If you own a small business, sooner or later you have to make sales. Some entrepreneurs view the prospect of a sales call with the same fear and loathing as having to face an IRS audit. Even if you have salespeople on your team, some customers—especially big customers and clients—need to see the owner before …
More Government Help for Small Business
MY OH MY! Since the passage of the American Rescue Plan signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11, there’s lots of new benefits and government support for small businesses—probably yours! There have been changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and new money available for restaurants and companies that are in the …
Why You Need an Accountant even if You Do Your Own Taxes
If you own a small business, you need an accountant. Sure, you’ve been filing your taxes using one of those online tax services, but a digital solution can only take you so far. An accountant—a real accountant—is an important part of your small business team. That’s always true, but it’s especially important when dealing with …
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Women Business Owners, Listen Up
March is Women’s History Month, so it’s an appropriate time to explore a question: are women entrepreneurs different from men? Do women small business owners approach businesses differently from men? And what can women entrepreneurs do to get ahead? I’ve worked with entrepreneurs for nearly three decades—both women and men, in small towns and big …
Six Tips to Win in your Small Biz Negotiation
In a negotiation, does the other guy have to lose for you to win? In your small business, you’re going to negotiate many things—prices, deadlines, contract terms. And, unfortunately, you may find yourself in many disputes—with vendors, customers, distributors. When you do, I want you to remember a little mantra I say whenever I’m in …
What’s in Store for Small Business in the Chinese New Year
Twelve years ago, America was in the middle of the Great Recession. Like most small businesses, my own business was suffering. So, in January 2009, I called my team together and asked “How do we turn this around?” I noted that we were entering the Year of the Ox in the Chinese New Year. What …
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Small Business: How Much Should I Charge?
“How much should I charge?” That’s one of the toughest questions a small business owner faces. It’s true even when you’ve been running your business for a while, but it’s particularly perplexing when you’re pivoting to a new line of business—perhaps because of Covid—or launching a new business, product, or service. Setting prices is more …
Resolve to Commit to Diversity
Although we’re already almost two weeks into the new year, it’s not too late to make a new year’s resolution or two for your small business. One I’m making this year—and I encourage you to make as well—is to find ways to increase a commitment to diversity. In part, this is in response to the …
What’s in the Stimulus Package for Your Small Business?
Finally! Congress took its time, and President Trump held it up, but a new stimulus package has finally been signed into law. Fortunately, it contains some help for small business owners and the self-employed. Below are details of small business provisions of the new stimulus package and as importantly: What you should do immediately to …
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