Small Business Success: Thriving During Change (And Landing On Your Feet!)

If I had $1.00 every time I heard someone say " I don't like change or, change makes me uncomfortable" I'd be a millionaire. Some people thrive on change ? they love it and even create more of it. Others view change with anxiety and resistance. So often, we don't... Read More

Small Business Marketing Secrets: Look Like Sizzle, Be The Steak

You've heard marketing and advertising gurus quip, "Sell the sizzle, not the steak." Advertising initiatives best reach their target audience with benefits and the "wow" effect, not the value or features of their product or service. This may work well to get customers in the door. But once they're in,... Read More

6 Ways Small Businesses Can Survive In A Crazy Economy

Contrary to popular belief, small businesses can survive a crazy economy by taking some proactive steps. Provide spectacular customer service -- every time. Have a friend or colleague visit your business and provide feedback from a customer's perspective. This person should be unknown by your staff and willing to provide... Read More

Local Search and Internet Yellow Pages - A Whole NewVocabulary for Small Businesss

Buyers want both online and local information about where to buy Most small businesses are local in nature, serving people who live nearby. Their customers found them through traditional methods like the Yellow Pages or newspaper ads. So far, the Internet hasn't figured prominently in their marketing efforts. That's about... Read More

Why Do Most Online Small Businesses Fail?

Search Engines account for almost 90% of all web traffic!In the Offline world its all about "location, location, location."Put your business were people crowd around and your set. Have your products ready and benefit the rewards.Online, small businesses fail to act on the fact that the fundamental reality of how... Read More

Three Big Barriers To Small Business Marketing Success

When you feel like you're always busy working on your business, but not getting where you want to go, it can be frustrating trying to figure out how to get your marketing on track. It can easily become a "not seeing the forest for the trees" feeling.Here are three big... Read More

Women and Small Business

In the book Women and Small Business author gives all the guidelines and tools need to start, operate and succeed in a business of their own. In the mentioned book she tried in the fist part to explain how has changed the role of women in the world along centuries.... Read More

Organizing Tips for Small Business Success

If you discovered the bottom line in your business depended on the organization in your office, your reaction could range from complete composure to sheer terror. Organization certainly has an effect on your bottom line ? and just as significantly ? on your peace of mind. For the small business... Read More

Small Business Marketing: Specialize or Generalize?

There have been many great points raised on both sides of this discussion. In order to make a final decision, we must look at how the business world is moving and at the purchasing patterns of the consumers who will be utilizing your services.The Internet has changed the way people... Read More

Small Business Survival Tips

No matter what kind of small business you have, you need read these "small business survival tips" which will help you to succeed. You may be in Internet business, traditional business, or you may be a local merchant with 150 employees; whichever, however or whatever--you've got to know how... Read More

Dig Deep for Small Business Ideas Before You Start the Wrong Business

If you're serious about wanting to start a business, the first thing you want to do is take the time to understand what really makes you tick. Where do you get your drive? What gets you in a "zone?"However, there's a lot more to figuring out the BEST business idea... Read More

How Small Business And Nonprofits Can Afford Multimedia For The Web

Multimedia is everywhere on the Internet, whether in the form of floating ads at major websites, streaming video or animated presentations. Of course, there is a good reason why multimedia has become such an integral part of the web experience: it's an effective tool for capturing attention or provoking visitors... Read More

Your Ideal Client ? A Key Concept for Solo and Small Business Marketing

"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody."--Bill CosbyHave you ever had clients that were more trouble than they were worth? Maybe they were always late to pay, or didn't do what they said they'd do. Maybe you just had a... Read More

The Inside-Out Business Plan? -- Your Small Business Plan in 10 Easy Questions

Writing a business plan for your Solo Entrepreneur business doesn't have to be a daunting project. If you can answer 10 straightforward questions about your business, you can be ready to go.The key to success is to answer all of the questions in enough depth that if a friend asked... Read More

How Your Habits Control Your Small Business Success

Habit: A consistent behavior you perform so frequently that it is automatic. For example, if you learned to drive a car with a standard transmission, the first few lessons were pretty jerky while you learned to synchronize the clutch with the accelerator pedal. If you released the clutch too fast,... Read More

Avoiding the Small Business Cash Flow Roller Coaster

A solopreneur I know disappears from my radar screen for weeks on end when she's actively engaged on a project for a client. During this time she is heads down, totally focused, and immersed in delivering her service to her current client. She works long hours each week, sacrificing her... Read More

Operating Your Small Business ? Everything Really Is a Project

Do you operate your business as a series of projects, using project management tools and skills to advance your projects from conception to completion? Or perhaps you're new to project management tools and skills and haven't considered applying them to your own business? Most of us fall somewhere in between.Running... Read More

5 Small Business Management Questions to Help Choose Marketing Programs

As small business managers, we juggle limited resources in a quest for success. To an extent, when we focus on success in one area we forego attention elsewhere. Limited money and time mean we must choose from seemingly endless -- and often conflicting -- advice and recommendations from marketing service... Read More

7 Cash Flow Secrets Your Accountant Never Told You

Looking for ways to boost your cash flow? As a small business consultant, I make these recommendations to my cash strapped small business clients:1. Shoeboxes are for shoes, not business records.Pardon my candor but, you will never have a successful business if you don't systematically track your income and expenses,... Read More

Build Your Small Business by Building Relationships

-- The One Pager Shortcut Series --People do business with people that they know and trust. As a solo entrepreneur, your goals will be to make yourself known to your target market and then elevate the relationship to the trust level. This process of building relationships can take many forms.... Read More

Blowing Your Own Horn ? A Key Marketing Strategy for Small Business

-- Building Credibility Through Success Stories --Successful solo entrepreneurs spend quite a bit of time building and expanding their networks. These networks can cover a broad spectrum ? professional associations, community service, school or alumni networks, virtual communities, athletic groups, neighborhood associations. There are a variety of choices when creating... Read More

Marketing Your Small Business with Success Stories

-- The One Pager Shortcut Series --An effective and compelling way to market your business is through the use of success stories. What exactly is a success story? How does it market my business? How can I get started with my own success stories?Consider the following: What exactly is a... Read More

Growing Your Small Business Through Alliances and Joint Ventures

-- Beyond Cold Calling, "Warm" Calling and Sending E-mails --Many Solo Entrepreneurs work from a home office. Our only connections to the outside world are the internet / e-mail and the telephone. Cold calling, "warm" calling and sending e-mails may seem like the most obvious way to let people know... Read More

Top 7 Small Business Tax Tips

Here are seven ways for owners of small businesses to save money on their taxes.1. Incorporate Yourself: If you`re still a proprietor or partner of a business, it`s time to incorporate yourself. Not only will you limit your liability, but you may enjoy lower tax rates on small business income... Read More

Small Business Newsletter Dilemma: Which Day Do I Send?

If you're just ramping up your small business email newsletter, you might be wondering what day you should send it to your opt-in list. After all, you want it to get opened and read and you know your prospects may be weeding through a ton of email clutter. What to... Read More

Small Business Planning -- Three Myths

Are you -- like 70 percent of small business owners -- working without a plan?Here are three myths that need to be dispelled about strategic planning for small business.1. It has to be formal -- Not so.The value of a strategic plan for your small business is in putting the... Read More

Business Checks are an Added Cost to Your Small Business - Try Making Them Yourself!

Starting and managing a small business is no fun chore, especially when it comes to the accounting. There are a few common sense ways that you can help that bottom line.Business checks can be quite expensive when you use a third party to manage your payroll and payments. Your small... Read More

Small Business Mistakes: Are You Making Enough of Them?

That's right ­ are you making enough mistakes in your business? Some of you are probably annoyed at my question; others are thinking "Geez, Rose! If I made any more mistakes I'd have to run screaming back to a day job!"If you went to school in the public school system... Read More

Small Business Spoiler - Procrastination

One of the most common issues that comes up for business owners is procrastination -wasting time, putting obstacles in the way of taking action towards goals, making excuses for delays, creating confusion/busyness etc. Procrastination is a self-defeating behavior.I believe that as human beings, we are adept in creating convincing language... Read More

Small Business Savvy: Reaching Key Big Business Decision Makers

As a solo entrepreneur or small business owner, one of our key challenges can be reaching key decision makers in larger companies. Getting to the right person who can seal the deal can be a frustrating experience, especially if you don't have a game plan. Here are three ways to... Read More

Cash Flow: Why Chaos Equals Poor Cash Flow

Recently one of my customers told me the chaos swirling through his company was the result of poor cash flow. If only he had more money, his company would run better.I must respectfully disagree.Poor business processes produce chaos. Chaos leads to poor cash flow. Fix the poor business processes and... Read More

Small Business Marketing - Clarify Success

When you hear the word "success" does it bring on visions of fame and fortune for your business? Have you clarified and articulated what that success will look like for your business and how you'll know when you've achieved it?What's the definition of success for your business? Most small businesses... Read More

Small Business Computer Security, the Basics

Anyone in business today realizes both the natural dependency on computers in the workplace, and also the potential dangers associated with storing important data on them. Today's business owners are constantly being reminded that their company's data is at risk by the daily reports on various news stations, or even... Read More

Four Reasons Why Small Businesses Succeed (or Fail)

The American system of business management has been admired and emulated around the world. This system is characteristic of two traits in the American psyche: (1) enthusiasm for the future and making things better, and (2) an openness and willingness to change in order to achieve that end.No society in... Read More

Smart PR Tactics for Small Businesses

Small businesses need Public Relations, possibly more than large corporations, to put them on the map. If you consider that time is money, however, you may find that handling your own public relations is a daunting task and not necessarily worth the monetary savings. Here are some ideas of how... Read More

Do You Make These 7 Deadly Cash Flow Mistakes?

Managing cash flow is every small business owner's most important function. Avoid these seven deadly mistakes to make sure you aren't creating cash flow problems in your business.1. Using the "Fly By The Seat of Your Pants" Accounting Method.When tax time rolls around do you find yourself pawing through piles... Read More

Starting a Small Business? ?Tips from a Veteran

Congratulations, you are starting a small business! You are taking charge and going for your piece of the American dream! Your excitement is high, and the adrenaline is pumping! Everyone dreams of freedom and owning a successful business, but not everyone can successfully create that reality. Now that you've made... Read More

How To Plant Seeds of Success With Small Business Ideas

Think of all of your business ideas as tiny seeds that have the potential to germinate and grow into huge fruit bearing orchards! However, the proper steps must be taken; you can't scatter the seeds haphazardly on pavement and expect they will germinate. Growing a business is no different; it... Read More

How to Profit Handsomely From a Secret Business Model Virtually No Small Business is Using!

Have you been searching for the perfect home-based business? I have spent nearly twenty-five years searching for the holy-grail of home-based businesses. Now this article is not about a business, but rather a system that Fortune 500 companies always use but it's rarely used by home-based businesses, affiliate or network... Read More

Top 7 Small Business Resources for 2005

If you want to start a business in 2005, and start making money almost immediately, the sites listed below are some of the best I have found. I've chosen each site because it is absolutely outstanding in providing the tools you need to get started, as well as taking you... Read More

Building Marketing Momentum For Your Small Business

The success of your business depends on your ability to build marketing momentum. Without the ability to generate new sources of leads your capacity to sell will slump and the growth of your business will stagnate or shrink.Unfortunately, many small business owners are at a loss when tasked with coming... Read More

How to Successfully Avoid Becoming One of The 80% of Small Businesses That Will FAIL

It's a commonly quoted statistic: 80% of all small businesses will fail within the first five years of running. In fact, in Internet marketing, this figure can be as high as 95%. Yes, it's a commonly quoted statistic but for some reason, people are not very good at saying exactly... Read More

WARNING to Home Based and Small Business Who Want to Buy Television Cable Advertising

Most small businesses will not even try to advertise on television. It's too expensive and the audience is too broad. The ads on television are not targeted enough. Think back to the last time your entire family was gathered around a television set. It was fun family time, but think... Read More

Small Business Opportunities And The Tens

You may find this Newsletter a little long winded but it's for a good cause: It's all designed for Your Success!One of my favorite quotes is by Alfred d'Souza. It goes like this:"For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin, real life. But... Read More

Reduce Stress, Increase Profits By Incorporating Strategic Systems In Your Small Business Success

Whether you are an Entrepreneur or Business Professional there are many things you do each week that would benefit from a strategic system to help you be more effective, reduce errors and stress, help you enjoy your time at work and give you more time to have fun outside of... Read More

How To Make Sure Your Customers Still Trust Your Small Business

The stock market is still on a wild roller coaster ride. Trust in business is at an all time low. Do your customers still trust you? Here are seven ways to help you make sure.1. Go the extra mile. Under promise and over deliver - a time worn concept that... Read More

Is Your Small Business Name Important?

You bet a name is important. Many small business owners try to come up with a clever name for their business rather than one that explains what they do. And, nine times out of ten, that is a mistake. Your business name should give your prospects some idea of what... Read More

Procrastinate Your Way To A Successful Small Business

What will your business look like a year from today?If you're like most small business owners, you have many things to do and not enough time to do them. Can't you just ignore them and procrastinate your way to success?Not likely. True, sometimes avoiding issues will make them go away,... Read More

7 Reasons To Take Control Of Your Small Business? Checking Needs

Business checks are available in many styles and varieties. They offer many benefits to your small business, some you may not have thought of.1. Printing your own checks is easy. With the newest computer software that is available, anybody can figure it out. The programs can work with your other... Read More

10 Hiring Tips for Small Business Owners

As a successful small business owner,you're accustomed to long hours; non-existent holidays and weekends spent working.When was the last time you went to your dentist? When was the last time you had an uninterrupted night out with your partner?Whether your goal for 2005 is to find more time for family... Read More

Three Ways to Add Leverage to Your Small Business

Remember those drawings from science class of how a lever works?The lever was a long bar that rested atop a triangularly shaped fulcrum. One end of the lever was underneath the object to be raised. The other end of the lever was where downward force was applied to raise the... Read More

Small Business Secrets: Self-Confidence Can Be Arranged

At first blush this idea might be difficult to wrap your brain around. That's because you've been taught that self-confidence is achieved through mastery of knowledge or skills.If you've been an employee for someone else most of your life, you've actually been rewarded for getting your self-confidence from expertise. As... Read More

Three Small Business Secrets to Getting More Billable Time

As small business owners we're in business to make money doing what we love. And that means we need enough billable hours to cover our expenses, our payroll, upgrades in skills and technology, and profit. But if stay in business for any length of time, you eventually reach the point... Read More

Small Business Success Secret: Focus on Your Genius Work?

Do you know what your genius work is? It's the highest and best use of your time. It's the best leverage your business has in the marketplace.You're doing your genius work when your activities are producing the greatest results in the shortest period of time.You know you're doing your genius... Read More

Discover How You Can Start Making Your Small Business Dream Come True

As a teenager I worked for my father's small business. At 18 I worked for a small video rental business owned by two partners; there were 4 employees. At 23 I worked for an auto body shop, the owner was from Greece; there were 8 employees. At 25 I became... Read More

Why Small Businesses Fail (or Fail to Thrive)

Tammy, a skilled and gifted horticulturist, called me to discuss what she needed to know to start her own florist and landscaping business. She had been in the horticulture industry for 10 years and was incredibly skilled at working with flowers and plants ? one of the best. She also... Read More

Is a Small Business Web Site a Wise Investment?

One of the greatest pitfalls in e-commerce is Field of Dreams thinking, the notion that all one has to do is "build it (a web site) and they will come.""I can't think of anything further from the truth," Ron Scott, a Riverside, California web designer, says. "Even if we develop... Read More

7 Essentinal Resources for Small Business

So you want to start a business but you don't have a lot of money? Start your business online, and it won't be a problem.There are some pretty terrific resources you can use. Some of them you have to pay for, but they are inexpensive and can get you started... Read More

Conquering Confidence Killers for Small Business Success

"The way to develop self-confidence is to do the thing you fear". -- William Jennings BryanWhether you're generally a self-confident person, or someone continually plagued by self- doubt, you'll recognize some of these confidence killers if you:? Are overly dependent on the thoughts or opinions of others;? Avoid meeting new... Read More

How Most Business Owners Sabotage Their Success

Owning a business is a challenging endeavor. If you're like many novice small business owners, you've taken numerous risks with your time and your money, only to see all of your efforts producing little or no result. This can leave you frustrated and ready to give up. That's no surprise.... Read More

Obtain Maximum Results For Your Small Business Through Better Time Management

Most small business owners are faced with so many responsibilities and an unbelievable workload throughout the day. Mainly because of the many different roles that we have to play. On any given day a small business owner must be a customer service representative, collections specialist, marketing specialist, public relations representative,... Read More

The Failures Guide to Small Business Success

How many "get rich schemes" have you joined? Or have you invested in numerous legitimate business endeavors only to have them not work for you? Have you started you business and now facing a complete shut down? Do you consider yourself a failure? Are your loved ones pressing you to... Read More

How to Promote Yourself to Small Business Riches

You've heard it before; we're living in an information age. The business world is no longer driven by tangible products but on information and ideas. Internet based companies or other companies that use the Internet as an integral marketing tool that don't tap into information-based products or services could soon... Read More

Firing Underperforming Employees in Your Small Business

Here are a few tips on how to hand out pink slips when it comes time to terminate an employee.As a small business owner with employees, you will likely find it necessary one day to terminate an underperforming employee ? if you haven't already. In an ideal world, that wouldn't... Read More

Five Simple Software Tips for Small Business Owners

The start of a new year is a time for a clean start. Resolutions are made, you clear your files of last year's paperwork, and you swear you are going to start the year off keeping your financial house in order.It all sounds good when you say it on January... Read More

Administration Of Your Small Business

You've been meaning to tend to the administration part of your business, that is, the growing list of things to do that relates to your small business. You've shoved all other appointments aside and starts getting down to working on the nitty gritty details, you're ready to go all out... Read More

The Game Plan ? The Difference Between Small Business Success And Failure

It is an American dream to own a business. But sadly, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, only 1 in 5 businesses is still in business 5 years after it opens.A business needs a great business plan, but it doesn't give management enough information to have a successful, profitable... Read More

Is Your Success Predetermined?

Your on-line success is based on your efforts and yours alone. Sure there are many tools that help you, but it is still you. If you are going to succeed, it will take all the time you can put forth. After all it is a business and yes you work... Read More

Why Small Businesses Need Both A Logo And An Identity System

Experts urge small business owners to "brand" their business ? to use a logo and a set of consistent marketing materials. But, they rarely go into the reasons behind this advice. Here's a list of some of the benefits to having a professionally designed logo and marketing package:Not to look... Read More

9 Things You Must Do To Maximize Your Chances Of Obtaining A Small Business Loan

To get approval for your small business loan application, you must be able to meet the lending criteria set down. Some organisations are more risk averse than others, and will therefore have more stringent criteria. To vastly increase your chances of a successful funding application, you will need to present... Read More

Small Business Ideas - Your Image Can Lose You Business

What image do you and your people portray to your prospects and clients? Here's a situation that happened to me recently and hopefully you'll glean useful small business ideas that will make you money instead of costing you money.January is always a good time to grab bargains so when I... Read More

Create a Win Win for Your Small Business

Discover How Specialized Cost Containment Creates A New Win-Win Position For Property Owner's And YouProperty Management: A simple strategy to increase client loyaltyProperty managers who pro-actively employ advanced techniques to help property owners and anchor tenants reduce operating costs, will most certainly be considered a more valuable business asset. When... Read More

Small Business Marketing - How Important Are Your First Words?

"What do you do?" It just might be one of the most asked questions there is, at least here in America.Are you prepared to answer this question and make a positive impression for your business at various networking (and social) events you attend?How about this one... When you go to... Read More

Starting a Small Business: Balancing Risk and Reward

In a perfect world, starting a small business would be risk free, but just as with everything else; the degree of risk determines the value of the reward.According to the National Commission on Entrepreneurship, at any given time, 6% to 9% of the United States adult population is involved in... Read More

Practical Money-Saving Tips For Small Businesses

One of the primary concerns all small businesses have is saving money. When it's time to trim the fat, most look for one giant expense to decrease or eliminate in order to stay within budget. More often than not, it doesn't work that way.Most budgeting experts will tell you that... Read More

Leverage The Power of Publicity For Your Small Business

Your business is only as good as the number of people who knows about it. For your venture to grow, you need to start spreading the word about your business. You may have the best products your field, but you cannot expect your business to breach the million-dollar mark in... Read More

Postcard Marketing Your Small Business

One of the best marketing strategies a business or organization can use is postcards. Even before the arrival of online postcard printing and mailing services, postcards had a good reputation amongst guerilla marketers because: They are fast, easy and relatively cheap - making them a boon to small business owners... Read More

Hiring A Virtual Assistant Can Help Your Business Grow

Are you a home or small business owner and you're Webmaster, receptionist, and assistant all in one, but you've found that there isn't enough time in the day to complete all of these administrative tasks? A "Virtual Assistant" could be your answer.In today's tough economical times it's hard to think... Read More

Outsourcing ? A Positive Approach For Small Businesses

Outsourcing is the strategic use of outside resources to perform activities traditionally handled by internal staff and resources. Small business owners can outsource non-core functions to specialized and efficient service providers. It is required of businesses to hire special contractors for particular types of work or to meet the demands... Read More

Success Tips for Small Business Owners

Running a small business requires many skills. However, to do this successfully you need to organize yourself first. Avoid procrastination - read the following and take action.Successful Small Business Owners Look After Themselves FirstExercise regularly, eat healthily and be around positive people. Feed your mind by attending personal development courses.... Read More

Small Business No How - Dont Give Away the Farm

You're pretty proud of yourself! After all, only four months ago you came up with the idea of opening your own business - "Jenni's Interior Design" Your friends have always said you were gifted when it came to arranging furniture and picking out colors, and you love to do it,... Read More

Successful Small Businesses Use PR

It's obvious when a small business has accepted the fact that its most important outside audiences need lots of care and feeding. They do something about it.There's a sense of urgency and a recognition that those "key target publics" have behaviors that really impact the business, and that they had... Read More

Why Small Business Must Turn to PR

If small business had no important outside audiences, it wouldn't exist.But since they do have external "publics," it's doubly unfortunate when those same small business owners seem unconcerned about the very outside folks whose behaviors can place a choke-hold on their business!And worse, are so casual about public relations, the... Read More

7 Habits of Highly Successful Small Business Owners

Do you spend every waking minute in your business? Do you find it difficult to take time out for you? Are you constantly working in a mess?Unfortunately there are far too many business owners working too long and too hard. They tend to be involved in every aspect of their... Read More

Computer Tips that Help Small Businesses Operate Profitably

When working properly, computers enable small businesses to make big business profits; however, get booted off your computer and you're suddenly starving. In most instances, computers usually act up due to lack of care by its owners. Here are four computer tips that'll keep you up and running smoothly.Tip #1... Read More

Choose Your Own Guru

What is a guru?A guru is a teacher. A mentor. On the internet a guru is someone who has a lot of experience and has made the grade, ie. He/She has set up a business that is financially successful and is willing to share the experience with anyone who is... Read More

Work is a Four Letter Word

I love work, I can watch it all day.I am not scared of work, I have been known to approach within arm's length of it on a number of occasions.How often have you heard these remarks?To a lot of people the word 'Work' is more than just a four letter... Read More

Your Babys Ugly..and Youve Got Bad Breath

I've got good news and bad news. The good news is that 98% of businesses are small businesses. That bodes well for the entrepreneurial spirit that has made our nation great. The bad news is that 80%, that's right, four out of five new businesses will fail in their first... Read More

Making Direct Mail Work for Small Businesses

If you own a small business, then you know the value of affordable and effective marketing. Unfortunately, many traditional and online advertising methods are becoming quite expensive. This article will explain direct mail guidelines and methods.Direct mail is an often over-looked method that can be very effective if executed properly.... Read More

11 MONSTROUS Small Business Marketing Mistakes and How To Avoid Them

Increase your profit potential by identifying ? and avoiding ? these 11 marketing mistakes.MONSTROUS Marketing Mistake Number 1: Sinking a Fortune Into an Unproven ProductIs your business idea built on market research or a hunch?Entrepreneurs often fall in love with their products or services before they determine if there's a... Read More

Public Relations: Antidote for Small Business Failure

When small businesses fail, the wreckage is often assigned to undercapitalization, among other mistakes. Seldom is failure attributed to a lack of effective communications that might have modified the behavior of sales prospects in a positive way, thus averting bankruptcy.In my view, raising money for new businesses is a skill... Read More

Small Business Success - It?s a Matter of Confidence

I was floored! I couldn't believe what they were saying! But there they sat -- three of the biggest film stars of our age -- telling the world they had issues with confidence. I was watching an interview where Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore were talking with Oprah... Read More

Small Business Failure? Nuts!

Pardon my enthusiasm, but a large part of your small business' success is somewhere else. Namely, out among the company's important external audiences.How they perceive you, and what they believe about you and your business, directly affect your chances of success. And that's because those perceptions usually lead to predictable... Read More

Arent Small Businesses Lucky?

Why? Because they have access to world class public relations no matter how small they are.That's one way of saying, take care of your key target audiences, Mr/Ms small business owner, and they'll take care of you.What's that based on? Why the fundamental premise of public relations, of course."We know... Read More

The PR Commitment to Small Business

We're birds of a feather, public relations and small business. Wonderfully compatible and a perfect fit. Usually makes it easy to commit resources to small business success.But, sometimes I wonder about those small businesses that ignore the perceptions and behaviors of the key audiences with the most immediate impact on... Read More

Definition of Security: Small Business Owner

Yes, that IS security when nobody can downsize you because you OWN that small business of yours! But preserving that special advantage is a never-ending job. In fact, do you know what needs to be preserved more than anything else?Well, since they hold the future of your business in their... Read More

Are You Using a Chess or Checkers Small Business Marketing Strategy?

Until the day I learned to play chess I loved playing checkers. Both games require a strategy that maximizes a player's ability to capture her opponents pieces without first losing her own. Checkers was fun. But the complexities of chess lead to more satisfying victories and defeats.Chess is a more... Read More

Small Business and Branding ? Why and How?

When we speak of branding most of the time people try to relate it to big business house, however, the fact is that every business needs to establish their brand in order to survive the competition. This is nothing new; experts and management gurus had been preaching the same sermon... Read More

How To Choose A Franchise

You'd like to go into business for yourself, and believe that the best way for you to become your own boss is to buy a franchise. You know it will takes time and money to be successful, and that's OK. But which franchise should you buy? Which makes the most... Read More

Finance Your Small Business: So Much Money, So Little Time

$37.4 million funded from venture capital today. $86.4 million funded yesterday. $51.4 million funded the day before.These numbers are not made up. They are actual numbers from actual reported venture capital funding. I get these notices emailed to me day after day, rain or shine.I'm not personally looking for business... Read More

Boy oh Boy, The Obstructions and Obstacles

The bad things starts with the letter 'O'?.like Obstacles, Obstruction, Obscene?.overly-poor? There's bound to obstructions and obstacles in everything that we do in life. Like riding a bicycle. We get a few scrapes and bruises and think that we're never going to ride a bike ever again. We try to... Read More

Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Joining a Professional Association

I'll be the first to admit that I went a little nuts when I moved I moved recently in terms of going all-out to participate in a variety of professional associations. I had some experience with most of the groups that I visited in other places I had lived, or... Read More

Do I Have to Do EVERYTHING Myself?!

