation.

人人都可以是创始人:为什么创业门槛已消失(以及我们应该怎么做)

2025-08-12 16:52:19

Entrepreneurship has long been—or at least thought to have been—reserved for obsessively driven people willing to work themselves to death in pursuit of their business dreams. In our experience, many would-be founders are put off by the pervasive image of a toxic “hustle culture” of people working ninety-hour weeks.

Additionally, the traditional entrepreneurial journey followed a predictable pattern: Raise capital, build infrastructure, hire expertise, and then launch. This resource-heavy approach naturally favored those with access to capital or technical skills. Success often depended more on initial resources than on understanding customer needs.

Today’s AI-enabled entrepreneur follows a different path. As an example, designer Diarra Bousso uses AI to collapse timelines from months to minutes in the fashion industry, where cycles are notoriously slow. By using generative tools to visualize designs, her team skips the costly manual trial-and-error phase, enabling them to test hundreds of designs and focus on the best. This “test before building” approach lets Bousso compete against larger players by being faster, leaner, and more daring.


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AI-powered platforms now handle operations that once required entire departments. Virtual teams are replacing full-time hires, and pay-as-you-go models have mostly eliminated large upfront investments in building out teams. No-code platforms enable complex development without technical expertise, and AI writing tools create professional content that once required experienced copywriters.

All this massive technological change has enabled a new, less risky approach to entrepreneurship: starting small and scaling gradually. Instead of betting everything on a grand launch, entrepreneurs can test ideas with minimal investment and gather real customer feedback quickly. They can then iterate based on actual usage and feedback and grow organically through word-of-mouth systems rather than through costly advertising campaigns.

Loud and Crowded 

This democratization means more people can pursue their entrepreneurial dreams, leading to more innovation and problem-solving in the world. But it also means the competitive landscape is changing dramatically. Traditional advantages are eroding as AI commoditizes technical expertise and innovation and makes them accessible to everyone.

In business, when creation gets easier, at least two other things happen. First, the market gets noisier. Getting a customer’s attention becomes more difficult because there’s more for them to consider. Second, the state of play changes more quickly. Cycles get shorter. The need to stand out means that the things we create—whether by hand or by prompt—must break with the status quo and more rapidly introduce newness and change.

When the macro environment becomes extremely noisy and fast-moving, successful organizations often succeed by going very small and very focused, creating particle-like units of intense connection with consumers. It’s almost as if the chaotic environment itself creates the conditions that make these tight bonds necessary and possible. This effect can be seen in the way small, independent bookstores have succeeded, not despite Amazon’s dominance but because of it, by providing a curated, personal experience that stands in stark contrast to the overwhelming noise of millions of online options.

Similarly, the democratization of brewing technology has created an explosion of craft breweries. A very noisy market led to the emergence of microbreweries with fierce local followings. These breweries often collaborate rather than compete with each other, creating strong regional networks and communities. Their small scale allows them to maintain close relationships with regular customers who become brand ambassadors.

Building these close human relationships starts with choosing the right customers. The strongest relationships form when entrepreneurs serve communities they deeply understand or belong to themselves. This authentic connection creates a natural alignment between business goals and customer needs and creates a new kind of capital.

Relationship Capital 

If you take the time to look up capital in a dictionary (Merriam-Webster, for example) and work your way past “seat of government” and “punishable by death” to the part that’s relevant to this conversation, you will find words like “accumulated” and “stock.” More importantly, you’ll see “advantage.”

Every business seeks an advantage—a way of getting and staying ahead. Whether it’s through innovative products, cutting-edge technology, or smart market positioning, securing a strong advantage is crucial because advantages tend to build on themselves. To us, advantage in business is best conceptualized as momentum.

What, if anything, propels a business forward? The primary answer is its advantage. And the accumulation of this advantage over time is capital. Starbucks has well-located stores, McKinsey has brilliant teams, and Disney has characters people love. These advantages are forms of capital—physical, human, and intellectual.

Businesses that cultivate their relationships with customers over time gain an advantage that increases their momentum and odds of success. We call that advantage “relationship capital” and believe it may be the only form of capital that AI won’t democratize to the point of obsolescence.

