Small Business Marketing Article

What is Market Orientation, and Does it Help My Small Business Performance?

2010-06-15T01:44:00.000-07:00

Small Business the words that every person needs to do to achieve their goal to become small business owner.If you want to be business owner start to build your own small business and be assure your goal it will become true. Follow is article that talking about small business performance, enjoy reading.

Since market orientation is not such common notion, let us first define what market orientation stands for. According to Dalgic (1998) market orientation express a marketing perception which put the customer’s needs in the center of all firm’s activities. Berkowitz, Kerin and Rudelius (1989) states that already in the year 1952 General Electric (GE) embedded there marketing personal at the beginning of the assembly line and not in its end, while combining marketing into all firm activities. Practically, General Electric (GE) was the first firm that formally accepts marketing perception as a management philosophy, while at the same time defining itself as a market oriented firm (Dalgic, 1998). Narver and Slater (1990) and Kohli and Jaworski (1990) wrote seminal papers regarding market orientation. By learning about organization and management characteristics of market-oriented firms, they have tried to define market orientation structure as well as preliminary conditions to it, from the firm perspective. According to Narver and Slater (1990) market orientation composed of three behavioral characteristics: Customer Orientation: understanding the potential customer needs in order to create an added value for him on a continuance basis. Competitor Orientation: knowing the strength and weaknesses as well as capabilities and strategies of key competitors. Inter Functional Coordination: coordinating use of the firm resources for creating high added value to target customers.

Logically, the second step should focus in the effort to show some evidence for an existing effect of market orientation on small business performance. In this regard, numerous studies inspect many possible direction of the market orientation performance connection. Among those who focused on small businesses as for characterizing their research sample we can find the following studies: Shun-Ching and Cheng-Hsui Chen (1998) sample seventy-six small businesses that are members at the national union for small medium enterprise in Taiwan. They found significant positive relation between market orientation and performance. Pelham (2000) sample 235 small businesses from eight different industries in the United States. He found significant positive relation between market orientation and sales efficiency, growth to market share ratio and profitability. Homburg, Hoyer and Fassnacht (2002) conducted their study at two disparate geographic zones – United States and Germany. Research population included 441 retail stores. Here also a significant positive relation between market orientation and performance was found.

If you are a small or medium size business owner, then you are probably wondering, now when I know that a higher level of market orientation cause for a higher level of performance at my firm, how will I know if I’m implementing market orientation in my own business? And how can I figure out if what I’m regarding as market orientation can indeed consider as one? Based on earlier questionnaires, such as Pelham (2000), let me suggest for a seven-item questionnaire that each business owner or CEO can take in order to evaluate the level of market orientation in hisher business.

Market Orientation Scale:

For each of the following seven sentences there are five options anchored by descriptive phrases, you need to circle only one option in order to complete the sentence in a way that describe what is going on in your business.

1. Our firm gives a (moderate 1 2 3 4 5 extreme) amount of attention to after sales service.

2. Our firm is (somewhat slow 1 2 3 4 5 very fast) in detecting fundamental changes in customer preferences, competitive strategies, and other major changes in our industry.

3. Our firm responds (somewhat slowly 1 2 3 4 5 very fast) to negative customer satisfaction information.

4. Our firm measures customer satisfaction (occasionally 1 2 3 4 5 systematically).

5. Our salespeople (occasionally 1 2 3 4 5 frequently) share competitor information with all of the other departments of the company.

6. We (occasionally 1 2 3 4 5 systematically) take advantage of targeted opportunities to take advantage of competitors’ weaknesses.

7. In our firm we understands how the entire business can contribute to creating customer value (disagree 1 2 3 4 5 agree).

After you have completed all questions you need to aggregate the scores of all the sentences. The higher the score you achieve the higher the market orientation level implemented by your firm is.

Dr. Rami Schayek - About the Author:
Dr. Rami Schayek combining the academic world as a researcher and a lecturer at the ben gurion university with a fieldwork as the CEO of several small businesses coincident with coaching many other small and medium businesses. You can see more from his work at www.small-medium-business.blogspot.com

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What is the Best New Small Business to Start?

2010-06-09T00:22:00.000-07:00

Have you ever asked yourself, what is the best new small business to start? Are you thinking about working from home or having a location in town? Are you looking for a way that you can achieve your goals and still have the time to spend with your family? Are you stuck in what is now referred to as the "rat race?" Are you looking for a way out? The most important question you should ask yourself before starting a new business is whether or not this business is something you will enjoy doing. If you do not enjoy what you are doing, it is just not worth it. So, when you ask yourself the question, "what is the best new small business to start," you must first decide whether or not this is something you are passionate about, and whether or not you can visualize yourself in your business. In this article, I will offer you my opinion of the best small business to start and why people are beginning this new journey every day.

In my opinion, the best small business to start is one that is out of your home. There are many benefits to having a home-based business, such as keeping costs low, and eliminating the worry of taking that daily commute to and from your place of business. You will be able to spend that valuable time with your family. Now you might ask, what kind of business do I want to take part in? Consider a business in online marketing. Why not, it is very rewarding in so many ways? You already know that the internet is a tremendous resource, and its uses are growing at staggering rates every single day. Why not use its power to create a considerate source of income for you. Every day people just like yourself are using the internet to bring in massive amounts of income on a daily basis. This is why:

You can very easily put your product or service in front of literally thousands or even millions of people in a very short period of time. You always have a large sum of people who are searching for what you offer, and the beautiful thing is, people come to you. You don't have to find them. Every time you put something out on the net, whether that be articles, videos, etc, these items work for you for as long as you want them to. They do not need to take breaks, they don't get tired. They work for you 24/7 and 365 days of the year, and the best thing is, they are free. Unless you decide to delete them or take them off of the web, they continue to catch the eye of potential customers.

An online marketing business can literally run itself. Once you lay the ground work, it can be automated in so many ways. Now, I am not saying that you can just sit back and watch the money come in, but there are so many aspects of this type of business that are residual. Online marketing is all about creating a brand for yourself or your product. It is all about getting your name out there, and every single thing that you do in your marketing efforts, moves you one step further to this important goal. It is not like so many other businesses, that after you make a sale, you have to start over and duplicate those efforts to make another sale.
A home-based online business has very low start up costs and the costs to maintain it are minimal. All you need is a computer and an internet connection. This is huge when it comes to starting a business. So many businesses out there have such a high start up cost and costs an arm and a leg to maintain from month to month, year to year. This cuts into the amount of time it is going to take you to be profitable. With marketing, you don't have to worry about having inventory, paying salaries of employees, and so many items that increase your costs and and not to mention, stress levels.

This only breaks the surface on why a home-based business in online marketing is the best new small business to start. If you would like to learn more about this extraordinary opportunity, please visit my site.
Dave Fennell is an Internet Marketing Coach and Corporate Mentor for one of the Internet's largest marketing schools. Specializing in Article Marketing, Social Network Marketing, and a multitude of other Marketing Strategies, he trains both total beginners and seasoned professionals from all over the globe to achieve financial freedom through proven business techniques and continuing education to keep ahead of trends and remain on top of the competition.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Fennell

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Small Business Guerrilla Survival Tips

2009-09-04T18:27:00.000-07:00

Small Business Tips is the one of matter that need much attention from the entrepreneur especially if they want to improve and develop their business. Below is one of many article in my blog that offer reader tips how to improve your small business in crisis. Find out more...