The air in my client's office nearly crackled with her irritation. A scheduling snafu had left a client without important services. "I guess I just have to do everything myself," she ranted.My calling as a small business consultant requires that I maintain objectivity in the face of a client's frustration... Read More

Marketing Your Small Business - The Top 10 Brilliant Ideas

A Brilliant Marketing Idea... sounds great but what is it? Is it the idea that results in the mailman ringing your doorbell, signaling in a caravan of postal workers with mounds of letters (all in response to your latest advertisement)? Is it the idea that brings a 20% response rate... Read More

A Business Plan Is Not Worth A Cracker To A Struggling Business - A Plans The Last Thing It Needs

Before you start a business we encourage you to prepare a business plan. Without it your business has a 92% chance of failing within the first 12 months. Sometimes your business plan tells you that you should not go into business at all!Sometimes we encourage you to think seriously before... Read More

How To Ruin Your Business

If you're like the rest of us, you've spent a lot of time trying different things to make your online business come together. There are countless methods of conducting a viable marketing career, but there are also as many ways to destroy one as well.In any endeavor, there are costs.... Read More

A Lesson From ?The Apprentice? That Can Make You A Master

I have to admit, I was curious. When I saw previews of a new show called "The Apprentice," it made me want to at least watch the premiere to see what was going on. Immediately, I was hooked. The whole idea of candidates - from all walks of life, not... Read More

7 Card Tricks That Improve Your Personal Networking Power

CARD SHARK7 Card Tricks That Improve Your Personal Networking PowerThe humble business card has been a mainstay of business and industry for years. But despite it's small size and cost, it's one of the most powerful marketing tools you will ever possess. Because of it's low cost many people take... Read More

Top Ten Tips for Leveraging Conferences for Big SUCCESS!

As I am preparing for my attendance to the CoachVille's Third Annual Coaching Conference, I have been considering how I can make the most of my conference attendance. These ten tips will support you in leveraging those conference you will attend in the future and for creating an unforgettable experience!1.... Read More

3 Ways To Make Certain Your Business Fails

Most small businesses incorporated in 2005 will fail by the year 2007. No matter the industry or the economic times in which the company was initially conceived, the fact remains that businesses fail on a daily basis due to general lack of knowledge and know-how. What follows are my opinion... Read More

Shortcuts Will Kill Your Business

Think of your business as a living, breathing, organism. It requires you to give it a large portion of your time and effort in order for it to grow and flourish.You must spend time "feeding" it fresh content and searching for ways to improve it.I remember growing up as a... Read More

Serious About Writing A Business Plan... Start A Business Plan Library

Tap these treasures of ideas. The best money you can spend is money invested in your business plan education. Don't shortchange yourself when it comes to investing in your dream. Start gathering samples of business plans and collect business plan books and get a business plan library started, it can... Read More

Business Failure, The 8 Traps Causing Failure And The One Attribute Which Ensures Business Survival

It is estimated that 78% of all small business start-ups fail within the first twelve months years, and long-term survival is likely for only 22% of all new business start-ups.At the same time huge corporations with seemly vibrant trade suddenly close their doors.Why is this so?An analysis of the reasons... Read More

Small Business - Is The Accounting Profession Ripping Them Off?

My 16 year-old daughter said, "Gee Dad! You look just like an accountant" And she wasn't being complimentary. Accountants are perceived to be boring, stodgy and conservative. Over the years we've been the butt of many jokes. I've heard them all. Why did the accountant cross the road?... Read More

Building A Business That Works For You

Before you want to build your business, you need to know why you are in this business.Many of us entered business as a technician. You know the technical nature of this business; you do it everyday; over and over again. The question is: How can you do this technical work... Read More

But This Is Just My Opinion

Hi, Charles...here, Your Cap and t-shirt guy From Texas. How are you doing today.I have been doing that for the last 18 years. Taking care the needs of my customers and becoming Con fondant and friend.Now I want to be your friend and take care of you.But first I want... Read More

Keeping your Business Alive

As long as you eat and breathe you will stay alive. But is that really living? In a crisis that may be enough. If your business is in crisis - deal with it. But the secret to keeping your business alive is growth.That is the litmus test of keeping your... Read More

Build Credibility, Value, and Trust on a Shoestring

Setting priorities in your business? Your first job is to sell. Selling is - writing the orders; receiving the cash; feeding the beast. If you don't sell; the beast, (your business), dies. The impact of selling is immediate. You may love it, but it is a beast. You need to... Read More

Advertising - For Small Businesses (Part 1)

Is it right for you?If you decide to advertise your product or service then you must ask yourself - "Will potential customers read this publication and will they take action having read my ad?"National newspapers - Read by a huge cross section of the population. If you're inserting a display... Read More

Advertising - For Small Businesses (Part 2)

How to do itPeople skim through newspapers and magazines and they aren't necessarily looking for information on products or services (unless they're reading the classifieds) It's therefore absolutely vital that your advertisement grabs their attention and encourages them to read more. Many ads are designed merely to create awareness of... Read More

Q and A: Personalized Birthday Cards from Paul Leonard

Paul Leonard's BirthdayCards2Go.com paid greeting card service offers convenience when you're rushing to send birthday wishes. While nothing can beat a personalized poem to add that extra touch of thoughtfulness, we can all agree that in this busy world, any connection we can make with each other, even just to... Read More

Small Business Owners - Form a Relationship with Your Bank Manager

It's just like a marriageTo expect a bank manager or officer to play such close attention to your account that he (or she) knows when you intend to deposit money and to know when to hold back a cheque is a hopeless dream.He has neither the time nor the resources,... Read More

Get In Touch With Your Competition!

We all know that competition is an ugly word but competitors are a fact of life in business. If your business can't compete with other businesses, don't start it. You have to have some type of an edge.You may have an excellent product or service, but if everyone else is... Read More

Six Essential Skills to Business Success!

The following are six essential skills to business success. You may not have developed all of these skills, but like most things in life, you can by learning, practicing and determination. Implement these skills and you'll be on the right track.1. Personal SkillsA healthy self esteem is necessary for you... Read More

Is Your Business Legally Prepared?

It is imperative to have your business legally prepared. How you ask? You need to have a business license, a home occupation license, if running your business from home, a city or county license, (depending on what State you live) plus you need to register your business as fictious if... Read More

How Do I Choose The Right Business Opportunity For Me?

First you have to start with knowing your budget and how much you can afford to spend on a business opportunity. There are ways of starting a business opportunity online for as little as $50 as an affiliate; this figure goes all the way up to $1 Million dollars with... Read More

Restaurant Operators - What Skills do you Need

A tongue-in-cheek look at the skills required to operate a restaurant but?on he whole they come pretty close to the truth.People Skills, You need to be good with people, because you will have different customers almost every day, you will have repeat customers who have higher expectations, a high-maintenance... Read More

Your Practice is Only as Valuable as Your Referral Base

Many physical therapists in private practice have the appearance of a very successful business that is built on the backs of about four to five doctors. Now if anything would happen to any of these guys, the value of these practices would drop markedly. How can you run a practice... Read More

Building Your Business for Success in 2005

It's a strange anomaly.Most people who set out to start their own business, no matter what type, build it for failure, not success.Crazy isn't it? But true.The saddest part in all this, is that they don't even know that they are destined for failure long before their dreams shatter and... Read More

What is Business Process Automation?

Business Process Automation or BPA for short. This was a buzzword a few years back with anyone and everyone claiming they were experts in this area. Maybe so. But to really realize its true potential you need to understand what business process automation is and why you will need it?If... Read More

An Example of Business Automation - eCards with pizazz

The last time I spoke and went into a bit of detail on business automation. Today I would like to give you some details of how I actually used it personally so you get to see first-hand what I wanted, how I went about doing it and finally executing it.Last... Read More

Analyzing Customers in Your Business Plan

The Customer Analysis section of the business plan assesses the customer segments that the company serves. In it, the company must 1) identify its target customers, 2) convey the needs of these customers, and 3) show how its products and services satisfy these needs.The first step of the Customer Analysis... Read More

How to Effectively Design Your Business Image

In many industries, image is one of the last things business owner looks at. If business is not booming, they assume there is something wrong with the sales method, as opposed to the image. "If we just sent out a few thousand more fliers" they say, "we will get some... Read More

Where to Find a Cash Windfall of $10,000 to $1,000,000 -- You Never Knew You Had

There is a rather famous true story called "Acres of Diamonds".It is about a successful farmer who risks everything searching the African continent for diamonds. Ultimately he dies sick and penniless, while the new owner of his farm uncovers on his property the largest single diamond ever known to man.Point... Read More

Find Your Niche & Follow It - Part 1

In this series of articles I'm going to show you how to find out if there's a hungry crowd for your information product BEFORE you write a single word.Mark Twain once said: "Find out where the people are going and get there first".With the advent of the internet you can... Read More

How To Get Slightly Famous in Print

Early in my career, I wrote an article for a small business magazine about self-publishing as a marketing tool for businesses. Because I specialize in helping businesses get into print, the article only took a few hours to write. A few months later it was published. Almost immediately, my phone... Read More

Creative Marketing Tips: Simple Things You Can Use In Your Business To Attract More Clients

The single most important activity you can do in your small business is create a unique marketing strategy and plan. When was the last time you saw a company marketing themselves in an outrageous way? In this day and age it looks like everyone has read the same book on... Read More

Top 10 Lessons for Small Business Success - As learned From My Twin 3 Year Olds

Small business success is very similar to learning to walk, talk and spell. The basics have to be understood before moving on to the next step. I am blessed to have twin 3 year old girls in my life and am amazed constantly how much I learn from them on... Read More

Frodos Journey: What It Can Teach You About Marketing Your Small Business

Just recently, I took a break and caught "The Return of the King" at the movie theater. At the same time, I was pondering a topic for this article. As often happens, the themes and timing converged. Here are 10 things you can learn about marketing your small business from... Read More

Where Can I Get Clients From?

The following tips have come from a wide variety of sources; some from other successful businesses we know, some from our Home-Based and Small Business Support Group meetings and some we've developed by trial and error.Some of the ways to get clients are:contact previous employers;mailing lists;cold call your target market;attend... Read More

Using Technology to Manage Customer Loyalty

Don't let your customer satisfaction research initiative collect dust on a shelf. Integrate technology with research to optimize the use of customer information.The typical company spends 80% of customer research time and effort gathering information, and only 20% of that time using it. Companies conduct research to gather information, but... Read More

Perception: What Are Your Patients REALLY Hearing?

Never underestimate the power of perception! Perception plays a major part in what is actually said -vs- how it is heard. And to patients...perception is reality!For example, lets look at broken appointments, one of the biggest problems in your practice. Last minute changes and no show appointments account for thousands... Read More

Increase Productivity and Business Success - Take Responsibility

Are you responsible for your results?What comes to mind when I say that?When you hear that you're totally responsible for the results you produce in your business and in your life---you might jump to a conclusion. You may think that I'm suggesting that you should take the blame for your... Read More

Naming Your Business: 3 Tips To Ensure Success

If you are just starting your business, or if you have just developed a new product or service for an existing business, one of the first questions you need to answer is, "What should I name it?" And while you may feel pressure to make this decision quickly, I caution... Read More

Creating Lists to Learn About Yourself, Your Business and Your Customers

I love lists. I make them for everything. And I'm not just talking about groceries, things to do this week or places to see before I die; but more important lists that help me learn about myself, my business and my life.A few years ago when I began writing books,... Read More

Looking for a New Office Chair?

Perhaps you are building a new home office or you are redoing the one you have. Or, maybe you are looking for an office chair to replace that broken down model sitting in your office. Regardless, the office chairs of today offer more then just comfort. Choosing an office chair... Read More

Small Businesses with BIG NAMES: Protect Your Trademarks and Reap the Rewards

You're a small business owner with a hot new product or service and you're deciding what to name it. Perhaps you've even hired a graphic designer to create a flashy logo to go with it. You may have ruled out trademark registration as too expensive or even unnecessary because you... Read More

Can Your Business Run Without You?

What would happen if you decided to take an extended vacation? Would you still have the same business results when you returned?I met a business owner recently who told me an interesting story. His business was 15 years old and he had approximately 50 employees. A couple of years ago,... Read More

The End -- Fireworks or Fizzle?

Seems as though there are a lot of business closings going around lately. Everywhere I look small businesses -- one on top of another -- are closing their doors.On small marquee signs, empty storefronts, and in the newspaper it's common to see the message, "ABC Company Closes It's Doors After... Read More

Tell Me The Reasons Why I Should Believe You?

Have you ever heard the phrase, 'PREPONDERANCE OF PROOF'?I recently heard it to describe a situation where a person was backed up against a wall (legally speaking) and needed a way out of the mess.The legal guy came in and said, 'I feel we may win this case'. The defendant... Read More

Creating Time the Virtual Way

Time. As a small business owner, it's the commodity you covet most but never seem to have enough of.If you had more time, you could complete all the administrative chores required to operate your business.With enough time, you could do more marketing, more networking, more planning and systemizing.If you had... Read More

Buying a Business

Start thinking about buying an established business if you want to avoid the immense risks involved in starting one. Not everyone wants to start a business from scratch, and buying a business with the infrastructure in place lets you focus on building it up, as opposed to getting a new... Read More

Survival Tips For Small Businesses

You may be in Mail Order, Direct Mail, or you may be a local merchant with 150 employees; whichever, however or whatever---you've got to know how to keep your business alive during economic recessions. Anytime the cash flow in a business, large or small, starts to tighten up, the money... Read More

From Birth to Death

Your product is dying. With the same inevitability that we humans move ever closer to death, so does every software application move towards its eventual demise.The difference is that we have become increasingly competent at caring for ourselves and each other with the result that our chances of a longer... Read More

Creative Metrification - A Technique to Improve

Some things in business are relatively easy to measure ? these are the "hard" metrics such as sales volume and profit, production per man-hour, time without an accident, shipments without error, number of customers served, on-time delivery, etc. Other, "soft" metrics, are more difficult to quantify, but with a little... Read More

The Key to Creating Total System Empowerment

In this paper, I will:1. provide a framework for creating total system power at all levels and in all positions;2. describe the regularly recurring pitfalls that limit total system power, and3. demonstrate how these pitfalls can be avoided in order for systems to realize their full potential.***An Empowered SystemA system... Read More

4 Areas Where Your Business is Losing Money

In my 18 years of consulting I have heard it all. Everything from competition to managed care as reasons why it's hard to create the business of your dreams. New customers are needed to keep any business going but it is how you and your staff manage these customers that... Read More

Why Internet Shopping is the New Mall of the Future

Last year, trillions of dollars transferred hands on the internet with regard to sales, or as the internet wishes to call it, eCommerce. The internet is becoming an increasingly complex manipulation of do's and don'ts. However, one thing I am sure of is, what are you doing? The cliche says,... Read More

Passion Is Key To A Successful Business

Passion. Passion alone can make your business successful. As an entrepreneur, you are a passionate person. For why would anyone invest such incredible amounts of time and energy on something they have no REAL desire to do? If you do such a thing, then it's just bullshit. You have built... Read More

Selling Your Business, Entrepreneurs Role

$elling $elling $ellingWhat makes a great sales person? Well, the natural ability to sell defnitely could not hurt. Sales people are a passionate, obviously people oriented, motivated and energetic bunch. An entrepreneur needs to be everything in one. And one key ingredient to molding an entrepreneur is his/her ability is... Read More

Understanding Franchise Releationships in a Franchised Business

Now that you have invested your time, energy and money in buying a franchise, how do you work within the system? How do you take advantage of all your franchisor has to offer? How do you deal with your counterparts, other franchisees?In this chapter, I will give you tips that... Read More

Small Business Server Business Tips

Top 3 Ways to Maximize Your Small Business Server Consulting ProfitsOver the past 7 years, Microsoft Small Business Server (SBS) has gained traction as a widely-respected Small Business Server networking suite.As a result, many small business computer consultants, systems integrators, and value-added resellers have jumped on-board the Microsoft Small Business... Read More

Top Ten Resolves for Building Your Business in 2005

1. Resolve to build a consistent network system.Since referrals are easier to sell, are often more loyal, comparison shop less, spend more and frequently refer others, it makes good sense to develop a solid system for getting referral business. Join a successful networking club in your area or on the... Read More

Everything I Need to Know About Business I Learned From My Nametag

So there I was ? sitting in the audience of an on-campus seminar. Surrounding me sat hundreds of fellow students; each of us wearing one of those little, handwritten, adhesive nametags. When the event was over, we all filed toward the exit. I approached the door and noticed a small... Read More

How To Create A Business Note That Is More Attractive To A Note Investor

You are selling your small business (business value under $1 million for this article). You would like the buyer of your business to come in with an all-cash offer, or be able to qualify for an SBA guaranteed loan. However, in many cases the owner of the business ends up... Read More

Eight Key Steps to Selling Your Business and Cashing In

This year, some 700,000 American businesses will be sold. Most will be small and mid-sized businesses like yours. If you, too, are thinking of selling, consider these practical steps for making the process go smoothly.Determine a Realistic Price RangeUnderstand the Tax ConsequencesPrepare for a SaleSeek Potential BuyersNegotiate Your DealSign a... Read More

So You Don?t Believe in Outsourcing

Entrepreneurs are hardy stock. But sometimes hardiness can get you into trouble.Especially when you're over committed and could use a little help.All too often, new business owners decide they don't need to hire any outside services. You know how it goes?."I can do this myself. How tough can it be?... Read More

Aircraft Washing Business Tip - Interior Private Jet Cleaning

Aircraft Interiors of personal and corporate jets have hundreds of thousands of dollars invested. We have had an opportunity to speak at length in Tucson, AZ recently about the special custom interiors the weight they cost in performance and the needs in cleaning. There is a large company there that... Read More

Starting an Aircraft Washing Service

To wash an airplane there are many items you will need to keep in mind. The first is safety while working on the tarmac of an airfield. When moving any vehicle on the tarmac the driver should always maneuver the vehicle in square turns. The reason for this is so... Read More

Self Serve Car Washes in the United States

In the 2003 Auto Laundry News Survey it was determined that only 10% of the Coin-op Car Washes had a web site. So if you are doing lots of individual research on car washes that are self serve, do not expect to find a lot of data on the Internet.... Read More

Business Scents - Do They Work?

You see it often in large shopping complexes. Customers seem to be flocking to a certain stall in large droves. There is a special attraction that cannot be explained.Isn't it great to see your own customers flocking to you in droves, like bees to honey? Could you do with some... Read More

Window Cleaning Business Future Challenge With Self Cleaning Glass

Self-cleaning glass has been talked about a lot, with such a catchy name in his hit the headlines of not only the trade journals, but also the mass media. Does self-cleaning glass mean that all the window cleaners and small businesses across this country are doomed? No, not yet. First... Read More

Looking for a Business to Run in the New Revitalized Downtown Area?

Looking for a place to add a Quick Lube away from your Super Wal-Mart Competitor? Down Town Revitalization, Why You Should Be Part of Such a Committee.A study showed that within the next five years 20% of LOF- Lube, Oil and Filter Independent Owners said they had plans on adding... Read More

Starting A Concrete Cleaning Pressure Washer Business

Concrete cleaning can be a lucrative business to start. Here are some tips which will help you do it right.First and foremost there is one thing you need to understand when you are cleaning concrete and that is that concrete cannot always be restored to its virgin state after it... Read More

Image of Your Franchise Automotive Outlet is So Important

Image of your franchise automotive outlet is so important. Some say image is everything, well then if you buy a franchise you should be constantly thinking of image and cleanliness. If you read Ray Kroc's book "Grinding it Out" (McDonalds Visionary) or Tom Monahan's (Founder of Dominos Pizza) book "Franchising... Read More

Secrets Revealed To Having The Most Professional Staff On The Telephone!

Do you have all the customers your business can use?The seemingly simple task of taking phone calls is a hidden liability for not just some, but most businesses. You've invested precious dollars in advertising and marketing. You've invested time in developing customer relationships. What happens when customers call your business?... Read More

Promote Yourself More Successfully

One of the great challenges for independent professionals and small businesses, especially when starting out, is generating visibility to ultimately lead to generating sales.One of the specific challenges, I have found, is knowing what to say about yourself and your operations and services when asked "so what do you do?"?... Read More

Will Adding a Car Wash to Your Fast Lube Add Additional Crime to Your Facilities?

Car Wash Crime in the Hood. Apparently not everyone is with us and certainly not everyone considers this to be a clean business. Latest car wash news. There was a HS Coach killed at a car wash in Aurora, CA Which is unfortunate. Here is the article. Still unknown why... Read More

Operational Aspects on P and L Statements of Mobile Services Businesses

What kinds of things effect mobile service businesses P and L's? Well this is an excellent question and as I see the Annual reports of companies who do mobile services, such as Ecolab, Service Master, Halliburton, Luftstanza Food Services, etc. I see many similarities. For instance we have noted as... Read More

Small Business Operators - 7 Reasons You Should Change Your Accountant

A recent survey showed that only 28.7% of small business owners were happy with their accountant, and only half of those would recommend him to their friends because he was too busy already.The following are the most common reasons small business owners give for their dissatisfaction. Do any apply to... Read More

Setting Prices - Pricing Your Consulting Services

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF PRICINGIn case you hadn't noticed, people can react very differently when faced with the same price for a product or service. In fact in most cases, we'll never actually know what is in their minds when they consider a price and then decide to respond to it... Read More

Using Business Broker In the Franchising Industry for Franchise Sales

Franchising companies often use Business Broker to help attain sales goals. Here is an interesting fact. Most large Business Broker Chains promote franchises and charge franchises money to join their network and programs. Not chump change either. Then the Broker Network takes all the logos and prominently displays them in... Read More

Franchise Sales and Use of Online Franchise Directories

Franchising Directory Sites-Paid Advertising, Lead Generation for FranchisingFranchising Directory Sites are not doing the Industry any good. Typically they charge a fee for advertising per month or charge per sales for the lead, there must be 50 such sites. Only a few are able to generate significant leads, which you... Read More

Franchising in The Middle East There Will Bring Significant Opportunity for US Based Franchisors

As stability emerges in the Middle East there will be significant opportunity for the Franchising Community. Arab Franchising appears to be of interest for those seeking economic growth in much of that region of the World. They are more excited about economic expansion than we are in the US. They... Read More

The Workers? Compensation Situation in this Country is Nuts, Arnold in CA Takes Action

The Workers' Compensation situation in this country is unbelievable. Why, well because of lawsuits and attorneys mostly. The costs of workmen's compensation on the business community is part of the reason for the slow return of high paying blue collar jobs in this country and the demise of the manufacturing... Read More

Site Selection - Slice of Life, A Car Wash and Detail Center DownTown

There is a continual trend we are seeing which I can remember participating in over a decade ago, when cities were trying to figure out how to increase sales tax revenues when the large box stores outside of town came into nearby or surrounding areas. For instance a big and... Read More

Secrets of Cleaning Truck Trailers in Your Fleet from a Veteran Truck Washer

Cleaning the trailers towed by big trucks is not easy, those big forty-foot to fifty-three foot boxes are quite intimidating up close when you are holding nothing more than a brush and pressure washer gun, looking at a soap bucket. The hardest thing to do is to clean the back... Read More

Image is Everything - Secrets to Cleaning Car Fleets

A recent survey indicated that clean Taxi Cabs Fleets have higher tip rates and repeat customers. How do you wash a taxicab? You do them four at a time and you go up and over and up and over when you are drying them. If they have a little taxi... Read More

Secrets to Washing Fleets of Trucks from a Nationwide Fleet Washing Service

Washing the exterior of a truck. Sounds easy right? Well, it's not really. When you soap a truck, it is very important that you are careful to soap around all the handles, turn signal lights, steps, and wipers. You want to soap all that stuff by hand. Use a one-foot... Read More

Small Business Pricing Strategies

TACTIC #1 -- Never simply slash your prices, unless you're trying to empty obsolete inventory. Instead, try repackaging your prices so they're more affordable in the short-run so more prospects can afford them. For example, rather than pricing your service for the year, "Our monthly newsletter is only $39 for... Read More

The Key To Success - Choose The Right Partners

Do you promote yourself as offering prompt, reliable and quality service?Of course ? none of us promote ourselves as anything less, and equally we strive to provide this level of service all the time.So what happens when you take your networking to the next level, and start to offer referrals,... Read More

Small Business Failures in America - Cash Flow Issues

We are noticing an increase in the length of time it takes Large corporations to pay on their invoices to our team. Fortune 500s are tending to pay their vendors more slowly, which will hurt the already strapped small businesses in America. These same small businesses employ 2/3 the population... Read More

Specialty Advertising in C-Stores

It appears the mini-blimp indoor theme and concept is making significant headway. We have seen them in the halls of Congress sniffing for anthrax. What else can we use them for? C-Stores can use Mini Blimps Advertising and Surveillance to prevent Shoplifting. These can be paid for by beer vendors,... Read More

Old Data in Database Marketing Software

Database Problems in MarketingI have been working on a direct mail campaign for our team in many areas and we are finding that the yellow page listings and business list CDROMS contain so many closed companies that we are spending too much on the mailings, which are opened a little... Read More

Dynamics of Daylight Savings Time on Service Businesses in the United States

The Dynamics of Daylight Savings Time changes the way we live and do business. What are the true dynamics of daylight Savings. It was to improve the efficiency of energy supply and demand issues originally. Does it still work for that purpose. To some degree yes. But, not as much... Read More

Small Business and Over Regulation

Over regulation of small business is so intense it is getting hard to make a buck.For my example of the type of over regulation in small business, which turns the American Dream into an American Nightmare, I will use a simple business like a car wash. Partly because I am... Read More

Don?t Wait for the Perfect Plan

1. Don't Spend Too Much Time PlanningWhen you are entering a new market, you won't know the hidden problems and challenges you will face. You won't understand those problems until you make a few mistakes. And you won't solve them and go on to making success of your new business... Read More

How to Protect Yourself & Your Business

As a business owner, you already know how important it is for your customers to feel safe about doing business with you. After all, if a customer even suspects he may not receive everything he was promised, then chances are he's taking his business elsewhere. So to prevent that you... Read More

Small Business Essentials: Start Here

Thinking of starting a business on line? If so there are two things you absolutely must commit to before ever opening shop on the web. Any one who refuses to realistically consider these two factors should not be in business. That may sound a bit rough, but the glut of... Read More

QSR Quick Service - Fast Food Restaurants Labor Situation in United States

One of the major complaints in the QSR Quick Service-Fast Food Restaurants Industry is the deplorable Labor Situation. In United States teen labor has become somewhat slim on ethical standards, showing up on time, drug use (both recreational and problematic), work ethic and trainability. Who can we blame? Well we... Read More

How To Accept Credit Cards

If you plan to do business online, then your website will need to accept credit cards. For many, the idea of applying for a merchant account sounds like a daunting task, but the truth is that building an online store is incredibly easy these days. The major credit card processing... Read More

Perfecting Your Pitch

Why should you describe your business to others in 5 to 10 seconds?How long do you think you have to get anyone's attention? 5 minutes? 2 minutes? 30 seconds? It is actually 10 seconds. I know it does not seem like a long period of time but you will be... Read More

Asking the RIGHT Questions

Which questions do you need to ask to even get a hint if you really want to know something about another person's business pain?We define business pain as a problem that a business needs to have a solution for. The pain may be that they do not have enough sales,... Read More

To Buy Or Not To Buy: Lawn Mowing Business

TRUTH IN THE LAWN MOWING INDUSTRYWe do not wish to slander any company or person but instead share information that is of value to each and every one! Most people who enter this industry will be effected by one of the following and we see fit to share with you... Read More

Making Your Purpose Your Business Step #2- Getting From Point A to Point B

In my previous article, Step 1, your challenge for the month was to research where your passion lies. Based on your research you might have discovered that self investigation can lead us to two places; either we find out our answer or we realize we need to ask more questions... Read More

Small Business - Big Business...Whats the Diff?

