There are numerous ways of getting new customers but not all methods are applicable to all businesses. I also need to remind you that getting repeat business from your existing customers is far easier than attracting new customers, but it is important to have a strategy for getting new customers in the door. In Part […]
How to Get Paid What You Are Worth
Every week as SmallBizLady, I conduct interviews with experts on my Twitter talk show #SmallBizChat. The show takes place every Wednesday on Twitter from 8-9pm ET. This is excerpted from my recent interview with Alfred Edmond @AlfredEdmondJr is SVP/Editor-at-large of Black Enterprise. He is a content leader, brand representative and expert resource for all media platforms under […]
Pros and Cons of Running a Small Business with Your Spouse
What can be better than having your most trusted ally working with you while you are trying to navigate the challenging route to small business ownership? You can rely on him / her to face whatever challenge comes along the way. Your spouse also understands your strengths and weaknesses better than anyone else and can […]
Are You Ready to Work From Home?
When launching a small business, you need to keep your expenses low. One great way to do this is to work from your home. There are 26 million small business in the US today and 16 million of them are solopreneurs, who in most cases are building their business dreams from their back bedroom, basement […]
New Foundation To Support Minority and Women Business Owners
(Philadelphia, PA—Oct. 10, 2012) National Small Business Expert, Melinda F. Emerson, known online as SmallBizLady, proudly announces the launch of The Melinda F. Emerson Foundation for Small Business Success (www.melindafemersonfoundation.org). Melinda believes that through technical support and education, small business owners can overcome the challenges they face and play an important role in building the […]
10 Mistakes People Make When Starting a Business
1. Spending too little. Naturally as a start-up you would expect to keep your costs to a minimum, yet being too frugal can actually prevent overall efficiency. Ensure the use is functional and essential; products are only worth investing in if they will directly benefit the productivity and efficiency of the business. 2. Letting optimism overrule […]
5 Best Moments of #SmallBizChat
Have you ever had a million dollar idea? Well that’s how I felt the day I launched #SmallBizChat. My initial idea was to create a peer-to-peer mentoring program online for small business owners, but what it has turned into over the last five years is a movement of people focused on small business excellence. This […]
What Do I Really Need to Start My Small Business?
I always get asked the question – what do I really need to start my small business? To get started, focus on the basics. The key is to generate revenue as quickly as possible. You can add all the bells and whistles as the company grows. If you think you’re ready to become your own […]
What Kind of Insurance Do I Need For My Home-Based Business?
Guest Article It’s no secret that many, if not most, new small businesses and start-ups are home-based. The days when a “virtual office” sounded new and hip are long past, and it’s practically expected that new enterprises begin as home-based businesses. It’s a great way to save money while engineering those critical first operations and […]
How to Hire Accounting Services for Your Small Business
Understanding the numbers in your business is essential to small business success. If you are not good with accounting, one of your first business advisors should be a good accountant. There are three levels of accounting experts you can hire to help you: a bookkeeper, an accountant and a certified public accountant, or CPA. The […]