Your company’s website is the perfect place to introduce the world to your organization. But you only have a few seconds to grab someone’s attention once they get to your site, so make the most of that time by making sure that your homepage includes the following five things: 1. A recognizable look. Your website [...]
Every startup should have a website. Even if the new business you are planning is not web-based, a website serves as a tool to let folks know that you exist. For many organizations, the web is a major channel for attracting and managing customers. So make sure your website tells people plainly and succinctly what [...]
I can already hear you groaning – “Working with relatives? I’d rather save the familial drama and handle everything by myself”. Unfortunately you may not be able to juggle all the responsibilities of a new business single-handedly. Launching a business, getting new customers, executing successful strategies and securing sales requires a savvy business team. Although [...]
Hiring employees at a start-up is probably the most important step of any business’s growth. The people you hire are the eyes, ears, hands, and mouth of the company. They will create the products and perform the services, listen for feedback and customer complaints, respond to problems and more. They’re the people who sell, and [...]
Determining your startup costs can be complex. There are many variables to think about and in some cases, the best you can do is to make educated guesses. But the more accurate you can be in estimating your costs, the more likely you are to fund your startup appropriately, and therefore be poised for success. [...]
Last week, I went over the first five sections crucial to a financial plan. The next four sections are just as important and include fundamental information you will need to present when you meet with potential investors. Remember a financial plan is necessary when you want to attract outside funding but it is also an adaptable [...]
The Financial Plan section is a critical component of the business plan. Having a thorough financial plan will help you determine how much money you will need to turn your idea into a business and serve as a budget once it’s launched. If you aren’t experienced with creating budgets or using spreadsheets, it will be [...]
One of the most effective ways to increase your sales is to track what works and what doesn’t, so that you can focus your efforts most effectively. Now you may not have expensive algorithms and a large sales team to track your progress but you can be just as successful by strategizing around three key [...]
Almost all businesses accept debit and credit cards these days – even service businesses and B2B ventures. Having a way to accept a card is critical when you get ready to operationalize and start your business. You’ll need a merchant account – something provided by financial institutions that lets you accept cards for payments. In order [...]
Nature is remarkable. Not every animal is equipped with the power, capability and sheer mass that it needs to triumph over any situation BUT many creatures can act as if they have all that they’re lacking – and this in turn allows them to get what they want. The Bowerbird (male) for example, stages “scenes” [...]