Company

Letting go of a business you've built can be a tough call, but sometimes it's also the right call for you, your life, and your other projects. In that case, selling your business might make a lot of sense.

But how can you tell if now is the right time to sell your business—and how can you be sure about it? We spoke with an expert to help you make the call.

Our list of 23 life-changing books, all written by women. They have been read and reviewed by some amazing women here at Shopify—UX Researchers, Marketers, and Designers alike weigh in on their top picks.

But don’t get me wrong. This list isn’t just for women. It’s for entrepreneurs of all ilks, and anyone in pursuit of self-improvement.

Add these 23 women-penned titles to your reading list in 2018 (plus 4 bonus titles from our own to-read lists).

Most people take time off from work, especially around the holidays. But what can you do when you're the only employee, or when stepping away from your business feels impossible?

Don't worry, you can take time off as a business owner—and beyond that, you should.

We know you love your business; you wouldn't be hustling so hard if you didn't. But occasionally stepping away from work is an important part of building a sustainable company. And with a bit of planning, your business will still be there when you get back (promise).

“Digital nomad” sounds like the quintessential dream job: travelling the world armed with little but a laptop and the essentials, making your own schedule in a foreign coffee shop or while sipping cocktails on a beach, hopping from destination to destination as you cross yet another country off your bucket list.

However, as is often the case, the reality has been romanticized.

“Digital nomad” isn’t a job title but a lifestyle choice—an option now available to many thanks to a trend that’s changing the way we balance our careers and our lives:

Remote work.

Companies have brands. Products have brands. People have brands too.

But for whatever reason, many of us aren’t comfortable with developing our own personal brand.

Maybe it feels forced. Or you don’t want to put yourself out there. Or you feel like you're selling your soul. 

But personal branding isn't at all as rigid and fake as it seems, and it's more important for promoting your ideas and growing your business than you might think.

Every week, we bring you the stories of people across the globe—Shopify merchants of all walks of life, at every age, selling everything from gourmet jam to lipstick to guitars. The uniqueness of the businesses run on Shopify and the diversity of the folks who run them is truly inspiring. 

Today, we're turning our lens towards a growing segment of entrepreneurs. We’ve noticed a trend in among retired people looking to devote their newfound free time to a hobby business, or to fund their retirement dreams. The data supports it: the highest rate of entrepreneurship in the U.S. has been among 55 to 64 year olds.

We spoke to nine store owners about the benefits and challenges to running a business after 50. The consensus? Years of experience—both life and work—create a great foundation for entrepreneurship.

Effective time management is important for anyone but it's absolutely crucial for entrepreneurs.

Because entrepreneurs are ultimately responsible for every aspect of their business, allocating the right amount of time to the right tasks is critical to keeping your business running smoothly.

Better time management isn't just about working harder, it's about working smarter. We asked 34 productivity experts to share their best time management tip. Use this list to experiment and find the tips that work best for you.

Successful entrepreneurs, or professionals in any field, aren’t made overnight: It takes them years of effort, of trial and error, to amass all the experience and knowledge that got them where they are today.

These people who have “been there and done that” offer one of the most understated resources entrepreneurs can benefit from: mentorship.

A good mentor can help you avoid common mistakes early on, solve troublesome problems, and offer up valuable connections and advice, while helping you realize your full potential as a person.

Here's how to work with mentors on your entrepreneurial journey, and where to start your search for one.

When you’re starting out with your business, you’re doing it all: fulfilling orders, responding to customers, managing your social media, and so much more.

But while we pursue entrepreneurship for many reasons, having less time in our lives isn’t one of them.

That’s why the first “employee” many ecommerce entrepreneurs hire is a virtual assistant: someone who can take on the daily tasks and processes that are important for running your business, but not necessarily focused on growing it.

If you’re experiencing stress and the other “good problems” that come with success, it might be time for you to consider hiring your own virtual assistant and get back some of those hours in your day.

Tell me if this sounds familiar: your family’s living space needs have swelled into every square foot of your 2 bedroom house, edging your home office into your drafty attic or dungeon-like basement – spaces that suit a vampire just fine, but aren’t ideal for mere mortals.

It’s sacrifice you gladly make as an entrepreneur. But dark, cramped, and unappealing spaces could actually be doing harm to your business, not to mention your psyche.

Investing in yourself, via a space that inspires you, is an investment in your business. Whether you do it yourself or hire a pro, we've gathered some creative home office ideas for every budget.

In most cases, resigning is an exciting but scary experience.

On one hand, you’re likely pursuing a better opportunity, such as starting your own business. On the other hand, letting go of a stable job is always tough. 

By resigning professionally, you can avoid harming relationships with your coworkers, so you still have the option of working together again in the future. Read on to find out how.

A plastic widget is born in a factory in China. Its life expectancy is roughly two human years. By the time it retires to a tropical island—the beautiful Great Pacific Garbage Patch—or is laid to rest at the New York city dump, it will have crossed one ocean by air and two countries by truck, thrice-repackaged.

At every junction in the life cycle of one plastic widget, there is a choice. Heads or tails? Each choice is one of trillions that can form one massive effort to conserve resources, protect the environment, and slow down the impact of consumerism. Or, they can buy us all a one-way ticket to the island of plastic.

In this post, we'll dive into quick, green ways to level up in four areas of your business. Plus, get inspired by 18 Shopify stores on racking up some serious good karma.