Investing is a core item in the world of personal finance. Without growing your wealth, any hopes of retiring are pretty much shot. Normally when you think of investing, you think of stocks, mutual funds, bonds, 401(k)’s, Roth IRA’s, etc. That sort of thing – investing in companies. Often we invest in companies that we don’t really know all that much about. Sure, we read and do some research. But do I really, really understand Bank of America’s business operations from top to bottom? Not a chance – yet I’m a shareholder.

Why not invest in your business?
If you’re a small business owner, then you really need to consider investing in yourself. Whether you are starting to make money blogging, or through consulting, design work, or whatever the case may be – you know your business. From top to bottom, you know the ins and outs of your business – costs, income, the whole 9 yards. What better company could there possibly be to invest in than your own?

How do I invest in my company?
Well, since you already own this company, you can’t simply buy shares like you would with a publicly traded company. Instead, you need to look at your business, and see where you could spend money to make money. Maybe it’s dropping some coin on advertising. Or perhaps a new computer, if yours is old and slow. Maybe hiring an assistant is your your style. Whatever the choice is, spending money to make more is a brilliant idea. Anything that makes your business more productive and efficient is a benefit. You can feel free to be creative, as long as the money you spend has a goal – to make you more money. Before pulling out your wallet, always ask this one simple question: “Does it make money?”

What could you spend money on in your business right now, today, that would make you money?