Small Business, Big Business ? What's the Diff?Well a lot actually!I become frustrated and angry at the government's paying lip service to assisting small business. It appears as though all governments, bureaucrats and many accounting advisers do not know what a real small business is.In Australia the government's definition for... Read More

Debit and ATM Card Advice for Small Businesses

Your business account comes with an ATM, Debit card. Pick a really secret pin number. Don't give it to anyone even in an emergency. Make sure you record withdrawals. If you have a bookkeeper paying your bills for you, be careful because they won't know that you took out money.... Read More

Tips on Setting Up Your Small Business Bank Account

One of the first things you will need to set up is a bank account. We recommend a large bank because:They have locations everywhereThey have longer hoursThey will probably buy out your local community bank anywayIf you are an owner/operator of a small business, you will appreciate having a Debit... Read More

What are the COSTS Associated with joining Leads Groups?

When it comes to cost, how much can you afford or not afford?When it comes to cost, the first thing that comes to mind is money, the cost of membership. Although this may be a consideration, you should also look at the cost as part of the investment you need... Read More

Chamber Membership will BOOST your Business

When is the Chamber ideal for your business?Joining a Chamber of Commerce is likely the best thing any business or individual can do. Chambers provide many benefits to members. They host networking events, normally called business after business. They also hold local trade shows that draw businesses from other communities,... Read More

When to Say NO!

When is it a good thing to say no to a request?Balance in one's life is perhaps the most important goal for busy people. They can take on many more projects that most others. They also have the ability to say no if they feel they cannot do a good... Read More

Effectively Completing the Operations Plan Section of Your Business Plan

The Operations Plan is a critical component of any business plan as it presents the Company's action plan for executing its vision. The Operations Plan must detail 1) the processes that are performed to serve customers every day (short-term processes) and 2) the overall business milestones that the company must... Read More

Successfully Adding a Service To Your Business

There will come a time in your business where you feel ready to add another service offering. To make this successful, there are ten tips to consider before moving ahead.1) Revisit your business plan. If you don't have one, write one for your business as it currently exists (even a... Read More

A Small Business Consultant Can Help in Many Ways... But One Thing He Can?t Provide

A consultant must remember that the business belongs to the client. There is always a danger that the consultant will take a dominant position to the detriment of both of them.Let me tell you a story of when this was forgotten?It's not often a small business consultant will admit to... Read More

Who Makes the BEST Alliance

What types of companies do you want to align yourself with?What is the best company to align with? It is a company that does not quite compete with your core business. By this we mean that the company has offerings that dovetail into what you have to offer. If you... Read More

Finding the PERFECT Alliance Partner

Where do you look for the appropriate alliance?One of the most asked question is "Where do you find a good alliance partner?" It is actually fairly easy. You can find potential alliances by taking some time to research potential partners. Remember that you should start by focusing more on finding... Read More

Keeping a Partnership ALIVE and THRIVING

What are the best methods for keeping a good business relationship?Once you have a business relationship in place, you need to work on that relationship to keep it intact. As a matter of fact, people nurture their business relationships more than they do their families! The first and most obvious... Read More

Become The Squeaky Wheel and Watch Your Business Skyrocket!

Providing high quality customer service is a must for any business to survive.Following up on all contacts and leads is also crucial in order to increase your sales and client base.If I had a nickel for every time I have had to remind a new client about the importance of... Read More

How to Create an Employee Manual

Large corporations use employee manuals to both educate employees about policies and protect themselves legally. Whether or not you need an employee manual is your decision, though it can be a great tool for keeping your policies consistent.Make sure you have your employee manual reviewed by a lawyer to make... Read More

Leveraging Business Relationships for more Profits

When should you leverage the relationship?Leveraging sometimes brings a negative connotation to the mix. It does not have to be that way. Leveraging with alliances can work into a win-win situation were both parties become more profitable and they form more solid business relationships. Leveraging should be taken seriously and... Read More

Making Your Product Desirable For Alliance Partners

How do you make sure you have the business solutions or services that your alliance partner needs?You can only make sure that what you have to offer a company fits into their goals and mission if you do your research on what drives that business. If you go in "cold"... Read More

Keep TRACK of your Business Relationships and Gain Profits

How do you know when an alliance needs to be monitored and tracked?More often than not, an alliance needs to be monitored and tracked. If you ignore your alliance partner at all, you will be losing ground and your business relationship will not be what you expect. If you ignore... Read More

Alliances: Drawing The Line

How far can you go based on your relationship with an alliance partner?The imaginary line you draw in the sand will let you know when an alliance is getting close to failing. I would suggest setting the line a little higher than the disaster point. As a matter of fact,... Read More

Alliances: What works, what does not

Why Alliances FailWhen do you know an alliance is falling apart?An alliance will surely fail without good communication on both sides. It will also fail if the alliance partner is not capable of completing the tasks set out in the service level agreement. Service level agreements are usually put in... Read More

How to Promote Your Business by Entering Contests

You are probably hard at work promoting your business (and if you're not, you should be!), but if you haven't submitted your profile to any contests yet, you may be missing a golden opportunity.Receiving an award for your business can increase your company's credibility. Winners can brand their businesses as... Read More

Maintaining Your Carpet Extractor in Your Auto Detail Shop

Auto Detailing: Maintaining A Commercial Carpet ExtractorYou should drain your carpet extractor at the end of each use or at least by the end of the day. Do not dump the excess dirty water or soap into a storm drain. Dump it into a toilet, sink or on a lawn.... Read More

The Key to Small Business Growth? Buyer Alignment

Unfortunately for all buyers, each selling organization and their individual sales professionals are unique and often require immense amounts of energy to build a relationship with. This keeps buyers guessing, which in turn keeps the sales organization guessing. It's a constant game being played out across offices across the country.To... Read More

Its Spring - Time For A Compensation Program Tune Up

Now that winter has passed, the annual ritual of spring cleaning is in full swing. Spring cleaning is more than cleaning the windows and clearing the cobwebs that hid in the corners during the winter. "Spring is a time to take a serious look at your compensation program and begin... Read More

Do You Really Need a Toll-Free Number for Your Business?

Do You Really Need a Toll-Free Number for Your Business? The answer is YES! If you run a home business, whether it's a direct sales business, a part-time venture, or if you work full-time from home, if you don't have a toll-free number, you could be leaving money on the... Read More

Small Business - A Thing Worth Doing Is Worth Doing Badly

A thing worth doing is worth doing badly. Yes I know that it should be 'well'. My grandma drummed into me that whatever I did I should do it as well as I possibly could.But grandma said that there was another side to it. If it were worth doing, even... Read More

Direct Mail - For Small Businesses

We hear a lot of talk about junk mail nowadays. Many people will tell you that they dump it straight in the trash. But why do you think so many organisations send out so called junk mail - because it works!I dump most of my junk mail just like everyone... Read More

Share Ad Expenses to Boost Profits

The challenges of the small business owner are well documented. They must battle for market share against larger competitors, run all aspects of their business, and even pay higher rates for advertising and other marketing related expenses. Small businesses generally do not qualify for volume discounts when it comes to... Read More

Small Business Marketing, According to Seinfeld

What could Seinfeld possibly have to do with marketing a small business? As it turns out, all small business owners could take a few lessons from the show that brought us such popular phrases as "Man Hands" and "master of your domain".The Coffee Shop ? Jerry, George, Kramer, and Elaine... Read More

Speed Kills on the Web!

I only have to point to the 555 plus failed .com companies (according to Web Mergers) as the poster children of the "speed at any cost" business mantra that clearly doesn't work. And these were companies who burnt through significant amounts of capital (in the millions, tens of millions or... Read More

Joint Venture Your Way to Extraordinary Sales!

You know what makes me really happy? Drinking a Starbucks latte while doing my grocery shopping at Safeway. Getting my Godiva fix at Barnes & Noble. Cheap thrills, I know!Ever wonder why McDonald's is inside many WalMart stores? Or why you can buy the board game, Cranium, inside most Starbucks... Read More

Hone Your Edge, Stay Focused

A common hazard faced by new entrepreneurs is a lack of faith in the power of their offer. Many business people lose focus because they are worried they wont generate enough cash flow from their core product. They attract potential customers with outstanding expertise but then muddy the water by... Read More

Simple Business Tactics Are Your Key To Success

In a world full of complications sometimes we overlook the simple things in life. We are so busy trying to work out our twisted problems that we miss out on the simple secrets to success. The same can be said of our businesses. We get caught up in endless problems... Read More

10 Filler Activities for the Summer Business Slowdown

Summer is a time for the outdoors, for that well-deserved vacation, and with everyone out and about, it's also a time that you may notice a slowdown in demand for your products and services. So what can you do during this summer slowdown? Well, it's a great time to do... Read More

Are You a Small Business Casualty?

When a person knows and knows not that he knows. Teach him.When a person knows and knows that he knows. Follow him.I have read a lot about Network Marketing and MLM and I have learnt a few things which you might like to know. And the one thing that I... Read More

Venus Transit - and Small Business?

On June 8, 2004, the world witnessed what no one living today had ever seen... VENUS - the planet of Love, Beauty and Human Unity - transitting across the face of the Sun.Acording to one line of thought (and a beautiful line at that) during this transit of Venus which... Read More

The Virtual Assistant

As a small business owner, outsourcing work to Virtual Assistants is fast becoming a popular and intelligent decision. The business owner saves enormous amounts of money by cutting the costs of offices and equipment overhead as well as expensive benefits packages.The 'Virtual Office' creates an enormous amount of personal freedom... Read More

The Single Most Powerful Small Business Marketing Tool On The Planet

Let me get right to the point. The single most powerful small business marketing tool on the planet is a marketing plan. Now before you roll your eyes and run for the hills let me clear a few things up.When I talk about a marketing plan I am not referring... Read More

Marketing - The Way To Make What Youre Really Worth

You only have so much time in a day right?So wouldn't it make sense to focus as much of your time as possible on the things that produce the highest payoff.I don't know about you but most small business owners are do-it-yourself types and get sucked into doing the littlest... Read More

Virtual Assistance for Healthcare Professionals

Administrative and clerical tasks are the bane of every industry. No matter how small or large your business is, you will eventually find yourself with stacks of paperwork that need your attention and phone calls that need to be made. And when will you find the time? If you are... Read More

Shocking Experienced Copywriter Reveals Little-known Secrets To Closing BIG Ticket Deals!

Hogwash!That's what I say to people who tell me that their business is purely and solely a "cheapest price business."People who stubbornly insist that "MY business is different" are right, but not in a good way.Their business is different because it will never make big money.People who are unwilling to... Read More

Are You Making These Mistakes In Your Business?

You've probably heard the statistic that 95% of small businesses fail in the first five years. That's not a very encouraging number! Although being part of the 5% that succeed is not easy, it's definitely possible. What it takes is a lot of common sense, some marketing and sales skills... Read More

Fire the CEO

If you are the boss and you think your job is to run the business, you are dead wrong. Your job, the most important job in any business, is to market the business.Peter Drucker, way back in 1956, said, "Since the purpose of a business is to find and keep... Read More

Consistency Builds Trust

You know your prospects need what you sell. You know they want what you sell. Heck, you know that they even sent away for information on your service and requested a quote.But the fact is you are missing one major piece of the puzzle.Want to know what it is?No matter... Read More

(P)Refer to Grow Your Business

(Although this article is geared towards small business owners, the information is just as applicable to a similar personal situation, only the action is slightly different.)Here is the scenario. You have begun your day at work. Your day is planned ahead, with the big challenges first. You want to finish... Read More

Getting Behind in Your Work? You Need a Virtual Assistant!

If you don't know what a Virtual Assistant (or VA) is, don't worry. I only came across the term myself about a year ago. It seemed like a high-tech occupation that I would know little about until I stumbled across some information and found out that I was a Virtual... Read More

Small Does Not Mean Invisible!

Running a business on the net these days can be like looking up into a clear night sky; it can leave you feeling very small and insignificant.I am a one-person operation, and I also offer personal service. It has taken some time for me to acquire clients, but I feel... Read More

How to Use Graphs and Charts in Your Business Plan

Many people ask how many graphs or charts they should have in their business plans. As with most other business planning questions, the answer is "it depends." This article discusses the key factors influencing the number of graphs and charts to include in your business plan.To begin, the key point... Read More

A Small Business Must Have a Solid Foundation

We all know that a building has to have a strong foundation if it is to survive, so, too, a business.There are many planks that support a business but there are four corner-posts that bear the most weight?The four corner-posts are Marketing, Selling, Production and Financial Control. There are a... Read More

How Mastering 5 Essential Money Making Ideas Can Lead Your Business to Longterm Cashflow

Essentially there are 5 tremendously powerful methods to make money online. These methods were not always available but have only become available due to the large amount of internet commerce being conducted each and every day online. While it is possible to make money, and lots of it, using other... Read More

25 Valuable Phone Numbers For Small Businesses Success

Starting and growing a small business can be a daunting and sometimes lonely process we have compiled a list of 25 helpful phone numbers for agencies and services that work with small businesses. They can give you information, ideas, and resources to help you be more successful.?Small Business Administration, 409... Read More

A Great Logo Is A Marketing Must-Have. But Is It Affordable For Small Business Owners?

And is having a logo really that important?My answer to both of these questions is an emphatic YES!A logo is a graphic or visual representation of your brand. Your brand is your business, product or service and what it stands for. It's whatever you are out in the marketplace selling.Why... Read More

If You Want to Work from Home

Here are some important points to take note of if you want to work from home. working from home is a dream occupation for many people, but only a few of us will dare to trudge that path. As long as you keep to your basic principles, keep focused, learn... Read More

Due Dilegence 101 Or What You Do Not Know Can Kill You! - Part 1

Introduction: This article is written as a general discussion on the subject of "Due Diligence". It is for informational purposes and not intended to be a definitive guideline for your exact situation. You should consult the appropriate professionals with regard to your specific transaction or situation. Further, this article is... Read More

You Dont Yet Know What You Dont Know

Someone new to business ownership recently told me, "Before I opened my business, I thought I was pretty well prepared. I knew how to produce and deliver our product. I worked through the numbers with my accountant and banker. I talked to many others in the same business. I was... Read More

How to Sponsor an Event for Fun and PROFIT

How do you sponsor an event and get personal introductions at the same time?So how can sponsoring help you to be visible to the business community and gain the right contacts? It is actually quite simple, you need to find events that are visible to the audience you are interested... Read More

Making a Donation to Bring MORE Business

How a donation is different from a sponsorship and what is the advantage to you?Donations are different from sponsorships, as a sponsorship is more likely to headline you for an event whereas a donation will let you be listed as one of the many donors. You do not need to... Read More

Racing the Competition

What is the Big Race all about when it comes to creating relationships?The big race is simply the ability to win the deal on a consistent basis. You will need to perfect your message, be able to state it clearly and precisely, and follow up relentlessly. Without all these factors,... Read More

5 GREAT WAYS to Gain New Contacts

What are the 5 best ways to gain new contacts?There are many ways to use the media to promote your business. You must ultimately decide what is best for your business. It may be all the items you have read about, or it may be only a few, but whatever... Read More

How to Give Informative Talks

Why should you do informative talks to smaller groups?Informative talks to smaller groups allow you more intimacy with the audience. You will be able to more closely connect with their needs and their responses to your speech. You have something to say that is important not only to you but... Read More

The 5 Traits of Baby Boomer Business Owners

As a practitioner and student of Small Business Marketing, I was recently contemplating ways to enhance my business. I found it fascinating to realize that over 95% of my customers and hot prospects were Baby Boomer's who own a small business.With this group identified as my target demographic, it was... Read More

How to Give FREE Advice and Make Money

When is advice free and when should you charge for it?A question is often asked as to when to charge for information. This is not an easy question to answer as it really depends on the situation. If you are doing a speech for non-profit, then your advice can be... Read More

Online Search: Small Businesses Level The Playing Field

Seventy percent of US households use the web when shopping locally, and about 25 percent of all searches are looking for local information. As more and more households make the switch to broadband connections, this trend will continue to escalate.Search engines have eclipsed print and TV ads as the primary... Read More

Freelance Tips: How to Cope with Spring Fever When Theres Work to Be Done

We all know how glorious those first warm days of spring feel. The trees are blooming, the birds are singing... boy, it's sure hard to keep your head out of the clouds when the skies are blue and the sun's shining brightly.But if you're outside enjoying the warm weather... who's... Read More

Seven Common Mistakes Made By Small Business Owners

Most new small businesses won't be in business this time next year. That's the cold hard facts. Though it is easy to start your own business, it takes a lot more to succeed in business. There are seven common mistakes made by small business owners. Let's explore them so you... Read More

Small Business Owners - They Owe You The Money Why Dont They Pay?

Doesn't it frustrate you when you've given good service, sometimes super service, and the customer doesn't pay you?Some of them aren't doing too well and are struggling for cash, but, gee, so are you. In the time they take to pay they could have paid off a little each week... Read More

Starting a Mobile Auto Detailing Business; Dry Wash or Pressure Wash?

Many experienced auto detailing professionals who have started out using a pressure washer rarely use Dry Wash n' Guard. Most would say this is a matter of preference more than anything else. Each side has logical arguments as to why their methodology is better. Many pressure washing mobile detailers only... Read More

Starting a Pressure Washing Business

Are you thinking of starting a small pressure washer business to help clean up the world and make a little money? You might be surprised how many mobile pressure washers companies there are in the United States; approximately 45,000 of them. And since God made dirt on the Third Day;... Read More

How to Find A Group that Needs Speakers

How do you find groups that are in need of speakers (at no charge)?Finding groups that use speakers is not difficult. I find that most organized service groups use speakers for their regular meetings. I am a member of Rotary and have been for nearly fifteen years. In that period... Read More

Launching your Business with a Chamber of Commerce

Why are Chambers a good launching pad?Chambers provide you with more ways to get to know the business community than most organizations. I was once elected President of a Chamber and the Board strived to get businesses involved with each other. One of the mandates was to make sure that... Read More

Business Relationships Defined

What makes a business relationship?What really makes a business relationship? This may be very hard to define as it goes beyond just meeting the person and chatting about something you have in common. A relationship is developed over a period of time and usually does not happen instantly. I once... Read More

How to let go of your EGO

When does your ego get in the way?Let's go back to that networking meeting and scan the room again. Have you seen the person that never stops talking? He is the one that is talking about how great his business is and how great his services are. He even gets... Read More

Who Makes the BEST Business Partner

How do you find the best business partners?Finding a good business partner (outside partner, such as an alliance) requires an amount of due diligence. This simply means you will need to look at all aspects of the other person's business and sometimes a bit of their personal life. You will... Read More

Starting a Business in New Hampshire

Hew Hampshire car wash market. Well we have visited every city in New Hampshire over the population of 10,000 at least twice, the larger ones four and five times talking to many people in various industries. Landscapers, brick layers, Heating and Air, Plumbers, Car Dealers, Professional People, Politicians, wood be... Read More

Starting a Tractor Washing Business

In the heavy equipment cleaning business you can make good money and provide an important service for your clientele. You can save them man-hours, chemical costs and free up time for more important needs such as preventative maintenance and repairs. The client also has a better looking fleet which makes... Read More

California Department of Corporations Attempts to PR Their Benefits to Consumers

On Monday the Department of Corporations in California revoked franchise registrations of two franchising companies. In a Press Release the Department said; "The CDC has taken enforcement actions that have resulted in the revoking of registration of two franchise businesses operating in California... also ordered to stop the offer and... Read More

Employee Email and Internet Use - A Small Business Guide

IntroductionIt is widely recognised that Email and the Internet is here to stay! Both mediums have become a vital part of business and personal communication in a world that increasingly relies on technology. We understand its benefits and sometimes berate its downsides; too much email, lack of personal communication, spam,... Read More

Small Business - Would You Still Need An Accountant If You Didnt Need A Tax Return?

After over thirty years advising small business it still comes as a surprise to see the number of small business owners who are only interested in their financial results when it is time to do their tax return.Many still think that their accountant is there to 'cook the books' at... Read More

Provide Affordable Health Care To Employees At Little To No Cost To You

You can provide affordable health care plans to your employees. If you feel overwhelmed by health care plan costs, you may be able to achieve far more than you believe. Here is how.REAL NEEDS, REAL SOLUTIONSToday, millions of EMPLOYED Americans depend on government aid, charitable organizations, and their own incomes... Read More

Finding the Right People for your Business

Where do you find the right people for a business relationship?Finding the right people may not be as difficult as you may think. Quite often they are in your neighborhood and within your inner circle. There are three things that you can do in order to find the right fit... Read More

How to Manage Your Pipeline

How is your pipeline structured?I assume most of you have heard about the sales pipeline. Your pipeline is what keeps your business going. It is a lot like a funnel: at the large end, you need to do lots of activities that will generate a slew of interested contacts; some... Read More

How to Define Business Objectives

Why does a good business relationship rely on having some common business objectives?As you attend networking events, you will gradually find ways that make it easy for you to mingle and be heard. Your message will need to be clear, focused and consistent each time. You will find that many... Read More

Profits are within 6 Degrees of Freedom

How far away is the person you need to meet?We have spent some time discussing your inner circle and have suggested that you take time to list all of the people that you know and that KNOW YOU. This inner circle is the start of finding out who knows a... Read More

If You Want Business - Be Consistent

Why does consistency in the message have an effect on how the business relationship is formed?Your message to others needs to be consistent. You need to define your expertise and develop your elevator pitch. Do not go to events and change what you do just because the person you are... Read More

Keeping Business Alive

Who is responsible for maintaining the business relationship?Nurturing a business relationship will take effort on your part and effort on the part of the other person. If you feel the business is worth having, then you must take the time to make sure you are in touch on a regular... Read More

Knowledge is Power

Why does research and education play an important part of the business relationship?Have you ever attended a business briefing or meeting without reading the materials ahead of time? I know I certainly have, and I also know that I felt like a fool when asked a question. It was up... Read More

How to be Annoyed and Make Money

When do annoyances in a relationship become too much to bear?Have you ever worked for a client that drives you up the wall and back down the other side but you keep working with them because you need the money? I am sure most of us have been in that... Read More

Never Burn a Bridge

Why should you always maintain a good report with a business even when you are parting ways?It is human nature to get mad and then rant and rave about what is not going well at work. Many of us spend time gossiping and socializing with the main topic of what... Read More

How to Integrate Yourself in Someone Elses Business

When do you need to get more involved with the day to day activities of your business partner?The best business relationship you can have is one where the client does not know whether you are a contractor or whether you are an employee. Working alongside the client, you are the... Read More

How to Bond a Business Relationship

When should you create a foundation in order to solidify a business relationship?Before you bond any business relationship, you need to make sure that this is a relationship that you both want to have. No relationship is a one way street; the relationship must work in both directions. You must... Read More

Power Tools for Business

How do we keep track of our business deals?If you are only working with one or two deals, keeping track of them is a simple matter. However, most of us have far more than two deals on the plate and even more coming down the pipeline. It is sometimes quite... Read More

How to Create an Information Plan

What is in an information plan?Before you even meet with a potential customer, you should have an action plan in place. The action plan should consist of 5 areas. Each area will deal with certain aspects of any potential deal and information that will need to be gathered. Let's look... Read More

The Benefits of Using Freelance Consultants / Trainers for Your Project

What are the benefits of using a Freelance Consultant / Trainer for your next project?Companies are often wary of employing freelance trainers when setting up a new project or contemplating a 'roll out' operation or 'change' scenario. There are however distinct advantages to using freelance as against permanent resources, and... Read More

New Habits, Rebounding Economy Help To Sell Giftware and Collectibles

Just a few years ago, when one thought of a home-based sales business, Tupperware, Avon and a host of multi-level marketing schemes might have come to mind. Today, however, changing market conditions and evolving consumer habits have converged to make home-based selling businesses a realistic opportunity with real profit potential.This... Read More

Common Sources of Financing for Small Business

The choice of financing is an important determinant of whether a product reaches the market, or whether an existing business can survive. The choice of financing is an important part of being an entrepreneur and business owner, and the ability to raise cash when you have no or limited history... Read More

The Role of the Business Model and Strategy for Business

People will always stress that having a well researched business plan is key before you start your business. Although creating a business plan is often an important step in the evolution of a business, particularly if you need financing or you are not experienced at running a business, it is... Read More

Do You Want Your Own Fully Programmable ERP? - Part 3

Continuing from the second article:6. About the aground mathematical model, let us to see the product k:First quantity received in 10/6/98, quantity 1,000, unit cost US$ 34.00.Second in 12/11/98, quantity 1,300, unit cost US$ 23.00Third in 1/10/99, quantity 760, unit cost US$ 36.00Therefore, if not been sold we would have... Read More

Do You Want Your Own Fully Programmable ERP? - Part 2

In the first article we mentioned the main characteristics that should have a software to be used as a Front-End with some functions of an Enterprise Resources Planning ERP:ODBC,Replication,Computed Views,Integrated e-Mail,and we used the Lotus Notes example, but in principle will be possible to use other softwares with similar functions.Now... Read More

Small Business And The Ability To Find Market Place Opportunities

Marketing is one of the four corner-posts of a solid business. Knowing a few marketing tricks is great, but to be really successful you must be able to assess market place opportunities. Here's 13 points you should look at? It is necessary to understand the prevailing economic and industry... Read More

Earn More Money in Your Small Business by Creating a PIG

If you really want to earn more money with your small business than you need to strongly consider adding a P.I.G. Obviously, I am not referring to the questionably adorable pot bellied pig that many fine people have adopted for a pet. The concept of adding a Passive Income Generator... Read More

Are You Ready to Own and Operate a Business?

How often has someone thought of starting a business based solely on the fact they think it will be easier than working for someone else. Fact is, owning and operating a business can be one of the most grueling experiences you will have. Granted, there are many advantages, but unless... Read More

Are You a Small Business Lone Ranger? Take My 10-Question Quiz To Find Out!

