You might have heard of Kiva, where a crowd of regular people pool money to make small loans to business people in the developing world. But you probably didn’t know they are making loans to small businesses in the US. In fact, I was surprised to find there has been a representative of Kiva…
Why did you start your business? Does that sound like a crazy question? Many small-business owners would say yes. They and certainly most of the general public would say it was done for the money. Was it? Starting a business to make a profit is an okay reason. Actually, it is better than okay because…
Being open later hours in the evenings is hard for a lot of small businesses, but we have an easy promotion for you to make more sales later in the day. Reach out to your existing customers, and let them know you have a new service: Call ahead, and we’ll have it ready for…
To stay in business, people need to buy your products and/or services. That statement should come as no surprise. Yet routinely, I encounter business owners who have not made any attempt to categorize potential clients in terms of their desire and need to buy. Not doing so means you may be missing your best opportunities….
We’ve all had times when we weren’t able to deliver what we promised to our customers. Maybe you’re going to be able to do it, but not when you promised. Or maybe it’s not going to be quite the way you said. Maybe a supplier didn’t deliver to you on time. Maybe you had…
Starting a business is a risky endeavor. But knowing does not stop many small-business owners. Every day owners open the doors to their business. Some end up satisfied with the results but many others decide, at some point, to close the doors. The reasons for such closures are often not a secret. Talk with any…
Norfolk County, Ontario, is home to dozens of real businesses started by kids in grades 6 through 12, part of their Student Start Up project. Kids can apply with a simple “business plan” template and may receive $200 in start up funds to kick them off. This year (2018), they funded 39 student entrepreneurs….
Empty buildings in small towns are often empty for a reason, and that reason is often that they need work before any business could use them. Remodeling costs can be astonishingly expensive, so people often ask where they can find grants, loans or other funds to help them. Here are some of my favorite “usual…
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