Start, Run, & Grow Your Business

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 …

Running a Business During COVID-19? 12 Tips to Ensure Success

Running a business is never easy, but COVID-19 has created a slew of additional challenges. From lockdowns to capacity restrictions, businesses everywhere are struggling to adapt to the new normal. The pandemic is especially difficult for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Don’t panic! You don’t need to let COVID-19 bring an end to your business. So, how do you keep your business afloat during a pandemic? Online meetings & teleworking are a couple of the ways that businesses are coping. However, those solutions don’t work for every business owner.. Luckily, we’ve uncovered a variety of tactics that you can use to ride out the pandemic. Whether you have an online or a local business, the following 12 tips can help you remain successful. 1. Review Your Local COVID-19 Restrictions If you want to avoid costly fines and penalties, you first need to review the COVID-19 restrictions in …

Siete Foods: Reinventing Classic Mexican-American Food

If you’ve browsed the chip aisle of your local grocery store in the past year or two, you’ve likely seen Siete tortillas & tortilla chips. The popular brand is relatively new to the scene, yet it’s slowly reinventing the way people think about Mexican-American food. Instead of wheat or corn, the tortilla chips are grain-free. They are made with natural alternatives, such as almonds and chickpeas. Despite the massive popularity of Siete Family Foods, the company is still a family-owned and operated business. The Garzas are the family behind the brand, led by siblings Miguel and Veronica. They recently obtained $90 million in funding and appear ready to take over the natural foods industry. So, how did a Mexican-American family launch the fastest-growing company in the natural food industry? Here’s the story of entrepreneurs Miguel and Veronica Garza – the founders of Siete Family Foods. Who Are …

Don’t Wear Too Many Hats as a Small Business Owner

The truth is that, as a small business owner, you will naturally find yourself handling all kinds of different tasks, being pulled in multiple directions at the same time. Even though that’s the case, you still shouldn’t have to destroy yourself in the process. Most business owners are extremely ambitious and results-driven, so no matter what is thrown at them, they just push through and get it done without a second thought. That may become a problem, if you’re not careful. It’s all about balance & making sure you are not letting yourself become too overwhelmed. The aim of this post is to give you at least the beginnings of a plan for using healthy practices to manage the heavy load and still get everything done. A Day in the Life of a Small Business Owner A small business owner, especially with a new business, will have …

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