So what exactly is a "Small Business Lone Ranger?" A "Small Business Lone Ranger" is a business owner who does all the work themselves.No matter how big or small the project, the Lone Ranger handles 100% of it. Either because they're afraid to let go of control or because they... Read More

Postcard Marketing ? Low Cost Visibility

You need to be visible to attract customers, right? But how do you get that visibility when you're short on cash? Here's an idea that's worked for many businesses. It's postcard marketing, and it's very affordable.You can design your own postcards or hire a designer. Print the cards on 67#... Read More

Data Loss - Can Your Company Survive? (Most Do Not)

Data. Most people think it is a term relegated to the kingdom of geeks.However, in todays world your data is your life. Chances are every piece of data you might ever rely upon to make an important decision has been reduced to a digital format and resides somewhere on your... Read More

Postcards Make It Rain Referrals

One of the simplest ways to expand your marketing efforts is through the consistent use of postcards. Create a list of narrowly targeted prospects and then hammer away at them with powerful marketing messages.One of the most effective ways to get a prospect's attention is to talk to them about... Read More

Why Small and Medium-Sized Businesses Should

As the owner or an employee of a small-to medium-sized business, you might have never thought about media monitoring. Maybe you are not even sure what exactly is meant by this and have thus ignored it so far. But you should take some time to get acquainted with the concept... Read More

Small Businesses - Big Obstacles

Everyone is talking about small businesses. In 1993, when it was allowed, more than 90,000 new firms were registered by individuals. Now, less than three years later, official figures show that only 40,000 of them still pay their dues and present annual financial statements. These firms are called "active" -... Read More

How To Cut Expenses And Manage Your Business

If you own a small business, you should know that often times it can be the little things, rather than the large expenses, that can eat away at your budget. But many times, small business owners will try and increase their profits by looking around at what larger expenses they... Read More

Getting City Contracts; Local Government Contracting

All cities have a purchasing office and/or a procurement officer. They handle all city contracts that are sent out to bid. Usually, to become a small business vendor of the city you must satisfy either some or all of the requirements listed below:Minority Or Woman Owned BusinessSmall Business (Under $500,000/Year... Read More

Mobile Pressure Washing and City Contracts

Many mobile pressure-washing companies turn to government contacts to make money. It is very easy to acquire such municipal contracts for cleaning, as the government needs some cleaning up. The cities generally have a fiscal year starting in June, so you want to check on the available contracts around the... Read More

Dealing With a Crooked on the Take Government Worker

Many government department heads are on the take. Oh they'll jump up and down and swear legitimacy, but it just is not so. Over one-third of Americans will lie to a small business owner to save $2.00 and that same one-third of our population works in government. I am not... Read More

Finding a Venture Capital Firm

Many ventures are faced with the challenging task of raising venture capital. The first part of this process is finding the right venture capital firm (VC). While this may seem simple, it isn't. There are thousands of venture capital firms in the United States alone, and going after the wrong... Read More

Debt Collection Techniques

Here are some sound debt collection techniques that can be followed by businesses to mitigate the bad debt crisis:Sending a pre-collection letter. Hiring a collection agency. Doing it yourself.Sending A Pre-Collection LetterMost businesses don't want to "play the bad cop" with their clients, so they approach a collection... Read More

7 Advantages to Incorporating

There's no question that hard work and a little luck is what it takes to BE successful. But a little knowledge, especially when it comes to setting up your business, will help you STAY successful.While many business owners give a lot of thought to location, store décor, customer service, hiring... Read More

Is Your Business Property Safe and Secure?

Security Professionals provide the products and services necessary to create a safe and secure workplace for you and your employees. Products such as lever hardware, panic and exit devices, desk locks and high security key control systems, as well as security boxes and safes, can help you protect your business... Read More

Buying a Franchise

Buying a franchise is not for everyone. This guide will help you evaluate whether buying a franchise is right for you. It will help you understand your obligations as a franchise owner. Many people dream of owning and running their own business but are often let down by the reality... Read More

What To Consider Before Buying A Franchise

Here are some useful tips on what to consider before buying a franchise. Before investing in any franchise system, be sure to get a copy of the franchisor's disclosure document. Sometimes this document is called a Franchise Offering Circular. You should read the entire disclosure document.The following outline will help... Read More

Shopping For a Franchise

Shopping for a franchise is easy if you know what you are doing. You can choose between radio adverts, newspaper adverts, personal recommendation, Internet, or visit a franchise exhibition. Attending a franchise exhibition allows you to view and compare a variety of franchise possibilities. Keep in mind that exhibitors primarily... Read More

How To Select a Franchise

Here are some useful tips on how to select a franchise. When selecting a franchise, carefully consider a number of factors, such as the demand for the products or services, likely competition, the franchisor's background, and the level of support you will receive because like any other investment, purchasing a... Read More

How To Start a Small Business

Not sure how to start a small business? This guide will offer you some useful tips on the basic requirements of starting a small business.Initially, there are two types of businesses available to you, Sole Trader or Partnership. Both are explained below:Sole Trader:This is the easiest and least costly way... Read More

Pet Grooming Business

Do you like animals? Would you like to work for yourself? Pet grooming could be the career for you.A grooming business is more than just washing dogs. It can include cleaning ears, trimming nails, brushing teeth, and shaving the animal's coat in stylish ways. The animal can be a dog,... Read More

How to Get Maximum Results With Minimum Effort

Get maximum results with minimum effort. Sounds great doesn't it? The key is leverage. You can get a huge result from relatively little investment of resources. Weather it's time, money or intellect, you only have so much. The key is to use your resources as a lever to really explode... Read More

Most Franchises Are Small Home Businesses

Many of our nations 400,000 franchisees run their businesses out of their homes and therefore their home addresses and phone numbers are listed in the Unifrom Franchsie Offering Circular's, attachments. Uniform Franchise Circulars, UFOC, are for franchise buyers and they explain the investment involved. It is required by law that... Read More

Small Businesses With Work Trucks; A Warning

If you are a non-operator owner of many work trucks, you should keep your business credit card with you not leave it in one of the trucks. You should not issue them to employees without strict guidlines. Employees may tend to abuse credit cards by buying things that are not... Read More

Auto Detailers and Competitive Aspects of Automobile Detailing

There are both fixed and mobile detailers. Consumers often will use either or both during the life of their car. Mobile Detailing is nice because they come to you. Fixed site auto detailers often work in a controlled environment and can produce higher quality work. Due to the competitive aspects... Read More

Competition in the Mobile Car Wash Industry

We have all seen the mobile washing units cruising our city, usually they are trucks, vans or trailer set ups with a water tank and a pressure washer unit aboard. They market their services with flyers and business cards, however most of their business comes from weekly repeats and referrals.... Read More

Street Wars Between Mobile Car Washers and Mobile Auto Detailers

There is much competition in the mobile auto detailing business. There are two different lines of reasoning emerging as to how the business should be run. One is go for volume and discount and wash the world. The other is go after the high end customer which is 10% of... Read More

Expanding Franchisee Advice

Franchisor expansion policies are not as simple as one might think. On the mind of every businessperson is the idea of expansion. We think we will make more money when you expand to a second, third, fourth, etc. unit, store or work truck. So you would think if you are... Read More

Expanding A Mobile Car Wash Business

What is the best time to expand a mobile car wash business? If everything were perfect and you could choose the best time to buy a new mobile car wash rig, you should buy it in April and have it running by the 20th of May. If you have 1.5... Read More

Basic Psychology of Franchisee Ownership and Expansion

If you are a franchisee of a large franchise system; before you expand your franchise to include more stores there are some questions you might ask yourself. If, however, you bought your franchise to expand, grow and amass a small empire of your own, your franchisor will be the last... Read More

Private Franchising is not Real a Real Franchise

One major issue not being addressed right now in the regulatory definitions which guide consumers and lawyers in business opportunities and franchising is the new term being used; Private Franchising. The Federal Trade Commission decided it would revise its definitions of such opportunities in 1995, but failed to address this... Read More

Franchising VS Business Opportunity; What is the Difference?

The modern Franchise business model and the much different business opportunity are much different and dissimilar. The definition of these two business models should be broken into completely different parts to better fit the two-different business models and have their own set of regulations, which would contain similar stipulations with... Read More

The Franchisors Heavy Load

Why are we over regulation the franchising industry, what purpose does it serve? Rules and laws are fine, level playing fields are nice, but the customer votes with their dollar and the entrepreneur and companies can only sell what people are willing to give up that unit of trade we... Read More

Why the Over Regulation on the Franchising Model?

Franchising is the fastest way to build small businesses, provide jobs, create money flows. Currently the Federal Trade Commission wishes to increase the over regulation on the franchising sector. The way the Federal Trade Commission conducts itself provides little incentive or allows few new entrepreneurial companies to merge from the... Read More

Franchise Rule to be Revised; Why?

The FTC, Federal Trade Commission, is considering modifying the franchise rule. So far it has be a ten-year process; just imagine working that slow in your business? In 1995, 1997 and 1999 when the comments were first considered and taken in, which spans a ten-year period. When you combine those... Read More

More Rules for Franchising?

The FTC- Mighty Federal Trade Commission has unilaterally decided to change the franchise rule. They changes are sure to hurt American business, Franchisors and the over 400,000 Franchisees in the United States today. These regulatory changes even if mere interpretations and opinion cause events which have unintended consequences. Such changes... Read More

Who Does Over Disclosure Really Hurt In Franchising?

Costs of over regulation and over disclosure end up hurting the very consumer that the regulatory bodies are trying to protect. Over disclosure and over regulation is in itself the worst evil of civilization, as it stifles free enterprise, innovation and free markets. In franchising the disclosure documents have in... Read More

The Number of Pages in the UFOC in Franchising is Still Growing Today

Today required franchise disclosure documents are over 200 pages generally. How many pages do you think the Uniform Franchise Offering Circular; UFOCs were 35 years ago for these ten-foot tall pillars of the franchising community like Kroc, Monhan and Rosenberg founded their companies? They were of course the founders of... Read More

FTC Adding to the Franchise Rule

Last summer the FTC put forth a report and then asked for comments on modifications of the franchise rule. There has been no real significant changes since the 1970's, but lots of opinions and case law along the way. All these complications of rules and the rules proposed today by... Read More

Too Many Lawyers in Franchising Today

Attorneys and Lawyers are ruining the franchise industry. It is too bad too, because franchising represents over 400,000 businesses in our country and accounts for just over one-third of every consumer dollar spent in this country. By over regulating and over lawyering the industry we are weakening our free markets... Read More

Lawyers Everywhere Telling Regulators What Laws to Make

The Federal Trade Commission decided to sit down and revamp the franchise rule of the 1970's. They started to do it in 1995 and postponed it then had some comments collected in 1997 and then in 1999. One thing, which is very interesting is most all the comments came from... Read More

FTC Report on Franchise Rule Making; What Purpose?

The Federal Trade Commission out of the blue decide in November of 2004 that they wanted to revamp the franchise and business opportunity rule; specifically addressing franchising. Now then, why now? To prove to the masses that the Federal Trade Commission is in control? After all it is nearly 10... Read More

Two Types Of Business Plan Cover Pages ? Which One Are You Using?

This is the tale of two business plans with very different cover pages. They both contain a unique and exciting business opportunity with the potential for high investment returns. Arriving in the morning mail, each neatly bound plan lands on the desk of the same potential business investor. Both plans... Read More

Be Prepared When Business Investors Look Beyond Your Business Plan

You have spent considerable time pulling your business plan together, contacting potential business investors, making management presentations and pitching your business plan to prospective business investors. Now you finally have a serious investor who wants to conduct "due diligence" before investing real cash into your business.Great! What's "due diligence?Due diligence... Read More

The Beauty of Focus and Plan B

Did you ever have one of those days or weeks when you said "What in the world am I doing running this business?!"Yeah. Me too. In fact, last month threw me for such a loop I really was beginning to wonder about my sanity.I'm sharing this story because I think... Read More

Computer Related Habits From Small Business Owner - Be Prepared, Avoid Despair

Aside from the fear of losing a spreadsheet or research project prepared for a client, what prompted me to write this article was the realization that it takes nothing short of persistent follow up to stay ahead of computer threats which could ruin my business. I also accepted the fact... Read More

Age Old Marketing Technique Improves Business Plan Executive Summaries

Every business plan book tells you how the Executive Summary is your opportunity to provide a brief overview of your business plan; capture your readers' attention and imagination; and, summarize the plan's highlights and key selling points.So, why am I telling you these 3 things when you probably already know... Read More

Starting An E-Commerce Business: Baby Steps

Starting your own e-commerce business can be quite the adventure. There is nothing wrong with falling head over heels in love with your ideas and plans and becoming overly excited, but always remember, feet first. Creating a business from scratch is like a child learning to walk. You need to... Read More

Expanding your business.

Are you a small business owner who wants to expand your business? Do you need to add another professional location to your company to test and explore a new market? Does a prospect of spending thousands of dollars to find a right location, sign a new long term office lease,... Read More

Web Based CRM Systems: Get Mobile; Get Results

Everyday more web based companies enter the business scene. The low initial investment, potentially high revenue, and convenience of owning and operating a business from your home PC or laptop is enticing an ever-increasing number of entrepreneurs to try their hand at e-business. Unfortunately, most of these would-be companies disappear... Read More

Accepting Checks in Your Business Virtually Risk Free

Most businesses accept checks as form of payment for goods and services. However, accepting checks can be a risky endeavor if your company doesn't follow good policies and procedures for preventing loss from bad checks. In fact, the reason some businesses do not accept checks is because of a history... Read More

Small Home Business: Ad Copy Secrets

So it's time to invest some finances into advertising your business and you are considering producing a flyer to advertise your business. Rather than sweat all night on writing the perfect flyer, first take some time to consider what the experts have found to be effective.Here are ten ad copy... Read More

Deciding Which State To Incorporate Your Small Business In

Once you've decided to incorporate your small business the next step is deciding which state to incorporate in. A common misconception is that businesses must incorporate in their state of operation. You can, in fact, incorporate in any one of the 50 states and the District of Columbia regardless of... Read More

Batting Cages Business - Making Profits With The Swing Of A Bat

There is a Batting Cages Business for those people who love baseball and/or softball. This business will make you a profit and will help raise the self-esteem of the children who come to your facility. Batting Cage complexes are popping up all over the world.A Batting Cages Business requires conviction... Read More

How to Profile a Client

At first glance, this topic may seem a little repetitive, but you will find that although you have done homework before getting a contract and already know a fair amount about your client, you, however, do not know everything that is pertinent to the job. Once you have the project... Read More

Creating a Power Plan

Part of the power plan is making sure you have all the necessary contact information within a company. It is one thing to have the CEO's information, as he is the decision-maker, but it is quite another to have the information on others that you may be working with directly.... Read More

Business Pain Defined

Every company has business pain, but the pain does not necessarily mean that they have a success problem. Pain can be anything from a minor dent, as when a marketing event does not produce the anticipated results, to a major process issue, as when reporting is not accurate. As you... Read More

What Is YOUR Value Proposition?

Every company has a value proposition. That is a statement of their perceived value to their clients. Often a company will have one perception at the executive level, another at the sales level, and even a third one at the client level.Value propositions need to be aligned so that the... Read More

Tracking Revenue For MORE Profits

The revenue history is a vital piece of your power page and you need to record that information. Keeping track of client revenues should not be done in a paper format, it should be recorded electronically. It is too easy to make mistakes when calculating by hand, the results of... Read More

Financial Dose for Business

The goals of businesses have undergone much evolution from the times when entrepreneurs were content with anything that they received above the capital invested. Businesses now want to expand their reach globally, riding on the wave of technology.Nevertheless, technology does not come cheap. A huge amount of capital is required... Read More

Local Government Relations for Small Business

Most small businesses simply go about their daily business and serving customers without ever worrying about local government relations. For some it turns out okay but for others it can become a disaster. You never know when a new project down the street may call for new plans to adjust... Read More

Setting Up a Pressure Washer Rig to Clean Concrete

Maximum efficiency in the cleaning industry is a key to survival and higher rates of income. The trailer or tuck unit needs to be set up so that you can use a garden hose and external water supply, because you never know when you are going to need one for... Read More

Pressure Washing; How to Bid Concrete Cleaning Jobs

Remember the cleaning business is all about time ratio to money. You want to be making at least a $1 a minute when doing concrete work at a minimum and aim for $100 to $200 per hour if you can get it. If you are not achieving this income level... Read More

Pressure Washer Concrete Cleaning Equipment

Cleaning concrete is tough and there is an easy way and a hard way. There is one thing you need to understand when you are pressure washer cleaning concrete; the concrete cannot always be made to look brand new again after it has been stained. You can always get stains... Read More

Creating a Dynamite Account Plan

Why do you need an account plan?When you first decide to approach a company through an introduction, networking event, or from your daily routine, you will need to put together and account plan. This account plan will be part of your power page and it will contain information about your... Read More

Business Reviews that Work

What is the satisfaction & expectation review of the business history to date?You have spent a lot of time and effort gathering information about your clients and potential customers. You have kept track of everything that you need to know and have followed-up with precision. It has now been awhile... Read More

Looking into the Future for Profits

How to identify future solutions and opportunities?Your power page, if used extensively, will help you to identify areas where the client may need more help or may need to purchase additional products. When you read through your notes, you will be able to pinpoint areas that will be a business... Read More

More Business Card Marketing

If you are worried about how many different business cards you should carry, let me speak from experience, you need only ONE!The best way to confuse a potential customer is to present them with more than one business card. You may be doing a number of things and have cards... Read More

What is your Motto?

Company mottos can easily be printed on a business card.Sometimes you wonder if a company motto is remembered by anyone in the company. If you ask them, they will have to search around to see if they can find where they wrote it before they will be able to tell... Read More

Creative Business Card Marketing

Announcements can be handed out as a business cardAnnouncements can be more than just a press release that lets the world know that something special has occurred at your place of business or to you personally. You can make announcements for almost anything. You can use it to invite people... Read More

More Business Card Uses

Why would you use an event pass?Event passes are often used as giveaways to entice people to attend some event. You will find that most time-share companies will have passes to be used to attend their spiel, plus they also give away other goodies. Event passes are used extensively; there... Read More

You Are Invited

Business card size works well for invitations to special events.What do you visualize when you think about invitations? More than likely you are thinking about a wedding or a party. You may even think about a verbal invitation that is extended to you for a business event. Invitations come in... Read More

The More you GIVE the More you GET

Why give freebies?We have all seen freebies at trade shows and we have all probably seen the person that goes from booth to booth collecting as much of it as possible. There is always someone that only goes to get the free stuff, but then again there are also people... Read More

Small Business Health Check-Up

If your home business is not performing the way you hoped for, rather than stay away at night...use this simple list to check-up on possible reasons why your business is under performing.1. You don't offer free original content.2. You don't use a signature file on your e-mails.3. You don't offer... Read More

Pressure Washing Companies; Pricing Dock and Deck Cleaning

If you own a Pressure Washing Company and wish to get business at the local Marina there are a few things you should know. You need to be careful in bidding these types of jobs.Square foot pricing is generally the industry standard. For example a 400 square foot one boat... Read More

Boat Hull Cleaning Procedures for Owners and Detailers

For really tough boat hull cleaning you will need to break out the acid. Muratic acid is the best for this. You'll want to have a 50/50 mix of muratic acid of 6-8% concentrated (12% is the highest concentration you can legally buy over the counter), water and a good... Read More

Boat Detailing Tips and Procedures

Auto detailers are often asked to clean boats and detail boat trailers. There is an easy and efficient way to do this with little effort. Washing and waxing boat trailers is an easy sale. Be sure to offer the boat owner a trailer wax. Let the owner know that a... Read More

Boat Detailers; Add-on Products and Services

As a Boat Detailing Specialist, you may want to offer services such as making sure your clients' boat's batteries are charged and offering to charge them or test the boat before they arrive for their departure. This is an easy service to provide and will keep you on the top... Read More

Environmental Boat Washing and Detailing

Some marine biologists feel that the concentration of dead marine growth on boats and in boat harbors can create hypoxic zones or a lack of oxygen. This causes a decline in the water quality and may at times cause adverse effects on living marine life such as salmon in the... Read More

Mobile Car Washes and Shoe Policies

Mobile carwashing is hard work, it is tough on the your body and it pays to have athletic type shoes that do not get wet easily. Sometimes rapid pace car washing in parking lots can be a lot like playing basketball, except you are on a slippery and uneven surface.... Read More

Incorporating a Small Business: S corporations versus C corporations

If you've been considering incorporating your small business, you've probably been confused about the difference between S and C corporations.The similarities between S and C corporations are as follows:1. Both S and C corporations are both separate legal entities that offer limited liability protection. If, for example, the corporation is... Read More

Franchisee; Vacation Managing

Do you own a franchised business? Over 400,000 franchised businesses currently operate in the United States, which is a true testament of free enterprise. There are many advantages of franchised businesses, which anyone who owns a small business has thought about. One thing they probably have not considered; whether they... Read More

Slip And Fall Professionals; Service Businesses

Since you own a business you probably have liability insurance to help you against a scam of slip and fallers. Some entrepreneurs call them slip and fall professionals. The scout out the area, bring friends as witnesses trip and fall and then file a lawsuit, go to their chiropractor who... Read More

Getting Grant Funding For Your Nonprofit Organization

Do you need grant funding for your nonprofit organization? If you do you are most certainly not alone in your needs. This combined with the fact that because of regular government budget cuts there's not as many federal dollars available as there once was. And because of our current economic... Read More

Book Yourself Solid Key #5: Go Forward With Gusto & Articulate What You Do

Want your small business to flip instead of flop?! Statistically half of the entrepreneurs reading this will be out of business in three short years. Establishing a long standing, profitable and successful business absolutely depends on your ability to convey a clear message. A heartfelt message that tells clients exactly... Read More

Does Your Small Business Marketing Suffer From The Bulldog Effect?

If you're an entrepreneur responsible for your own small business marketing, there's a marketing method you should avoid at all costs, which I've coined the bulldog effect for reasons you will understand shortly. Keep reading to find out if you're guilty of using this technique in your own marketing and... Read More

What Help is there for Veterans Starting a Business?

Some of the very qualities that attract people to the military life are what make them good candidates for an internet based home business. What are these qualities? A sense of adventure, an attraction to signs of leadership and the ability to discern what constitutes a good leader, courage and... Read More

Franchisor; Ongoing Support and Ideas

Ongoing support for a franchise system is omnipotent. A major part of any family relationship is communication. A large franchise system is similar to a giant family; it needs constant communication. By providing on going support for your franchisees, we will guarantee both success and open communication lines will strengthen... Read More

Are You Really the Boss in Your Own Business?

I recently met with a very successful magazine publisher who was telling me how a chain of retailers for his magazines wanted everything their own way, even at the expense of losing revenue for their stores and missing out on the opportunity to provide real customer service to the customer.He... Read More

Mobile Carwash; Senior Citizens and Mobile Homes

Senior citizens are generally not a large marketing segment for mobile detailers or car washers, however, they should not be ignored. You will find in a near by area a seniors-only mobile home park. You will also find square dance clubs and senior centers. All of these places can be... Read More

Mobile Detailing VS Fixed Site Detailers

Mobile detailers will find themselves with lots of competition even if they do not see them around town. There are also many fixed site detailers who specialize in wholesale detailing or the retail detail or both. Many fixed site detailers have accounts with new and used car dealerships. This provides... Read More

Sample; Territory Reduction Policy for a Franchise Company

I propose this thought on the subject of Franchisee territory reduction based on performance for a Mobile Business Model. Please read the sample policy below as it explains the reasoning and methodologies considered to extend brand without risking underdeveloped territory. We will use a Mobile Car Wash Franchise Business for... Read More

Small Business and Wichita

Owning a small business in Wichita, KS might not be a bad idea, job growth is good, housing has rebounded and the aviation manufacturing capital of the world is on an aileron roll. So consumer spending is up and retail and service sectors are doing fine again.Code Enforcement said to... Read More

Wichita Kansas is a Great Place to Run a Business

We love Wichita because it has great all round weather except during ice storms and the once in a while Tornado threat, which could carry away you best workers to meet Dorothy. 225 sunny days a year snow about 5 days a year. Which makes a Downtown out-door'sy type setting... Read More

Wichita KS; Anything is Possible in Wichita Business

Just when the entire state was kissing Wichita goodbye, economically speaking, they turn around their economy like a hammer-head stall. The BTK is caught and has gone away and the Aircraft Industry has decided to stay. Last year 40% of all the aircraft in the world were made in Wichita... Read More

Mobile Detailing Environmental Concern in the Deep South

Macon, GA goes after garage-gas station conversion detail/hand car washes for allowing storm drain pollution. I can remember a time when we were in the Macon GA. we stopped and talked to be head of the DEP and showed them pictures of people polluting after someone complained about our company... Read More

Small Business Grants - Tips from the Pros

Every business starts with an idea or a dream. To implement this idea or to turn your dream in to reality you require finance. A grant supports the business ideas and turns the dreams of an entrepreneur in to reality.There are many types of grants offered by the Governments and... Read More

Dispute Resolution of Territory for Mobile Franchised Companies

Franchisors of home based and mobile businesses need to carefully watch their franchisees who innately try to hunt in their fellow franchisees territories. The most important advice a franchisor should give the franchised outlets in this case is to work it out themselves. A simple policy is best for example... Read More

Home Based Franchise; What About Future Expansion?

As a franchisor I am always asked by new and existing franchisees about future expansion. I find this to be a most wonderful question because I admire the strength of today's entrepreneur. With all and over regulation we still see hard chargers willing to battle the Tsunami of laws, rules... Read More

Small Business Vendors; Getting the Best Service

If you are a small business you know that you must rely on your vendors to make sure you have everything your customers need. Lack of vendor support can lead to upset customers or even loss of your business. Be pleasant and courteous to all vendors and potential vendors. Try... Read More

Franchise Territories for Mobile Businesses; Why Limitations

In franchising an individual desirous of their own business will sign on with a franchising company and use their brand name, know how and expertise to make a living. The franchisor will generally assign an exclusive territory with limitations. In our franchise company we have mobile service units, which clean... Read More

Franchise Territories are Generally Delineated On a Map; Why?