You probably won’t find “relationship capital” in the dictionary just yet, but it’s a very real concept already being assigned monetary value by companies like Microsoft. Deep in its 2018 annual report, you can even see how the company accounted for it during its $7.5 billion acquisition of GitHub. While the idiosyncrasies of purchase price accounting fall well beyond our bailiwick, what’s relevant here is a line item in the accountants’ allocation titled “Customer-related.” It captures the portion of the purchase price that Microsoft attributed not to GitHub’s technology but to the customer relationships it had developed prior to acquisition—its relationship capital.

This excerpt from Me, My Customer, and AI: The New Rules of Entrepreneurship is reprinted with permission.


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在制定您的领域策略时,要考虑长期发展

2025-08-09 16:03:00

Across any commercial landscape, the biggest brands often have one thing in common. From Apple to Nike, from Slack to Zoom, one-word names dominate, and they pack the ultimate marketing punch.

These names are simple, memorable, and meaningful; they generate the most curiosity in consumers and, when converted into digital real estate, they play a major role in securing funding for your startup.

So why don’t all businesses launch with a truly elite name?

One problem for new brands is that exact-match domains are almost impossible to come by with single-word domains, often costing six to seven figures.

The thing is, they’re often worth it, as demonstrated by AI companion brand Friend’s high-profile purchase of Friend.com with $1.8M of its initial $2.5M funding. But many brands compromise on name because an ultra-premium domain seems out of reach.

For truly ambitious brands, though, an ultra-premium domain can be a long-term ambition — but for ambition to become reality, you have to be strategic from the start. Here’s how to integrate long-term thinking into early name and domain strategy.

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Domain Needs: Asking If an Ultra-Premium Domain is Right for Your Brand

Of course, not every brand needs an ultra-premium domain. Before you start your domain journey, it’s important to define your startup’s trajectory, ambitions and related needs. Many local or small businesses with limited scope for market dominance can find an affordable domain that will last them a lifetime right out of the gate. Compound names (such as ActiveAim or Rocketgen) or made-up words (Marketeza, for example) in the 8 to 14 character range can be memorable and resonant for your target audience. Such names are often available for a four-figure investment, a sum that will pay off many times over during your business’s lifespan.

However, tech startups, SAAS tools, or anyone entering a highly commoditized market should think big. With a short single-English-word name, like Apple, Slack, Target or Sprite, you’re more likely to gain investment, stick in your customers’ minds and dominate the competition. If you’re bringing something truly unique to market or conversely competing in a market where differentiation is challenging, an ultra-premium domain can and should be a major ambition for your brand.

It won’t be your first domain, and it might not even be your second. But by keeping a single English word .com domain in your sights, you’ll stay true to a path that leads to industry authority and global recognition. Making strategic decisions about your business’s name and early domain can have a significant impact on your business’s future reach.

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Ambitious Domain Strategy for Ultra-Premium Online Real Estate

The most ambitious brands should set out from day one to obtain a domain name that does justice to their vision. Here are key considerations that will allow you to pursue an elite domain. 

1)    Consider Domain as an Extension of Name

For ambitious brands, their domain name isn’t simply an online address — it’s an extension of their brand identity, and works through every customer click to build top-of-mind awareness with your customers. When you’re shortlisting potential names for your business, make finding a strong, matching domain name a non-negotiable.

Crucial for long-term ambitions is to rule out from consideration any names that have thriving websites operating under the .com extension. Prioritze short names — catchy one-word names like Slack, or made-up and misspelled words like Lyft — with domains that are unused or underused. While these domains may be out of reach for you now, they’ll become a long-term asset to work towards. Many domain marketplaces will show you the availability of multiple domain extensions when you brainstorm domain names.

An exact match dot com domain becomes a key business asset as you grow, yet some brands, such as Peloton (who operate from onepeloton.com) don’t own their exact match domains. In the best-case scenario, you’ll pay a premium to take over the exact match dot com like Tesla did, forking out $11M to migrate from Teslamotors.com. The worst-case scenario means you’ll never own the premium piece of digital real estate for your brand.

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2)    Find the Domain That Works for Now


By shortlisting business names that have theoretically available ultra-premium domain matches, you’re thinking long term. Practically, though, both your business name and early domain can play a crucial role in attracting customers and investors. You need the strongest possible domain to support early-stage marketing activities and growth.

Brands opting for longer names, compound names or made-up words can aim for an exact match domain at this stage. With a domain that’s identical to your business name, you’ll build the most trust and recognition online — 77% of consumers consider exact match domains important and 46% of funded startups launched with an exact match domain in April 2025. If .com is not available, pair this domain with a strong extension from a proven shortlist — .net, .co, .io, .ai, if relevant.

