As a journalist covering small business, my email inbox is regularly filled with press releases from companies wanting publicity. Often, they’re announcing the result of some survey they sponsored. They’ll hire a polling company, gather some data, and put out a list: Best places to retire, Best places to raise children, Best this, Best that. …
Stop Talking and Start Doing
So, you always wanted to own your own small business? You dream of being your own boss? But you’re stuck in a rut. You’re still in a dead-end job with a boss you hate. Or you’re sitting on your couch at 11 am wondering, ‘What am I doing with my life?’ Well, it’s time to …
8 Rules for Running your Small Biz from a Café
I have a confession to make: I love doing work for my small business in a café. I’m not alone. Look around most coffee houses, and you’ll see businesspeople and students toiling away on laptops. But remember: that café owner is a small business owner too. How can you be fair to them while turning …
Looking for Money? Consider Crowdfunding
When people refer to crowdfunding, they generally mean raising money in return for a small amount of stock or ownership in the new company. However, there are actually two types of crowdfunding. 1. Equity crowdfunding Equity crowdfunding enables large numbers of people to invest small amounts of money in new ventures in return for a …
Lin-Manuel Miranda Spills Secrets of Success
When the organizers of Qualtrics’ X4 Summit were looking for a “wow” factor for their annual tech conference in Salt Lake City, they pulled out all the stops. Maroon Five played a two-hour private concert. Tony Hawk, Arianna Huffington, Magic Johnson, shared business insights. Olympian Jonny Moseley skied with attendees. But when CEO Ryan Smith …
Why Sex is Holding Women in Business Back
Sexual harassment is one of the many obstacles women entrepreneurs face as they try to grow small businesses into bigger enterprises, as pointed out in a new report, “Tackling the Gender Gap: What Women Entrepreneurs Need to Thrive,” released today by Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. …
The Worst Month Ever for Small Business
December should be a happy time for small business owners. Your cash registers should be full or you should be enjoying holiday parties. But to borrow a phrase, December, 2017 is going to be small business’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad month. This month, a number of decisions will be made or considered with …
12 Absurdly Easy Ways to Make More Money
Want to make more money in your small business? Who doesn’t? Usually, when small business owners think of ways to make more money, they consider things that are pretty tough, like developing new products or services, opening new locations, or adding an eighth day of the week so they can work 24/8 instead of just …
7 Guilt-Free Ways to Spend Money
Get ready: the best shopping day of the year is coming this week. You can find bargains, discover great and unique gifts, meet your neighbors, and feel good about every dollar you spend. It’s Small Business Saturday—the Saturday after Thanksgiving—and it’s coming this Saturday, November 25. It’s fun to go shopping on Small Business Saturday. …