Small businesses form the backbone of the American economy. According to the International Data Group, in 2005, there were 8.1 million small businesses employing a total of 130 million American workers, paying as much as 44.3% of the total private-sector payroll in the U.S.

In 2005, Small businesses produced more than 50% of the non-farm Gross Domestic Product in the U.S. or roughly US$6 trillion. In 2008, a study by Robert Fairle showed small business entrepreneurs generated nearly 12% of all business income in the U.S.

However, with the recession that has recently plagued the global economy, small businesses have been adversely affected. Poor sales, inflation, and limited access to credit were among the top concerns of small businesses, forcing companies to re-evaluate their business, postpone expansion plans, freeze hiring, and eventually lay-off workers. In 2008, around 3.1 million Americans lost their jobs, with nearly 1.7 million jobs lost in the 4th quarter of 2008 alone.

As a small business entrepreneur facing the challenges of a global recession, you must be willing to adopt unconventional tactics where conventional wisdom had all but failed. You must be willing to become a guerrilla entrepreneur.

Typically, a guerrilla is described as a small, independent, irregular unit capable of employing unconventional tactics against very specific targets with great speed, flexibility and mobility. Guerrillas hit where they are least expected.

Similarly, for the small business owner, whether you sell homes, offer pet grooming services, operate a flower shop or sell life insurance, survival in the face of economic adversity require employing "outside the box" unconventional thinking that often run counter to the norms of conventional logic.

Where conventional thinking dictates that businesses spend a fortune on advertisements and sponsorships to entice a shrinking market, the guerrilla entrepreneur will target a very small, focused niche market. The guerrilla sells to individuals, building relationships one person at a time. The guerrilla entrepreneur would rather reach out and touch 10 people with a message that works than broadcast to 10,000 with an ad that has no impact or feedback.

Where the norm forces small businesses to fire employees to cut cost, the guerrilla entrepreneur sees the value of keeping his team intact, for better or for worse, endearing the employer to his employees, improving morale and consequently increasing productivity. The guerrilla knows that firing people is but a temporary quick-fix that eventually results to ill-will and bad publicity. Instead, the guerrilla trains every employee of his small business, from the tool keeper to the corporate secretary, to be effective lead-generators and sales people, doubling his sales force at no extra cost.

While other small businesses cut back on suppliers, the guerrilla entrepreneur sees the potential of exchanging clients' lists with his suppliers, multiplying his referrals ten-fold. The guerrilla entrepreneur may even consider affiliating with suppliers, promoting their products and earning commissions or mark-ups in return.

Contrary to the norm, the guerrilla entrepreneur never sells. He builds relationships. He establishes trust with his clients. He explores his customers' needs and offers solutions to fill those needs. The guerrilla entrepreneur is passionate about benefits and operates his small business around delivering on those benefits.

The guerrilla entrepreneur never cold calls. He banks on the relationship and trust he has developed with his customers to provide him with a continuous stream of referrals and word-of-mouth promotion of his small business.

Learning from research that small businesses with websites have outsold businesses without a website, a guerrilla entrepreneur creates a website for his small business and tweaks with search engine optimization to land his website, and his small business, onto page 1 of Yahoo! and Google Search Results. The guerrilla entrepreneur participates in on-line forums and chat rooms relevant to his small business. He is a top contributor to Yahoo! Answers, never failing to include his URL every time he posts his answers. The guerrilla entrepreneur likewise submits informative articles to article directories, presenting himself very knowledgeable and an authority in his industry.

These are but a few unconventional ways by which small businesses can stand defiant and survive the global recession. So much more can be done. Be creative. Think "outside the box". Think guerrilla.

The article contributor, Jaime, runs a small business in the Philippines which has survived several years despite unfavorable economic and political conditions. He runs a blog site with a theme about "Goals and Goal Setting". Visit Jaime at http://mygoalkeeper.blogspot.com/

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Starting a Small Business - A Guide to Fast Profits

2009-08-28T21:41:00.000-07:00

Wanna start small business? So read the following article that contain of many reason why should start and how to start it.

Some many choices...so little time. That's what it seems like when it comes to making a decision to launch out in starting a small business of your own. With that comes many obstacles that confront new entrepreneurs, many of which are not always easy to conquer. The number one response to what is the biggest hindrance to starting your business the answer most often replied is MONEY!

Unfortunately, starting a business from the ground up or even diving into an established business, can take a lot of start up capital and not everyone is in a position to risk what they have or don't have. There is also all the risks, failures and successes that come with the package.

There is a solution to this dilemma if you happen to be one of those who are not rich (yet) or have little start up capital or just no money OR time to spare. Don't try to "Bag the Elephant" from the start, but build the business up until you reach the financial freedom you desire.

Well, you may be thinking, "What can I do?". Glad you asked!

First things first is to get a different concept of the traditional business that you may be used to. Forget about looking to the "brick & mortar" establishments, worth all the headaches of finding a good location, having to deal with employees and payroll, taxes, and insurance (as if that really exist in an affordable format anymore!). The list goes on.

Changing the way you envision the business model and breaking free from the traditional methods can make the difference between failure or success. Another good reason to depart from this method is you can save a lot of time and effort and instead of throwing away that time - and money - you can take more calculated, smaller risks. As one saying goes, "How do you eat an elephant?" the answer is "One bite at a time!"

What then can you do to break free from the traditional business model?

The key ingredients that go into making "Success Soup" you will find through the power of the internet. With the business models of affiliate programs, ecommerce, online trading (just to name a few), you can find a way to accomplish your goals and master your dreams. The nice thing about the power of the internet and the business model that is spoken of here are as follows:

It has unlimited income potential
Very little start up capital
Relatively short start up time

This business model will allow you to start off small but have the potential to profit big! The reason for big profits that with an internet based affiliate type of business, there is relatively low overhead and big ROI that can't be found in the traditional business models.

All you need to start is a simple PC, an internet connection and a desire (or should I say PASSION) to succeed!

Learn what it takes to get your business launched online and the steps to take to achieve the success you desire at: http://www.NewBusinessStartupGuide.com.

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The Push and Pull Theory of Small Business Development

2009-08-23T18:59:00.000-07:00

If you want to know what the push and pull theory of the small business is, please enjoy this article, you will find it.

When you are small, everything else seems big and intimidating.There is a fear of getting crushed and getting shadowed by the bigger players in the niche.While it is easy to back out, a certain level of motivation help small businesses stay afloat.Small businesses should realize that they have strengths of their own and have to focus on finding alternative methods of accomplishing business goals rather than employing techniques similar to those employed by the big business houses.

You need to use a combination of both "push" and "pull" business strategies to help your business grow from strength to strength.You should "push" sales to increase the number of clients and you should "pull" clients by winning them by your commitment for work.In order to push sales,you should give your services an edge over your competitors.Being a small player, you may not have the kind of infrastructure and history that bigger players have.However, you can offer cost effective services which has the potential to attract a lot of clients,especially in times when everyone is looking at cost cutting.But you surely don't want to run on a loss yourself by offering services at a lesser price.You should first device means to make your services cost effective.

