Startups are great for several reasons: they allow you to be independent and pursue your dreams, they might be the thing that's going to change the world, and you might even get rich if your idea is good and successful enough.

Still, not every startup is an instant success, everyone can agree on that, but on the other hand, all successful ones have a few things in common. One of which is ongoing education of each and every employee. We give you several good reasons why you, an entrepreneur, shouldn't hesitate to invest in your employees' education.

One of the undisputed truths of present-day digital marketing is the fact that, no matter the size, every business needs to be present on social networks. In fact, most businesses (especially in the retail industry) start their Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts long before they ever make a website.

In this particular case, some of them start selling products via these platforms instead of making an e-commerce platform. However, what about Google+? Sure, this network seems like it's getting momentum and increasing your presence here is a low-cost activity, still, is the effort invested in increasing your reach over this platform actually worth it? Let's find out!

For every startup, the first few years are the most important. They determine whether you will survive in this overly competitive market or not.

Now, there is a plethora of steps you need to take, from analyzing the market demands and tailoring your products to them to promoting your business to the right people, through the right channels.

However, none of this would be possible if you don't learn how to manage your finances in the first place. Namely, statistics tell us that 82% of small businesses fail because of cash flow problems.

So, how to overcome the most common obstacles startups face and make your finances healthy?

Let's find out!

Word-of-mouth advertising is a time-tested method that business owners use to market their business. The statistics support this inexpensive form of advertising as a marketing tool of choice, with the Nielsen Global Trust in Advertising Report citing that more than 80 percent of consumers verified that they trust referrals from family and friends over other advertising. This study was global, spanning out over 60 countries.

Based on these impressive numbers, smart startups seeking to maximize profitability should utilize and encourage word-of-mouth advertising. Survey findings published in Leadpages back this impressive statistic up, with 49 percent out of 1000 business owners confirming that word-of-mouth promotion reaps the best results for new customer acquisition.

Setting up your own office can be quite an exciting task, especially if it's your first time doing it. However, it can also be a bit challenging considering all the things you need to keep in mind. After all, it's a place where you will keep all your important documents and interact with your clients and coworkers, so it needs to be secured, clean, and professional, and it needs to make you feel comfortable and confident. Therefore, here are a couple of things you should know about organizing your first office.