Here is a simple economic truth. Fixed overhead continues to eat into your cash month after month. It doesn’t differentiate facile, efficient businesses from slow, disorganized, quality-challenged ones.
Saving Money
Avoid Rookie Mistakes
Far too often, new entrepreneurs make first year decisions that can put a major dent in the inaugural year of your new entrepreneurial venture. Even someone who has a lot of corporate experience cannot understand the firefight of being a business owner until you have to meet your first payroll.
5 DIY Tactics to Boost Your SEO
Like all startup entrepreneurs, you too surely have high hopes to scale your business up the ladder with SEO. The better your SEO (Search Engine Optimization) rank, the bigger your business can grow. However, it is not easy when you are a startup entrepreneur. Here are some do-it-yourself steps.
Can Customer Service Go Too Far?
While customer service is critical, it cannot be given away if the costs become prohibitive. I think the answer is to make sure that everyone understands the terms of a deal when they are accepted.
5 Ways to Brand Like the Fortune 500s
Branding can be daunting at the best of times. For small- to medium-size enterprises, budgets to address brand initiatives are just a fraction of what a Fortune 500 company may apply. If you’re anything like me, you’re constantly educating yourself on ways to fine-tune your brand.
3 Key Startup Jobs to Outsource
If you’re running an early-stage startup, chances are there are some knowledge gaps in your core team. You may be strong on the technical side or a product whiz, but what about financial strategy, administration, HR? Are you prepared to manage the day-to-day of your startup, from recruiting new talent to bookkeeping to financial planning?
Contractors Must Really Be Independent
How many of us have “hired” independent contractors over the years, a bit worried over the gray area between employee and contractor as defined by the IRS? I’ve experienced the results of a wrong decision, and the IRS and state agencies are not forgiving in their pursuit of penalties, interest, and (most damaging) assessing a company with both employer and employee taxes when reclassifying the person as an employee.
Be Greener on Earth Day 2013
Today is Earth Day 2013, and it’s a time for business owners to think about their green initiatives and the things they can do to be more green. Office Depot surveyed 1,000 small and medium-sized business about their environmental consciousness, and they had some really interesting results. I want to share some of the highlights—maybe they’ll help your thinking about these questions.
What is the Cost of Employee Turnover?
Employee turnover is more costly than you think. Every businessman knows at some level that it’s easier for them if they can manage to keep their current employees than to need to find replacements. However, the cost of staff turnover is surprisingly high, and many small business owners don’t fully realize just how expensive it is to replace an employee.
How Can I Get Free Local Publicity for My Business?
You can’t afford a Super Bowl ad for your small business, but that doesn’t mean you’re shut out of the media. You can take advantage of free local publicity to bring in new customers and build a trustworthy brand that people believe in.