If you own a mobile service or home based franchise your exclusive territory will be delineated on a map in the attachment of your franchise agreement. You will be assigned generally a single city, county or region and another franchisee or team member of the same system will not compete... Read More

Why Do Franchisors have Exclusive Territories

The reason we Franchisors call it an exclusive territory is because we will not sell that area again to another franchisee. That is your area to market and to conquer and to generally obtain as much market penetration as possible. If you are a home-based business or mobile franchise then... Read More

Cabinet Refacing Business Opportunities

With all the cabinet refacing business opportunities out there, you could have a home based business that grows in this expanding industry. You've wanted your own kitchen updated, or talked to friends and family who have put out thousands of dollars remodeling theirs. It is an industry that will expand... Read More

Dispute Resolution; Competing With Other Franchisees

If you are in a franchise and have a territory dispute with another franchisee you need to prevent a lawsuit use dispute resolution techniques to resolve the dispute. Competing with other franchisees is a subject that franchisors would prefer not to need to talk about. This is a real problem... Read More

Environmental Pressure Washing in Pennsylvania

If you run a mobile car wash, mobile fleet washing company, mobile auto detailing business or a Pressure Washing firm in Pennsylvania there are things you should know. Pennsylvania is serious about cleaning the environment.http://www.gggc.state.pa.usThey have a plan and a vision and they are dead serious about keeping their water... Read More

Excuses Franchisees Make; When They Violate Exclusive Territory Agreements

One of the biggest excuses franchisees of home based and serviced based franchises make when violating their exclusive franchise agreement with their franchisor and fellow franchisees is: My Family Works There. As a franchisor, I cannot believe how many times neighboring franchisees steal each others clientele or work outside their... Read More

Mobile Car and Truck Washing Vehicle Placement

To maximum potential profits and dollars in a mobile washing business it pays to set up in your mind in advance the best and most strategic place to park, before stopping to wash. You will obviously want to park your rig in a location that allows you to do as... Read More

Pressure Washer Companies and Steam Cleaner Maintenance

If you run a pressure washing business it is a must that you understand and take care of your equipment. It is your livelihood. Proper maintenance is a must. If your equipment does not work; you make no money.Your steam cleaner machine is really called a hot water-pressure washer. There... Read More

Routine Maintenance of High Pressure Hot Water Motors

If you run a pressure washer business you need complete uptime on your equipment, break downs can be costly if your billing rates are $100 to $150.00 per hour. If you are bidding by the job there are times when it is absolutely a great profession to be in. That... Read More

Comparing Boston Area for a mobile car wash business

The Boston suburbs seem to be rich with possible locations to wash cars and a mobile car wash would be well served in that market. The customers have good jobs, high paying salaries and indeed demand such personal car washing services. They desire these services at home and at work.... Read More

Boston Market; Mobile Auto Detailing

Boston itself covers 50 square miles of concrete and traffic, well city limits actually exactly 46 square miles, the entire metro area can be and is often over stated at 1100 square miles, but more realistically about 380 in our humble opinion. And you know some of that is water.... Read More

Boston Suburban areas a good choice to run a business

BioTechs even with the latest news had shed over 1000 jobs two years ago, as it was reported by The Financial Times, WSJ, and Bloomberg that only 17 of the nearly 1300 BioTech firms were actually profitable. In 2002 the number of jobs were in the 30,000 range in Biotech.... Read More

Pressure Washing Business; Steam Cleaner Fuel Maintenance

It is essential that you fully understand how the fuel system works on your hot water pressure washer or steam cleaner. If you mess it up it could catch on fire and if you are not right there to put it out, you could potentially lose your machine. This type... Read More

Setting Up as an Electronic Repair Authorized Service Center

If you plan to upgrade your workshop into an Authorized Service Center, this should guarantee plenty of work and a secure future. Setting up from scratch as an Authorized Service Center is not an easy job. Your workshop need to meet the manufacturers' requirement first before they can appoint your... Read More

How to Find Success in the Import Export Business

Take advantage of world politics today and start your own import export business. Are you organized, efficient, and ready to make your future in an opportunity all your own? Import Export Business Opportunities are expanding and there is room for you!In the early nineteen eighties, one of the most popular... Read More

Dont Wait - Sell The Future Now!

Just as you are about to say "good-bye" to your hair stylist, you get the question, "shall we make our next appointment?"Most businesses sell products or services that are cyclical in their "need" curve. In other words, the client has need of your product at regular intervals of time. Examples... Read More

Concrete Cleaning Discussed at World of Concrete Expo 03

If you are in the pressure washing business and are serious about what you clean on the ground floor, I suggest you attend the WOC. The WOC is the World of Concrete Expo in Las Vegas, which is held once per year. Each year it grows and is now one... Read More

Reclaim Equipment Detailing Industry and NPDES, EPA, Storm Water Rules

It behooves every professional mobile auto detailer to stay up with the reclaim equipment necessary to comply with the NPDES, EPA and storm water rules. Every company has a responsibility to not pollute the water supplies. If you are an auto detailer perhaps I might be able to assist you... Read More

Small Businesses You Can Start in Automotive

There are many choices when thinking about a small business involving your favorite hobby, cars. What about a Mobile detailing franchise? Yes they too are available. As a matter of fact there are many such choices and each is a little different let me explain.The Detail Guys had a portable... Read More

Business Debt Collection Letter Writing Secrets

Debt collection letters--an overview"Debt collection letter" in the singular may be an oxymoron, since unfortunately, one is rarely enough. You should have a series of letters to send to deadbeat clients, each one becoming a little more insistent. Here are some ideas for a five-letter series.Don't make your first letter... Read More

Detailing Business Options

So you want to get into the auto detailing business and are not sure what options are right for you? It is a difficult choice indeed and there are so many options. Let me tell you a few having been in the industry some 27-years, we have seen a lot... Read More

Professional Car Care Businesses You Can Start

If you are in the professional car care business you may be looking to expand your business, for that no one can blame you. But which add on service makes the most sense? You will have to make an honest assessment of your current clientele and decide that for your... Read More

Small Business CRM Is Here To Stay

If you ask most small business owners what priority CRM has in their short-term business plans, chances are you'll get more than one blank stare. The fact is that most small business owners don't even know what CRM is not to mention how significantly it can benefit their growing company.... Read More

How to Avoid the Most Common Reasons for Small Business Failure

The life cycle of the typical small business is short and painful. It starts out with a dream and ends with a whimper. And in between, a struggle of Herculean proportions is played out as the owner tries to figure out why the business isn't succeeding.Depending on which survey you... Read More

Real World Accounting for Small Business Owners

If you're like me, you love accounting. It's so fascinating and such an ingenious system. Don't you just think that Double Entry Accounting is the most beautiful creation of all humankind?Okay, let's get real. You probably think accounting is boring and best left to pencil pushing geeks (like me!). I... Read More

Top 10 Record Keeping Mistakes Business Owners Make (and How To Avoid Them)

If you interviewed business owners of failed businesses, a majority will tell you that they didn't understand or feel comfortable dealing with the "book work". Your ability to understand and perform day to day accounting tasks in your small business is a critical success factor. Here are some tips to... Read More

Encouraging Your Customers to Pay On Time

Nothing can drive a business down faster than customers who don't pay their bills as agreed. When you sell to customers on credit you are making an agreement with them. You will provide them with goods or services in exchange for their payment within the terms you agree upon. Period.What... Read More

Cost Effective Franchise Regulations, Come again

The Franchise Group at the Federal Trade Commission in all their ego and glory has proclaimed that franchise disclosure laws are "Cost Effective." I hate to break it to the FTC, but your comments and court are completely naked. The folks at the FTC are wearing no clothes. In a... Read More

FTC Franchise Rule if Enacted will Trigger Hardship for Private Sector

The FTC Franchise Rule maybe changed, as the Federal trade Commission has put out a report to the franchising industry as to upgrade the rule. If enacted will it will trigger hardship for private sector and cost many trees their lives; Paperwork. If this rule is passed; tree MUST die... Read More

Electronic Franchise Disclosure and E-Signature Future for Investors

It has been discussed allowing Franchising companies to electronically disclose franchise documents to the public and prospective franchisees. If the Federal Trade Commission wants to make UFOC information available electronically through email to catch up with the newest technologies then it will get complaints and make up another rule saying... Read More

Over Disclosure Hurts Businesses

Many investors and business ethics professionals are calling for more transparency and regulators are calling for more disclosure. Yet in the franchising industry this can spell disaster indeed. Often Competitors seeking information about companies will collect these documents and use it to the disadvantage of franchising companies.In my company we... Read More

Franchising Industry Burdened in Over Regulation

There were only an estimated 1800 active franchisors in this country at the end of 2002, that number down from 6000 in a single decade. It is not hard from this effort to increase regulations to see why. I believe the Federal Trade Commission's franchising expenditures should be cut by... Read More

Competition in the Market Place and Over Disclosure Regulatory Burden

The Federal Trade Commission is assisting competitor to cheat and encouraging this unethical behavior thru their disclosure rule on franchisors. Competition in the market place is far more competitive and the stakes are high enough that Over Disclosure Regulatory Rules cause competition to take the advantage and cheat. And before... Read More

432 Page Franchise Report by the FTC

The Federal Trade Commission is upgrading the franchise law and they have made a report. Recently I have been reviewing the FTC's franchise rule report page by page. I have was shocked to learn that after commenting on the first two paragraphs in the first page of information directly following... Read More

Franchise Companies Come and Go

Each day we hear of companies entering the franchising industry. This is good news for America, right? Well, yes and know. Yes, because franchising is the closest thing to the spirit of free enterprise as any other method of doing business and because franchising offers small business people advantages that... Read More

Pressure Washing Business and Post Fire Cleanups

Many have not experienced a fire up close. One year about 15 years ago I almost lost my house as did our neighbors to a wild fire. It moved so fast and the sky so black, with cinders everywhere and soot like a nuclear fallout horror movie. Luckily our neighborhood... Read More

Make Your Business More Profitable

More sales and more profit. Isn't that what you want from your business? It's not hard to achieve if you follow these 4 simple tips.1. Keep Adding More New MarketsEvery new market you open captures a new layer of sales ...and makes your business more secure. The more markets you... Read More

Why The Carwash Industry is Stagnant; What You Can Do to Change Your Field

Many years ago, I had warned the carwash industry of problems brewing in customer dissatisfaction as we continued to grow our car wash company into a National Franchise Chain. I warned of environmental controls, speed of wash, water usage, quality of labor, price points, car wash fundraisers, car damage, up... Read More

Politics, Environmental Rules, and Mobile Car Washes

During the California Recall Election, I was very interested. Without getting into the political scene at all; my entire company, The Car Wash Guys, and all our staff and franchisees were closely watching The California Recall and Election. Why you say? Why would a National Car Wash Franchising Company care... Read More

Cleaning Grain Silos, Towers, Containers, and Combines

If you run a pressure washing company in a rural market you will need to learn how to wash agricultural industry equipment and infrastructure. In our company The Tractor Wash Guys, we We have several years of experience washing combines. Phil Hasenhoehrl, a wheat farmer in Lewiston Idaho, was raised... Read More

Franchise Buyers Lying On Forms

The Federal Trade Commission which governs the franchise industry thru the franchise rule, which enforces Franchise Disclosure laws seems to think that consumers need to be protected even when they lie. Often The FTC takes complaints from consumers who claim they had been ripped off or lied to from someone... Read More

Bogus Investor and Consumer Complaints and Consumer Misrepresentation

Like most regulatory bodies in the United States, the Federal Trade Commission gets investor and consumer complaints. But how much of these are actually real? These agencies then act on such complaints and increase regulations. Let's look at the Franchising industry for example. The complaints of fraud are non-existent for... Read More

Franchise Buyers from Hell

I ran a franchise company for many years, a car wash franchise, and we use to get the most ridiculous franchise buyers who thought they wanted a franchise. It seems we had to deal with these Kookoo birds because they have consumer rights and the Federal Trade Commission, which looks... Read More

The Misconceptions of the Value Of Disclosures in Franchising

Disclosure laws in franchising are suppose to help the consumer. They don't. The FTC, which over sees franchising has in fact created a rule, which makes 5 lb. Disclosure documents for franchise buyers, which is so huge that no one ever reads it. I know when I personally meet a... Read More

Starting a New Business in a Small Town

Q. I am a former pastor who left the ministry after sixteen years to spend more time with my family. We moved to a very small town (less than ten thousand people) and I want to start an internet café business and also offer PC repair. How can I investigate... Read More

Trailblazer Interview with Diane J. Levin, Partnering Solutions

Today is a Red Letter Day! It's special because today is the first edition of the Trailblazer Interviews.You'll meet some of the most fascinating, talented folks in the ADR world who I call Trailblazers. These women and men have taken mediation and other ADR tools in directions no one ever... Read More

Presentations and Sales Automotive Detailers

Many auto detailers fall short in their sales presentations. I have often shopped the competition to see what their knowledge base was to gage their worthiness as a formidable competitor in the market place. What I have found is that many auto detailers lack the specific knowledge needed to help... Read More

Pressure Washing Heavy Equipment

One of the best ways to make money in the pressure washer business is to power wash heavy equipment. It is not necessarily easy work and you will get quite greasy but it is steady work and there is lots of it. You will need to know the different types... Read More

Pressure Washing of Paving Equipment and The EPA

Many pressure washing companies will be glad to take on additional work when a company calls them up to come and wash, but the days of cleaning asphalt compactors, steamrollers, paving equipment with diesel fuel are gone forever. If you are caught doing it the old fashioned way it's a... Read More

Sexual Harassment - Its just not on!

Sexual Harassment is a disturbing part of employment life in the modern era and is unacceptable! From junior clerk to boardroom it continues on in its various guises from seemingly harmless fun to stalking.In most countries there is comprehensive legislation that clearly prohibits this form of behaviour and puts business... Read More

Pressure Washing Graders and Tractor Motors

When pressure washing heavy equipment each piece of equipment has a slightly different procedure to ensure efficiency. When a pressure washing company is bidding such jobs by the piece of equipment instead of the hour, they must be cognizant of this so they can maximize profits. Loaders, backhoes, bull dozers... Read More

Modern Clear Coats, Auto Detailers and visit to Lexus of North America

We visited Lexus USA, home of the Lexus North America Head Quarters to help us better understand the latest innovations in automotive clear coast. As professional auto detailers we must know our customers cars and finishes. We are continually studying the different materials and automotive finishes on vehicles to determine... Read More

Don?t Quit Before You Get to the City!

We were more than excited. Our women's doubles tennis team had won our division, successfully competed in three rounds of the playoffs and had emerged as finalists in the city competition. We fought hard and the results had paid off, but things didn't always look so promising. Just last season... Read More

Common Mistakes When Planning Your Medical Spa

Everything starts with a business plan: If you don't have one. Write it. A good business plan will help you get a handle on all of the things that get glossed over in the excitement of starting a new business. It's also a usual requirement for getting financing.Remember that this... Read More

Fleet Washing Expansion Considerations

Many times small businesses want to expand their businesses and are not sure when the best time to do that might be. The key of course is cash flow. Will your current and brand new accounts afford you the cash flow to expand? Let us run thru a scenario with... Read More

Mobile Detailing Expansion Considerations

Expanding your business requires you to take a good hard look at your business (checking under the hood). You need to ask yourself. What am I making money at in my business and what isn't making a lot of money? It requires coordination with all aspects of your business. It... Read More

Your Business and the Story of a Tree; Part One

This morning, I went to take a short walk outside. I've been feeling a little more flexible since this weekend, and I figured a stroll would help me keep that liquid feeling in my bones that I've missed so much.I stopped when I came to a tree and had myself... Read More

Business Plans - What Consultants Don?t tell You!

Do you have a Business Plan? Congratulations, but you are in a small minority. And if you have a plan, is it integral to your business, and instrumental to its growth? If the answer to this question is yes, then you need to read no further. However, most business owners... Read More

Employee Induction - Are you Inducting your People - A Practical How To

In today's fast paced marketplace it is easy to neglect the small important things!Recently we assisted an organisation prove they had complied with their obligations in inducting their employee. The employee tried to bring a claim for severe stress against the business. If substantiated this may have resulted in the... Read More

11 Benefits of Starting a House Cleaning Business

One of the biggest fears people have about starting a house cleaning business is the fear of having no real security. But for natural entrepreneurs, security comes from designing your own life. My partner Ev and I discovered that we could create security when we put forth the effort to... Read More

How to Handle Rejection When You Start an Office Cleaning Business

"If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you."Thank goodness starting an office cleaning business isn't anything like skydiving! If you fall flat on your face, there's no chance that it's going to hurt that bad. Learning to handle the inevitable occurrence of rejection to the best... Read More

One Of The Best New Business Opportunities May Be Right In Your Home - A New Daycare Business

The day care industry is expanding. There are now more than 100,000 licensed child-care centers and 250,000 licensed family day care homes across the United States.The market for day care increases every year as the working mother in society increasingly return to work to contribute financially to the ongoing household... Read More

SBAs 8(a) Program Can Help Some Companies Compete

Q: A friend told me that as a woman of Native American descent I might be eligible for a special SBA program that will help me start a small business. He said I could compete for government contracts through this program. Can you tell me what SBA program he's referring... Read More

The Joy and Hazards Of Finding Your First Office

Q: I have outgrown my home office and need to find office space for me and two part time employees. I am really excited about opening my first official office, but never having rented commercial space before I don't know anything about how this process works. What are some things... Read More

Asphalt Paving: Striping Your Parking Lot

As you may already know, asphalt paved parking lots do need maintenance from time to time. One known asphalt paving maintenance technique is to have your parking lot re-striped to add a nicer look to existing asphalt paving properties.The repainting (striping) of an asphalt lot usually takes place every one... Read More

Awning Cleaning Business Case Study: Entrepreneurship 101

It is most fascinating to study how entrepreneurs spot opportunity in the market place. "My name is Lance Winslow and I am a serial entrepreneur, I admit I am addicted and need help." ..."Hello Lance." Let me explain how I formed one of my companies which became a franchise system... Read More

Boat Cleaning Business Case Study: Entrepreneurship 101

How do marine type businesses start? Have you ever thought of turning a hobby into a business? Let me tell you a story of how I got into the Boat Detailing Business when I started our in the car cleaning business which grew into a franchise system. So often we... Read More

Outsourcing and Virtual Assistants: Small Business Saviors

Work smarter, not harderWhat is one of the best ways to work smarter without working harder? The answer is outsourcing. Whether you need occasional or ongoing assistance, outsourcing can save you money and time. Graphic designers, copywriters, bookkeepers, website programmers, office assistants, and other types of professionals are all readily... Read More

Truck Wash Business Case Study

Often smart entrepreneurs look for out of the way businesses, things out of the mainstream but businesses, which have a good customer base and steady incomes. This is an extremely interesting story. I had always considered the mobile truck washing efforts to be very profitable and believed that fixed truck... Read More

Mobile Truck Washing, Case Study

Most folks in the pressure washing business are happier to do business cleaning concrete or flat work, because it appears to be easy. Some do both fleet truck washing and concrete, which makes sense. But what some do not understand is once you are totally efficient at truck washing you... Read More

Pressure Washing Business Case Study, Tractor Cleaning

So often small service businesses fail to exploit niches, which have little if any competition. I know as I built my companies we always tried to identify all the market niches and go after them. We were not always able to succeed at everything, occasionally we would fail; it happened... Read More

Home Based Franchise Case Study

Here is an interesting case study of a company, which franchised mobile car wash units. It started with the humblest of beginnings indeed. I can say that with complete knowledge because this is a company I started at age 12 years old. It was not until I was nearly 32... Read More

Carwash Franchisor Case Study

There are only a handful of car wash franchises in the world. This might offer some insight on how car wash franchises come into existence. This is a crazy story. It is the history of our company and how we ended up in the Carwash Franchise business. One of our... Read More

Truck Detailing Shop Business Case Study

As an entrepreneur you can learn a lot by following the real life case studies of other entrepreneurs. Often the text books in school leave out the beginning details and the juicy part of how it all comes together and is created out of nothing but a thought. I have... Read More

Mini-Blind Cleaning Business, Case Study

Sometimes the simple businesses are the ones, which make good money. Take mini-blind cleaning for instance. There are many successful small time entrepreneurs out there cleaning mini-blinds. Having been in the franchise cleaning business for some time, I often noticed exceptional entrepreneurs out there.We met Gary Hartman while searching through... Read More

Window Cleaning Business Case Study

How do window cleaning franchise businesses start? It is a fascinating case study indeed, as most all window cleaning businesses start from such humble beginnings; a bucket of water, a sharp entrepreneur and a quality squeegee. I never thought in a million years I would ever enter the Window Washing... Read More

How to Profit from Business Consulting Opportunities

Business consulting opportunities might be just what your are looking for in a home based business.What do you do? Do you possess a mastery of your career? Are you articulate and able to convey ideas clearly? If so, you may be the perfect candidate for providing business consulting services. From... Read More

How to Start a Carpet Cleaning Company

Opening a carpet cleaning business is a great way to earn money as your own boss. This is a relatively simple business to start, with low overhead, and little experience required. Start up costs can be minimal, if you shop around. Additionally, there is a steady market for quality work.Most... Read More

Mattress Cleaning Business: How To Manual

A Mattress Cleaning Business might be just for you if you have tried everything to contain your allergies, but feel like it is not enough. Instead of just purchasing the equipment to rid your fabric furniture and mattresses of allergens, you can also help others in your community to feel... Read More

Franchises Must Meet Legal Definition to be an Actual Franchise

All franchises must meet the legal definition of a franchise no matter what they call it before it is an actual franchise. This is the Federal Trade Commissions take on the franchise rule. It is not illegal to call a company a franchise even if it is not one and... Read More

Should I Franchise or Not?

A reader of one of my online sessions asked should he franchise his business or not. He had set up a service business and was getting ready to expand and wanted to know if franchising was a good potential strategy for this. How do I franchise my business? There are... Read More

1-2-3 Steps To A Successful Joint Venture

A successful joint venture marketing effort is the goal of many small businesses, and is a great way to increase market visibility and profits.Joint venture marketing is rising in popularity everyday, but it does take some skill, good planning and foresight to execute. Here are the steps a business owner... Read More

Survival Tips For Your Small Business

No matter type of business you operate you've got to know how to keep your business alive during economic recessions. Anytime the cash flow in a business, large or small, starts to tighten up, the money management of that business has to be run as a "tight ship."Pause Before PayingSome... Read More

Cashing In Your Chips & Pastures New

No, I'm not talking about gambling or dairy cows ? although business is often referred to as a gamble, I'm referring to your exit strategy. That time when you decide to 'play no more' and go off and practise your golf swing. Yup, I'm talking about selling your business? So... Read More

The Responsibility Conundrum - Where art Thou?

Mr/Ms, 'not me' is often on holidays in your business. Yes come rain or shine they attend the workplace and put in the day for you; coffee to drink, gossip to catch up on, spying on management and colleagues, frequent toilet breaks, long lunches, long phone calls and let not... Read More

Entrepreneurs and Franchisors Watch Out

New Franchisors and Entrepreneurs need to watch out as they enter into the world of franchising. What advice can I give to a new franchisor, I was asked today by another entrepreneur with a wonderful new concept; what are the tiger traps that lay ahead?So you are a new franchisor?... Read More

Do You Love Food? - Then Maybe Opening a Restaurant is Not Such a Crazy Idea

The restaurant industry in the United States employs an estimated 12.2 million people, making it the nation's largest employer outside of government agencies.The restaurant industry in the United States employs an estimated 12.2 million people, making it the nation's largest employer outside of government agencies. This industry provides work for... Read More

De-Ionization Decisions in Mobile Car Washing

Many mobile car wash operators would like to add de-ionized water to their cleaning process. However before you do this you need to understand the reality of the return on investment. You must also realize how the de-ionization process works.De-ionizing tanks take the water and clean it from 16 parts... Read More

Entrepreneurs Ask: What Can a Virtual Assistant Do For Me?

Great question!Freeing your time is an indisputably key element in growing your business! When you delegate tasks to the capable hands of a professional Virtual Assistant (VA), you can quickly and easily refocus your energies on other aspects of business directly linked to generating revenue.Partnering with a professional Virtual Assistant... Read More

Small Business Marketing Series ? Choosing a Niche Market

Many smaller businesses choose niche markets for various reasons and these niche markets can be very lucrative. This article will look at ways to identify and assess whether they are right for your business?For many smaller businesses it is important to have a focused strategy which enables them to operate... Read More

Franchises Offer Shortcuts, But Not Control

Q: I will be retiring this year at age 60 and intend to fulfill my lifelong dream of owning my own business. I'm too old to start from scratch, so I'm looking at several franchise opportunities, including fast food, auto parts, and an accounting service. What should I consider before... Read More

Franchising Pros and Cons

Last week's question from Anthony R. on how to choose the franchise that would best fulfill his life-long dream of owning his own business sparked a number of emails from other readers wanting to offer their two cents on the subject.Some folks offered helpful insights and suggestions on how to... Read More

5 Steps To Success for Small Business Owners

Everyone wants to succeed in life. Most people want to succeed in business. And no one starts a business of any sort wanting to fail.Yet the sad fact is that 80% of businesses will fail in the first 3 years of operation.So what can you do to ensure your success?Luckily... Read More

The ABCs of Fundraising

There are many little details that go into making sure your fundraising event is a successful event. The key is to have all your fundraising details laid out in front of you before you even start. Below are some tips to help you get started on the right foot for... Read More

Arranging Your Fundraiser

When deciding to host a fundraiser for your company or organization there are many fundraising ideas available to you for choosing. The most popular fundraising ideas range from chocolate, magazines and candles to candy and much more!When picking your fundraising product be sure to pick a product that will have... Read More

Canon City, Colorado - Good for Small Business

Canon City, Colorado is known for it's 6 Prisons; State and Federal, women's prison and juvenile. It is also home to the First Colorado Territorial Prison. Pictured here. Most of the people work for the prison system and it is the main employer of the town. This helps the local... Read More

North County San Diego Small Business

North County San Diego has had some significant growth, and it appears to be a wonderful place to run a business. It has a strong middle class upward bias and plenty of opportunity and employment. If you are thinking of a place to live near the California Coast some of... Read More

The Business Failed, But Did You?

Q: After years of dreaming about starting my own business, I finally took the plunge a little over a year ago. To say the least, my dream quickly became a nightmare. The business didn't do nearly as well as I had hoped. I ran out of money within six months... Read More

The Business Autopsy: A Fact Of Life

Last week we discussed the importance of performing an autopsy on a dead business. No, I haven't been watching too many of those wonderfully graphic, TV forensic investigation shows. The reason I recommend you do a business autopsy is to uncover the exact reasons why the business died. This is... Read More

There Are No Dumb Business Questions, Not!

Q: I'm curious. What is the dumbest business question you've ever been asked? -- Norris W.A: Shame on you, Norris. There is no such thing as a dumb business question. OK, that's not exactly true. There are dumb business questions and I do get quite a few of them. Not... Read More

Choosing A Business Thats Right For You

Q: I really want to start my own business, but I have no idea what business would be best suited for me. I'm also eager to get started, but I don't want to pick the wrong business just because I'm impatient. How should I go about deciding what business would... Read More

Is Brick and Mortar A Passing Fad?

Q: Is the online world the best place to sell a product or service these days? My friends seem to think that brick and mortar stores will totally disappear in the future. I debate this all the time with them, but it seems to be heading that way. Your thoughts?... Read More

ADH Will Make Your Life More Productive & Your Life More Profitable

What is a Virtual Assistant?? A Virtual Assistant is that indispensable element of your office staff - a professional that provides high quality administrative services in a highly scalable, value added format.? A Virtual Assistant is not an employee of your company, but rather an independent 1099 contractor who can... Read More

Want to Grow Your Business? Make an Irresistible Offer

My clients and many of my readers are small and home-based business owners, and one of the biggest struggles they face is getting new customers.Getting new customers is costly and requires a repeated effort. Once you have a customer it is easier to retain them as long as they are... Read More

How to Remove Stress from Owning a Business... Forever!

