Start, Run, & Grow Your Business

7 Most Common Blunders Made by New Small Businesses

Small businesses seem to pop up like weeds these days, but that doesn’t automatically mean that all of the owners know what they’re doing. There is also a large portion of them who have zero experience with running a business, or who have the necessary skills for making it successful, like marketing, promotion, leading a team, bookkeeping, and many other skills. This is a recipe for a scenario wherein a lot of mistakes can be made—sometimes, very costly mistakes. If you’re starting a business, then do yourself a favor and take a few minutes to look over these very common mistakes that new owners make. There’s no need to feel bad about it when you make a mistake such as the ones we’re going to cite here because we all learn as we go. You might just be able to avoid setbacks and cultivate success for your company much …

Working Remotely: Business Owners Guide to Telecommuting

Working remotely has become a necessity for business owners around the world. Lockdowns have shuttered the doors to millions of businesses, forcing many to adopt teleworking policies. While telecommuting offers many advantages, from flexible scheduling to increased productivity, it also comes with many challenges. Maintaining communication & work relations becomes more of a chore outside of the office. You may even notice a loss of work culture. As the pandemic continues to impact the way we live and work, every business owner should take the time to review their telecommuting policies. Use the following guide to address the challenges of working remotely and reap the benefits! Set a Work Schedule The most important rule for working from home is to set a work schedule. Without a schedule, it becomes much easier to put off work for an hour or two in the morning or at any point during …

Home Business Websites: Your Virtual Storefront

You most likely already have a website for your business, and if you don’t, you probably realize that it’s pretty important. If you’re running a home business, then it’s something that you really can’t do without because it’s going to end up being your primary interface with customers. Don’t underestimate just how much value a good website can bring to your company. Every Business Needs a Website There is sometimes a misconception among small businesses that if they’re not selling any products online, there’s no reason to have a website. The thing is, it doesn’t matter if you sell online or not. First of all, your business probably should sell your product or service online, as it removes a step between someone finding your company, and making a purchase. The point of having a site, though, is not whether or not you’re actually selling it there; it’s …

Looking Ahead: Position Your Business for Growth in 2022

Obviously, I think we all can agree that 2020 & 2021 were bizarre, difficult & uncertain years in countless ways. The pandemic has changed the way we live, how we think and especially how we work. As challenging as it may be to maintain motivation during these times.. It’s important we move forward and choose to focus on positivity. Entrepreneurs and small business owners CAN progress with the right mindset even while navigating difficulties. So how can you ensure that 2022 is a year of success and growth for your business? Here are 15 ways to position your company for business growth in 2022: 1. Reinvent the Wheel (then do it again) Conventional wisdom says “Don’t reinvent the wheel.” It’s a good thing that Michelin, Goodyear, Bridgestone, and every other tire company in the world didn’t listen to conventional wisdom. The wheel needed reinventing so we could …

When Should You Incorporate Your Home Business?

The first thing that every home business should understand is that incorporating is not something you need to be afraid of. Incorporation is widely misunderstood as exclusive of average small businesses, when it is actually far more routine and advantageous for small businesses than most of them realize. So, set aside your fears for a moment and take the paradigm leap into the transition between solo entrepreneurship and incorporation. As it may seem overwhelming, once you break it down, it’s not that scary at all.. These factors will help you along in the journey you’re taking from a fresh, new small business, into a mature and solid corporation. Why Is It Good to Incorporate Your Home Business? It’s a good idea to incorporate your home business for the same reasons that it’s a good idea for any other business. There is a reason that it’s a standard …

10 Things You Need to Know Before Starting a Home Business

More people than ever before are opening small businesses out of their homes, as the pandemic has truly changed the way we work & live. Technology continues to improve as well which makes it possible to buy and sell nearly anything over the internet. As home businesses become more widespread, more and more entrepreneurs are inclined to do this, but there are some misconceptions about working out of your home, not the least of which is that it will be somehow different or easier than working in a regular office. Though it’s obviously a different environment, it doesn’t actually change that much, and in fact, there are unique challenges to overcome when you start a home business. If you’re just getting started as a home business owner, prepare yourself with these ten points to have a better idea of what you’re getting into. 1. It’s Not Easier Just …

How Michael Preysman Is Rethinking Retail with EVERLANE

How much does it really cost to produce a T-shirt? In most cases, you’ll never know, but EVERLANE wants to change that. EVERLANE was launched in 2011 as an online clothing retailer with transparent pricing. Instead of just a sticker price, clothes sold through EVERLANE include a breakdown of the production costs. The company wants to educate consumers by letting them know where they source their materials from, how much they cost, and how much the company makes. Their radical approach was the brainchild of Michael Preysman. It apparently struck a chord with consumers, as the company now generates over $40 million in revenue. The success of the company may surprise some, as they mostly offer no-frills, modern designs. The clothes available from EVERLANE can resemble the simplistic items that you’d find at Old Navy or Gap.. So, how did a clothing retailer with minimalist designs succeed in a …

19 Great Ways to Advertise Your Business with No Money

Right after starting a new small business, funds can be tight. Payroll, office space, taxes, and production can eat into capital. And that’s if you’re lucky enough to have a capital investment. If you are like many entrepreneurs, you’re not worried about investors; you’re bootstrapping your business on a shoe string. There’s no way you have $100,000 lying around to conduct a direct mail campaign (and that’s what it often costs, by the way). Newspaper ads, telemarketing, billboards, and television commercials can also run six figures each. And what’s worse is that newspapers, landlines, and traditional TV are all being replaced by websites, cell phones, and streaming video. Even low-cost awareness building activities can eat up between $15,000 and $75,000 of your annual budget. For a small business, that’s a lot of money. In this context, marketing or advertising can get short shrift. So what’s a small business owner to …

Find a Perfect Toll Free Number with (833) Area Code

Have you dreamed of registering the perfect toll free number for your business? Well, the realization of your dream may be closer than you think—just not in the form that you might expect. On June 3, 2017, a massive collection of phone numbers with a new toll free area code, (833) was opened and made available. What this means is that all the premium vanity numbers and most desirable combinations can be taken again with the new area code. This release comes not a moment too soon because people were beginning to scramble for any decent toll free phone number they could get their hands on. (833) has changed the game. Good Luck Getting an 800 Number Most people are surprised the first time they try to obtain a toll free number when they ask for a number with the classic (800) area code, expecting to be given a variety …

The Rise of Airbnb: Taking Over the Hospitality Industry

Airbnb was founded in 2008 with just a single listing. A little over a decade later, you can browse close to two million listings, which includes over 30,000 tiny houses and 5,000 castles. About 150 million users offer up their homes and properties in over 65,000 cities across the globe. That’s quite the operation.. So, how did Airbnb go from renting a single room with an air mattress to a $31 billion company with millions of listings? Here is a closer look at what it took for the founders of Airbnb to disrupt the hospitality industry. Renting Out an Apartment to Cover Rent The story of Airbnb starts in 2007 in San Francisco. Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia were designers that met at the Rhode Island School of Design and moved out west after college. As with many young professionals in Silicon Valley, Chesky and Gebbia were struggling to pay …

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