Start, Run, & Grow Your Business

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 …

How Small Businesses Can Compete with Big Companies & Win

Entering an industry as a business owner where big companies are already operating in the space is a bold prospect and very intimidating. Though it’s not statistically likely that you’re going to be able to jump in and overtake a company like Target in their home court, you can absolutely prosper and even proliferate alongside the well-established heavy hitters. If there are multiple businesses who are offering the same product or service within the same general area, then that means there is probably a large enough market to support them all. Dig in, commit yourself to the task, and use the following strategies to give your small business every advantage that you can. The Odds Are Already in Your Favor With some exceptions, nearly everything about what a small business produces is better than the big ones. Service and support are generally faster and more attentive; quality …

6-Step Plan to the Perfect Business Phone System

Whether you already have an established business or are just getting started, at some point you are going to need to think about your phones. While some business owners will opt to use their cell number as the business line (please don’t do this; see why) others will be considering a fancy office system. That is until you are confronted with the upfront costs, old school desk phones, networking equipment & long term contracts that come with these “modern” office systems… This is why virtual phone systems have gained popularity in recent years. Not only are there no contracts, upfront costs, or equipment to purchase but you can have everything up and running in less than an hour. All you need is access to a web browser and either a PC, cell phone or landline! To lean more about virtual phone systems, check out this article: How Does a …

Talk, message, & meet in one app

The Talkroute Blog