I meet and talk to hundreds and hundreds of business owners every year and do you know what I've discovered? Virtually all of them are regularly suffering from stress.It dawned on me while running a seminar one day... stress is caused by pressure. Isaac Newton's Second Law of Motion says... Read More

Starting is the Hardest Part

You can't imagine how many people ask me how I did it. To turn my back onto convention, to turn a deaf ear on the people who wants what is best for me, to snub my nose at people who thinks I am making one of the biggest mistakes in... Read More

Self-Employment: Do you know the Difference between Rates and Wages

The difference between rates and wages is not always clear to newly self-employed people and their wage-earning clients.Both look similar on the surface; both are expressed in dollars and cents per hour. But they each represent something very different.Wages are the payment a worker receives for his labor.Rates are the... Read More

Why is My Restaurant Not Full Every Monday Night?

In a quest for customers and to keep those customers, restaurants are now compelled to develop a marketing plan. Marketing plans are a crucial component for anyone who has the desire to make their restaurant a success.Marketing plans are a crucial component for anyone who has the desire to make... Read More

Preparing to Launch Your Small Business

Small business owners often enter their field with great expectations. Unfortunately, reality strikes shortly afterwards. Here's how you can enter the entrepreneurial battle ground with confidence...First, embrace the optimism but don't be blind to the obstacles in your path. You set yourself up for failure when your expectations are too... Read More

Got Stimulation?

An observation while returning home from a seminar: Getting away from the everyday allows room for analysis and new thoughts. Stimulation while away from the everyday energizes analytical and concept ional thinking.The above observation was formulated in-flight while attempting my normal travel timekiller, enjoying reading a popular adventure novel. But... Read More

Learning and Growing

As you reflect on this year and prepare for next year, what are the lessons you have learned in business and how do you plan to use those lessons to grow your business in the year ahead?And remember, in every challenge there is opportunity for growth so even if you... Read More

Where Can People Find Information About Starting A Business?

Approximately 200,000 new businesses are started each year. More people are expected to start a business for themselves this year than ever before. With economic fluctuations rippling through the business world, more and more people are getting laid off every day.People often need help finding the information they need to... Read More

Overcoming Your Biggest Competitor

Before you read any further in this article, I'd like you to take a moment and write down who your biggest competition is.OK, got it?I'm going to go out on a limb here and tell you that no matter what company you wrote down, you're wrong. Here's what I'll tell... Read More

The Triple A Way to Spark Your Companys Profits

Winning small and home based businesses today must continually shake things up to stay in the game. Whether it's adding new marketing twists on existing products and services or anticipating customer wants with compatible new items you can add to your product mix, hatching new ideas and concepts is vital... Read More

Business Success - The 42 Greatest Business Tips

What does it take to grow a business and run it successfully? The main ingredient is attention to the basics, operating with integrity and following the way other successful people have run their operations.Here are StartRunGrow.com's 42 greatest business tips for you to follow: Advisers - Make sure you talk... Read More

Bad Regulators Cost Small Businesses

When a regulator finds a target to go after to collect fees to insure next years budget, often it is a small business. In fact the definition of a small business includes what normal people might even think of as a medium sized business. Often a Federal Regulator might be... Read More

Look Out for that Great Accountant

There are many factors to be considered when you are trying to select the accountant who is right for you. In other words how to find that good one. Better still, how to find that "great one".Make up a shortlist of at least 4 or 5 potential candidates. Compare what... Read More

What is Rule 15c211 and Reverse Merger

Rule 15C211Under SEC Rule 15C211, a U.S. securities broker or dealer may not publish a quotation for any security unless certain information concerning the issuer is available and the broker or dealer has a reasonable basis for believing that the information is accurate. The information requirement is satisfied, in simple... Read More

Choosing a Truck Wash Location in Nevada, Case Study

There are several well-known truck washes in the Great State of Nevada. Truckers need to get their truck washes as they travel West into California after coming off the mountains thru the weather, which dirties their trucks. There are two truck washes in Reno and two in Las Vegas, another... Read More

A Gift Basket Home Business is an Easy Way to Wrap up Profits

You want to know more about making money with your own gift basket home business. You are a creative person and want a career that you can control and find rewarding at the same time. What better way to do this then to start a gift basket business in your... Read More

Going Public: The Process for Small and Mid-size Companies to Go Public

It's the dream of every person who starts a business to some day see it trading in one of the stock exchanges even after they are no longer associated with the company. The first step (#1) is simple since most small company are already incorporated and have a board of... Read More

A Portable Trade Show Exhibit Makes for an Easier Show

You can make your trade show experience much easier by using a portable exhibit. Since you control everything related to transporting it and setting it up, you won't have to hire firms to for those things for you.In contrast, a large exhibit requires you to rely on others to ship... Read More

6 Steps to a Successful Medical Spa Expansion

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, since 1997, nonsurgical procedures have increased by 471 percent. Jeff Russell, CEO of MedSpa Financing, comments "Medical Spas are a natural progression of medical practice expansion, having a medical doctor run them gives them the credibility and public confidence needed for... Read More

Do You Need the Help of a Virtual Assistant?

Running a business, whether large, small or in your home, is full of challenges. Getting the day-to-day tasks completed, e-mail, faxes and telephones answered, bills and statements sent out, reports run, schedule updated, travel arrangements made, marketing pieces and website updated, as well as a plethora of other tasks, can... Read More

Window Cleaning Business Start Up

Should you buy a business opportunity or Franchise if you want to get into the window cleaning business? Or just start your own and work hard; grow the business into a full-time profession and expand from there? Let us talk briefly about window cleaning franchises is in general.One could argue... Read More

Hispanic Small Business Advantage

One thing I have noticed in my travels to different markets is that Hispanic Small Business Owners have a very distinct advantage. They are friendly and very involved in their communities. Hispanic Business Men and Women are very socially active and if you look at their incredible unity, there is... Read More

Franchising 101- What You Absolutely Need to Know

Franchising has made the world look really small. The well known flavors are now not just restricted to a single town or city but can be enjoyed world wide. Otherwise it would only be a dream for somebody in Asia to wear the fashion of Europe, for the West to... Read More

Corporate Shells

A corporate shell could be liken to a house that had been occupied by a family, prior to the family moving out it was a home. But now it is just shell, a skeleton a plain house with nobody in it, but if a family was to purchase the house... Read More

City Wide Garage Sales: Hidden Riches!

Most of us remember going to at least one garage sale in our lives. It may have been called a yard sale, garage sale or flea market. The name didn't matter it was all the same. Other people selling what they thought was trash to people who thought the items... Read More

Recognizing Employees? Contributions Can Go a Long Way

Every employee would like to earn as high a salary as they can at their job but surprisingly it's not the number one motivating factor for them in the workplace. Human resource surveys indicate that wages are not even among the top five motivating factors for an employee. What does... Read More

Self-Employment: Managing Your Money: Tips for Living with a Fluctuating Cash Flow (Part One)

The way you manage your money is one of the first things you'll change when you move from employment to self-employment.You are moving from an environment where you received income in equal amounts at set intervals to one where your income fluctuates.Managing money in such circumstances is unfamiliar and, for... Read More

S Corporation ? What Is It?

For many small businesses, the "S" corporation is the business entity of choice. The "S" in S corporation refers to a tax designation. All corporations are created the same way under state law. A small business must then chose a tax status, to wit, "C", "S" or non-profit. Important issues... Read More

How to Profit from a Concrete Roof Tile Business

Concrete Roof Tile Business: During the 2004 summer season, storms plagued the United States. Damages from the Hurricanes in Florida alone sent resources in the southern states scrambling. The shortage of qualified roofing professionals and supplies were felt immediately. Roofers from all over the United States began hunting down supplies... Read More

Credit Repair Business Opportunities - Huge Profit Potential!

In the world today, many people are further in debt than they realize. When they finally come to understand they need help, they are on the brink of bankruptcy. However, President Bush's signature on the new bankruptcy law has changed this option. He has created booming credit repair business opportunities.This... Read More

Facts About Starting Elderly Group Home Businesses

There's been a recent rise in the number of elderly group home businesses springing up everywhere around the world, what with an estimated one in four families providing care for an elderly relative today. Before you decide to jump on the group home business bandwagon, though, you need to know... Read More

How to Become Successful in the Field of Financial Consultants

Financial Consultants are one of the fastest growing industries today. More and more people are requiring the services of a finance consultant to get out of debt, and/or prepare for educational and retirement expenses. The knowledge these consultants have creates an income potential for everyone involved.Becoming a financial consultant takes... Read More

How to Get Started As A Government Contractor

Becoming a contractor or sub-contractor for the U.S. government can bring in lucrative, on-going revenue to your small business. But doing business with the government is very different than typical business-to-business selling.For example, sales cycles can be much slower. There is a specific process that must be followed, and you'll... Read More

The Truth About Government Grants for Your Business

Free money! Receive up to $25,000 that never has to be paid back -- Guaranteed! Get a grant to start your own business today!If you're a small business owner, or you've always dreamed of starting your own business, you've probably run across ads like these. Companies that "guarantee" you'll get... Read More

How Micro Loans Can Mean Macro Success for Your Business

"Inch by inch, row by row...that's the way my garden grows" was a favorite saying of my grandmother's -- usually when she was trying to teach me something about patience!While I never mastered the art of having patience, I have learned how that saying can apply to creating a successful... Read More

Government Does Not Pay Its Bills on Time

Many small companies work very hard to get new accounts. Occasionally they try to get government contracts to supply products or services. Some small business people believe this will help them in case of recession, because the government has to keep going no matter what. They therefore seek a contract... Read More

Bringing Home the Bacon

In general, all of us know how to accomplish the task and get the work done. The problem is in how to actually 'get paid' for what we do. If you, like me and most of the entrepreneurs I've worked with, have completed the project, turned it in and been... Read More

Private Investigator Tactics

A Private Investigator is a professional trained in the art of investigations and surveillance. Otherwise known as Private eyes or, these professionals are for hire 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Many investigators have backgrounds in CIA, FBI, military, special forces, police, and government. I assume you all... Read More

Small Business Survival

In today's economic climate, the first priority for the small business entrepreneur is survival. A glance at newspapers, business journals, or cable news channels reveals a succession of corporations striving to stay on top of their game, and often failing, to slow the growth of outsourcing or to show real... Read More

In Home Daycare Businesses for Profit

To have one of the popular in home daycare businesses. Many people think all you have to do is love kids and have a home. But to have a successful daycare business, it takes a little more than that. Actually, it takes a lot more.Yes, to have one of the... Read More

Going Public: Now that You Have Successfully Made the Transition, What Do You Do?

Ok, you have successfully accomplished your dream of being the CEO of a public company. The stock of your company has a symbol and you are continually going to the computer to check the price, you tell all your relatives and friends and you even tried to encourage them to... Read More

Is Your Business Making Money?

Is your business making money? Would you know?Figuring out whether your business is actually making money is no easy task. Most small business owners have a pretty good idea of what their top line is (their revenues), but unless they're closely tracking and inputting all of their expenses, the bottom... Read More

Market Makers Play a Significant Role in Reverse Mergers

One overlooked individual in the process of taking a company public through reverse merger is the market maker. The market marker is critical especially if the company is going to be listed on OTC Bulletin Board or the NQB. Pink sheets.Once the private company has decided to go public and... Read More

Challenging the Gospel of Growth -- Must Business Grow to Survive?

A cherished business doctrine is that growth must be a primary business purpose: "grow or perish" is a mostly unquestioned truth. At South Mountain we favor certain kinds of growth, but not expansion for its own sake, which author Edward Abbey described as "the ideology of the cancer cell." We... Read More

Australian Workplace Agreements - How They Work For You

The employer / employee relations environment has been constantly evolving during the last 25 years. In Australia, as in many western nations, the balance between employers and employees has shifted back and forwards usually in response to supply and demand.At times worker organisations, such as unions, have caused considerable problems... Read More

How to Start Home Based Travel Businesses

Home based travel businesses are no longer the wave of the future. Home travel businesses are the hot trend right now. So if you're considering becoming a travel agent, this brief guide will provide you with information you need to know.First, there are generally two types of home travel businesses:Referral... Read More

Write An Effective Job Proposal

I am simply amazed at the problems some of my colleagues are experiencing regarding writing job proposals for customers. So often I hear that there has been some sort of disagreement between client and service provider, something that can and should be avoided before a project is started. Here are... Read More

Why You Need A Virtual Assistant

How much is your time really worth? Is it worth £50 an hour or £100 an hour? YOUR time is most valuable because it is your responsibility to generate new revenue for your business. Doing small and often trivial admin chores yourself does not really add value to your business... Read More

SBIR - A Nice Add-on Business

If you are a small business and qualify to participate in the SBIR program, it is a natural enhancer to your existing business. If you are small enough you may be able to start a company using SBIR funding, but you will soon come to realize that if your sources... Read More

10 Best Practices to Consider as Your SBIR Negotations Approach Contract Signature

10 Best Practices to consider as your SBIR negotiations approach contract signature:1. Draft your confirmation of negotiations, be sure to memorialize that this is an SBIR type contract along with the applicable data rights and SBIR related terms and conditions.2. Firm up the actual start date. There is not time... Read More

SBIR vs STTR

SBIR vs. STTR: If you are participating in the SBIR program you may also want to consider participating in the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program. The STTR program is considered SBIR's twin sister, although there are some added hoops one must jump through in order to participate. Like SBIR,... Read More

FFP vs. CPFF Contracts

SBIR Corner: FFP vs. CPFF contracts:In the SBIR/STTR world, the single most important decision you need to make is whether you are going to bid a job as Firm Fixed Price (FFP) or as Cost plus Fixed Fee (CPFF). These are two very different contract types and the decision to... Read More

Grants vs. Contracts

Commonly folks have asked me what the technical difference is between a contract and a grant. The difference is not about the dollar value or who the buying entity is nor the kind of work being done. Instead it is about the legal concept of default. In my eyes, the... Read More

Retail Customer Opportunities for Pressure Washing Companies

Pressure washing companies must look for customers in the retail industry to make sure they stay busy. Large Box Stores and Grocery Stores are often you best customers in that regard. Cleaning concrete or doing "flat work" makes sense for a number of reasons, 1.) It is not labor intensive... Read More

Lubbock TX Good Market for a Service Business

We very much like what we see in Lubbock, TX as a good place for a service business. The city is a very well designed and laid out town with growth in the 4-5% per year range, growth in the Northwest quadrant of the city is steady and good. We... Read More

Loose Lips Sink Ships - The Fastest Way to Put Yourself Out of Business

I agree that knowledge should be free, but the next person I see revealing their hard attained business practices in a public forum, I am going to feel the need to approach them, make them choose their own switch from an outside tree, then whip them with it.This is the... Read More

Do You Microbifer in Your Cleaning Business?

Microfiber cleaning towels have been around for about ten years now. When I first heard about them they were being sold through distributors in an MLM business. Since my business was professional house cleaning, I couldn't see how they could benefit me due to the high cost.But I've been wondering... Read More

Tips and Tricks for Legal Debt Collections

If a customer owes your local business money, it's hard not to feel angry, like you want to do anything possible to get your money back. But the days of going all out to collect on a debt over. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, designed to protect consumers from... Read More

Genius Time? It Matters

I frequently give presentations at small business gatherings, providing me the opportunity to have engaging conversations with owners about the challenges they face. Based on their input, the economy continues to plug along, heading in the right direction, and distancing itself from the difficult journey of the past few years.... Read More

How to Find a Microenterprise Loan for Your Business

If you're looking for start-up capital for your business, but you don't have the credit, collateral or background needed by your bank to get a business loan, then microenterprise might be your best bet.Microenterprise Development programs have been around since the 1970s. They were created as a way of helping... Read More

Business Owners - Do You Actually Own a Job?

How many hours do you work a week? When was the last time you took an uninterrupted holiday? Do your staff have a better job than you? Now ask yourself, Do I Own a Business or a Job- with Overheads? Are you happy about the answers to these questions? If... Read More

Franchise Company Operations Manual Sample Outline

Many companies wish to expand and a few wish to use franchising as a method of expansion. Not a bad idea, but one must consider the importance of the fine details. One book I recommend you read is the "E-Myth" by Gerber it is available at all the usual places.... Read More

Does Your Company Have a Business Image Manual

Every business regardless of size needs a "Business Image Manual" to protect their band. Even the smallest companies with only a few employees is well served when there is a business image manual in place. For 15 years I ran a small business, which I eventually franchised and later expanded... Read More

Community Relations Strategy for Small Business

Does your company have a community relation strategy? Have you even considered it? It is essential to have policies in place. Having run a small business for years which eventually turned into a multi-state franchise system, I realized early on that a business who is part of the community it... Read More

Employee Relations Manual Sample Outline

Most smart entrepreneurs and all large corporations have Employee Relations Manuals. Nearly all businesses with over five or more employees have some sort of employee manuals but not all have Employee Relations Manuals for their managers. It is important in today's litigious lawyer trap to have a good policy in... Read More

Franchising Companies Relationship Strategies

Franchising Corporations need to maintain an iron fist when it comes to certain things in order to maintain absolute integrity of the system; Consistency, Quality, Cleanliness and Customer Courtesy or Service. Ray Kroc in his book; "Grinding it Out" made that point perfectly clear, some called him a hard ass... Read More

Combating Over Regulation of Small Business

Many small businesses do quite well due to the blood, sweat and tears of their proprietors. Unfortunately in doing to well often you find that the competition uses the government to attack you. They do this by complaining to various local agencies about how you are not following certain rules,... Read More

Competition Relations in Auto Detailing

There is significant competition in auto detailing and car washing. Even more between types of cleaning businesses, as each company attempts to expand into other services which are the mainstay of similar business models. Many times the line blurs between a car wash, oil change business, truck repair, auto accessories... Read More

Equipment Maintenance Manual for Mobile Cleaning Business Outline

Service Cleaning Businesses must maintain their equipment in order to insure it is ready to go when the company vehicles reach their customer. It does not matter how many service vehicles or employees you have, a manual can save you both time and money. If your equipment is not running... Read More

Accounting and Billing Procedures for Small Business

No matter how small your small business is, it is essential to have some sort of accounting and billing police and methodology. This will prevent you from making mistakes and upsetting vendors or even bouncing checks. Most sole proprietor and single employee companies do not have a plan of attack... Read More

Banking and Company Credit Card Policies for Small Business

Does your small business have a banking and credit card policy? If not, perhaps you might wish to think on it. Developing such policies and procedures is not a difficult task. It will not take you long at all to make a relatively simple operations manual to cover your banking... Read More

Franchising and Royalty Payments

If you are thinking of turning your current into a franchising company you will need to determine a fair and equitable franchise royalty fee. There are a number of questions you will need to ask yourself in determining this fee such as what services you will provide to your franchisee... Read More

Mobile Pressure Washing and Cleaning Scheduling

If you own a mobile car washing, pressure washing or auto detailing business you know that when your crews and machines are parked and working that you are making money. You also know that when those units and crews are driving or stuck in traffic you are losing your shirt... Read More

Quality Controls for Franchising Companies Sample Outline

Quality control in franchising companies is paramount and all franchising companies must have strict guidelines to insure consistency. To insure this takes place throughout your franchise system you must make this a policy in your confidential operations manual. Your first step should be to make an outline of your policies... Read More

Carwash Manual Sample Outline

Car wash businesses are unique to other businesses. In fact they are about as unique as the many different type of vehicles one is asked to wash. Many vehicles are best cleaned using slightly different techniques. If you own a carwash or a mobile car wash you will need an... Read More

Fleet Washing Operations Manual Sample Outline

In the Truck Washing Business every single type of vehicle is washed differently. If you are going to run a mobile onsite fleet washing business with multiple trucks in multiple cities you will in fact need a comprehensive manual to keep your crews and equipment running at an optimum. Below... Read More

Aircraft Washing Service Operations Manual

Anyone who is serious about washing aircraft as a full time profession should be prepared to write a manual, which will insure proper procedures are followed during the washing process. Each crew team leader and manager should be well versed and trained in washing each type of aircraft. Many surfaces... Read More

Motorcycle Detailing Procedures Manual Sample Outline

If you are a motorcycle detailer and need to expand your business you will need to have several crews working for you. Each team will need a team leader and/or manager. The motorcycle crowd is indeed a close nit bunch and groups of riders will provide you with endless referrals... Read More

Top Ten Blunders Business Owners Make

In today's marketplace the words 'job security' have become an oxymoron. So more and more people are venturing on their own. But is it the right thing to do? Are they ready for it?Here are the top reasons people are starting their own businesses:1. Companies are cutting jobs with lay... Read More

Are You Running Your Business or Is Your Business Running You?

Being a small or home-based business owner can be loads of fun and very rewarding.You may have decided to go into business because of your need for personal freedom or to fully unleash your creative genius. You may also have decided to go into business to supplement your existing income,... Read More

50 Ways to Save Money

There are countless ways to save your business money. Unfortunately, many Australian businesses are overlooking them, or simply don't have the time to go searching them out.Buyer's remorse is not a new idea. You may have experienced it right after a friend revealed he'd paid $100 less for his state-of-the-art... Read More

Reaping the Rewards of Cost Cutting

In these days of insecurity and uncertain futures, the tendency is to manage for survival but the smart business leaders are actively hunting for profits.And they are doing this without launching costly new initiatives or major capital investments. Seems difficult? Only if we are bound by the traditional approaches to... Read More

Lack of Vigilance Can Harm the Bottom Line

The easiest way to lift profits is to cut the fat out of costs.Cost cutting and profit increases can amount to much the same thing if handled correctly. Cost cutting does not necessarily mean the slashing-and-burning of budgets on a 'let's-see-if-this-works' whim, nor does it mean the intense scrutiny of... Read More

Five Quick Ways to Speed Up Cash Flow

At one point or another, almost every business runs short of cash. Whether due to normal fluctuations in demand or an unexpected decline in sales, cash shortfalls are the bane of every company, and are responsible for sleepless nights for many business owners.Yet, there are a number of simple ways... Read More

Small Business 101: Deadly Ignorance

American small business is again in transition. Many employees, now working from home, are no longer tied to a geographic office and the woes of commuting. This is a relatively new phenomenon with hints of explosive sector growth in the days ahead. As this turbulent economy has forced downsizing, offshore... Read More

How To Start A Blind Cleaning Business Quickly And Easily

Starting the blind cleaning business is one of the best marketable business ideas you could latch on to. If you give the requisite amount of time and dedication, there will be no cap on your earnings. No wonder, there is pleasure unlimited in being one's own boss. A lot of... Read More

Buy a Flower Shop: Serious Considerations

You've always liked flowers and you think the idea of turning emotions into floral expressions sounds like tremendous fun. You are between careers and have been investigating business opportunities in your community. Yesterday, while perusing the real estate magazine in your county, you notice that the family owned, downtown flower... Read More

Start a Resume Writing Service for Profit

The resume writing service serves an important role in the economy. Many qualified candidates have a difficult time marketing themselves to employers and turn to a professional writing service for assistance. A successful resume is more than just a job history. As an experienced resume writer, you can provide the... Read More

Do Your Best; Hire the Rest

One of the hidden perks of raising six children is the learning laboratory it provides for the parents. My wife and I have learned how important it is to teach our children to do things for themselves and become problem solvers. There isn't enough time to do it any other... Read More

Consistency with Janitorial and Cleaning Businesses

Consistency is a huge word when operating your business. I believe it is one of the key ingredients to success. You should strive to keep things exactly the same on a daily basis. A quick example, something that upsets me, if I go to McDonald's at 10:30 P.M. a 1/2... Read More

There Is Security in Change... But Use Caution

It has been said that the only constant is change. That statement, while true for everyone, it is especially true for those engaged in business activities.Business is an environment based on change ? competition forces change on us. Our customers and clients always want new products and services. They want... Read More

Janitorial Cleaning Service: Getting Started

A janitorial cleaning service is one of the best businesses for a hardworking, blue collar person to start from scratch. Every business and every building needs to be cleaned once in a while - in some cases, many times each day. With the overhead involved with hiring employees to provide... Read More

Internships: Good for Everyone

Many job applicants want a job but often do not have the prerequisite experience, experience that they can only have by getting a job. Managers who take the chance and hire them may have to spend considerable time and effort training them, only to find the new recruits unsuitable or... Read More

Implementing an Internship Program

CONSIDERING COMPANY NEEDS: In identifying your needs for the internship, you need to examine the chief responsibilities of the position. And the broader they are, the more flexibility you will be giving yourself and the intern. Decide upon how often you will need the intern. Gauge any time factor related... Read More

Beginning an Internship Program

CONSIDERATIONS FOR YOUR INTERN: Specify the number of hours the intern will be needed each week. Will specific hours be adhered to, or will the schedule be more flexible? Applicants want to know up front what they will be paid, if anything. At this point specify whether the intern will... Read More

Are You Making the Most of Your Intern?

KEEPING INTEREST HIGH: Supervision is key to the success of the program. Interns like direction, but don't like to feel they are being constantly checked on. Even this small amount of direction, however, can take a great deal of time. It is important to be willing to set aside this... Read More

Going Public by Way of Regulation D (504) Offering

Under the Securities Act of 1933, any offer to sell securities must either be registered with the SEC or meet an exemption. Regulation D (or Reg D) provides three exemptions from the registration requirements, allowing some smaller companies to offer and sell their securities without having to register the securities... Read More

How to Curb Antique Shop Theft Inexpensively

If you have ever had your antique shop or mall ripped off, you understand that it's very hard to detect. There are simply so many items to keep track of, and an item can be missing literally for months and you may not realize it.Curb theft dramtically by using a... Read More

Packing Material Thats Cheap!

