Archives: November 2006

Purchasing Health-Care Coverage

Posted by: on November 30, Categories: Operations & Technology

Purchasing health-care coverage can be overwhelming. Here are some practical tips and advice on available resources to help you get started. Start with the fundamentals—know what works best for you....

Five Small-Business Grant Resources

Posted by: on November 30, Categories: Finance

Sometimes even the best business concepts don't come to fruition due to lack of funding. Lending sources may refuse funding for multiple reasons. For example, you could have a strong...

Required Workplace Posters

Posted by: on November 28, Categories: Legal

As a small-business owner, you need to make sure you are always following the laws that affect your industry. In addition to observing the mountain of federal and state laws...

So You've Been Sued—What Now?

Posted by: on November 27, Categories: Legal

It all starts when someone enters your business and hands you a sealed envelope stating, "You are served." Unfortunately, lawsuits are a part of doing business. Don't panic—here are several...

Traction: The First Goal When Getting Started

Posted by: on November 26, Categories: Getting Started

When starting a new business, the entrepreneur's excitement and energy are often aimed at grand and lofty goals. Often the siren of starting a new company is the potential riches...

Family Business Indecision

Posted by: on November 22, Categories: Management & HR

Families often put off business decisions such as leadership succession and sale or transfer of ownership. Even when decisions are made, implementation is often slow. But the costs of indecision...

How Do You Determine the Selling Price for Your Business?

Posted by: on November 21, Categories: Finance

Though many formulas and tools can help you determine the selling price for your small business, there is no magic bullet that will come up with the absolute correct price...

Creating a Collaborative Workplace

Posted by: on November 19, Categories: Management & HR

Creating a productive and collaborative workplace is not easy, but as a small-business owner, building such an environment starts with you. Here are some tips: 1. Make sure everyone on...

Compiling the Financial Section of Your Business Plan

Posted by: on November 16, Categories: Getting Started

A solid financial plan should always be included within any business plan. Plans for financing the business today and allowing for future growth should be outlined in addition to ongoing...

It's About the Team

Posted by: on November 15, Categories: Management & HR

Perhaps nowhere is the concept of team more apparent and critical than within a small business. After all, a team is a group of individuals collaborating to achieve their common...

Make Your Competitive Analysis Stand Out in Your Business Plan

Posted by: on November 14, Categories: Getting Started

Before writing the competitive analysis, first identify both direct and indirect competitors. You can locate listings of local businesses, search the Internet for online competition, and seek out mail-order businesses...

How to Lead an "Action Review"

Posted by: on November 13, Categories: Management & HR

No matter how well a project, task, or assignment is done, it is always a good idea to take some time once the dust settles, gather employees together, and conduct...

Thoughtful Decision Making

Posted by: on November 12, Categories: Management & HR

Decisions are at the heart of all organizations, and decisions are made by everyone at all levels. Some of these decisions are routine and inconsequential, while others can have a...

Are You Liable for Products You Sell Online?

Posted by: on November 09, Categories: Doing Business Online

Even though the Web is still a very young medium, the law is fairly clear: Your business is liable for the products it sells online—just as it would be if...

What Employees Want: Six Essentials

Posted by: on November 08, Categories: Management & HR

An important aspect of creating and maintaining a healthy work organization—one whose culture, climate, and organizational practices create an environment which promotes employees' mental and physical health as well as...

Using Your Business Plan to Monitor Progress

Posted by: on November 07, Categories: Getting Started

You've put a lot of time and effort into your business plan. What happens when it's done? Think of your business plan as a living document and refer to it...

How to Keep Traffic at Your Site

Posted by: on November 06, Categories: Doing Business Online

You've figured out how to drive potential customers to your site…now what? Keeping visitors at your site requires that you write compelling content that your customers can easily access. Engaging...

How to Drive Traffic to Your Site

Posted by: on November 05, Categories: Doing Business Online

You've built your Web site chock-full of useful information and graphics, and now are patiently waiting for prospective customers to find you. That wait may be longer than you had...

What Is an LLP?

Posted by: on November 02, Categories: Getting Started

A limited liability partnership (LLP) is similar to a general partnership, except the partners are not personally liable for negligent acts conducted by other partners or employees not under their...

Small-Business Security Options

Posted by: on November 01, Categories: Operations & Technology

Security is a huge concern for businesses of any size. The biggest issue business owners come to me with is reliability. Everybody wants a security solution that allows them to...