A common question I get asked is, “What small business should I start?” My typical answer is: “Think about starting a business around something that sparks your passion.” I have a valid reason for giving that answer. The small business you start will take an incredible amount of time. Plus, as you build the business,…
What stands in your way of moving forward? Whether you are someone who would like to get into business or already are in business and would like to move forward, we often find some reason why we just can’t make it happen. Here are some common issues that may be a roadblock for you along…
Do you ever look at the news and ask yourself how what you see might impact your business? If you are like me, the chances are you don’t do a great deal of this. Yes, we watch the news and may read the paper, a magazine and maybe a trade journal. Plus, we may spend…
“If you build it, they will come” may work in the movies. But for small businesses, it is a myth. People will only come if they know you exist and they know where and how to find you. You would think that finding a business today is pretty easy given the mapping apps available and…
Your customers are your business. Connecting with them means success or failure. How well does your business do in terms of connecting? You won’t find many answers in this column, but you will find lots of questions you need to think about. How do you connect with your customers? I suspect many of you have…
Small businesses are the cornerstone of most local economies. This statement is often said and it is worth remembering. Small, locally-owned businesses put about 68 cents of every dollar spent right back into the local system. On average, a chain store keeps about 43 cents in the local economy. And of course money spent outside…
How many hits did you get? Or how many people saw your ad? If you have read many articles on marketing, especially those talking about social media marketing, you may come away with the idea that marketing is a numbers game. The more people who “like” your page or respond to your advertisement, the better…
Starting a business is a risky adventure. One in five will not make it through the first year and less than 40 percent, and some studies show less than 20%, will still be in business five years later. So why do people try? Because being your own boss and running your own business for many…
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