Shipping materials can be expensive! Even the styrofoam "peanuts" can cost a great deal. Here's a great idea for packing paterial that is bio-digradable, easy, and best of all...CHEAP!Popcorn! Yep, popcorn! It is a wonderful packing product if it is done right. Here's how to make it the right way... Read More

Temporary Staffing Agency: How to Start

The temporary staffing industry continues to expand, with yearly double-digit growth being commonplace. Companies find it convenient and cost-effective to work with a temporary staffing agency to fulfill unforeseen demand, fill short-term vacancies, and assist with changing workloads due to restructuring or mergers. Additionally, employers are enticed by the idea... Read More

Mobile Car Wash Market Opportunities in California

The current lack of industry leaders represents an exceptional opportunity for a large and organized mobile car wash company to achieve regional domination and eventually dominate the Southern California carwash market. The best place to start a regional assault on this market would be to concentrate North and West of... Read More

Franchisor Prospect Checklist Sample Form

Due to the over regulation in the Franchising Industry and the litigation it is important to keep impeccable records. From the first phone call, email to the signing of the franchise agreement everything should be documented. Below is a checklist we created for our franchise company and one I wish... Read More

Designing a Franchise Training Program

If you intend to franchise your company you will need to design a bullet proof training company for your new franchisees. This is above and beyond the training program you will design for them to administer to their new employees. Remember when training new franchisees it is similar to training... Read More

Franchises: How to Find the Best Franchise Opportunity for You

If you are looking for a franchise opportunity, the choice is mind boggling. There are literally hundreds if not thousands of different types of franchise available for you to invest in, with the same variety in cost. Each have their own benefits and usually the more you pay the more... Read More

Tips For Successful Home Show Businesses

Opportunities for home show businesses have never been more abundant. If you're thinking about joining the ranks of those in the many show businesses at home available, use these quick tips to get going.The choices for show businesses at home come in a wide variety. You can choose anything from... Read More

Collection Agency Selection

Frankly, given the legal and regulatory requirements involved in attempting to collect a debt, it makes as much sense to do it yourself as it does to try to remove your own appendix. A collection agency is, on the whole, much cheaper than a doctors - and lawyers. Do yourself... Read More

Increase Sales in Your Home Business With These 10 Simple Ideas

Every home business has the same problem of how to increase sales without a hugely expensive marketing campaign. By utilising the following simple ideas you will be able to do just that.1) Use your invoices as an advertising tool.Whether you get your invoices printed professionally or use the invoicing function... Read More

10 Ways to Start a Business on a Budget

If you've been thinking about starting a business, but are held back due to cash-flow issues, there are plenty of ways you can get your plans off the ground. Though your vision may be to own a big store, restaurant, warehouse, or office, consider starting on a smaller scale.Every business... Read More

Effective Customer Interviews Make Life Much Easier!

One of the critical success factors for service-related businesses is our ability to understand a client's needs and requirements. Misunderstandings can lead to loss of repeat business, economic loss, and damage to reputation.Although interactions in small business are often much more casual than those at the big end of town,... Read More

Job Costing - Do You Know How?

What's your job profitability? I meet with business owners every day that are unsure of their profitability at a company or job level. They "think" they are making money because they have a few dollars in their checking account. Having money in your checking account doesn't mean you are profitable.... Read More

Money Series 1: Who Takes Your Money

Your business is making profits, but where is the cash? It seems that someone has taken away your money. Your bank account is still the same, and your personal wealth is still the same. There must be someone that took your money. Based on my over 18 years of professional... Read More

How Disabled Veterans Can Win Government Contracts

The Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) is a program that allows small businesses to self-certify as service-disabled veteran-owned businesses providing them increased opportunities to win government contracts. Significantly and permanently impaired veterans may be assisted in the daily business operations by a spouse or permanent caregiver.Should a competitor challenge a... Read More

Financial Strategies for a Mobile Car Wash Business Plan

Writing a business plan for a mobile car wash is fairly easy, yet often operators fall down in understanding the financial strategies and costs. Bankers and Investors alike will want to see that you have a well thought out business plan to insure your start-up goes successfully. Below you will... Read More

Technology Community Helps SMBs Focus on Their Core Business

If you're starting your own business or currently work for a start-up, you wear a lot of hats. Any disruption in your business can eat up hours of your time and kill your productivity. Many start-ups are so focused on getting their business off the ground, that they overlook technology... Read More

Pressure Washing Market Niche

Those who are in the pressure washer business should not neglect the Hotel exterior cleaning niche. Many five-star hotels spend significant dollars in making sure that their grounds are meticulously cleaned. There are also many regular hotels, which take pride in their hotels. It would be wise to have a... Read More

How to Wash Mobile Homes as a Business

Washing manufactured homes, mobile homes, can be a lucrative and steady business. Generally Mobile Home owners desire to have their mobile homes washed twice per year. There are many mobile home washing companies who make a very good living and have multiple rigs running. If you currently own a pressure... Read More

Cleaning Service Stations with a Pressure Washer

Fuel prices these days are quite high and they take their toll on a service business. It is time to strike back. If you own a cleaning business that uses pressure washers why not clean service stations and get some of your money back as you pay $2.30 per gallon... Read More

Why Clean Mobile Homes for a Business?

Manufactured and Mobile Home owners know that the weather this year will be quite harsh. It's imperative these owners to clean out rain gutters and debris from on top of their homes. They realize that they must thoroughly wash off this summer's dirt so they do not have drip marks... Read More

Pressure Washing Aircraft Hangers at the Airport

If you are looking for a way to own your own business using a pressure washer or expand your current pressure washing business you might consider cleaning Aircraft Hangers out at the airport. Why Wash Aircraft hangers? For one it can lead to much more work cleaning all sorts of... Read More

Mobile Car Wash and Cleaning Post Office Jeeps

If you own a mobile truck washing, pressure washing or mobile car wash business you may wish to consider washing postal vehicles. They have one of the largest fleets in the world and they are relatively easy to wash. Yes, like all quasi-government agencies they pay slowly, but you know... Read More

Pressure Washing at Golf Courses

There are many potential niches for pressure washing companies that often go unchecked. Some are quite lucrative and are worth investigation if you own a pressure washing business. One such niche is the pressure washing of golf courses, clubs houses, golf carts and facilities. To target this specialization of services... Read More

Why are Reverse Mergers Often the Victims of Short Sellers?

There is a great deal of abuse going on in the OTC Bulletin Board Market and a lot of money is being made as result of it. Regulators are trying to deal with the problem but are unable to put a halt to it, unless they take drastic steps which... Read More

The 5 Habits of Highly Successful Small-Business Owners

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a business that consistently grows and another that struggles just to make ends meet? Or why a business that was started in a basement of a home can outperform some of the best-run "big" companies in sales and profits?Two businesses, operating... Read More

The Step Zero Effect

The key to organizational focus and helping those who need what you do is knowing, precisely, what you do well -- and what you don't do well.Once there was a semiconductor company in financial trouble. Profits were dropping, and the company was losing money every quarter. The pressure was on... Read More

How to become a Career Coach for Profit

A career coach could be simply defined your job seeking partner. A career coach could be a career management coach, who helps you in managing your career or a career marketing coach, who helps you build contacts, posts your resumes, tries to find the best jobs for you and helps... Read More

Build Credibility with Expertise

As an Investment Representative you've worked hard to build trust with your pension clients. Now, you can solidify that long term relationship with your expertise on one of the greatest fears of small business retirement plan sponsors.Next to an audit, nothing frightens retirement plan sponsors more than a notification letter... Read More

Increase Your Profits with a Point of Sale (POS) System

Whether you operate a chain of restaurants, a mom-and-pop convenience store, or a medium-sized retail shop, you are in business to make money. And, one of the most critical aspects to your profit and loss is your ability to track information? you need to know which products are making you... Read More

How to Prepare for Your Start-Up Venture!

When you awoke this morning, you found yourself buzzing with a fantastic idea for starting a new business and you hadn't a doubt in your mind that you could turn it into a huge success. But now what? All those great ideas floating around in your head and you're excited... Read More

The SBAs Savviest Program

Forget everything you've ever heard about the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The negative connotations may have been warranted in the past, but the SBA is different these days. The SBA is worth every penny of its more than $22 billion budget on the basis of a single program alone:... Read More

1 Overlooked Key to Small Business Success

Is this you?You dreamed of owning your own business, doing what you love and enjoying unlimited earning potential. You researched. You planned. You prepared. Finally, you launched.Your dream was realized...and then your business started to grow! Could it get any better? Well, yes, but if you're like many others, you... Read More

Small Business Debt Collection Laws

In your small business debt collection laws will eventually become important, as your debt grows and some clients do not pay. To collect small business debts legally, you must send a written notice that collections have begun, within five days of first contacting the debtor for collections. The letter must... Read More

Do Home Businesses Complicate Small Business Debt Collection Laws?

The home-based business market, sometimes called the SOHO (small-office/home-office) market, is booming. As more and more B2B businesses expand into these markets, they may find themselves walking a fine line between B2B and B2C.Why is this important from a legal standpoint? Federal debt collections laws tend to treat business and... Read More

Dont Let Your Small Business Fall in the FDCPA Trap

When someone owes your small business money, you certainly feel like a victim. But did you know that if you aren't careful, you could break the law by trying to get the money back?How to Break a Federal Debt Collection LawYou have a small business, and your bills are coming... Read More

Justice In Action

During the 1980 presidential campaign, candidate Ronald Reagan vowed, if elected, to appoint the first woman to the United States Supreme Court. Six months after his inauguration, President Reagan kept his promise ? nominating a member of the Arizona Court of Appeals. The Senate soon confirmed her by a vote... Read More

Small Business Checks ? Money Saving Options

When you go into business for yourself, there are many things to consider. What you don't want to worry about is spending too much money on unnecessary items. Business checks are one of those things. They don't have to be expensive. Your bottom line keeps your business going, and it... Read More

7 Tips To Improve Your Cash Flow

Cash is King?That is what everyone tells us and it is true! You cannot function successfully in any business without proper cash flow. So if this Cash Principle is so well known, then why is it that so many businesses struggle? Sometimes the obvious is not always so obvious when... Read More

Financial Fundamentals - What Every Small Business Owner Should Know!

Business owners rarely go into business to deal with the financial aspects of running a business. It's easy to understand why! You are passionate about the products or services you provide and want to focus your time there. The financial aspect usually falls to the bottom of the "desired responsibilities"... Read More

5 Tips for Hiring a GREAT Bookkeeper

Bookkeeping?the "dreaded" word is something we all have to worry about. Business owners rarely go into business to deal with the financial aspects of running a business. It's easy to understand why! Who wants to do all those boring record keeping functions? Not many. Therefore, one of the first things... Read More

Motorizing for Profit - The Craftsmen Have Left the Building

In the summer, I can't drive two blocks without seeing the activity of the construction industry. Road contractors, house builders and landscapers are everywhere.From my less than scientific windshield study, it seems that to remain competitive and to attract willing employees in the contracting industry, every tool needs to be... Read More

Reverse Merger: Have They Taken the Reverse out of Reverse Merger?

Are the promoters and consultants destroying the market for Reverse Merger? First lets take a look at reverse merger. In a Reverse Merger, an operating private company merges with a public company that has little or no assets, nor know liabilities (the "shell").In some rare instances, the shell may have... Read More

Doing Business With Friends: Five Tips for Preserving the Friendship... and Your Sanity!

My colleague, Jane, recently lamented to me an all too familiar story about mixing business and friendship. Jane subcontracted copywriting work out her friend, Joan. Jane's copywriting business was blossoming (partly in response to her most recent brilliant article marketing campaign) and giving the work to Joan seemed like a... Read More

Pressure Washing and Hospital Accounts

Most pressure washing companies never look into some of the best niche markets. One, which you may not have thought about is Hospitals and if you run a pressure washing company it can mean good steady income. When contract cleaning you must figure out the needs of your clientele; Hospitals... Read More

Creating a Paperless Office

When working from home, it is usual to find that you have your office in an area that is not very big, such as a box room or even in the corner of the kitchen. When your business really takes off, you will begin to discover that your work area... Read More

How the Crab Effect Obstructs Growth and How to Conquer It

Some of the greatest words of wisdom for any man or woman seeking change or growth are, "Surround yourself with people who will support and believe in you."Creating any kind of significant change requires determination, focus, energy, a game plan, and more than anything else, desire and a positive attitude.Sometimes,... Read More

20 Great Ways to Market Your Business Locally

Whether your target audience is in your neighborhood or across the world, you can use your local resources to get the word out about your business. Your local community is easily accessible and provides dozens of opportunities for building a buzz about your product or service. The following are twenty... Read More

Employee Monitoring - Business Risks For Employers And How To Avoid Them

E-mail and Internet use are integral parts of the typical worker's daily routine. Because of its speed and overall convenience, e-mail has replaced the interoffice memorandum as the preferred method of communication. Employee access to the Internet also is important as a means of conducting job-related research and transactions.For these... Read More

Look Like Sizzle, Be The Steak

You've heard marketing and advertising gurus quip, "Sell the sizzle, not the steak." Advertising initiatives best reach their target audience with benefits and the "wow" effect, not the value or features of their product or service. This may work well to get customers in the door. But once they're in,... Read More

Collaborative Negotiating: A Win-Win Strategy

COLLABORATIVE NEGOTIATING:Collaborative negotiating is a win-win strategy that can focus the resources of the people involved in the process towards strengthening results, productivity, quality, creativity, and innovation in problem-solving. To use the collaborative approach to negotiating you will have to agree on the aim of negotiations. Before any sort of... Read More

A Business Tail: Veterinarian Foams at Mouth, Chases Tail, Learns New Tricks--Case Study

Many self employed professionals find themselves overwhelmed, frustrated, and confused when it comes to running their businesses. The deep skills they have in their professional field do little to prepare them for the dog-eat-dog world of running a business. The following is a case study from the client files of... Read More

How To Write A Business Plan

Writing a business plan is a fundamental step to ensuring your business has every chance of succeeding. Common statistics state that 9 out of 10 businesses fail on the first 5 years of operation, and of the remaining 10%, 90% fail in the following 5 years.Why? There may be a... Read More

How to Start a Paper Shredding Business

Paper Shredding Business Opportunities are blossoming up everywhere because in recent years, privacy concerns and new policies have forced companies all over the country to invest in paper shredding services. Large corporations and small are in need of shredding services.Even in many homes, people have purchased small, trash can sized... Read More

Start a Technical Writing Service

Technical writing services are employed to explain the details of a topic in a way that is easily understood by the readers. In todays information age, technical writing jobs are increasingly common. One would think that, eventually, everything useful will have been written! This is not the case, however, and... Read More

Not Listening Can Hurt Your Small Business

Most small business owners seek advisors who can help them improve their businesses. They want advice from those who have the experience and really know what they're talking about. But they can only benefit from the sound counsel if they listen to the expert's guidance. Unfortunately, there are some entrepreneurs... Read More

A Look at Incorporating a Business in Florida

As you may know, there are many ways to incorporate a business in Florida. While companies exist to do the legwork and paperwork for you, the most direct way is to contact the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporation's website itself.When you visit the website for the Florida Department... Read More

Multiple Clients Create Your Independent Business

Would you rather have one good client paying you five thousand dollars per month or ten smaller clients paying you five hundred dollars each per month? Here are two good reasons for choosing multiple clients over just one client.1. Avoid Dependence on One ClientDon't put all your eggs in one... Read More

Does Your Business Need a Toll-Free 800 Number?

Should your business have a toll free number for customers to make sales, service and billing inquirers? The industry began in the early 1970's and today most customers expect you to have it. Providing a toll free line can bring in a number of benefits to your business.From the customer... Read More

Where To Get Money For a Franchise Idea

How often have you thumbed through a business opportunity magazine, noticed a franchise opportunity advertisement, and felt you'd really like to get in on that...if only you had the money? If you're like most who are seeking greater opportunity and wealth, this probably happens with you more often than you... Read More

Gold Medal Delegation

When the recent Games of the XXVIII Olympiad came to a close in Athens, two events stood out in my mind as perfect examples of the importance of time management:1. Teenage swimmer Michael Phelps, America's most-celebrated Olympic athlete, matched Mark Spitz's record of four individual gold medals with a stirring... Read More

Taking Stock

Back when I owned an inventory-based business, one of my better customers had a clever barb in his repertoire. If we were out of anything he needed in his order, he would say "You know, this would be a great place to open a supply house."But supply, we did for... Read More

Drivng Home the Point - An Outsourcing Story in China

A few years ago, I visited Beijing for the first time. At Beijing airport, I got into a taxi and paid 450 yuan (about US$54) to get to the city. I was horrified to find out later that the normal taxi fare for the same distance was 60 yuan!The next... Read More

Mission Statements: More Important Than You Thought

If an organization lacks a mission statement, it is worthwhile to at least try to draft one. Even if it does not yield an acceptable final draft, the exercise will be rewarding for the hard work which must go into figuring out the company's direction and putative purpose.Mission statements can... Read More

The Perfect Mission Statement

One way to determine your companies mission statement is based on a general overview of the company. Some important questions are asked like: Why does the company exist and what kind of business is it in? Is there a particular market or niche that it will concentrate upon? How will... Read More

How to Start an Office Support Service

Office support services can range from basic data entry to a fully-staffed office handling all the details of a client's business.An office support service company can start very small, offering only a limited selection of services and expanding as you gain the capacity to do so. This modular approach makes... Read More

Virtual Assistant ? Questions Answered

What is a Virtual Assistant?A Virtual Assistant is a person or persons with whom businesses and individuals outsource administrative and technical tasks. Virtual Assistants work from their home office. Virtual Assistants are entrepreneurs. A Virtual Assistant is a qualified, skilled individual who makes your business their business.Why should I outsource... Read More

Patient Records - Your Responsibilities

As a practise gets larger & larger the associated problems that you inherit increase with that growth. The Practise Manager finds it increasingly difficult to tend to his duties and look after the administration of the Practise. One of those areas of responsibility is the keeping of Records of Patients... Read More

Proper Care and Feeding of the Business Owner

That sizzling sound you're hearing may be a symptom of a major hidden cause of businesses closing their doors. It's called burnout. And you may be its next victim. Often the last thing a business owner considers is his or her health and sanity. The burnout that results from overwork... Read More

So What? How to Elicit Benefits from Features

"So what?" is a lovely question.It can lead to a punch on the nose if you tactlessly say it to others to challenge their ideas but, when you use it to question your own decisions it has endless uses. Today I'm going to describe a process for applying it to... Read More

Yeah, It IS Lonely At the Top

Sometimes when you run a business you feel as lonely as the Maytag repairman. Loneliness and isolation are very common problems for business owners. You sit at your desk wondering if you are steering your business in the right direction. When faced with a decision, you worry that you may... Read More

A Key to Success: Be Consistent

Over the years I heard the best way to learn something is to to teach it. Well, this week's topic, practicing consistent behavior, is definitely something I need to learn and practice more effectively.When I made the commitment to refocus my energies on writing again, I had the best intentions.... Read More

Beating the Small Business Cash Flow Blues

Small business owners can relieve a lot of their own cash flow problems, according to Caroline Jordan, small business advisor and author. "Small business owners have more control over their cash flow than they realize." says Jordan.To help you get a jumpstart on solving your own cash flow woes, Jordan... Read More

Tell Me a Story: A Simple But Powerful Tool to Build Your Business

Everyone loves a good story. Whether it's the story of your vacation to an exotic place, the story of how you met your spouse, or the story of your small business, people get drawn in and feel involved. Storytelling is as old as civilization itself.I participated in a seminar a... Read More

The Care and Feeding of Your Small Business

While I was hard at work last week, an everyday drama was playing out in a hospital room in the next town. My niece was working on presenting me with a new great nephew. Tyler James came into the world Thursday afternoon, mother and child are both doing well. Naturally,... Read More

Is It Recess Yet?! Confessions of a Self Employed Workaholic

I have a confession to make. My name is Caroline and I'm a workaholic. I try to pretend I don't have a problem. I try to cover it up. But, in the end I'm faced with the cold hard truth that I am a person who works too much. I... Read More

Small Business Success Tip: Learn Something New Everyday

Your grandfather probably told you to "learn something new everyday". Your grandfather was giving you advice that works for your small business as well as your own education.One of my clients reminded me, this week, of the importance of learning something new everyday. He has a piece of his business... Read More

6 of 1, Half Dozen of the Other

Motivational author and speaker Jim Rohn says that for a business to succeed it takes about ahalf dozen things. Of all the millions of things you do, it's really that half dozen that count.Of course, the trick is figuring out which half dozen things to do to help your business... Read More

The Hidden Treasure in Your Business

I started working with another new client last week. He has been in business for about a year and a half. Yes, he has managed to make plenty of mistakes, like we all do. But, he has done something so very right that I thought I'd share it with you.This... Read More

Hard Money Lenders -- No Money Down The Easy Way

Would it help you as a real estate investor to be able to "Close For Cash in Days," even if you're tapped out financially?Hard money lenders are perhaps the best way to get 100% financing with easy qualifying, money for fix- up, and fast closings.So what can hard money lenders... Read More

A Look at Small Business Incorporating in Florida

The choice to incorporate a small business in Florida has several advantages. Corporations are separate legal entities and, as such, the corporation rather than individual owners pay both the taxes and the liabilities. If you are thinking of running (or are currently running) a small business, incorporating in Florida might... Read More

How the Humble Ice Cube Made Business History

Gather round while I tell you the story of Kennebec Ice. It's a story full of valuable business lessons even though it happened long ago.Once upon a time, before the invention of modern refrigeration, folks kept their food cold by using large blocks of ice. That ice was readily available... Read More

Nevada Incorporation: The Advantages of Incorporating in Nevada

Incorporation in Nevada has become an attractive option for savvy business entrepreneurs, and for good reason. Nevada corporations enjoy many benefits just not available anywhere else. We will not only investigate why this is so, but you will also know what to be aware of when incorporating in Nevada, and... Read More

Business Valuation is Critical

What is Business Valuation? The term business valuation is the method by which the business worth is determined. This usually happens when the business is for sale, when the business is looking for extra funding from the banks, when the business is considering taking on extra investors, or where the... Read More

Collect that Debt - Your Business Depends on it

The efficiency of debt collection is the difference between a business that will succeed and a business that closes up.If you do not have control of your debt collection then you will eventually fail. All businesses that grant credit will be faced with the problem of bad debt at some... Read More

Family Business and Conflicts

What is a Family Business? A family business is basically any business in which the majority of the ownership or control lies within a family. Involvement of members of family in a business can bring with it its own complexities because the line between the business system is sometimes separated... Read More

Personal Success - Take a Break from Business

Have Some Time to Yourself One of the most important things you can have when running a successful business, is to have time for yourself. Every small business owner needs to make time to be quiet.The following facts apply in every small business: You will always have deadlines to meet.No... Read More

Questions to Ask as Your Business Grows

Here are some of the questions that you need to ask yourself regarding various areas of the business before you start your growth push. Are you clear on the goals of your business? Are your managers and other staff also up to date with these goals? Does your accountant or... Read More

Winning in Business - Lessons from Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong this week won an unprecedented 7th Tour de France victory, confirming him as one of the greatest cyclists of all time. The fact that he won more Tour victories than anyone else in history is remarkable. But more incredible is that had to overcome life threatening cancer to... Read More

The Advisory Board: A Business Owners Most Valuable Resource

As a company grows, the owner's role begins to change. More and more of the owner's time is spent "in the shop or in the field" handling day-to-day operations rather than focusing on high-level planning and strategic issues.As a result, a company often reaches a plateau and finds it difficult... Read More

Business Owner--Educate Thyself!

Remember the training programs, seminars, and workshops you had to attend when you were on the corporate side of the table? You were expected to complete course after course for professional development and skill enhancement. Well, where do you get your training now that you are on your own? Do... Read More

Predicting Business Retirement Satisfaction for Business Owners

Most business owners do not think of selling their companies as "retiring". Instead, these vital entrepreneurs see selling their business as a "transition." For most business owners this does not mean slowing down or endless days of rest and relaxation. Rather they see "retirement" as a new, active stage in... Read More

Success & The Nature of Things

The story is told of a tiger chasing some goats to catch one for dinner. During the chase the tiger is injured and as she is dying, gives birth to a tiger cub. The goats had never seen a baby tiger before, so they stopped running to watch and decided... Read More

How to Write a Credit Policy for Your Business

The book, "Become the Squeaky Wheel," by New Hampshire author Michelle Dunn, says the different ways people use and extend credit makes or breaks your credit policy and bottom line, which could result in less or more sales and money for your business."Business owners all have different types of businesses... Read More

Sex Up Your Business Growth

A top executive called up me late in the night. He was still awake at 3 o'clock. He told me that he has not been sleeping for last 3 nights. Problem at his working place is working it effect on his marital life with wife. Although problem in professional life... Read More

Uncover Free Veins Of Gold By Prospecting Online Guru Newsletters (Part 1 of 2)

Incredible as it sounds, you have a goldmine of free business advice and resources available to you for starting an online business. Many entrepreneurs are taking advantage of the unbelievable opportunity of financial independence by starting an Internet business.Over 300,000 individuals already are on the Internet earning enough income to... Read More

To Buy A Fat Pig

What does buying a fat pig have to do with your business? Stick with me and all will be revealed.Does your business have a tactical and a strategic way to go to market? Let's go down to Mr. Hoover's butcher shop to see how it's done.Mr. Hoover has been selling... Read More

Big Successes Never Happen Overnight

Treat your business as a serious, full-time business and be serious about making it work. Put your plans on paper. Neglecting to develop and follow a consistent marketing plan can be devastating to the growth of your business. Big successes never happen overnight. Market and promote your business everyday. There... Read More

Using Holidays to Put Some Extra Cheer in Your Cash Box

No matter your age or station in life, we all look forward to holidays. They give us a reason to decorate, celebrate, and most of all, spend.Think back to any of last year's holidays. Did you buy some new decorations? Probably. Did you plan a party or host a dinner?... Read More

Solving the Late Paying Customer Blues

Nothing can drive a business down faster than customers who don't pay their bills as agreed. When you sell to customers on credit you are making an agreement with them. You will provide them with goods or services in exchange for their payment within the terms you agree upon. Period.What... Read More

How to Raise Your Fees and Thrill Your Customers

Think the best way to get more customers is to have the lowest prices in town? Think again. Think the best way to create a successful business is to try to appeal to everyone? Wrong again.The only good thing about having the lowest prices and trying to appeal to everyone... Read More

The Wrap on Ag Plastic

While driving through Pennsylvania farmland, you have probably noticed an increased amount of white plastic bundles stacked in lines or piles along farm buildings or edges of farm fields. Sometimes referred to as "marshmallows" or "long white tubes", etc. these objects are increasing in farmer popularity and represent a changing... Read More

Increase the Wealth in Your Community

Many of us have noticed how some nearby communities seem to be "wealthier" than other nearby communities. They seem to have more shopping markets, more restaurants, more choices; items often cost more in these communities than they do in surrounding areas, yet the affluence remains where the prices are high;... Read More

A Day in the Life of a Self Employed Professional

It's Monday morning and Connie the Consultant sits in her executive office chair overseeing her business empire. Her desk is strewn with half finished projects, several weeks worth of to do lists (none of them completed), scribbled post it notes, and a permission slip for her daughter's field trip to... Read More

11 Things Small Business Owners Can Learn From The Supreme Court

1. Have A Strong Constitution ? Justices deliver decisions by interpreting the U.S. Constitution. Never let the challenges of running your small business overwhelm your judgment.2. Trust Your Beliefs ? Members of the Court maintain supreme confidence in their opinions. Know your core values, and let them serve each day... Read More

11 Things Small Business Owners Can Learn From Rudy Giuliani

1. Leadership Is Learned ? While many people appear to have an innate ability to lead, most learn from their life and business experiences, then put these lessons into practice. Giuliani wrote, "The greatest leadership you ever have is the ability to lead your own life."2. Understand Good Leaders, Not... Read More

11 Things Small Business Owners Can Learn From The Miracle On Ice

1. Know Where You're Going ? Coach Herb Brooks had a strategic plan for assembling the American team. Take time to determine the direction you want to take your small business, then put in place the action steps and players to accomplish your goals.2. Rise To The Occasion ? 13... Read More

11 Things Small Business Owners Can Learn From Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

1. Everyone Makes A Difference ? Despite not letting him play in their games, the other reindeer came to understand Rudolph's importance. Look for the talents in each of your employees.2. Have Courage And Confidence ? At first Rudolph ran from his problems, then he came back to face them.... Read More

11 Things Small Business Owners Can Learn From Tiger

1. There Are No "gimmes" ? They count two-foot putts on the PGA Tour. Hold your small business team accountable for completing everything they commit to starting.2. Set Priorities ? Like Jack Nicklaus before him, Tiger plans his schedule around peaking at the majors. Make time to prioritize your daily,... Read More

Explode Your Consulting Income

Here are just a few ways to increase and diversify your income from your consulting business.1. Sell More Services to Your Existing ClientsInstead of spending all that time and money trying to get new business, why not try to sell more services to your existing client base?If you are an... Read More

Marketing a New or Small Business on a Budget

There are almost as many opinions and views on marketing as there are companies to market. The big names and multinationals will have an extraordinary amount of funding set aside in which to convey their marketing message to the masses.The process will involve an inordinate amount of people, multiple marketing... Read More

Eight Ways To Improve Your Companys Cash-Flow ? TODAY!

