June 2008 - Posts
Lately I’ve been hearing a lot from small business owners who are struggling to make ends meet.
One of the biggest problems, besides escalating costs for everything from fuel to office supplies, is getting customers to come in the door since it seems everyone is on a budget these days.
I recently heard about a great business tactic one established company is trying to help combat tough economic times and also cut employee turnover.
1800mattress.com found ways to increase commissions for its workers.
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Terry Poe Buschkamp figured her town of Waterloo, Iowa, was safe.
The executive director of the Main Street program in downtown Waterloo figured since the water rose to 25.39 feet on June 11 the town would not be flooded given the 27-foot flood wall.
Alas, the water came up out of the sewers.
The majority of the 200 businesses sustained water damage and many lost inventory when the power went out, but the biggest damage has come from the lack of people coming to shop and eat downtown, she says.
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There are times in my life when I’m conflicted about an issue.
As a career columnist, I often take the side of the employee, writing about initiatives that can help make workers’ lives better.
But as a small business writer and blogger, I know how mandated programs to give employees more time off or sick leave can end up costing small firms big money.
So here I sit, fighting with myself.
How do we as a society balance doing what’s right for hard-working individuals while ensuring the backbone of the U.S. economy, small business, doesn’t crushed?
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During tough economic times, lots of people start to consider going into the franchise biz.
Maybe your job with a corporation is being downsized, or you always wanted to be an entrepreneur so a severance check may help you buy a franchise. You figure it’s easier than starting your own business from the ground up.
Folks, I’m hear to tell you, take this decision seriously. Buying a franchise is not like renting an apartment. You can’t just walk away from it.
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Some small business owners are technology daredevils.
So many of them have no real tech background but they’re not adverse to try the latest and greatest gadgets and software. Some even try to write their own code or try to customize systems that help their businesses run better.
Steve Mattie is a perfect example. I met him this week at the National Federation of Independent Business Summit, and he admitted to not being the most tech savvy guy in the room. “My son is my IT guy,” he quips.
That’s surprising, because Mattie’s company Transport Designs Inc., manufacturers of customized trailers and motor homes, actually won a technology innovator award.
During the NFIB event this week, Mattie was handed the Dell/NFIB Small Business Excellence Award.
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What’s bugging small business owners? Costs, costs, costs -- especially healthcare costs.
This week, I’m attending the National Federation of Independent Business’ National Small-Business Summit and what better topic than what’s bugging entrepreneurs most.
Yesterday the NFIB released its "Small-Business Problems and Priorities" survey, which it conducts every four years, and small business owners have one big problem – the cost of doing business, in particular health insurance costs, energy costs and inflation.
OK, I know this news probably doesn’t take any of you by surprise, but it does not bode well for the economic climate going forward.
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Ed McMahon is facing foreclosure of his home because he fell and broke his neck more than a year ago and has been unable to work.
OK, how many of you small business owners, independent contractors and sole proprietors out there would end up in the same situation if you were unable to work for 18 months?
You would think Johnny Carson’s sidekick would have enough money saved to weather such an economic storm, but he apparently doesn’t.
This could be any of us toiling away out there without a large corporation behind us providing a paycheck or disability while we recuperate.
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Many of you seem to be worried about keeping your businesses afloat during this tough economic cycle.
It may seem like you have no power over what happens to your bottom line right now. So I figured it’s a good time for a business coach to slap us all around.
Dan Murphy, president and founder of The Growth Coach, came up with a bunch of small business advice nuggets he calls "MASTERing".
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