For ultra-ambitious startups opting for single-English word names, your exact match .com domain will be unobtainable, for now. Choosing an alternative extension gives you options for the strongest choice of domain, with 73% of investors saying that a single-English-word domain is a significant or major factor in securing funding.

Alternatively, an add-on word can emphasize brand identity while accessing a .com extension, such as Buffer, which used bufferapp.com before negotiating the sale of buffer.com. Consider your customers at every stage: Add-on words impact trust for 78% of consumers, but if your audience is not familiar with your chosen alternative extension, the impact on trust could be even greater.

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3)    Know When to Chase Your .com Dream

By mapping out a route to an ultra-premium domain, you’re growing with an end goal. Achieving that goal, however, is as much about timing as it is about planning. Shoot for your dream domain too early and it could bankrupt you, but wait too long and you may end up paying an inflated price — a victim of your own success.

Many leading brands use pre-seed or Series A funding to pursue their .com domain. This stage is often optimal, as you have capital to spend and experienced investors backing your brand, but haven’t yet reached a critical mass of brand recognition to impact your domain’s price.

Investors often have a wealth of experience in domain brokerage (if not a portfolio of elite domain names themselves), so you can work towards buying your .com domain before the hype around your startup adds a premium to an already ultra-premium price.

Video messaging tool Loom used Series A funding to capture their exact match domain Loom.com, migrating from useloom.com as soon as investment allowed.  With their .com domain, Loom could capitalize on an exclusive one-word name, while differentiating from other brands with similar names.

The Long Game to Brand Greatness


Your business name and domain name are huge assets that build trust and recognition with your target market. As a key signifier of ambition, they also attract investors. Because the best domain names are ultra-premium brand assets, some brands with single-English word names will need to compromise on their first domain. This should never preclude a plan to acquire the elite real estate attached to your name.

There are many ways to acquire a domain. Fintech app Public.com had a payment plan for their online home, with founder Leif Abraham stating, “If we make it, the money won’t matter. If we didn’t make it, the domain wouldn’t matter.” The founder of the early social media analytics tool Klout went to extreme lengths, putting literal money on the table when he tracked down the owner of Klout.com.

Whatever your eventual method of acquisition, planning starts now. Strategically integrating naming and domain choice will give you the best possible name now and the best chance at becoming an industry-defining brand superpower in the future.

Philipp Katzenberger on Unsplash.

The post When Crafting Your Domain Strategy, Think Long Term appeared first on StartupNation.

面向未来:Z世代向技术工种和特许经营的转变

2025-08-07 16:22:16

As Gen Z enters the workforce, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: college is no longer the automatic next step. Faced with the rising costs of higher education and uncertain returns, many young adults are turning to skilled trades as a faster, more practical route to meaningful careers and financial independence.

This growing interest in the trades is driving noticeable momentum across industries like home improvement, construction, and franchising. For those with an entrepreneurial mindset, trade-based careers are proving to be a launchpad for small business ownership.


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Here are four insights into why Gen Z is forging their own path choosing skilled trades and entrepreneurial opportunities over traditional college and corporate routes:

The College Trade-Off: Why Gen Z Is Ditching Degrees for Trades

Over the past two decades, the cost of a college education has more than doubled, far outpacing wage growth, which places a heavy financial burden on students and their families. At the same time, the rising costs of rent, student loans, and everyday living have made it increasingly difficult for young people—especially members of Gen Z—to achieve financial stability after graduation.

While many are leaving college with tens of thousands in debt, their earning potential often lags, particularly in oversaturated fields where entry-level opportunities are limited. In contrast, trade schools offer Gen Z a more affordable and efficient path to a stable career.

On average, trade school costs about half as much per year as a four-year university, and programs can often be completed in less than half the time. This allows students to enter the workforce sooner, avoid crushing debt, and in many cases, earn competitive—or even higher—wages than their college-educated peers.

For a generation that values both financial independence and meaningful work, the trades present a practical and rewarding alternative.

How the Skilled Trades are Shaping the Next Generation of Leadership

Skilled trades are emerging as a powerful gateway to business ownership for Gen Z. With a strong background in a high-demand field, entrepreneurial individuals have countless opportunities to launch and grow small businesses. Once a tradesperson establishes efficient processes, they have the foundation for scaling—first by hiring help, then potentially expanding to multiple locations.

