Of all the reasons why small-business owners start businesses, two are noted most often. They are a desire to be in control and having more time for family. Yet once in business, many owners indicate that neither goal has been achieved. By its nature, control should allow for deciding how much you want to work. […]
A Sustainable Advantage
Does your business have a sustainable advantage? Having one or more sustainable advantages gives you an edge in the marketplace. Advantages can be developed in several ways. Perhaps the most commonly sought after advantage is price. However, a price advantage is rarely, if ever, sustainable. Another business will find a way to offer a lower […]
Time to Hire?
Help? I am swamped. So get an ad in the paper and get some employees, right? Sorry, this isn’t the time. When you are overwhelmed is not the time you want to hire someone for several reasons. First and foremost, you will rush the process. Steps will be skipped such as reference checking. Second, you […]
Building a Sustainable Business
As you probably know, if you are going into business, the odds your business will be around in five years are not good. But they aren’t as bad as you may think, either. Approximately one-third of businesses close within two years. At the five-year mark, about one-half of all businesses have closed. We don’t approach […]