The strength of your services is chiefly based on the work done by your staff.Hence, it is important to reduce the cost on labor.However the employees must be able to produce quality work for client projects.Such a combination of staffing can be achieved through staff augmentation.You can have your staff sourced from a staff augmentation service provider and reduce the cost of production.This practice will help reduce the cost of your service and "push" your service sales.Since it is possible to hire skilled staff through these services, the quality of work will not suffer.This will "push" your service recognition in your niche market and " pull" more clients towards you.

I am a software programmer working in a offshore software development company. Our company provides many cost effective IT services including PHP programming and staff augmentation services.

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Small Business Technology Recession Tips

2009-08-19T23:12:00.000-07:00

Need to solve recession problem, read this article below..

Consider the minimum technology that is needed today to run any company. A Small company needs computers, applications (Word, Excel, QuickBooks) internet access, printers, phones, PDA's and a website. If any one of theses technology items were not working correctly. Your business could come to a halt or be severely impacted. Repairing or replacing these items creates unexpected expenses such as loss of productivity

Consider the small business technology budget. Replace only if broken is usually the motto. Consider Proactive Services.

Are your computers still under warranty? If yes can we extend the warranty on them? If not can we get an extended warranty. I know HP and Dell allow you to extend the warranties on their hardware. It is cheaper to extend the warranty of an existing computer, server and printer then to buy a new one.

Place your computers in energy savings mode to reduce electrical expenses. Check the Internet for tips on placing your monitors and computers in energy savings mode.

Consider free software to manage your computers. AVG for antivirus and Spybot for spyware are a great start. Open Office is another.

If you use a computer consultant ask if they have pre-purchased blocks of time available. These hourly blocks of time usually come with a discounted rate and no expiration date.

Shop your around for the best Internet price.

Don't skimp when it comes to maintaining your business network. Consider an online backup or Managed Services for you computers and Servers. For a flat fee per month most computer consultants will maintain your entire network from top to bottom.

Frank Miksiewicz
AKA MyTechmanager
http://www.mytechmanager.net

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Tips For Promoting Your Small Business

2009-08-07T18:32:00.000-07:00

How to promote my small business? Here it is article that contain tips for promoting your small business, read more...

Being a small business owner might be part of the American Dream, but promoting your business can sometimes be a nightmare. With small budgets, limited resources and an often narrow scope of business, getting your name out there can be a challenge. Consider adding promotional products to your advertising mix, along with the three marketing strategies listed here, to gain clients and promote your business in the community.

Host a seminar or presentation
Build credibility and awareness for your business by hosting seminars, classes and presentations in your area of expertise. Be sure to give attendees a little something at the end of the class to help them remember your business, and you can even offer class participants special discounts if they decide to use your services. For example, small accounting firms can host a seminar on preparing for tax season, handing out small calculators or notepads to class participants and offering them a discount on their upcoming tax preparations.

Use your car to promote your business
Your car can be one of your most effective advertising tools, especially in rush hour traffic. Bumper stickers are classic advertising tools for your car, and license plate frames also allow plenty of space for promoting your business. If you're looking to go the extra mile, add a large magnet to the side of your car to make sure your business gets noticed.

Sponsor local events
Local fundraisers are always looking for volunteers or sponsors, giving your business ample opportunities to get involved and promote your name. Host a water station at a walk/run for charity and hand out water bottles with your business name or logo, or sponsor a hole at a golf tournament with logoed golf tees or ball markers for participants.

However you choose to promote your small business, be sure to wear a logoed shirt while you're doing it. Whether it's a polo, T-shirt or jacket, logoed apparel is an effective, one-time marketing investment that allows you to subtly promote your business wherever you go. Small giveaways are also effective, economical options for promoting your brand. Consider keeping pens, key chains and other small items handy for meeting potential clients.

Staples Promotional Products has everything you need to help your small business shine. With great prices, fast delivery and easy online ordering, we help you reach your marketing objectives. Visit http://www.StaplesPromotionalProducts.com to view our wide selection of items available for customization online.

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Small Business Guide to Choosing a Credit Card Processing Company

2009-07-22T18:12:00.000-07:00

This article below is very important to small business owner that want to secure their customer's payments. This is the guidance that payment by credit card is very safe and still have other benefit to business owner. Read more the article...

Whether you conduct your business' sales in person, online, or over the phone, you will want to feel secure about how your customer's payments are being processed. Being able to accept credit cards as a form of payment is a huge benefit, and credit cards are probably the number one source of revenue, especially in online businesses.

When choosing a merchant account service, you will have several options. The first option you may want to consider is using a bank for the credit card processing services you need. Most banks will offer merchant account services with their business account packages. Keep in mind, however, that many banks do not do this type of processing themselves and will actually outsource the service. It may be a good idea to shop around and get a feel for the different rates banks have to offer before choosing the bank you will want to work with.

You may also want to consider an established processing company. When choosing this option, remember that each company will handle merchant credit card accounts differently. Registered credit card brokers may also be an option, however, many of these organizations are not regulated, so this could be a risky investment, and are usually more expensive than smaller merchant account providers.

Some types of businesses may be more high risk than others. This depends on credit history and the potential for fraud among clientele. For example, online adult sites are considered more of a risk than a boutique. Credit card processing companies will also take how long you have been in business, as well as your chargeback rate, into consideration when determining how much of a credit risk your company may be.

Qualifying for a merchant account can be a difficult process. Credit card processing providers will investigate your business to make sure it is legitimate, which usually involves a background check. In addition to a thorough credit check, you may be required to provide credit references, which will usually be your product suppliers.

The costs are also something you will want to consider. In addition to paying for service costs, you will also need to purchase all of the required credit card processing equipment. The credit card terminal (what is used to swipe the card) will be your biggest up-front investment, for which you can expect to pay $150 to $700. If you wish you have a wireless terminal, it will cost anywhere from $500 to $1000, or even more, in some cases. Many businesses will choose to lease a machine, which can run about $20 a month, or process cards using POS systems. In some instances, you may get a terminal as part of a package when you sign up for a merchant account. This may end up saving you a considerable amount of money. You will also need to factor in the discount fee, which is the percentage of money your provider charges for every transaction, as well as application and activation fees.

How Some Small Businesses Thrive in a Down Economy

2009-07-22T18:08:00.000-07:00

Do you want to start a small business in down economy like current condition? If so you should read this article below...

In doing some research the other day I came across some interesting information that might take some of the guesswork out of how to run a successful small business in a down economy.

Historian David Landes recently asked the question, "Why do some people and businesses thrive?" In his book The Wealth and Poverty of Nations - Why Some Are So Rich and Some So Poor, he discusses his findings. He concludes with the following answer:

"In this world, the optimists have it, not because they are always right, but because they are positive. Even when they are wrong they are positive and that is the way of achievement, correction, improvement, and success. Educated, eye-open optimism pays."

