Businesses come in all shapes and sizes, start in a wide variety of locations, and display the creativity of the entrepreneur in many ways. Finding the space to call the business home has many options, and many potential problems, for the entrepreneur. What may seem like an easy task often becomes a nightmare if proper caution is not taken. Continue reading
It’s such an insult to the intelligence of small business owners and operators everywhere to hear the same rhetoric over and over when they’re being treated exactly the opposite by the majority of lenders in the financial community.
As I heard a leading economist say on a major financial news network this past week, “I’d hate to be a small business owner sitting in front of a lender right now asking for money, especially when I really needed it!” So what’s an entrepreneur to do? Continue reading
The U.S. Labor Department recently reported the national unemployment rate fell from 10% in December to 9.7% in January. While this is promising for economic recovery, there are still many people reeling from the loss of employment. Losing a job can be an emotionally devastating event. Finances, relationships and sense of self-worth can all suffer as a result of being laid off. It’s natural to feel depressed and go through a grieving process after it happens, but it’s important to quickly shift gears and begin creating a strategy to get back on track. Here are three tips for job seekers surfing choppy waters in today’s employment environment: Continue reading
The Small Business Success Index reports that small business use of social media has doubled in the past year. Are you missing out? More than 60% say social media helps them identify new customers, expand external marketing, attract new customers, build brand awareness, and stay engaged with customers. Continue reading
f your business is selling to other businesses – B2B, for short – then having effective marketing and distribution mechanisms may be more meaningful to your success than the actual physical location of your business. Businesses selling directly to consumers – retail or B2C – need to address the location of their business more specifically because it directly affects selling success. Continue reading
Developing a good relationship with a bank is important for the success of any small business. One basic step in starting that banking relationship is to open a small business checking account. There are many benefits to having a small business account and features available that will both save time and money. Here are a few to look for when shopping for a small business account: Continue reading
What is my real estate worth?
That is a familiar question asked when we’re helping a business owner prepare for the sale of his/her business. Until recently, the answer could be a pleasant surprise – with their land worth more than they thought. Continue reading
Northwest Arkansas companies have seen a rocky couple of years, but one expert recently told the business community there is cause for optimism. Economist Kathy Deck gave attendees an idea of what to expect as local, state and national economies pull out of the recession. Continue reading
The Small Business Association claims 50% of businesses fail in the first five years, with poor record keeping and financial controls cited as top reasons why. Here are five ways outsourcing your accounting function can strengthen your business and better your bottom line. Continue reading
As a retail consultant and mentor to executives across many industries, I often work with businesses facing big, messy problems — challenges that defy definition and change constantly. In my ten years of process and organizational onion-peeling, lack of passion has never been a root cause of such challenges; lack of discipline, on the other hand, has been consistent in both the not-for-profit and private sector! Continue reading
