Category Archives: Small Business

Five Seemingly Small Slip-Ups That Can Sink Your Business Before It Gets Going

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Every business, no matter how big or small, comes with its own set of considerations. From management to finances, employees to inventory, there are many things to worry about on a daily basis.

That’s why you don’t want to gamble your chance for success on the smallest possible pitfall. Every year, thousands of new businesses fail because of tiny missteps that could easily be prevented.

Missteps such as… Continue reading

The benefits of sustainable buildings go well beyond the financial

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Investing in a green office building proves to be a growing trend in the business culture today. Focus has shifted from viewing a building as a necessary place to perform work to understanding the environmental impact of the structure and the way it operates.

Also known as sustainable buildings, green buildings are defined as a structure and process that are environmentally responsible from location and construction to use and demolition.

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Last Minute Tax Tips For Small Businesses (And Some For Next Year)

Feel free to use this image, just link to www.SeniorLiving.Org

Feel free to use this image, just link to www.SeniorLiving.Org

Small business owners often face stiff competition, demanding customers and rising labor costs. When tax season arrives, it may cause unnecessary stress over financial worries.

Following these tips below will help small business owners prepare to file taxes this year and plan for the next year.

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5 Habits Of Highly Successful Entrepreneurs

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If you want to find success in the world of business, you’ll need to be prepared.

A lot of people view starting a business as a way to get rich quick, but they usually end up disappointed when things don’t work out. A true entrepreneur has many defining qualities, and they are always learned through hard work and dedication.

No one is born to be a business person, but you can become one by learning from the habits of the best.

They Create Win/Win Situations

Good entrepreneurs are usually good leaders, and good leaders know how to think in terms of win/win situations. This is basically another way of describing assertive behavior. Assertive people are always looking to find situations that offer mutual benefits to all parties involved. Continue reading

Tough Love: 5 Hard Truths About Starting A Business

Checkworks-Pinterest-Blog-Post-02Owning your own business is a noble dream. Everywhere you turn, you’ll read some success story of an entrepreneur who pulled themselves up by their bootstraps and is now living the dream of being their own boss.

And while that is a great ideal to strive for, that doesn’t change the fact that starting a business is hard. And we mean REALLY hard.

So while everyone loves a success story, it’s unwise to go into your endeavor thinking that you’re just going to jump right into the black. So prepare yourself from a little tough love from the school of reality.

Because the truth is…

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The Pros and Cons of Buying a Franchise

SAMARA RUSSIA - AUGUST 30 2014: Burger King fast food restaurant in hypermarket Ambar. It is the second largest fast food hamburger chain in the world

 

By Jurissa Ayala

Buying a franchise is one of the best ways to start and run a successful business. The most visible examples of thriving franchises are in the fast food industry (Burger King, KFC, etc.), but there are numerous strong franchise businesses in almost every other market space, from plumbing to child care to management consulting. The initial investment varies as well, from tens of thousands of dollars for some personal services businesses to millions for national restaurant and hotel brands. While each franchise is a unique opportunity, before you buy a franchise consider these general pros and cons.

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3 Common Financial Mistakes Businesses Make and How To Avoid Them

 

Female Stall Holder At Farmers Fresh Food Market

Starting a business is exciting.  Suddenly, you are pursuing your dream and hoping to make money in the process.  But according to Bloomberg, eight out of ten entrepreneurs who start businesses fail in the first 18-months.  What can be done to prevent your own failure?  Here are three major pitfalls business owners find themselves in.

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Have You Overlooked These Two Powerful Marketing Tools? Part II: Social Media

MILAN, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 14, 2014: Logotypes of famous Internet social media and social network brand's like Facebook Twitter Linkedin YouTube Google Plus Myspace and Pinterest printed on hanged tags.

 

By MJ Plaster

In Part I, we looked at blogs as a tool to engage and inspire your audience and to build trust. Part II covers an honest look at social media, its demographics, uses and best practices. Overlook these two powerful marketing tools at your peril because the ROI is significant in keeping your base and expanding it.
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Have You Overlooked These Two Powerful Marketing Tools? Part I: Blogging

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By MJ Plaster

Back in the Dark Ages of the 20th century, customers knew merchants and did business with those they knew and trusted. Big-box stores such as Wal-Mart, big-box services such as H&R Block and online retailers such as Amazon offer little opportunity for you to get to know them. Their sheer size and impact make customers comfortable, but the typical business doesn’t have that advantage. People want to connect, especially with online providers. Connection builds trust, and people will do business with you if they trust you. If you want to bring customers into your fold with minimal expense, read on to find out what no longer works, and what two powerful marketing tools can engage your customers.
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