What he is saying is that we need to develop a passion for what we do. In other words, it helps to enjoy what we do, and to be good at it. If we enjoy what we do and are good at it, we will want to continue to grow and develop our skills and knowledge base in this area. No doubt about it; if you are growing and improving, so will your small business.

The people who we hire and surround ourselves with, must share this passion for what they do. Well, how do we create that kind of passion in them? The same way. We find people who have the potential to be good at their job and encourage them to grow and develop their skills that take them to the next level.

Taking this one-step further, what are some of the ways we can encourage our employees to grow and develop their skills? As I have always said, "praise pays". When you see them doing something right, - praise them. Praise can be done both privately and in front of their peers. It can be done when they are present and when they are not.

Among many ways, recognition can be given during their performance appraisals and in the form of added responsibility and monetary reward. Again, your company will grow when your people grow.

What happens if you discover after you have hired them that they do not want to or will not develop that potential? The best thing to do is give them a chance to work elsewhere.

So, to help you and your small business thrive in a down economy, remember it is an "inside job". It starts from within. Grow yourself and your employees. When you do, the chances are you and your company will grow and thrive.

Action Plan:

1. List one thing you can start on today to grow your passion and your knowledge base about what you do.

2. Praise pays - starting looking for the things your employees are doing right and praise them.

3. List one thing you can start on today that will grow and reward your people.

For more great ideas on how to help your small business thrive in a down economy, visit my Web site, http://www.tomborgconsulting.com Check out my book Making Service Count - How to Deliver Outstanding Customer Service and Make Your Business More Profitable. This book will show you how to tap the potential of your employees and make your business prosper.

Tom Borg is president of Tom Borg Consulting, Development and Training. He works with small business owners and helps them run a more profitable business by "thinking outside the box and increase their profits". He can be reached at 734-812-0526 or tomborg@comcast.net, or visit his Web site at http://www.tomborgconsulting.com.

The Richest Commodity For a Small Business - You

2009-07-12T08:16:00.001-07:00

There are so many ways that the richest commodity in your business is YOU. Right now, let's just focus on two of them: Intellectual Property and Client Care. When we talk about these two things as part of your business' RICHEST commodities (and thus something you want to GROW), we also need to talk about the POOREST commodity (and what you need to shrink): Sweat Equity.

(Hang in there, this isn't as hard to follow as it sounds.)

Important Idea #1. If you are a solo entrepreneur or own a small business, then your ideas and your expertise ARE your business. How you implement those ideas and expertise are your Sweat Equity. This piece is something that we can OFTEN outsource, once we've put some amazing standard operating procedures (SOPs) in place. Why? Because if you can't create SOPs and outsource your implementation, you are almost always tied to an hourly wage in one form or another.

Alternatively, once you build an amazing team of smart, hard-working professionals to do some of the hands on, you can be freed to a) come up with MORE ideas, products, product paths, services, etc. (Intellectual Property). Hey, don't forget that your team may also have some great ideas to throw your way and keep your business growing - definitely ask them at your weekly catch-up sessions for their input.

When you have as much as you possibly can PROCEDURALIZED and DELEGATED to your team, you can move on to the second reason that your company's richest commodity is you: Client Care. Now I'm not talking about day-to-day customer service here. THAT is something you definitely want to delegate and outsource. What I AM talking about is that special interaction that your clients look for: The conversations, the brainstorming, the quick "touch-base" conversations - the stuff that reminds them WHY they want to work with YOU and why they chose you as their service provider.

Let's face it, clients often choose us based on that one magical ingredient that we can't really ever outsource: Connection. Having made the connection and gotten the client, actively keeping that relationship in motion is really important. If you're busy cranking out the work 24/7, you really won't have time to do the relationship management that KEEPS great clients on your roster.

This leads me to one last tip: Treat your client as PART of your team. Invite them to listen in on teleconference brainstorming sessions about their account. Send them documents that your team is working on (even before they're finished) just to keep them in the loop or get periodic feedback. If you use a project / client management system, consider setting them up with a login & password just like you would a subcontractor so that they can easily look for updates and see if benchmarks are being met.

The bottom line is this. You are one person. And if you own a business, you're probably an AMAZING person with a ton of great ideas. But if you don't learn to build a team, delegate your tasks, manage your time AND manage your clients, greater levels of success may simply elude you.

Dave Churchville is the CEO of ExtremePlanner Software, creators of ClientSpot, a leading online service for small business project collaboration, time tracking, and data management.

ClientSpot by ExtremePlanner Software
http://www.myclientspot.com

Start a Small Business - Announcing 5 Persuasive Steps to Amplify Starting a Business

2009-07-12T08:15:00.001-07:00

When people think about the idea of starting their own business, they feel very excited. But once people get into the mechanics and details of starting a business and successfully running it for the long term, they can start to feel tired of accepting the responsibility of being their own boss. Sharing your business experience can help new business owners run successful businesses. Announcing 5 persuasive steps to amplify starting a small business.

1. Before you start a business remember you go into business to serve a specific market. Which market do you desire to serve?

2. After you determine that there is a market for your products and services, build product and service knowledge through training. Make sure that you know your products and services inside out before you offer them.

3. Avoid cause for complaint from customers. That means that you accurately know what you're talking about. And, if you feel uncertain about anything your customer might ask you, tell them the truth. Tell them you need to do further research on that question before you can answer it correctly. They will appreciate your honesty and genuine integrity.

4. Make sure you create a reasonable business plan and follow your business plan. A business plan is like a roadmap. When you have a business plan you know where you're going.

5. Additionally, create a marketing plan. A large percentage of your time will be spent on promoting your business. That means you're telling all kinds of people what you do. This is going to make you very successful.

Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed a brand new free guide. Download it free here: Internet Marketing

Do you want to learn how to use articles like this to drive targeted traffic to your site? Click here: Article Writing Guide

Sean Mize teaches coaches, consultants, and small business owners how to package their knowledge and sell it in high priced coaching, consulting, and online class packages, and is an expert at using articles like this to drive traffic to his website, and has taught hundreds of clients his secrets. Sean says, "If you have an existing marketable service or skill that you can teach others, I can teach you to package it into a high-priced class or coaching program, guaranteed."

Starting Your Small Business - 6 Proven Secrets to Increase Profits by Starting Your Business

2009-07-12T08:13:00.001-07:00

Now is the time for you to share your small business expertise. Continue reading through this article to learn 6 proven secrets to increase profits by starting your business.

1. Everybody is an expert at doing something. If you know that there is a market for what you offer, that can be a profitable business. As you should have effective management skills for your business, you could make a lot of money in your business.

2. Once you have decided what you like to do, the next thing is to create a product. Your information product creates a solution for very pressing problems that negatively affect people in your niche market. And as long as you know there are people with money willing to pay for your products that will be a profitable business.

3. Make sure you make your product something easy to use and of value to a large market. You'll see that many people in many situations will be able to benefit from your product.

4. Turn your ex-employer into your client. Your past boss already knows your capability. Maybe you could negotiate to do some contract work for him or her using your special skills.

5. Provide a solution in the form of information products for a performance gap in your niche. That can be a very lucrative small business.

6. Keep promoting your business. Intentionally be involved in activities where you tell people what you do. The more often you promote your business the higher profits you will experience by increased sales.

Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed a brand new free guide. Download it free here: Internet Marketing

Do you want to learn how to use articles like this to drive targeted traffic to your site? Click here: Article Writing Guide

Small Business Ideas - Revealed - 3 Phenomenal Methods to Improve Your Business Opportunities

2009-07-12T08:11:00.000-07:00

Promoting your business is one of the most time-consuming activities you will do to successfully stay in business. When you adopt an attitude that you must promote your business to stay successful, you will see the value of brainstorming new ideas to keep yourself profitable. In this article, read ideas to promote excellence. Revealed - 3 phenomenal methods to improve your small business ideas.

1. Take responsibility for clear communication. When you are developing your small business ideas, you must clearly communicate exactly what you want to achieve. When you understand what you clearly are seeking to achieve, write out a plan to achieve it. Make sure you include action guide steps so that you really can achieve goals in an organized way.

2. Organize your thoughts. Create a long-term plan and a short-term plan. Focus on achieving financial goals rather than achieving numbers of people to prospect for a day. When you know what financial goals you're seeking to reach, you can look at the products and services that you have to offer and determine how many of each one you must sell in order to achieve your financial goal.

3. Brainstorm with other business colleagues. It's very good to have the viewpoints of other people because they will bring to the table ideas that you might never have thought of. It's all right for you to share ideas with them because they can benefit as well hearing your viewpoints that might be different from their own. Stay open minded and connected with others to improve your small business ideas.

Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed a brand new free guide. Download it free here: Internet Marketing

Do you want to learn how to use articles like this to drive targeted traffic to your site? Click here: Article Writing Guide

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3 Vital Tips in Managing Your Small Business

2009-06-29T06:53:00.000-07:00

As a business owner it is critical to set the policies and operating procedures of the business from the very outset. Here are three good business management tips that apply to businesses of all sizes, but particularly to fledgling small businesses. These are important to keep in mind at all times.

1. Set the tone at the top

Do you shout at your employees? Are you always ducking out of the office early? Monitor your actions as the owner of your small business. Employees follow your lead. If bad behavior is acceptable for you, then it will be seen as being acceptable by those who work for you. The tone starts right up with you the small business owner and travels downhill. Show respect, tolerance and have patience with those working for you. If you as the leader do not show these qualities, how can you expect them of those who follow you? Remember that if the working atmosphere is not great, the production and sales of your business could end up suffering too.

2. Every business deal is only as good as the participants

If you are dealing with a dishonest person in a business deal, no iron clad contract will hold them to it. Dealing with honest people will save you a ton of money and stress in the long run. Do some homework and check up on the people that you want to set up a business deal with. If the word on the street is not that favorable towards that person, be on your guard. Perhaps it is better to walk away early than have to deal with the lawyers later on. Often a bad business deal can end up being much worse than not having done the deal at all.

3. If you mess up, admit it

If there is something worse than messing up, it is lying to cover it up. You make no friends through trying to cover up a mistake through deceiving your client or customer. Admit your mistake, apologize and have a plan of action to correct the mess. Customers can take the truth. They may not like what they are hearing, but they will respect you for at least owning up. Honesty is always the best policy.

These three principles are just a few of the ingredients that will help determine your small business success. Following sound principles will always ensure that your business is on the right track to getting there!

Mark Bergman helps and advises business owners with the starting up of their new businesses and improving the running of existing businesses.

If you would like to receive a weekly Small Business Newsletter, and access to FREE REPORTS, EBOOKS and other interesting information on business issues, go to http://www.startupmysmallbusiness.com/blog

Mark has 25 years in business experience, covering areas of consulting in business strategic planning and software and general business consulting. He also has started up a number of businesses which he successfully ran and sold off.

Governments Grants For Small Business Owners

2009-06-29T06:51:00.000-07:00

For any entrepreneur searching for a great source of financing for his or her business set up is one of the important factors of any new lucrative venture. Most of them will refer to enthusiastic investors and/or secure bank financing for such reason. However many do not succeed to make the most of what might well be an ideal option for the mere truth that it is a free money that does not require repayments, compare to banks or investors.

Searching for government grants to begin a business is one of the great means for any funds deprived entrepreneur to start on their venture. Each year the government awards billion dollars in free grant funds for all way of things that includes education, small businesses, and medical care issues and in most cases debt assistance. For the owners of small businesses, such money could be a godsend to assist them to begin and raise their business without the need of tormenting about the repayments to investors and banks.

Obtaining grants for small business are not as intricate as what other people perceived it to be. By simple following several basic guides you can simplify the procedure by understanding what you need prior to starting the application procedure. Normally, this is merely a few paper works to begun. Also, it is crucial to know that applying and obtaining approval for business loan in the government can take a moment or two and there is nothing much you could do to quicken the procedure hence it pays to be a little patient.

To effectively apply and acquire the government grants for small business you have to study the grant/s you are concerned with. Learn anything you can regarding the office that is giving the grant, the needed details they will require, how will the approval procedure works and the duration of time on everything starting from the paper works needed to be presented up to the duration of the entire process.

There are basically two things that you have to do to make sure that your requests grant will be seriously taken and have a huge chance for approval. First, ensure that all the needed forms are completely and accurately filled up. Updated information is important and no one will put your request to paper shredder if your forms do not have incorrect or missing information.

Second, proof read your application plus all of the needed paper works a number or times. An ideal way to do such is to perform it for several days. You will be surprised at how many errors your forms have. Also, it pays to have someone else to proof read it for you. Acquiring a lawyer or an accountant who is accustomed with government grants to check your forms may as well enhance the chances for approval.

Making use of the grants offered by the government to begin a business can truly help any business person obtain solution to his or her cash low difficulties.

Is it Possible to get Grant Money from Government? Answer is Yes. There is legitimate kit that will provide you with Step by Step Instruction and Forms to receive free government grant money. Get Free Government Grants Kit Today.

Download Government Grant Application & Instructions at http://www.govt-grants.net

Give Your Small Business Start-Up the Best Chance of Success

2009-06-29T06:47:00.000-07:00

The first step you need to take in researching your new business is to decide on the type of business or businesses you are most suited to and would be most successful in.

Before establishing a business, consider whether or not your product or service meets the needs of your target market. Who is going to purchase your product or service? Have you considered whether or not there are already products or services which your customer base would purchase if you offered them? Is anyone else producing your product or offering a similar service?

Look at the industry you are considering. Is it a growth industry or is it in decline? Check out the pricing of the product locally and nationally. Are you able to price the product competitively? By reviewing industry trends and establishing a quality business plan, you will be well placed to begin a new business that becomes successful and profitable.

Once you have done the initial business research, it is time to work out how the products will be produced or how a service will be delivered. Consider how much time is involved in each step in terms of the inputs needed and outputs generated. It helps to create a flow diagram of all the steps necessary to get your product or service to market. Make sure you also include a reasonable time table for each of the stages. This will help you manage your business, costs and time. A flow diagram will also help you see if you need to outsource jobs or employ people to help you.

