Who doesn’t want to make more money, right? Does making more money and working less interest you? If you want 2014 to be a banner year in your small business, you need to start off strong: evaluate your team, your customers, and your pricing to make sure you are positioned for business growth. Then, make sure that you take the time to think through your big picture vision for your small business. Set some goals and make sure you tell your advisors and team what they are, so everyone can buy into your vision. Here are 5 ways to make more money in your small business in 2014.

• Build your confidence:  In order to make big money in your small business, you must believe that you should. Your confidence is everything. You must also be careful not to have a scarcity mentality. No matter how badly you need the money, you must never act like it. If you focus on lack, that is exactly what you will have. Use a vision board to get clear about your big picture vision for your small business.
• Develop a strategic plan: There’s an old saying that you should walk your dog, your dog should not be walking you – and in business it’s same thing. If you are constantly in reactionary mode in your business, responding to the latest gasoline fire, you’re working on someone else’s agenda and not your own strategic plan.  Don’t just run around each day feeling exhausted, develop a strategic plan for 2014, and be sure to include a target client list. You must plan for success, it will not just happen to you.
• Get some help: Your business can only grow as far as your hand can reach. You need to get some help. As entrepreneurs, we tend to think that no one can do it like we can, but you would be surprised – someone you hire might do it even better. Never spend your precious time doing $10-$15 an hour work. Focus your efforts on getting more business instead.  Do not mistake “busy-ness” for a growing business.
• Build your skills: Invest in training courses and webinars to build your business skills. You can develop your social media marketing, budgeting, negotiation, sales and leadership skills. You should set aside budget to attend at least one conference in 2014, or consider hiring a coach to help you take your business to the next level.
• Network like a pro: Dust off your elevator pitch and budget your time to attend at least two networking events per month. Check out what types of events your local chamber or association might be hosting. If you are shy, take a friend, but split-up when you get to the event. You can share the business cards of all the contacts you met on the way home. Just don’t walk around with each other, force yourself to build new contacts.

“Attractive Young Woman Holding Money” courtesy of stockimages / www.freedigitalphotos.net

If you try these five tactics, your 2014 could be the best year ever in your small business.