This is more than just business ownership; it’s leadership backed by hands-on expertise. A skilled professional in the field brings credibility, trust, and deep operational insight to the table. With firsthand knowledge of their teams’ challenges and the skills to streamline operations, this leadership style drives both efficiency and team morale.

When entrepreneurs are looking for their next move in business, they often turn to franchising, as it offers a proven model and hands-on support. First-time franchisees are more likely to sign on with a system built by someone who understands the work firsthand. With a clear understanding of what works, what doesn’t, and how to navigate the industry, the structure is set for long-term success and scalable expansion.

The trades offer a clear and attainable ladder to building a scalable, profitable enterprise—especially for those who combine hands-on skills with strategic vision.


10 Home Services Businesses to Start Now, and How to Make Them Successful


Skilled Trade Professionals are Smart, Skilled, and In High Demand

Societal pressure to attend a four-year university, combined with the retirement of baby boomers in skilled trades, has created a significant shortage of blue-collar workers. As a result, trade professionals are in higher demand than ever before.

Choosing a career in the trades offers strong job security, especially as many other industries become oversaturated with recent college graduates, leaving many without employment. The growing demand for skilled labor has also led to higher wages across many trade professions.

With flooring specialists, remodelers, and construction trades seeing strong job growth and quality earnings potential, home improvement careers are becoming a go-to choice for Gen Z talent seeking hands-on, high-demand work.


From Corporate to Construction: How My Career Pivot Reflects a Trend


Navigating the New Economy: The Effect of Economic Shifts on the Trades and Home Improvement

As the cost of new construction continues to rise, a shift toward renovation is expected—particularly in older homes that require specialized skills. This will create a surge in remodeling jobs, offering sustained demand for tradespeople with renovation experience.

For home services companies like Floor Coverings International and others, this presents a prime opportunity to expand, as standardized processes and trusted branding become increasingly valuable to homeowners navigating higher costs and complex projects.

Despite economic uncertainty, blue-collar jobs and skilled tradespeople will remain in high demand—often more so than many white-collar professions, making a career in the trades a smart and stable choice for Gen Z. As demand grows and the home services industry adapts, individual tradespeople, small-businesses, and franchise models alike are poised to remain constant in a shifting economic landscape.

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The post Built for the Future: Gen Z’s Shift Toward Skilled Trades and Franchising appeared first on StartupNation.

员工福利如何在初创企业中驱动留存率

2025-08-06 15:46:00

Startups face intense competition for top talent, but attracting skilled professionals is just the beginning. Keeping them long-term is the greater challenge. In a fast-paced environment where work demands are high and budgets are lean, thoughtful employee benefits can make a measurable difference in retention. Benefits signal long-term investment in employees, boosting loyalty and job satisfaction.

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The Direct Link Between Benefits and Loyalty

Employees are more likely to stay with companies that address their personal and family needs. Competitive salaries are essential, but they lose their effectiveness if not paired with healthcare coverage, paid time off, and mental health resources. These offerings provide a sense of security that employees often prioritize over extra pay. When people feel cared for, they are less likely to explore new opportunities.

Health insurance, in particular, plays a significant role. Workers with families often factor benefits into their career decisions more heavily than compensation alone. Startups that offer comprehensive health coverage send a clear message that they value stability and well-being. Understanding key milestones, such as when can you change group health insurance plans, ensures both compliance and strategic timing. Changes in employee status or life events can be used as opportunities to reassess and improve offerings.

Flexible Work and Career Support Matter

Flexibility and career development benefits are increasingly important in today’s workforce. Remote work options, training stipends, or mentorship programs demonstrate commitment to employee growth and work-life balance. These investments lead to higher engagement and lower turnover. When employees can see a future at the company, they are less likely to seek one somewhere else.

Startups do not need to offer lavish perks to keep talent. Simple, thoughtful benefits that reflect employee priorities go a long way. From flexible scheduling to supportive parental leave policies, meaningful programs create a positive work culture that people want to be part of. Benefits are one of the clearest ways to demonstrate that the company values its team. When done right, they are less of a cost and more of an investment in the future. For more information, feel free to look over the accompanying infographic below.

Microsoft Stock Images

The post How Employee Benefits Drive Retention in Startups appeared first on StartupNation.