Cash is the lifeblood of any business. As humans need air to breath and food to eat, your business requires customers that provides the primary substance that keeps a business in business: cash.But in the real world, businesses that invoice their customers for payment can face a challenge in getting... Read More

Six Sigma for Small Business

It is not surprising that some people may perceive Six Sigma as being only for large corporations. Major corporations such as Allied Signal, Black & Decker, Dow Chemical, Dupont, Federal Express, General Electric, Johnson and Johnson, Kodak, Motorola, Sony, and Toshiba have all rolled out Six Sigma efforts and achieved... Read More

Expand Your Professional Organizer Business

Grow your Professional Organizer business by branching out into related areas. If you have been doing the same old thing for a while, and are comfortable with it, it may be time to stretch your capabilities and offer something new.1. Teach Organizing ClassesYou are an expert in organizing ? why... Read More

The Skills Gap: It Pays to Use Experts

By outsourcing to skilled professionals you'll be able to grow your business without adding overhead.Here are some of the costs associated with growing a business through acquiring staff:* recruitment* payroll and tax obligations* national insurance* employers liability* benefits (pension, car, medical, dental)* holiday pay / sick pay / maternity pay... Read More

How To Build Business Credit

Having their own business is something many millions of people dream of doing. Many do, of course, but so many others never quite get around to it. One of the factors that may discourage people from getting that business off the ground, is a lack of start up capital; and... Read More

Take a Break - Have a Pity Party

Pity parties are nothing new. In fact, we do it all the time and I'm guessing that you probably go to many... you know, you get together with some friends and you'll bemoan the state of your industry. No one understands what we do and how we can help them.... Read More

Entrepreneur to Employer

You make the decision to go into business and for some time work from home or in leased premises and your business starts to grow.Like all businesses you experience growing pains. Cash Flow is sometimes tight, customers come in ebbs and flows but you continue to make progress.You win a... Read More

How to Compete with the Big Guns?!

Many small business startups fail within the first 2 years of existence. There are several different factors reason for the failure. One reason many entrepreneurs often under estimate the need to find a niche market and to serve it well. Instead of finding the niche market they attack the big... Read More

Why Does a Business Fail and What Can You Do to Stop It?

I believe the number one reason why a business will fail is lack of planning. This can be due to various reasons, perhaps because the market research wasn't sufficiently carried out in the first place, or because the financial burden was higher than was planned for etc.Sometimes business failure happens... Read More

The Most Important Decision of Your Massage Business Career

Don't you find that there are so many decisions you need to make each and every day regarding the direction of your massage practice. Especially if you are a solo-preneur or own your own massage business.As a business owner myself I know at times it can seem overwhelming, wearing all... Read More

Increase Profits With a Small Investment of Time and No Money

The less a business pays for goods and services the more profit that business generates. How does a small business with limited purchasing power get access to lower cost goods and services? The answer is simple. Pool the purchasing power of many small businesses to increase the purchasing power of... Read More

11 Things Small Business Owners Can Learn From Punxsutawney Phil

1. Look Over Your Shoulder ? Of course, Punxsutawney Phil has to look over his to search for his shadow. You should, too, every so often, to check out your competition?and see whether they're gaining on (or leading) you.2. Be Unique ? While groundhogs normally live six to eight years,... Read More

Small Business Franchise Opportunities

Many businesses offer small business franchise opportunities. There are many things that are needed for a small business of this kind, but the rewards are great. Franchising allows you to take on a proven and marketable brand and logo, without having to go through the time, effort, and money to... Read More

Five Break-through Ideas to Immediately Increase Profits and Improve Cash Flow

Too often in business we get trapped into reviewing our sales numbers without analyzing the all important "profit" number. This is commonly referred to as the "bottom-line" of a business. There are various ways you can dramatically impact your profitability.1) Under Pricing Kills Profits!Many small businesses have thinner profit margins... Read More

Your Small Business Suggestion Box

A suggestion box is a really good idea for your business. It can help you get valuable feedback from your customers -- feedback that they don't normally think to share with you. Whether your business is a brick and mortar location or purely virtual, it's important to hear from your... Read More

Small Business Publicity -- Worth It?

You bet it's worth it. Publicity via news releases, along with building relationships with reporters and editors is really good for your small business.As one who is adamant about "it's not who you know, it's who knows you," news releases play a big part in that awareness. Plus getting publicity... Read More

What Your Small Business Can Learn From The Doctor

Most doctors never distinguish the difference between customers and patients. That's why they have waiting rooms instead of reception areas.Walk into most any doctor's office and you'll see numerous chairs -- typically full of people waiting to see the doctor -- and signs that tell you what you can't do... Read More

But Weve Always Done It This Way

Sacred cows take a long time to die. We get comfortable in the way we do things and lose sight of how they could be improved. Here's an interesting story.A woman was in the process of fixing her special holiday ham. She cleaned it and then took a huge knife,... Read More

If You Want To Be Remembered...

Send handwritten notes. That applies whether you're a guy or a gal. It's not about being touchy-feely, it's about maintaining good business relationships with the people you know and the prospects you meet.Think about this. When you get your mail, what's the first envelope that gets opened? For most people,... Read More

Small Business Support Equals Survival

Support is critical for your small business survival. You may shy away from the thought of having an advisory board to guide you through your rough spots, but having a group of professionals who are willing to be your sounding board can mean the difference between success and failure.Your board... Read More

Small Business Stress Buster: Completion not Perfection

Completion not Perfection Five Keys To Doubling Your Productivity and Boosting Your EffectivenessI frequently meet with business owners and executives who feel overworked and undervalued. Many of them are highly gifted and are in fact contributing a huge amount of work, energy and brilliance to the companies they own or... Read More

The Key to a Successful Business

Where would a business be without a business plan? A business plan sets the course for the future of the business. It gives the business owner or manager a sense of direction, listing the objectives and goals of the business from the outset.Writing a business plan requires a lot of... Read More

Using Excel Payroll Sheet to Make Payroll System Easier

For the employees, payday is the brightest day; they finally get the compensation they so well deserve for the services they rendered. For the employer, this could be nerve-wracking, not because they don't want to pay their employees, but because some employers have a hard time calculating the payroll. Some... Read More

Get Free Payroll Forms Download from the Internet

Having a successful business means also having a good working relationship with your employees, and nothing more makes it sour than having problems with the payroll. You can't expect them to work gratis, employees expect to be paid and compensated fairly. If this is done, the working environment will be... Read More

Find Some Sample Payroll Check Stubs on the Net for Easy Reference

Starting a business? For many people, the bravery to venture out on your own is the ultimate dream, you're your own boss, you make your own time, and your dreams of making it big in the independent business lives on. But don't forget there are many responsibilities. As the business... Read More

Low Cost or Highly Funded Start Up

Many new ventures are preoccupied with all the money they are going to make, rather than how they are going to the about making it. Set realistic goals by setting realistic steps-discreet 'doable' actions, each of which connects to the next one in some logical progression.At some point you have... Read More

3.5 Million People And A Possible UK Home Business Opportunity

Has this ever happened to you... 'John, you have a lot of mail this morning dear'. Stunned as a goldfish you walk over to the kitchen table and pick up the envelopes. Each one is a quality envelope that has an address label with your name on it. You flick... Read More

Be Nice to Your Payroll Department

Ok, so next to the taxman, your company payroll department might well be the most criticised people on the planet. Of course, when your pay is accurate and on time then you love the payroll people with a passion but when things go wrong it is a completely different matter.... Read More

How to Increase the Cash Flow in Your Private Practice in 30 Days

If you have a busy private practice, chances are you also have pockets of cash lying around available for the plucking. It simply hasn't been collected yet, and may even have been overlooked. Here are 10 ways to increase your cash flow over the next 30 days.Collect at the Time... Read More

Top 10 Rules for Small Business Success

1. TargetYou are not all things to all people. Decide on your niche--narrow your focus and broaden your appeal.2. Be DifferentIf your competitors are doing it, don't. Stand out from an overcrowded marketplace where so much of the advertising and products look the same.3. Build a TeamDon't hire an employee... Read More

Round Pegs In Round Holes: The Amazing Secret of Succeeding in Any Business Every Time!

Success is the desire of everyman on the face of this earth. There is no normal human being without this yearning. Unfortunately, statistics shows that just about 4% (some even quote 2%) of the human race experience real success. I hope your dream is to be among this 4%. The... Read More

How to Make Your Business Image Stand Out Above The Crowd

Traditional advertising methods are still being used for almost 90% of businesses today. The number one problem with this, is that all everyone else seems to be following the same old methods.No matter how expensive, does your advertising look and sound like a lot of other advertising? If you take... Read More

Have You Thanked Your Competitors Today?

Competition in the business world is often viewed as a negative thing, but it doesn't have to be. Competition can benefit you, your competitor, and especially your customer!Let's look at some of the ways in which competitors can help you:1) They prevent you from becoming lazy and overly comfortable in... Read More

Entrepreneurs Go Virtual!

With the massive explosion of start-ups and home businesses developing, you'll be hard pressed to not know of someone going down the entrepreneurial route. Nowadays you can set-up shop and start trading in a matter of days, and the preferred choice for the neo entrepreneur is a service called Virtual... Read More

How to Prevent Home Business Burnout

As a home business proprietor, you may already realize why avoiding "home business burnout" is so important. Even if you have only been working your home business venture for a relatively brief time, you may have already been aware of the need to maintain your energy levels and reduce your... Read More

We Know Who THEY Are

Am I the only one that does not have an "A" button on my computer? I have looked on the keyboard, monitor and hard drive I can not find that darn thing anywhere. Nobody will tell me where it is.You know the one I am talking about, right? No, not... Read More

The Types of Skip Trace Accounts

First, we need to define the different kinds of skip trace. There are three basic types of skip trace accounts, they are:The Typo AccountThis account is really not a skip trace account. The reason that the information is not correct for this debtor is because their information was erroneously inputted... Read More

Is This The Way Its Always Been Done?

Let's face it, we all tend to get stuck in doing things 'the way they've always been done', and creating products, or services, in a similarly conservative mode.But there is another way. Why not take a new look at your business. Take the opportunity to have regular creative thinking sessions... Read More

10 Cardinal Rules for Business Growth

After over 30 years of participating in hundreds of businesses, competing in at least as many different industries, with companies marketing both products and services, you begin to develop and accumulate some fundamental businesses axioms or "rules of thumb" that seem to make more sense everyday and gain more value... Read More

Measuring Your Way to Success

Are you a motivational speaker who consistently gets rave reviews yet your ratio of speaking to return rate is not where you would like it to be? Perhaps you are a trainer whose delivery is complimented time and again, and yet you are only being asked by 10 to 20%... Read More

Do You Need Accounting Software for Your Small Business?

If you're anything like me then you dislike with a vengeance doing your accounts and taxes.So how can you make this process easier, less painful and cut your accountancy fees?Well buying an accounting software package is one way.First of all you need to decide whether you are going to keep... Read More

Get Approved for a Franchise

Deciding to start your own franchise is just one of the first steps to getting started. Buying a franchise is a lot like dating. You and the company have to be a good fit. The company you are considering starting a franchise with must fit your needs, and you must... Read More

The Greatest Challenges the Internet Consultant Faces!

While there are few career paths that some would call perfect, being a consultant comes pretty close to having it all. Yet while it is one of the best ways to earn a living, there are challenges and pitfalls that are sometimes overwhelming and unexpected.When analyzing, identifying and exploring the... Read More

Contract Cleaners ? A Guide for Business Part 2

In the first part of this article I put forward 7 questions that I believed were important to ask of your potential cleaning company. In this article I will explain the relevance of the first two questions and the answers you get to you as a business. What is... Read More

Hosted PBX, Is It Right For You?

"Order Now!" "Your Business Will Fail If You Don't Have This New Technology!" "Your Competition Has This Tool, Why Don't You?" Does any of this sound familiar? Does it make you cringe? It seems to be impossible to keep up with all the new trends in business today. It's hard... Read More

When and Why YOU Are the Best Writer for Your Business Plan

WHEN you are operating or planning a small business that is seeking funding for less than five million dollars, it's wise to consider writing your own plan.WHY you are the best qualified. You probably have superior knowledge of your target market, prospective customers and your product or service. If not... Read More

Small Business Credit Card Advantages

Obtaining a business credit card enables the small business owner to separate personal expenses from business expenses. Offering business credit cards to their employees eliminates the need for employees to use their personal credit cards or cash to make company purchases. Employees using a business credit card will not need... Read More

Essex Accountants: Top Things to Look For

One of the most common horrific mistakes a business can make is hiring the wrong accountant. Once hired, it can be very costly to hire a replacement accountant due to the nature of the job which inherently and directly impacts your bottom line. Choosing the right accountant for your business... Read More

What Happened to the Money and Freedom?

Ask anyone trapped in a cubical about their entrepreneurial dream and they will tell you, "I want to own my own business. I'll make more and have more time."Only 2% of small business owners (SBOs) live that dream. The other 98% find their businesses owning them. They work more hours... Read More

Small Business Security No Passing Fad

How careful are you with the data you collect from your customers? How about the handling of money in your business. And passwords? What controls have you put in place to protect computer data?We don't often think about the security of our businesses, but we should. Customers are becoming increasingly... Read More

Business Development Is Not An Event

Cash flow. To stay in business, you've got to keep a steady stream moving through your company.A small business owner mentioned the other day that he has "enough work to keep his staff busy until next February." Another mentioned that his current projects were ending and he needed to "start... Read More

5 Good Reasons a Self-Employed Professional Should Take Vacation

So you think you're not justified in taking time away from your business because you're self-employed? Here are five great reasons why you should definitely take a vacation:1. Physical down time You work hard to grow and maintain your business. Trying to be superhuman will certainly take its toll if... Read More

Becoming Recession Proof

A lot of business owners I've spoken with lately have commented how their business is slow because of "the recession." If you are one of these people, you might want to reconsider your position. Before blindly saying a condition is being caused by a recession, you might want to ask... Read More

Youll See It When You Believe It - Growing Your Business from the Inside Out

What unspoken message are you sending your clients and customers? Is your personal energy field projecting positive, high vibrational energy or just the opposite? The latter will cost you business--and worse, you won't even realize it. The energy I'm talking about here has been called many things, "being in flow,"... Read More

Get Out Of The Rut And Back On the Track

Do you sometimes find yourself just going "through the motions" of your business from day to day? Has the excitement gone out of your daily routine?What happened? Remember way back when you began doing this? You were excited and enthusiastic about what you were going to do. What went wrong?... Read More

Grab Your Consumers Attention in a Cluttered World of Marketing Communications

A cluttered world of marketing communications diminishes the ordinary. The consumer can no longer be bother with the dull, trite and a boring hodgepodge of marketing communications that are pandered in front of them every day. They simply haven't the time, nor are they willing to figure out what irrelevant... Read More

Covenants Not To Compete: Another Franchise Quandary

Imagine that you have operated a successful franchise business for the past several years. Your franchise agreement's term expires in the near future and you are contemplating whether renewing the agreement would be a wise business decision. In the past couple of years it has become all too apparent that... Read More

The Perilous Franchise Agreement: What Did You Sign?

Purchasing a franchise has become one of the most popular avenues for individuals looking to escape the rigid work day of a 9 to 5 job and take the leap into the world of independent business owner. After all, who doesn't dream of being their own boss and controlling the... Read More

Time to Sell your Restaurant? Some Advice from Restaurant Consultants, Inc.

As a specialist in getting restaurants open, it is surprising how many people ask, "How can I get out of my restaurant?" Reasons for this question vary greatly, from a death in the family to a merger with another firm, to the end of a lease.Selling your restaurant requires quality... Read More

Essex Accountant: Accountancy Firm MVP for Your UK Business?

Most business owners know when they need an accountant, but they do not realize how important the task is or how much their results can vary. No other job position outside of your own is going to affect your bottom line like an accountant and contrary to common belief, the... Read More

Forming a Corporation ? Investors

You've come up with the best idea since sliced bread, figured out a business name and formed a corporation. There is, however, one small problem. You need money. Welcome to the world of investing.Business FundsUnless Bill Gates is your friend, money is going to be a problem for every new... Read More

Small Business Opportunities Magazine Business

A Small Business Opportunities Magazine is one of the new small business opportunities opening up everyday. More and more companies are looking to outsource for basic services, cutting their budgets in the process and increasing profits. With this happening globally, the small business opportunities available are increasing. This process will... Read More

13 Steps to Protect Yourself from Your Bank

The success of your business is critically dependent on how well you negotiate and manage your financial partners. Banks, investors, credit cards and financial services companies work for you. Therefore, you need to be sure you are working together, understand the plans of each and have the best idea of... Read More

Are You Satisfied With Your Business Just As It Is?

Did you know that satisfaction is the number one emotion people want to experience about their life and business? Yes, fame and fortune are up there, but satisfaction is the key. Satisfaction is about contentment, gratitude and pure joy. Are you satisfied with your business and your life? If not,... Read More

How Is the LEGAL SYSTEM Dishing Out JUSTICE in Your Town?

Thankfully, most of us will never find out. That is a GOOD thing! However, if YOU are a small business owner it's something worth knowing before one day you get kicked in the back-side.I've advocated for many years - ALWAYS invest in GOOD legal counsel; a qualified Accountant [CPA]; and... Read More

Starting a Virtual Assistant Business

If you're organized, smart, capable and willing to work with deadlines, you could start a virtual assistance business and cash in on your skills without having to commit to an employer (you'd be your own boss instead) or the "cube life". A VA (virtual assistant) is basically like an administrative... Read More

Five Tips for First Time Entrepreneurs

It seems so long ago that I started my first business. Since that time, I've created several successful businesses and learned a lot of lessons along the way. There are several things I wish I would have known in the early days of my entrepreneurial efforts that I hope will... Read More

Do You Own Your Business Or Does It Own You?

What was your aim when you went into business for yourself? Chances are you wanted to be your own boss, be in control of your future, improve your chances of earning a high income, among other things.How are things for you right now? Do you feel in control of your... Read More

Todays Chef, Tomorrows Restaurateur -- Startup Tips by Restaurant Consultants Inc

Researching information for a recent business plan, I came across an interesting number of 54,000. What is the big deal about that? Over 54,000 new restaurant business licenses were applied for in the last twelve months nationally. That is over 4,500 new restaurant licenses every month, or 90 licenses per... Read More

Breaking The Chains!

Everyday, customers and business owners are bombarded with billboards, logos, print and electronic ads from huge corporations. With annual ad budgets that are more than our businesses' SALES in an entire year, our small independent businesses are getting squeezed out of consumers minds (and wallets) more and more each year.... Read More

Five Facts and One Motivating Factor Behind a Successful Home Business

All legitimate home business entrepreneurs insist and announce loud and clear that a successful home business is not about an overnight thing. And that you cannot get rich overnight and so on...Through this article I will break the facts of home business into points that are easy to understand and... Read More

7 Tips to Improving Your Cash Flow

Cash is King... That is what everyone tells us and it is true! You cannot function successfully in any business without proper cash flow. So if this Cash Principle is so well known, then why is it that so many businesses struggle? Sometimes the obvious is not always so obvious... Read More

Change May Be Your Ace in the Hole

Whether it has been thrust upon you by external market forces or it has simply bubbled up from the internal dynamics of your enterprise, change itself always presents opportunity for improvement. And in a knowledge based economy, change may be the only thing we can count on as small business... Read More

Finding the Right Virtual Assistant for Your Small Business

Articles abound advising the business community how to properly screen when looking for a Virtual Assistant (VA). Unfortunately, some of the advice may lead you astray, as it often ignores the fact that VAs are not employees but independent contractors providing professional business to business (B2B) services.For example, I have... Read More

Is Your Business Profitable?

What's your job profitability? Do you know?Many business owners are unsure of their profitability at a company or job level. They "think" they are making money because they have a few dollars in their checking account. Having money in your checking account doesn't mean you are profitable. It might simply... Read More

How to Start a Pet Transportation Business

Pet Transportation Services are needed as the number of pets in the U.S. has grown tremendously over the past few decades. According to the U.S. Pet ownership and Demographics sourcebook, there are an estimated 60 million dogs and 70 million cats in American homes today. Apart from that, households which... Read More

Accounting Methods ? Cash and Accrual

When starting a business, you have to determine the method you are going to use for accounting and paying taxes. The two choices are the cash method and the accrual method.Cash MethodIf you are looking for simplicity, the cash method is probably your best accounting choice. Generally, income and deductions... Read More

Professional House Cleaning - The Dirty Little Secret

Are you tired yet of all the books out there telling you how easy it is to start a house cleaning business? I'm not inferring that all their information is bad, but let's be honest about how "easy" it really is.There's a dirty little secret hanging over the cleaning trade... Read More

How to Achieve Real Success in Business: Five Breezy Tips

Achieving real success should be the goal of any good businessman. But what is real success? I believe that it is no just money, or instant growth. In my opinion real success is composed of the following factors. Good growth, good reputation and above all peace of mind. In this... Read More

Attributes Of Companies You Don?t Want To Buy!

There are no "rules of thumb" in the pursuit of companies to buy. Each purchase opportunity has to stand on its own merits. There are, however, attributes of acquisition candidates that need to be defined for what they really are before additional, limited resources are put at risk in a... Read More

Starting Your Small Business

Where do you find more customers?How do you compete with bigger businesses?Answer. Build loyalty and rewards.You may not have the money to spend on advertising like your competitors do but you don't need it. What you need is added exposure, added exposure that costs little or none.One of the best... Read More

Small Business Strategies - Four Critical Success Factors

Scenario OneDuring a recent presentation, a business owner was given the following challenge. If 10 of his 100 employees were asked to name the top 3 organizational goals for the current year as they perceived them to be, would he receive the same 3 goals from everyone or would he... Read More

The Power of Why: Your Psychological Ally To Marketing Success!

Here's why 'WHY' is such a profit-making marketing trigger."Stop taking two and three plates of food," my mother said to me angrily.I was at a wedding and seven years old. Back then, at a lot of the weddings we used to go to, the food would be pre-served on a... Read More

---

Powered by Feedzilla

Showing 1 - 800 of 800 Articles
« Previous	1	Next »

Itsula - Travel Reviews, Social Network, Find Friends, and more...

Bidcorral Online Auctions

Forming a Corporation ? Investors

You've come up with the best idea since sliced bread, figured out a business name and formed a corporation. There is, however, one small problem. You need money. Welcome to... Read More

Get Approved for a Franchise

Deciding to start your own franchise is just one of the first steps to getting started. Buying a franchise is a lot like dating. You and the company have to... Read More

Survival Tips For Your Small Business

No matter type of business you operate you've got to know how to keep your business alive during economic recessions. Anytime the cash flow in a business, large or small,... Read More

Overcoming Your Biggest Competitor

Before you read any further in this article, I'd like you to take a moment and write down who your biggest competition is.OK, got it?I'm going to go out on... Read More

Implementing an Internship Program

CONSIDERING COMPANY NEEDS: In identifying your needs for the internship, you need to examine the chief responsibilities of the position. And the broader they are, the more flexibility you will... Read More

Why Internet Shopping is the New Mall of the Future

Last year, trillions of dollars transferred hands on the internet with regard to sales, or as the internet wishes to call it, eCommerce. The internet is becoming an increasingly complex... Read More

20 Great Ways to Market Your Business Locally

Whether your target audience is in your neighborhood or across the world, you can use your local resources to get the word out about your business. Your local community is... Read More

Six Essential Skills to Business Success!

The following are six essential skills to business success. You may not have developed all of these skills, but like most things in life, you can by learning, practicing and... Read More

Is Your Business Legally Prepared?

It is imperative to have your business legally prepared. How you ask? You need to have a business license, a home occupation license, if running your business from home, a... Read More

10 Hiring Tips for Small Business Owners

As a successful small business owner,you're accustomed to long hours; non-existent holidays and weekends spent working.When was the last time you went to your dentist? When was the last time... Read More

The Responsibility Conundrum - Where art Thou?

Mr/Ms, 'not me' is often on holidays in your business. Yes come rain or shine they attend the workplace and put in the day for you; coffee to drink, gossip... Read More

Get In Touch With Your Competition!

We all know that competition is an ugly word but competitors are a fact of life in business. If your business can't compete with other businesses, don't start it. You... Read More

The Benefits of Using Freelance Consultants / Trainers for Your Project

What are the benefits of using a Freelance Consultant / Trainer for your next project?Companies are often wary of employing freelance trainers when setting up a new project or contemplating... Read More

Reduce Stress, Increase Profits By Incorporating Strategic Systems In Your Small Business Success

Whether you are an Entrepreneur or Business Professional there are many things you do each week that would benefit from a strategic system to help you be more effective, reduce... Read More

New Habits, Rebounding Economy Help To Sell Giftware and Collectibles

Just a few years ago, when one thought of a home-based sales business, Tupperware, Avon and a host of multi-level marketing schemes might have come to mind. Today, however, changing... Read More

Breaking The Chains!

Everyday, customers and business owners are bombarded with billboards, logos, print and electronic ads from huge corporations. With annual ad budgets that are more than our businesses' SALES in an... Read More

A Portable Trade Show Exhibit Makes for an Easier Show

You can make your trade show experience much easier by using a portable exhibit. Since you control everything related to transporting it and setting it up, you won't have to... Read More

How Do I Choose The Right Business Opportunity For Me?

First you have to start with knowing your budget and how much you can afford to spend on a business opportunity. There are ways of starting a business opportunity online... Read More

Collect that Debt - Your Business Depends on it

The efficiency of debt collection is the difference between a business that will succeed and a business that closes up.If you do not have control of your debt collection then... Read More

Postcards Make It Rain Referrals

One of the simplest ways to expand your marketing efforts is through the consistent use of postcards. Create a list of narrowly targeted prospects and then hammer away at them... Read More