Pamela 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, … [Read more...]
Wait a Minute Mr. Postman…
Postage 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 … [Read more...]
No business loan, no blueprint: How Jazzercise became a multi-million dollar business by staying true to core values
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 … [Read more...]
Spring Business Contests
Business 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 … [Read more...]
Easy Cost Savings for Small Businesses
One 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 … [Read more...]
Top 6 Reasons to Switch to Electronic Document Storage
As 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 … [Read more...]
Merchant Cash Advance Financing: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
One 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 … [Read more...]
Credit Card Services 101: Creative Ways your Business can Benefit
Did 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 … [Read more...]
Negotiate your way to savings: How to get the best deal on office phone equipment
The telephone was invented in 1876, and the world hasn’t been the same since. While telephone calls have been partially eclipsed by internet contact as the primary mode of communication for most business owners, the phone is still a vital business tool. Think about it- how long could your business survive without phone service? Many business owners put about as much thought … [Read more...]
Tricks for a Stress-free Tax Season
Those of you who already filed your U.S. corporate tax returns earlier this week are probably breathing a big sigh of relief that tax time is over. For small business owners or entrepreneurs who plan to file as an individual (sole proprietor), you have about three more weeks to get everything in line before the April 15th deadline. According to the official U.S. government … [Read more...]