It’s exhilarating to start a business. But it can also be tough. If you’ve launched your small business within the last few years—or are just starting out—you face all kinds of challenges: finding customers, employees, financing; pricing your goods or services; determining your business model; managing operations; and then there’s choosing and using technology. And …
9 Secrets of Trade Show Success
It may be summer, but if you’re a small business owner wanting to grow your business, it’s time to start thinking about fall. When the leaves turn gold, there’s a golden opportunity to grow your business: autumn is the busiest season for industry trade shows and conferences, and those are great for finding and securing …
5 Things Entrepreneurs Do Before 9 a.m. Each Morning
Small business owners and entrepreneurs must be productive. We need to squeeze value out of every minute. For most of us, our most energetic and constructive time is first thing in the morning. Do we use those precious morning hours well? I recently asked readers of my free monthly small business tips newsletter, PlanningShop Report, …
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Time to Celebrate Immigrants
It’s the Fourth of July, and as you head to a holiday beach or barbecue, look around your town. Take a moment to notice and appreciate all the many small businesses—and large ones too—started by immigrants. As we celebrate America, we also celebrate what America has meant—and continues to mean—for immigrants from throughout the world. …
7 Tips To Succeed In The Gig Economy
Today’s new self-employed, ‘small business’ owner: You rent your spare room on Airbnb while you dog-sit two puppies through Rover, and cook dinner for strangers who found you on EatWith. You drive someone to the airport through Uber, and on the way back, you stop and put an IKEA desk together for someone who found you …
9 Surprises About Running A Business
You love owning your small business—being your own boss. Perhaps you’re dreaming of starting a business one day. To help you reach your goals, you read everything you can about how to run a business (including this column!). You take small business management classes. But some lessons you can’t learn until you’re actually at the …
9 Small Business Problems You Want
If you run a small business, you’ll reap many benefits. But, let’s face it, every business encounters some problems. But if you’re lucky, you’ll have good problems. What’s a “good problem?” It’s the kind showing you’re doing something right. But it still leaves you with a challenge you need to face. Still, no one ever …
Home Business – Dream or Nightmare?
Is running a small business from your home a long-time dream? Or is combining your work with personal life your worst nightmare? For 14 years, I enjoyed running my consulting business from home. I could get up, go straight to work, wear what I wanted, and loved my “one-room commute.” When my business outgrew my …
Get Ready for Summer
This week, there may be snow in Colorado and flooding in Texas, but hot or cold, wet or dry, now that Memorial Day is behind us, the summer season is officially here. For many small businesses and entrepreneurs, summer is the busiest time of the year—especially if you’re in the tourism, sports, or construction industries. …