You may be wondering how you go about researching a new business and getting the right answers. Fortunately you can find free and inexpensive sources of information online. A good place to look for information for your start-up business is on trade association websites. An excellent free resource is 'Service Corps of Retired Executives' at www.scn.org/civic/score-online where retired executives offer free guidance. For absolutely no charge, you can email questions about your business start-up and receive professional advice.

Another avenue for locating valuable information is to find a willing executive who is experienced in your particular business who may be willing to advise you. In a situation like this, sometimes a partnership can develop which will allow you to obtain personal mentoring. Perhaps, you can offer your products and services in return.

New start-up business owners have taken advantage of public libraries for years, at least the most successful ones have. You can find a range of business information and statistics at public libraries, and this is what many successful start-up business owners have done. If you are considering creating an internet based business, 'Secrets to Their Success' is a website with helpful interviews and case studies, from which you can learn from other small business successes. Once you have taken into account information gathered and put together a flow chart covering inputs and outputs followed by a marketing plan, you need to work out the costs involved in establishing and operating your new business.

One of the first things you need to do when determining the costs of your business operations is to contact relevant agencies to inform you of any necessary licences or so you can begin business operations in your area. Your local department of licensing can assist you in this. However, the rules involved with operating an internet business differ from those of traditional business operations. Check with the relevant local, state and federal government agencies to see if you need to collect sales or other taxes.

You also need to consider the costs of advertising and supplies as well as the possibility of outsourcing and the payment of taxes. There are several ways to obtain the necessary information when considering costs, including your local Internet Revenue office and the State Department of Revenue. Accountants can also prove invaluable for new start-up business owners.

Because small businesses do not need full time accounting services, Certified Practising Accountants can be outsourced. The Department of Labor and Industry will tell you if you need to add insurance or workers compensation to your estimate of business costs if you need to hire people for your business.

Every year, the government--local, state, and federal--gives away millions of dollars to people just like you for business ideas. Leon Edward shares information on government funding, Federal, State, Local Grants, where to find start up grants, sources, free grant money cd, how best to fill out applications, grant management step by step tips, setting up a business steps at his website: http://www.business-idea-grants.com

Also, his Small Business Management website answers questions posed by millions of people that have accepted the challenge of starting a home based business.

How to Sell a Small Business - Things to Consider When Selling Small Businesses

2009-06-29T06:46:00.000-07:00

Here are the 4 most important things to consider when selling your small business:

1. To hire or not to hire business broker. A business broker is basically an agent helping entrepreneurs in selling their business. They typically charge 10% of the selling price which is payable at closing. Although it is highly recommend to hire a business broker if you are selling a huge business, you have the option not to hire one if there is little money involved in selling your small business.

2. Financial statements. Potential buyers require financial information showing profits and balance sheets for the last 3-5 years of operation. Ideally, you should hire an outside firm to prepare and review these statements for the sale so they will be objective. Aside from financial statement, tax income returns are also other documents that will be required during the selling process.

3. Management agreements. Potential buyers' expressing their interest in having the current owner to continue to run the business is something that isn't unheard of. You will need to reach an agreement with the new owner outlining your roles and responsibilities. Get everything into writing as working relationships between ex-owners and new owners are often subjected to friction.

4. Review valuation guidelines before placing your business in the market. You shouldn't get into the selling process if your chances of selling it are relatively slim. Generally, small businesses that are relatively new or those that have declining sales are way difficult to sell. I recommend that you wait for the right timing so you can land a better deal.

Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed a brand new free guide. Download it free here: Internet Marketing

Do you want to learn how to use articles like this to drive targeted traffic to your site? Click here: Article Writing Guide

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Small Business Lesson - What Does Wal-Mart Know That We Don't?

2009-06-29T06:43:00.000-07:00

Today I heard that Wal-Mart is expanding its number of stores in the USA by about 150. That means a ton of new jobs and stores. So what does Wal-Mart know that we don't? Obviously with the economic downturn, people are turning more and more so towards the stores that sell for the lowest prices. This represents quite a change from 18 months ago when price was no issue for the buying public. People were spending without any real concern about price. Today the consumer has become very price sensitive. So Wal-Mart is doing better and better, with their low cost model.

Wal-Mart's expansion plans have barely had a hiccup through this recession. They obviously have an understanding of the economy that we should be taking note of. Perhaps they see this recession as being really protracted and drawn out. Under these circumstances the public will still demand low priced products.

Alternatively Wal-Mart is planning for the future by expanding now. They will be ready when the recession has turned around and the public have started buying again.

So in either scenario price sensitivity seems to be the new norm. One thing that seems to be a new reality is that recession or not the buying public will not be spending as freely in the foreseeable future as they did just a short while ago. Wal-Mart seems to have really understood this change in the public's buying patterns.

This means that retailers and service providers had better be more competitive on price than they have been in the last decade or more.

To survive in business today, pricing will become even more cutthroat, margins even smaller and competition even fiercer.

So if you have not already started doing so, start negotiating with your suppliers for the best deals that you can possibly get. Start thinking of new and creative ways that are perceived as adding value to your products and services to entice new buyers. People are doing price comparisons on their purchases. Give them something that makes price only one component of their purchase decision, like offering better service, speedier delivery, more flexibility on terms, and longer warranties.

Put yourself in your customer's shoes and see this new reality through their eyes. What would bring you to buy your products from your business today?

Mark Bergman helps and advises business owners with the starting up of their new businesses and improving the running of existing businesses.

Many Small Businesses Using the Decoy Trick to Look Busy

2009-06-24T06:13:00.000-07:00

A true entrepreneur can tell when the recession gets very bad, as they have a keen eye to many of the tricks of the trade. For instance, often business owners will park cars in front of their store to make it look like there's someone there shopping. This is a common decoy trick; No customers, just decoys!

Gas stations also do this at night, to prevent people from robbing the place because if criminals see there is no one there they think it is the perfect time to rob the mini-mart, liquor store or gas station. You will often find employees will park their personal cars out front as if they are customers in the very front row.

Sometimes the employees at gas stations will park their car at the closest pump to the door and looks like someone is getting gas and still inside the store. Often this will deter criminals, and even police officers and retired security experts recommend this.

Formerly, before retirement I was in the carwash industry and the carwash industry is notorious for doing this, because no one wants to get a carwash unless other people are getting the carwash. But as soon as it looks like one person is a customer others get in line and the more they get in line the more it attracts other customers because there must be something good about the carwash if all the people are lining up.

One thing I have noticed is more and more businesses are starting to do this, as it is a means of survival. Although one could say it is misdirection or misrepresentation in a way, to use decoys that is, they do it because it works. And their rationale is "if someone doesn't want to buy something from they don't have to, it's a choice."

I'm not sure if I buy that argument for the sake of integrity, but suffice it to say decoys do work and small business owners are using this trick now more than ever due to the recession and lack of real customers to get things moving. Please consider this.

Lance Winslow - Lance Winslow's Bio. Lance Winslow is also Founder of the Car Wash Guys, a cool little Franchise Company; http://www.carwashguys.com/history/founder.html/.

The Vultures Are Watching - Don't Let Your Small Business Become Road Kill!

