If you’ve got a business or start-up, a business plan is vital, especially when it comes to securing funding. Investors want something that they can look at and say, “Wow, this is surely going to head somewhere.” Your business plan should serve as a roadmap for explaining your business. Prospective investors should be able to […]
The SmallBizChat Podcast: Why Small Businesses Fail
As the SmallBizLady, one of the saddest things in the world to me is to see a small business go out of business. To drive down the road and see small businesses with “For Rent” or “Everything Must Go!” signs in the windows of their establishment. My mission is about empowering you – giving you […]
The SmallBizChat Podcast: How to Be A Boss – Ep. 007
What does it really take to be your own boss and start a small business? Many new entrepreneurs start their ventures with the impression that starting a business is easy. Social media has drastically glamorized the concept of entrepreneurship, but what many people do not realize is that what you see on social media is […]
How to Present Your Business Proposal to Win Clients
Proposing your business plan in front of the clients is the culmination of a very long sales process. The chances are that you spent a great deal of time preparing your pitch…but the thought of presenting it might horrify you because you are afraid you won’t keep your audience hooked. This article will surely help […]
How to Survive the First Year of Small Business Ownership
Guest Article You’ve taken the leap into the rough waters of small business ownership, beaming with the excitement of a new chapter in your life and the possible success of your idea. However, getting started is only the beginning. The first year of running a small business can be the hardest times any owner will […]
Don’t Forget to Do the Math: Know Your Numbers
Specific reasons why small businesses fail are as unique as the businesses themselves, but there are some commonalities that explain many small business failures. In some cases, it’s easy to see the problem: there isn’t enough demand for what the business produces at a price that will generate a profit. In other cases, problems aren’t […]
How to Plan a Successful Move to Office 365
Cloud 365 is a major transitioning step for a small business in moving from a land-based to a cloud-based system. This allows all the workers in an office continuous access to data, apps, and tools. The deciding advantages of migrating to a cloud system like Office 365 include: Free integration to other Microsoft techs tools […]
How to Use Lean Planning to Grow Your Business
Every week as SmallBizLady, I conduct interviews with experts on my Twitter talk show #SmallBizChat. The show takes place every Wednesday on Twitter from 8-9 pm ET. This is excerpted from my recent interview with Tim Berry (@TimBerry) is the world’s leading business plan expert. Google “business plan expert” to see. Check out his latest book […]
How to Write a Business Plan Part III
You have developed your business model and your marketing plan. Now, in Part III of my four-part series on how to write a business plan, it’s time to develop your operations plan, budget and sales projections. This is where you go from dreamer to business owner, folks! If your business is not designed to make money, […]
How to Write A Business Plan Part II
A business plan is your strategy for bringing your product or service to the marketplace. This is Part II of my four-part series on how to write a business plan. Last week, in Part I of my blog series on how to write a business plan, we focused on developing your business model, which is […]