Small Business Information


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.

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 business from being the bookkeeper, marketer, human resources manager, mediator, customer liaison officer and cleaner.

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 best way to move those behaviors in their direction.

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.

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, so you decided it was time to get serious.You went to a few "Starting Your Own Business" seminars, picked out a name and registered it, had your nephew build a great website, printed up some business cards, got a second phone line, and took out an ad in the local paper - "Are Your Walls and Furniture as Stagnant as Pond Scum? You Don't Need to Break the Bank for a Fresh Look, You Just Need a Makeover!"Then you crossed your fingers and waited.

Success Tips for Small Business Owners


Running a small business requires many skills. However, to do this successfully you need to organize yourself first.

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.

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 of hiring someone else to assist you, but it may be more cost effective than you think.

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 who are short on cash and time, yet need to build their brand and stay in front of their customers.

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.

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.

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 planning for a new business.

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.

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 you can achieve this with lower administrative functions and no out-of-pocket cost to you or your client's, you've created additional benefits.

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 noticed that two well-known blind companies were advertising 35% off their blinds, I decided to give them a call? and it was an interesting experience.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 and tick everything on the list off! But where in the world is the list?The Administration part of the small business may seem simple but unless one gets down to doing it and doing it right, nothing else will get done.

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.

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.

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.

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 give up?Risk-taking is a large part of entrepreneurship, in fact it is what drives it, and it's why so many people avoid small business, despite its many potential rewards. Those of us who have tried it only to have failed may find ourselves right back where we started, which could leave us feeling like total failures.

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.

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.

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 people because you're afraid you won't fit in, be liked, or be accepted;? Focus on unrealistic expectations ("I must do each job perfectly"; "If one person is unhappy then I have failed");? Have an 'all-or-nothing' attitude;? Pay heed to the internal and external naysayer;? Use the word SHOULD most often in relationship to your business;? Assume that if you don't get the client, they didn't like you;? Assume that you must be as talkative, outgoing, friendly, smart, old, young, educated, attractive, as someone else in order to succeed;? Avoid implementing new ideas because they may not work;? Can recount all your shortcomings each day.

7 Essentinal Resources for Small Business


So you want to start a business but you don't have a lot ofmoney? Start your business online, and it won't be a problem.There are some pretty terrific resources you can use.

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.

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.

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


As a teenager I worked for my father's small business. At18 I worked for a small video rental business owned by twopartners; there were 4 employees.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 thelast time you had an uninterrupted night out with your partner?Whether your goal for 2005 is to find more time for family orpersonal enrichment --like attending classes and conferences --you'll want to consider bringing on some help.

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.

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.

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.

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.


More Resources


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 table.Studies show that a potential client is 50% more likely to contact a business who has a toll-free number.
Consistency Builds Trust
You know your prospects need what you sell. You know they want what you sell.
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.
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.
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.
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 not, read on.In Empower Business Solutions experience, too many owners, after investing their time and money, have not got a fair return from their business.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 a good mark up and will be an easy sell.
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 assistant (or whatever duties need to be filled, such as writing, link building etc) that serves in a virtual capacity.
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.
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 for each one (even have several businesses where you do work) but you need to focus on what it is that you do best.
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.
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 the relief and make a good income at the same time.
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.
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.
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 outfinancially?Hard money lenders are perhaps the best way to get 100%financing with easy qualifying, money for fix- up, and fastclosings.So what can hard money lenders do for you? Hard moneylenders make relatively short term (12-24 month) loans toreal estate investors for the purposes of acquiring theproperty and rehabbing the property.

More Small Business Information:

Related Articles


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.
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.
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.
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 and tick everything on the list off! But where in the world is the list?The Administration part of the small business may seem simple but unless one gets down to doing it and doing it right, nothing else will get done.
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% of the clients you see for a repeat performance?Are you starting to think that there is something wrong with your message or delivery despite the rave reviews? Maybe you were wondering if your fee is too steep. That may be a valid concern when organizations are faced with discretionary spending, but the rule of thumb is that you are only charging too much if more than 1 in 5 people complain about it.
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.
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 and moves in, it becomes a home.
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.
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.
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.
Direct Mail - For Small Businesses
We hear a lot of talk about junk mail nowadays. Many peoplewill tell you that they dump it straight in the trash.
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?"? Have you ever stumbled over your words when asked what you do?? Have you ever received the response, "Oh, I see", followed by silence?? Do you ever feel as though you do not know what to say about yourself?I am reminded of the 'elevator speech theory' (I do not know to whom to attribute its invention), which simply poses "if you were in a lift that opens on the tenth floor and in walks Bill Gates who asks what you do - what would you say, and you have only until the elevator gets to the bottom?"I have personally struggled with this at times, and equally have found that when I get it right, results flow - which initially could be as simple yet important of getting more time to converse with the person asking the question of you.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 McDonalds, Domino's Pizza and Duncan Donuts.
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.