2009-06-24T06:10:00.000-07:00

It is a well-known strategy in a recession, that if the business lowers its prices and goes for volume it can survive while the companies surrounding it and its competitors will fail. Of course, many business owners do not like the idea of dropping prices on their goods and services and so they hold out and hope that their brand name, and reputation over the years will suffice and continue to bring in the customers thru the turbulent times.

A long-standing business of 20 years can get by with this for a little while as long as the recession does not get too deep. After a while however, consumers have no choice but to go and get the best deal possible on the things that they buy. At this point the business that held their prices high for so long suffers a huge decrease in volume of sales.

They can no longer discount their prices for less than it costs to run their business and instead of redesigning their business for low-cost high-volume strategies, they raise the prices figuring that they must sell each item for more to make up the difference in their fixed cost for the items that they did not sail.

Some companies realize that if they don't raise prices and make more money for each unit that they sell that they will go at a business anyway and since they did not look into low-cost high-volume strategies in the very beginning of the recession they will be the ones that fail just prior to the return of the economy if they do not get huge inflows of capital to stave off their creditors and pay their fixed monthly costs.

In hindsight it would have been best for these businesses to do what was prudent and lower prices. But old habits die hard and now for them it may be too late. If you are looking to buy into a business it's best to find a business that has survived most of the recession but now at the last minute is filing bankruptcy because it just cannot hold out any more.

This is where you can get a very good deal on the remaining inventory, bring in a little capital, and then ride the swell of the economic recovery. This is where the vultures do the best if you're going to invest in a used business you might start wanting to look around right now for just such a deal. Please consider all this.

Lance Winslow - Lance Winslow's Bio. Lance Winslow is also Founder of the Car Wash Guys, a cool little Franchise Company; http://www.carwashguys.com/history/founder.html/.

Small Business Startup - Incorporation of Small Business Online

2009-06-24T06:08:00.000-07:00

Through out the third world, you will find varying elements that drive a country's economy. This is due to the fact that these countries are in a developing phase. In contrast, in our developed economy it is small business that drives the nation's economy. The main reason for this is because over 99 percent of all American businesses are small and they create 75 percent of the total new jobs. These small businesses also employ more than half of the nation's non-farm private employees.

Any time there is a recession; things begin to depend a lot on small businesses. People who do not find jobs can have a better option of starting their own small trade or sales agency. When there is a crisis large size companies begin to lay off people, some even shut down.

At a time of economic crisis it is important to bolster up new business set ups, so new jobs can be created. Most of us do not know the importance of entrepreneurial enterprise. Small enterprises increase business and as such economic activity. There fore, the state should look towards encouraging people to start their own business set up. There can be more incentives for small business growth such as free licensing, tax cuts and so forth.

Past research has proven most of the major sectors of the economy such as construction; professional, scientific, and technical services; and health care and social assistance are all dominated by small business. So the importance of new business startups cannot be ignored and should be made simple and easy for everyone. You can start a small business online by finding an online business and legal form vendor. Some of these also help you with advice on small business incorporation. Those with an existing business setup may want tax benefits of an LLC.

Business incorporation, non-profit filings, forming an LLC in Texas is now even easier.

http://www.clickandinc.com
http://www.clickandinc.com/form-an-llc.asp

10 Essential IT Products For Small Businesses

2009-06-24T06:06:00.000-07:00

When providing IT support to small businesses, questions like the following often come up:

What can we do to improve a customers existing setup?

How will implementing new hardware / services provide obvious benefits to a customer.

How can IT changes save you Time and money?

You may be asking these questions about your own business, if so I hope the following information is useful to you.

In this article I will discuss ten products/ services that I think all small businesses can benefit from and the product I would recommend for each category.

Server Operating system

This is the one single product which I would recommend to all small businesses. The benefits gained from centralised management of security and network services mean that more time can be spent focusing on your business rather than trying to manage an office full of independent computers. As this article is aimed at small business I need to mention Microsoft small business server, makes the server technologies used by larger organisations available to small businesses at an affordable price. These include Exchange, Sharepoint, Update Services, and many other tools.

Firewall

A firewall provides protection for your business from web threats. Modern Firewalls can also provide additional functionality such as Web Content filtering, Gateway Antivirus and VPN connectivity. For any company which values their data a firewall is a good investment. It allows you to protect your network and data from external attacks and gives you peace of mind that your systems are protected.

Offsite Spam filtering

There are billions of spam messages sent everyday; this is a problem that most small businesses face. You need to look at the amount of time each day you and your employees spend sorting through and deleting spam, when you total up the amount of time over a year and the cost of this time to your business it quickly becomes apparent that a lot of time and money can be saved through efficient spam filtering. I have seen situations where a good anti spam service can save a business hours of employee time a day, this allows them to spend more time doing productive work and ultimately benefiting the business.

Client Operating system

You already have an operating system otherwise you would not be reading this! However you may be using a home edition of XP vista/or an out of date (needs updating) OS. I have included this in my list of ten items as I often come across people using peer to peer networks with cobbled together XP home machines. These are a drain on time in terms of manageability and the ongoing effort needed to support them individually. The best solution is to go for either XP Pro or Vista Business/Ultimate, this will give you better security and sharing options but also allows you to join to a domain when you upgrade to a server. If you already have a server you should already be using one of these products. If not now is the time to consider the benefits of changing!

Backup Solution

No business should be without a backup solution! That's right, EVERYONE should have a backup of their valuable data. Imagine what would happen if your office burned down and all your data was destroyed, how would you cope? I often see people backing up to an external device but then leaving this attached to the PC, this is obviously no good if there is a fire! Backups need to be regular and taken offsite, either through automated means or by physically taking the backup media offsite to a secure location. The amount of time and effort saved from having a good backup could be the difference between a rebuild and the company going out of business.

Antivirus Software

Like spam, viruses are a problem which affect all computer users, choosing the right anti virus product means that you are getting the best protection for your money while also minimising the performance impact the software has on your pc. It is all too common to find people with reasonable spec PCs that are being bogged down by their antivirus software. Changing this for a product with a smaller system footprint gives performance benefits as well as increased protection if you select the right one.

Office suite

Open office makes a great free office application and I would recommend it to anyone who can make do with the full functionality of MS office. However I think Microsoft office is worth the cost for outlook alone especially when connected to an exchange server. The interaction between the office suite and the collaboration features mean it should be an essential purchase for all small businesses. l

Server hardware

Choosing the right server hardware is important to protect your data and network infrastructure. This will be where your core data is stored and be used to configure and maintain your network. You need to consider redundancy such as RAID in case of a disk failure and also consider the performance requirements of your server. If you need to run resource intensive applications you will need to consider a higher specification server than someone who just wants to perform simple file sharing.

UPS

When purchasing a server you should always get a UPS (Uninterrupted power supply) to support it. The UPS will protect your server from power spikes and in the event of a power cut can keep your server online. The other advantage of a UPS is that it can be setup to cleanly shutdown your server when the UPS is low on battery power, this can help protect your server from the damage that can be caused by a sudden power outage.

