You’ve always wanted to run your own small business—be your own boss. But you don’t want to start from scratch. Maybe you don’t have that “big” idea, don’t know where to start, or aren’t sure you have all the skills you need. Then, someone suggests you get a franchise. “It’s all done for you—it’s a …
Are You Ready for the Chinese New Year?
Hold your horses, small business owners—it’s time for the Chinese New Year. So, “Gung hay fat choy,” which is the traditional new year’s greeting. Loosely translated, it means, “Congratulations, and may you have a prosperous new year.” Get ready to welcome the Year of the Sheep. Throughout the Asian world, the Chinese—or lunar—new year is …
Four Keys to Make Customers Fall in Love with Your Small Business
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner—and it’s time to show the most important person in your small business some love—your customers. Sure your relationship was exciting at first. You were thrilled to see that new someone. You went the extra mile in service, gave them sign-up bonuses and introductory offers. But after a while, …
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Does Your Life Feel Like Groundhog Day?
Small business owners, listen up. Monday, February 2 is Groundhog Day, and I’m declaring it a day for entrepreneurs and small business owners to shake things up. It’s time to cut out the things you do repeatedly that get you nowhere. Groundhog Day isn’t a particularly important holiday, but the term “groundhog day” has become …
15 inspirational quotes for business in 2015
Over the years I’ve collected hundreds of inspiring quotes and snippets of advice. As someone running a small business, I find quotes often spark my thinking, provide motivation or remind me of a truth in a memorable way. In the age of Twitter, everyone’s used to carving thoughts down to only 140 characters, but since …
9 Numbers Every Small Business Must Know
Every small business owner needs to know some numbers—total revenue, profit margin, cost of goods, and the like. But there are other numbers that, as we start 2015, every entrepreneur needs to know to stay competitive and succeed. I’ve focused on 9 key numbers that are likely to affect your small business in the coming …
10 Small Business Resolutions You Won’t Break
What do you want to achieve in 2015 for your small business? The beginning of January is the time for New Year’s resolutions, so here are my top 10 resolutions for small business owners and entrepreneurs. 1. Focus on recurring revenue. You may be thrilled to find any source of income, but some types of …
Small Business Inspiration for the New Year from Carlos Santana
When I was still in junior high or high school, I started collected quotations. I still have the little black notebook that I used to record quotations throughout high school and into college. A simple quotation can convey a lot— often providing inspiration, motivation, support, insight. I have decided to revive my old tradition of …
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13 Small Business Apps Santa Loves
As a small business owner, you think YOU have a busy holiday season. Just imagine what it’s like for Santa! He’s one small business owner with a huge December “to do” list: Maintain and data mine a world-class database for a thorough naughty-nice analysis Manage his global supply chain for materials and inventory for over …
