• How To Get The Credit You Need For Your Small Business

    By: Gregg Hall
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    Getting credit for your small business can be as difficult as getting personal credit. The first place you want to start is with a bank. Most small businesses have to start with some type of bank loan to cover starting costs.Read more…

  • Why It Pays To Have A Solid Plan When Having To Multi-Task In Your Small Business

    By: Gregg Hall
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    Often in the small business there are only a few other employees besides the owner/manager. Because of this the owner and employees have to be able to multitask to take care of all the business needs. This is often referred to as wearing many hats.Read more…

  • Why Didn't I Think Of That - How Those Simple Products Happen

    By: Alan Hansen
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    "It all started in 1986 when I let this big burly contractor talk me into putting fancy clear glass shower doors in my brand new bath - BIG MISTAKE!After bathing, there were all these unsightly water spots on my new glass shower doors, and puddles everywhere and then it started to mildew and turn green and stink. My bath looked horrible ....Read more…

  • Smart Auto Attendants with Interactive Voice Response System

    By: John Kinskey
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    If you are owner of a small business and have lost many potential customers simply because your phone system did not sound sophisticated enough, or there always was a busy tone while they were trying to reach you, then it is time you adopted a phone system featuring an auto attendant with Interactive Voice Response System. Although such kind of sophisticated system sounds expensive, it is not so provided that you get it through a hosted PBX service provider. A hosted pbx system contains all the features of a modern phone system, but at a far less expense owing to the virtual nature of the phone system.Read more…

  • Small Business Plan - What is Your Value Proposition?

    By: Peter McLean
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    In the value based business, the successful business owner or manager concentrates on the unique value that his or her business offers to its customers. This ‘uniqueness’ is discovered only through depth of thought and rigorous analysis of the reason and purpose that one is in business for in the first place.It involves listening intently to what customers are saying and understanding their particular needs.Read more…

  • Business Cash Advance Strategies - Ten Problems to Avoid With Credit Card Receivables

    By: Stephen Bush
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    Even thriving small businesses frequently need more cash than they can borrow from a bank. One of the least-known commercial financing strategies for small businesses is potentially the best strategy to quickly obtain needed cash for growing their business. This commercial financing strategy uses an under-utilized business asset (credit card receivables) to obtain business cash advances based upon a merchant's sales volume.Read more…

  • Leadership Skill Development – Three Key Factors in Finding "Good" People

    By: Peter McLean
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    “Good people are hard to find.” How often do we hear this comment from a disheartened business owner? What exactly do we need to do to find these ‘good’ people?Read more…

  • How to Get Child Care Grants For Your Daycare Center

    By: Christine Groth
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    The 6 Important StepsThere are many questions circulating these day’s on how to get grants to start up a small business or daycare. Unfortunately I’m here to tell you that if you are a non-profit daycare finding “free” money will be difficult. But don’t give up, just because the government is unwilling to supplement a business start ups cost doesn’t mean that it’s totally hopeless.Read more…

  • Time Management –The #1 Cell Phone Problem Every Successful Business Must Avoid

    By: Gerald Cook
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    Are all the advances that we have seen in technology during the past twenty years necessarily a good thing in terms of operating a business more efficiently and more profitably? Maybe not.I can remember sitting at airports as recently as 12 years ago and not seeing people talking on their cell phones.Read more…

  • Business Strategy 101 – If You Don't Hire Well, How Can You Hope To Retire Wealthy?

    By: Gerald Cook
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    Poor hiring decisions can lead directly to extremely poor customer service. As a customer, think about all the times you have had to deal with rude and unenthusiastic employees. It shouldn't be too hard for you to think of four or five such recent episodes.Read more…

  • Why Retail Businesses Are Failing

    By: Joaquin Reveron
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    One of the most important resources a retail business should have are profitable wholesale contacts. Whether it is wholesale video games, getting wholesale DVDs and among others-on the Internet many rising businesses have the opportunity for much greater profits when making a wholesale purchase directly from a legitimate wholesaler or distributor. The big problem today regarding wholesale businesses failing is not primarily do to the business itself, but mainly because of the failure of the business owner finding time to find true wholesalers and distributors.Read more…

  • If You Are Buying A Carpet Cleaning Machine This Could Be The Most Important Article You Ever Read

    By: Bob Burnham
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    Buying a carpet cleaning machine can be one of the most important choices you make on your path to success in your carpet cleaning business. This choice can determine how successful you are not just in profits but also in how physically hard you will work.I have been in carpet cleaning franchises for over three decades now and I can tell you that sometimes the last people you want to listen to for carpet cleaning advice are some people already in our industry.Read more…

  • What Exactly is a Concierge

    By: Katharine Giovanni
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    Although more and more people are becoming familiar with the term "concierge," very few know where this customer-service based profession originated. The word "concierge" evolves from the French comte Descierges, the "keeper of the candler," a term that referred to the servant who attended to the whims of visiting noblemen at medieval castles. Eventually, the name "concierge" came to stand for keeper of the keys at public buildings, especially hotels.Read more…

  • How Easy is Payroll?

    By: Paul Green
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    The Institute of Pension and Payroll Management (IPPM) has a saying developed and used by its members: "We don’t simply do payroll, because payroll isn’t simple". Recently the Inland Revenue has introduced major changes which affect payroll and include legislation covering extended maternity leave, new paternity leave and payment rules, student loan repayments and many more.Any company offering Stakeholder Pensions to its employees needs to be aware of the rules governing the application of pension through payroll.Read more…

  • Reward Your Suppliers and Reap the Benefits

    By: Marilyn Cahill
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    Why not give an award to your best and favorite supplier and earn their respect and loyalty in the long term. Sounds like a partnership in the truest sense of the word.We easily recognize and reward our best customers due to their repeat visits to our store and repeat sales (therefore increased profits), but do we recognize and reward our valued suppliers?Read more…

  • Ailing Business Needs a Tonic or How To Stay Fresh in the Biz

    By: Marilyn Cahill
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    So your store has changed the window display and all the mannequins. Colour and seasonal decorations have spruced up the walls and display units. The new arrivals have been steamed and strategically placed throughout the store.Read more…

  • So How Do You Incorporate A Small Business Easily And Quickly?

    By: Jane Ling
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    There are many people who claim that you should go ahead and register a corporation in a more business-favorable state, such as Delaware or Nevada, two of the current favorites. In many cases, this is not true - you're much better off registering your corporation in the state where you conduct most of your business. After all, you will have to qualify for doing business in your own state and city, anyway.Read more…

  • How Many Customers Would You Like With That?

    By: Ian McConnell
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    How much should you be paying to convince a customer to buy?The advertising in the local newspapers, the business cards, the brochures, the signage on the front of the building, the signage on the vehicles, the give-aways, the promotions, all provide a professional image that attracts enquiring customers.Business Owners put a lot of effort and money into attracting enquiries only to have most enquiries slip out of their hands like a slippery fish.Read more…

  • Small Business Opportunity: The Top 7 Reasons to Start a Painting Business

    By: Andy Thompson
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    House painting is a skill that most people can pick up quite easily. It is one of those rare home based business opportunities that actually work and it is very possible to make $30- $50 an hour without much effort.Here are the top 7 reasons why anyone with basic painting skills should consider starting a painting business of their own.Read more…

  • Effective Small Business Marketing for Beginners

    By: Keith Perrett
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    Effective small business marketing is the lifeblood of any small business. An unsettling high percentage of small businesses fold within the first year of operation with most of the first year survivors closing shop by the end of the third year.One of the major reasons that small businesses fail is a cash flow crisis.Read more…

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