Network Printer

The most stable way to deploy a printer in a business environment is to use a proper network printer. I have come across many businesses that use a printer per PC or share a USB connected printer from one of the computers, moving them to a true network connected printer provides ease of management as well as increased availability. It removes the dependency on a single users PC and removes the need for a business to have multiple USB connected printers. They then only have to purchase one type of cartridge/toner to maintain the printer resulting in reduced running costs. Recommended Product: HP2600n

http://www.problemfreecomputing.co.uk - Problem Free Computing blog
http://www.mmmlordy.co.uk - Author's blog

How to Support Small Businesses With the Help of Craigslist

2009-06-24T06:03:00.000-07:00

In the past few years, a lot of focus has been placed on buying American made. If enough consumers give their business to American companies, it will help the economy. If you want to do your small part to help, you may wonder how you can find local small businesses to support. You can do so by visiting Craigslist.org.

Craigslist is a popular online classified website that is designed to connect local buyers and sellers. This includes small business owners with clients and customers. To find local businesses in your area, visit the website. Then, select your state and your city, such as Austin, Texas. Some small states, such as Rhode Island, Delaware, and New Hampshire have statewide pages, meaning you just select the state and begin to search or browse.

If you want to get the most out of your search, download a free Craigslist search tool. These tools allow you to search multiple cities, entire states, and all of Craigslist.org at once. The website currently prohibits you from doing so. The only exception is the above mentioned small states. If you are looking for small businesses with affordable prices, it could take you hours to search all listings within a 2 or 3 hour driving radius. The classified service is great to use, but don't let finding and supporting small businesses cost you unnecessary time. Use free search tools instead.

There are a wide range of small businesses advertised on Craigslist. Regardless of what you need, you should be able to find it. There are regularly advertisements for freelance writing services, web or graphic design services, house cleaning services, auto repair services, car rental services, kitchen rental services, and much more. In fact, the list goes on and on! In addition to small businesses that offer services, you can find retail stores listed too, such as a handmade children's clothing store.

Although Americans are often urged to do business with other American companies, don't feel pressured to switch. You don't have to completely change your shopping or buying habits. Instead, visit Craigslist.org. Browse or search their small business section. If you find a store or service you like, consider doing business with them. Even small steps help.

Download the Craigslist Reader to find small business advertisements on Craigslist. Visit Motion Technologies, your one-stop resource for free searchable software for classified websites, including Craigslist.

Five Ways to Increase Small Business Cash Flow

2009-06-22T06:19:00.000-07:00

The positive amount of cash flow is critical to run a small business efficiently. The cash flow must be positive, it constitutes the difference between the cash in and the cash out. The business profit builds up only if the amount of cash in is greater than the amount of cash out. When the difference is negative, the business struggles, and in order to get cash to survive it will require credit, at an expensive price, the interest. Thus, to increase the business cash flow one can take immediate action with the following five ways.

Supplier Terms

Your company may use a certain number of days to get paid by its vendors. In any case your business should avoid using cash on delivery or at purchasing to pay the suppliers. If your company is at the beginning and the vendors do not accept terms, it is preferred to put in a deposit, or a credit card and negotiate terms with 30 or more days to pay back. Do not to use the credit card at every transaction because you cannot control the cash flow. The only way you can use the credit card regularly at every transaction is when the product margin is high, so that the business profit made is high enough and you do not need to worry about paying for the supplier materials when the credit card bill arrives.

In case the company has preset payment terms with the vendors, but still the cash flow is an issue, negotiate with the suppliers to pay in installments. Prearrange to pay off, but change the due date further into the future, to allow the cash to flow in. That way more cash comes in faster than it goes out, so there is business cash flow available to run your company.

Product Margins

Here are a few ways to increase your product margins: keep a continuous and valued relationship with your suppliers so that they give you value-added products for the same price. When a vendor terminates a product line and you cannot get that product, look at the distribution channels who will give you both cheaper products and value and then your product costs run comparatively less than before.

Customer Terms and Average Sale

Nowadays, the best if you ask the customers to pay with credit card, in small sales, that way the cash gets into your business account in 2-3 days depending on the credit card. When the business requires terms of payment from the customer, for instance 30 days, propose to them to pay in 10 days or less for a discount or even pay on delivery for a higher discount for example 2%-5% or more.

In order to apply a comfortable discount, the product margin needs to be considerable, and consequently the amount collected per sale needs to be higher. A higher amount per sale means products or existing products bundled together sold at higher value. A greater average amount for each sale represents more cash coming in when all else remains the same: percentage of expenses, overhead and profit. It means increase of positive business cash flow.

Employees

The cost of maintaining the employees can be controlled by decreasing the employees' overhead costs. For instance, let us assume there are seven employees working at the office and their continuous presence is not required every day at the work place. They can also work from home, the management or ownership of the company can ask them to come to the work place on certain days and the rest to perform the same activities as they would be at work, but from home.

The employees rotate on which days to come to the office. The infrastructure provided for the employees to complete the tasks at home costs considerably less than providing it at the office. It reduces the overhead costs, the management can keep five operational desks instead of seven.

Conversion Rate

Conversion rate refers to how many contacted qualified leads are converted to active customers. Since the sales people work the leads to convert them to customers, for the same effort they can convert more to active customers. The resources they use are the same, but the results are different, they reflect more revenues in the balance sheet. The increase in the company revenues represents an increase in the cash coming in, and the cash flow builds up on the positive side making profit.

These straightforward ways to increase the cash in amounts can be used at any time by the management with the employees' support. The positive cash flow is built relatively quick because in most cases the management only needs to change a procedure and apply it right away. Then, they can check the results and the whole process spans for a few weeks. The amount of cash flow available represents essential financial resource to maintain, build and grow the company.

Cory Popescu failed in her first business acquisition and since then she got invaluable knowledge from world-class experts and intertwined it with the business experiences to apply them successfully to her own or other start-up businesses

Grants For Starting a Small Business - Money For Your Start Up You Never Pay Back

2009-06-22T06:18:00.000-07:00

Starting a business has many steps, phases and challenges, and obtaining financing is usually the last hurdle. Grants for starting a small business can help new entrepreneurs to secure the cash they need to launch their new business or expand their existing business. As much as $50,000 can be obtained through various government and private grant programs and, unlike loans, these funds typically never have to be paid back.

Grants are similar to personal loans in that the funds awarded are given to an individual to be used for a specific purpose. The biggest difference between a grant and a loan is that a grant is a cash award to assist the soon-to-be business owner with their project. It's tax-free, interest-free funds that do not have any repayment terms.

By applying for grants for starting a small business, individuals can obtain the extra cash they need in order to make their business succeed. Typically the grant provided will want to know that you are using other resources as well and the grant is provided as additional assistance. That's why it is important to document any personal funds, money from friends and family, and other small business loans that may have been secured or sought out in order to launch your new business.

Applying doe not usually require a credit check, income verification or any kind of collateral. As long as you have a sound business plan that shows that you have a good idea on how to eventually turn a profit, you may have a chance at getting grants for starting a small business. Regardless if you are starting a home-based business, a daycare, or opening a new restaurant, there are a variety of grant funding opportunities for new business owners.

Find Free Grant Money by requesting access to an up-to-date grant database. Once you find the money you may qualify to receive, you could have your cash grant in as little as 7 days.

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