All Entries in the "Owners Only" Category
8 Keys to Re-energizing Your Business
It’s a tough world out there. Customers are demanding more. Competition is keen – sometimes from unexpected places. Your business must work harder and smarter to improve profits. And on top of it all, there always seem to be new taxes and regulations to deal with. Sometimes however (not that this includes you, of course), [...]
How to Hire Teens While Staying Sane and Legal
Soon, teenagers by the millions will be seeking summer jobs – the vast majority at small businesses coast to coast. An estimated 18 million U.S. teens will work this year, one of the highest totals in the developed world. Speaking as a parent of teens, this is a good thing. But in its song Teenagers, the [...]
6 Lessons on Becoming a High Impact Business
Uncle Sam wanted to know: What kinds of companies are America’s true growth generators? Is it corporate giants like Apple, Amazon or GE? Is it startups? Is it relative newbies such as Facebook. After some exhaustive research, the answer was clear: “None of the above.” As it turns out, the real economic spark plugs in [...]
The 10 Bookkeeping Basics You Can’t Ignore
Millions of business owners and startup entrepreneurs are masters at creating great products and services, building awesome teams and winning over customers. Many of them, however, would probably flunk basic bookkeeping. But if you don’t understand the different types of “accounts” your bookkeeper uses to organize your finances, measuring the success (or failure) of your [...]
4 Reasons to Ban the Yearend Bonus
Sure, nobody wants to be labeled a Scrooge. But if you’re among the roughly 50% of U.S. businesses (and shrinking) that still offer traditional yearend bonuses, it might be time to join the 21st century – and plan for something different in 2013. Too many small business bonus plans operate on autopilot, under “conventional wisdom” [...]
Why Google AuthorRank is a Game Changer
The arrival of Google AuthorRank, and its cousin Google Authorship, reorders the digital universe in a way that can send digital importance and social influence soaring for business owners, journalists, writers, bloggers, entrepreneurs and executives active in social media. Authorship and AuthorRank are part of a new and rapidly evolving Google initiative with immediate game-changing [...]
8 Places to Find Your own Free Business Mentor
No matter what type of business or startup you run, having a “mentor” to help guide you can increase your odds of success, big time. Having a wise, loyal advisor – especially one who’s “been-there, done-that” – is like money in the bank. Mentors can’t make decisions for you. That’s your job. But their expertise [...]
A Financial Statement Cheat Sheet for Business Owners
This is about financial statements. I’m sorry, but stay with me. Sure, social media would be a far sexier subject. But hey, if you ever file a tax return (and you’d better), need bank financing, angel investors, venture capital or a loan from friends and family, these are things you must know. The fact is, [...]
10 Timeless Traits of Top Entrepreneurs
Startup entrepreneurs need a wide range of skills and traits to succeed. Some are industry-specific or tech-related and thus subject to frequent changes and updates. Others are more timeless – the kinds of skills that foster success no matter what type of business or industry you are in, or your stage of development. Here are [...]
5 Ways to Make Service Part of Your Business DNA
Customer service expert Ron Kaufman has a radical notion that great service shouldn’t be as hard as it seems to be for so many businesses to deliver. “Service is everywhere,” says Kaufman, author of the new book Uplifting Service: The Proven Path to Delighting Customers, Colleagues and Everyone Else you Meet. “But there’s a disconnect [...]
