3 Strategies That Helped Me Raise $500,000 in Less Than Three Weeks
It takes money to make money, and finding people willing to invest their hard-earned dollars into your startup or venture isn’t always easy. Raising money can be challenging and often downright dejecting, but it can also be inspiring and lead to significant progress within your company. Whether you are a “garage” startup or a fully-funded…
Read MoreCommon Pitfalls When Seeking Financing for Your Small Business
Small business owners often seek working capital to help with business growth, refinance existing business debt, or to purchase/update technology or equipment. When you are seeking financing for your small business, there are things you should be aware of to help streamline the process and time period it takes to fund your loan request. In…
Read More4 Things Franchises Can Teach Independent Business Owners
While running a franchise and running an independent business are two sides of the same coin, there are many differences between the approaches that each take, and each can learn from the other. Here’s what the independent business owner can learn from franchisees. 1. Having Processes Makes Work Streamlined. How the two types of businesses…
Read More10 Questions Every Business Buyer Wants Answered
A business broker will tell you that putting yourself in a buyer’s shoes will get you a long way towards a successful business sale. To support your sale preparations, here’s a rundown of 10 common questions asked by business buyers, together with some sensible answers that will put your business in the best possible light…
Read MoreAre You So Busy Selling Your Product That You Won’t Win the Deal?
Don Mulhern published a brilliant post in LinkedIn the other day. I thought I’d expand on his ideas. I spend innumerable hours doing deal reviews. 95% go the same way, they focus on the product the sales person is selling, not what the customer is trying to achieve and how we can help the customer do that.…
Read MoreTax Rules for Bad Debts on a Balance Sheet
How do income tax rules treat bad debts? Facts: There are two provisions in the Income Tax Act (ITA) for bad debts. Discussion: The first way to claim a bad debt is covered in Section 20 of the ITA if the following requirements are met: the debt was owing to the taxpayer at the end…
Read MoreToo Much Time in Meetings? 7 Steps to Reclaim Your Work Day
Do you regularly take work home because you were in meetings all day at work? Do you know exactly which seat at each conference room table in your building has the best lighting, the optimum distance from the speaker, and the easiest access to communal snacks? Do you schedule doctor’s appointments during the workday just…
Read MoreDo You Put Your Customers First?
I know. It’s not a common question. And, what does it mean anyway? Does it mean being customer-oriented, customer-focused, and having a customer-centric mindset with the people your business or organization serves? According to the new MarketingSherpa Customer Satisfaction Research Study, there’s a new term on the marketing scene called, “customer-first marketing” and it’s supposedly different…
Read MoreHow to Source Free (and Legal) Images for Your Business
When it comes to repurposing content, the sheer scale and freedom of the internet can make it feel like anything goes. The barrage of retweeting, reblogging and reposting demands a constant supply of new content, with little regard to where it actually comes from. Online businesses can easily fall into the trap of using resources…
Read More7 Ways to Be Your Best in Business When Pressure Hits
We all face pressure in our lives, but there’s nothing like that of an entrepreneur facing customer crises and the competitive challenges of a new business. Don’t believe the myth that all you have to do to get rich is bring up an ecommerce website, and the money rolls in while you sleep. Most successful…
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