Business owners work hard to achieve success. Yet when they achieve that goal, sometimes they are not ready for the consequences. Owners often are focused on being able to overcome all sorts of hurdles as they open and run their business. It rarely occurs to them that they also need to do some planning for…
Small-business success often comes quietly. It rarely announces itself with drums and a parade. Instead, it comes from the voices of clients, customers, mentors and employees. But it can be reached only if you, the owner, are ready to listen to these voices and capture the ideas and thoughts they offer. In general, we are…
Recently, my wife and I decided to be a local tourist. We took a couple of days to go visit local historical sites that we had never seen before. Our trip took us into some very small North Dakota towns where we decided to spend the evening. We found our lodging using a smartphone. The next…
If you’re a business owner, which appeals more: spending $20 to capture a new customer or spending $1 to retain an existing customer? These numbers represent broad averages but reflect reality, according to research. This means developing a sustainable business requires focusing first on building customer loyalty. Every business needs to build its customer base,…
The world we live in is not a static place. This is true in every aspect of life, including small business. For small-business owners, things are changing, and those changes are happening at an ever-increasing pace. Doing business tomorrow will be different than doing business today. And doing business next week might be something we…
Local food interest is creating opportunities across the country. This interest is evident when you examine the growth in the number of growers and farmers markets. It also is noticeable in the news and on social media, where you see and hear phrases such as “local foods,” “local producers,” “food hubs,” and “regional food systems,”…
Knowing what your customer wants is the base to building a successful business. Of course, you still must meet that need, let customers know you have what they want, and price it at a level that customers feel is acceptable. But the process begin with knowing the problem they are trying to solve. Market research is…
Is 2015 the year you want to start your small business? If so, have you sat down to develop your business plan yet? Check out most how-to business guides and you will find a section on writing a business plan. Yet ask business owners and you often hear that they did a plan only because…
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