Best Practices for Delegation
Successful delegation becomes possible when operations are consistent, proactive, and, most importantly, when decisions do not only rely on one person’s perspective. The CEO may have started their business, but it takes a team to drive it to the next level. This poses a unique challenge for the entrepreneur who has likely gotten used to…
Read MoreA Brief Overview on How Tax Reform Affects Choice of Entity
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), signed by President Trump in Dec. 2017, has significant implications for how businesses will assess the choice of entity. Prior to reform, partnerships were a very common choice of entity, but with the new provisions in TCJA, the C corporation has become an appealing option once again (but…
Read More5 Ways to Build Your Small Business Brand with Engaging Stories and Watch It Grow
Local small businesses need publicity too, even with a non-existent budget. The good news is, branding opportunities are abundant both online and offline. All you need is to write and tell engaging stories. And if you think you can’t write, don’t be too hard on yourself. New technologies can make a huge difference. In this…
Read MoreHow to Cultivate an Authentic Social Media Presence
It’s impossible these days to run a business without a social media presence; it’s a key way to advertise and connect with your customers. However, a lot of businesses get it wrong when it comes to the way they post and act online. The most crucial piece of your social media strategy is authenticity. “Authentic…
Read MoreThe Importance of Setbacks
Too often, we get caught up in the rush of everyday life. The press of everyday activity, the constant intrusion and interruptions drive what we do. These become standard, we go on autopilot—even as a coping mechanism. Most important we stop paying attention, we stop being present. This doesn’t mean we aren’t accomplishing things. The…
Read MoreThe 5 Most Important Shop Fittings for Small Businesses
As a small business owner, you have a significant number of challenges to meet, particularly when it comes to planning and laying out your storefront. You need to make sure that there’s adequate room for customers to walk and browse. You need to meet requirements where disability access is concerned. You also need to display…
Read More7 Tips for Getting More Out of Your Small Business Website
Your company’s website is in essence a small part of its virtual real estate. You can take advantage of it, strengthen your brand image and boost sales. Conversely, you could waste it entirely. Though authentic business owners would rather avoid the latter, many others will do just that; therefore, you cannot afford to fall in…
Read MoreHow to Train Your New Employees with Microlearning
According to a 2016 study, more than 40% of employees quit within the first six months of starting a new job. While a big reason for this is the disconnect that exists between their expectation and reality, the study also found that at least four out of ten employees felt actively disengaged at work. Training…
Read More3 Pros and Cons of Using Mobile POS Systems for Your Small Business
It seems that with every new store I visit, I notice it more and more often: Businesses replacing the traditional point-of-sale cash register with a smaller, slicker mobile device. Swiveling iPads, smartphones clutched by every employee—the type of mobile device used to collect payments varies, but their popularity in retail and restaurant environments must mean…
Read More10 New Venture Strategies That Often Lead to Disaster
Every entrepreneur I know has their favorite excuse for a previous failure—an investor backed out, the economy took a downturn, or a supplier delivered bad quality. These things outside your control do happen, but based on my years of experience as a startup advisor and angel investor, I still see too many strategies leading to…
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