Great Ideas for your Small Business: Sell Stock in Yourself Do your customers love your products? Then maybe they love your company enough to invest in it. Small companies with loyal customers and growing potential are likely candidates for an alternative form of financing called the direct public offering, or DPO. “Ninety-five percent of the … Read more
Great Ideas for your Small Business: Find a Strategic Partner Finding the right strategic partner is a critical key to success for many small companies. Teaming up with a bigger, financially stronger partner can provide a source of cash for growth and expansion. Joining forces with a more creative, nimble, or well-connected partner can open … Read more
Great Ideas for your Small Business: Learn from David Bowie David bowie may not at first be your idea of a savvy businessman, but in 1997 he did a bond deal that pulled in $55 million—and attracted a lot of attention. Instead of waiting for future royalties, Bowie went to Prudential Insurance Company and offered … Read more
Great Ideas for your Small Business: Become a Profit Enhancement Officer We’re all familiar with ceos, but ever hear of a “PEO”? A PEO is a “profit enhancement officer,” and that’s what every business owner should be, according to Barry Schimel, a Maryland CPA who quit doing tax returns to devote his life to boosting … Read more
Great Ideas for your Small Business: Understand What Success Means to You When asked for three words that define success, entrepreneurs offer a variety of terms: “Independence, control, security.” “Happiness, financial reward, recognition.” “Pride, acclaim, money.” “Friendship, practice, failure.” Success is tough to define, yet most entrepreneurs are obsessed by it. How do you define … Read more
Great Ideas for your Small Business: Know When to Reach Out for Help Every business hits a rocky patch once in a while; it’s nothing to be ashamed of. You have to reach out for help and work with whomever you can to solve your problems. If you don’t, you are jeopardizing your business, your … Read more
Great Ideas for your Small Business: Work Hard and Play Harder The most successful entrepreneurs i know work hard and play even harder. One friend, who built a $60 million company by working seven days a week for nine years, now frequently jets around the world to fabulous places for long weekends to meet her … Read more
Great Ideas for your Small Business: Get Help from a Restaurant Consultant Isidore kharasch is a skilled chef, but most of his clients don’t even know he can cook. “I’m more comfortable managing the business end of a restaurant,” said Kharasch, president of Hospitality Works, a Chicago restaurant consulting and turnaround company. He’s a very … Read more
Great Ideas for your Small Business: Work the Phones or Walk the Floor Elaine petrocelli, co-owner of book Passage in Corte Madera, California, was named bookseller of the year in 1997 by Publishers Weekly. She’s done many things to deserve the honor, including battling nearby chain stores head-on and continually emphasizing customer service. Book Passage … Read more
Great Ideas for your Small Business: Do Something about Your Stress Level The entrepreneurial lifestyle is STRESSFUL. And, just as you manage your time, you need to learn how to manage stress. It’s important to your personal health, and to the health of your business, to maintain high energy and high spirits. Dr. Mark Goulston, … Read more
