Author Archive
Every Woman Entrepreneur Should Have…
Posted by: | CommentsPamela Redmond Satran’s poem, “Every Woman Should Have…” (widely miscredited to May Angelou), has been circulating on the internet for nearly a decade. Though most of us have seen it at least a few times, the original poem is still great- inspirational, practical, and empowering, providing everyday wisdom for women of all ages. With the highest respect to Ms. Redmond Satran, here’s my take on her classic:
Every Woman Entrepreneur Should Have…
A job working for someone else she can imagine going back to…and one to remind her why she became an entrepreneur…
Enough money within her control to quit her “day job” when she decides to become her own full-time boss…
Something perfect to wear if business partner, vendor, or client of her dreams wants to see her in an hour…
A start-up stage she is content to leave behind…
…But bootstrapping stories outrageous enough that she is looking forward to sharing them (with Entrepreneur Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, her shareholders and employees…) in the future…
The realization that she might not ever retire because she loves what she’s doing so much…
Ready, Set, Revenue
Posted by: | CommentsWhat would it take for you to lead your business to $1m in earnings? According to one program for women entrepreneurs, a little healthy competition goes a long way. Nonprofit organization Count Me In provides everything a new business would need- from mentorship to microloans- as part of the Make Mine a Million $ Business M3 Race.
Wait a Minute Mr. Postman…
Posted by: | CommentsPostage is one of those necessary expenses that most of us don’t think deserves a second thought. The cost of postage is fixed, and it’s really not that inconvenient to have to run to the Post Office or UPS store to get a package out the door on time, right? Well, not exactly. Most business owners would be surprised to find out how much money they waste “rounding up” by placing to many stamps on outgoing mail- many waste thousands of dollars a year by not calculating postage exactly. Using a postage meter not only helps you save big on costs, it can also help you become more efficient- you’ll be able to get packages out the door without the added trips to shipment centers. A postage meter, or a digital mail system, is a great tool for businesses that rely on mailed correspondences, or that ship products to customers directly. Here’s a quick guide to choosing and using a postage meter:
Should you consider a POS system?
Posted by: | CommentsMost people are probably familiar with retail POS systems- you know, those touch-screens servers use at restaurants to input order information, or the scanning system used by the checker at the grocery store. Using a POS system is a great way to track sales and manage resources. For example, gyms can use POS to schedule training appointments and classes, allowing customers to pay in advance or online. Should you consider a POS system? Here’s a quick outline of the benefits, costs, and offerings available:
What do you really need to start a business? Most top 3 lists look something like this:
1. A business loan
2. A business plan
3. A detailed business model or structure
According to Jazzercise founder and current CEO Judi Sheppard Missett, her incredibly successful business didn’t require any of these to get off the ground. I recently had the chance to talk with Missett as she prepared for the annual conference of the Women Presidents’ Organization conference here in San Diego, and learned quite a bit about what you really do need to start a successful business.
Spring Business Contests
Posted by: | CommentsBusiness contests are a great way to get needed visibility for a new start up, gain recognition for your hard work, or even win cash and prizes. Business contests target companies and entrepreneurs in all shapes and forms- there are contests for large businesses, start-up ideas, and women entrepreneurs.
Spring is the prime contest season- most applications are due by the beginning of the summer for 2009 awards. Here are some of the best upcoming contests- act quick, deadlines are approaching fast!
Easy Cost Savings for Small Businesses
Posted by: | CommentsOne of the most often overlooked cost savings for small businesses is actually pretty simple process: switching to a VoIP or internet-based phone system. Switching is easy, fast, and can save your business thousands of dollars a month on phone-related costs. Over 86% of business owners rate their satisfaction level with their service as “very high,” according to one recent survey. That’s because VoIP systems offer a host of features that traditional phones can’t match- at a much lower cost. Here’s a quick guide to walk you through the switch:
Top 6 Reasons to Switch to Electronic Document Storage
Posted by: | CommentsAs tax day passed this week, many business owners no doubt found themselves scrambling for misplaced records, forms, and documents at the last minute. Not only can an electronic document storage system can cut your tax preparation time and ensure a more accurate filing, it can also help you save big on supply costs and reduce overall waste. Here are the top 6 reasons to switch to an electronic document storage format:
Merchant Cash Advance Financing: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Posted by: | CommentsOne of the first rules for survival in the Wild West also applies to business- resourcefulness, or making the best use of what you’ve got- is one of the best ways to make sure you survive tough times. With loan default rates higher than they’ve been in quite a while, traditional financing is becoming harder to find, especially for new or smaller businesses. If a loan is not an option, what can you do?
Credit Card Services 101: Creative Ways your Business can Benefit
Posted by: | CommentsDid you know that there’s a big correlation between swimsuit season and credit card use? Yep, it’s official- when people are on a diet, they make more impulse purchases. Restrictive thinking of all kinds, whether it’s adhering to a diet, a budget, or a new years resolution, has been proven to lead to increased spending. Bikini anticipation aside, the above study made me wonder why more businesses don’t accept credit cards when they know that the convenience and ease of credit card transactions can drastically increase sales. It’s a pretty established fact that credit cards make impulse purchasing easier, especially given that over 173 million American adults, or almost ¾ of American families, have and use credit cards.
You don’t need to be a retailer or own a store to accept credit cards -many of the businesses that use our vendor matching service are small, professional services companies such as dentist offices, massage therapists, or freelance consultants that want an easy and reliable way to charge customers for services. In helping these businesses find what they’re looking for, we’ve come across quite a few creative ways to use credit card processing services:
