Small Business Operations

How a Small Business Can Use Big Data

By Megan Totka - May 21, 2013 - 8 Comments

Big data is big news in today’s digitized world. With the explosion of Internet usage and social media networks, there’s a massive cloud of data being generated about people all over the world, and it’s growing at an exponential rate. Until recently, big data has been a mining center for … Read More

Systems That Build and Grow A Business

By Diane Helbig - May 19, 2013 - 6 Comments

Keeping track of activity is a common challenge for small business owners. We wear many hats and are responsible for many things. One of the places where we fall down is with our sales process. I am a huge fan of systems because I believe systems keep us on track and focused. Systems To Build … Read More

What is 3D Printing?

By Annie Pilon - May 12, 2013 - 10 Comments

3D printing is like having a small-scale manufacturing device right in your home or office. 3D printers are devices that can create three-dimensional objects. Most 3D printers create objects in plastic. Some use ceramic, metal or other materials. There's even a 3D printer that forms items … Read More

Small Business Manufacturing Is Up. One Reason: Reinvention

By Joshua Sophy - May 6, 2013 - 4 Comments

Small business manufacturing is growing, according to a recent analysis. One big reason for the growth is the ability of small manufacturers to reinvent themselves to take advantage of new industries and new business opportunities. The PayNet Manufacturing Index found that American … Read More

98% of Small Businesses Use Wireless, AT&T Poll Says

By Joshua Sophy - May 3, 2013 - 5 Comments

[Click for large version PDF] Nearly all (98 percent) small businesses use wireless technologies in their operations, a 2013 AT&T small business technology poll says. Details of the poll released recently also reveal how dependent upon wireless technology most small businesses have … Read More

How to Get Results: Be Strategic, Get Focused, Show Grit

By Deborah Shane - May 2, 2013 - 8 Comments

People regularly tell me they want business results fast, like in 30 days, to grow new customers, get more referrals, have more LinkedIn or Twitter followers and get more likes or comments. Those things are all possible, as long as your "operating system" and certain strategies are in place, … Read More

It Takes 3 to 5 Years to Prepare to Sell a Small Business

By Annie Pilon - Apr 22, 2013 - 1 Comment

Are you considering selling your small business? Perhaps you think it's a good time to sell, considering that more businesses have been bought and sold this year than at this time last year, according to a BizBuySell survey. However, valuations of those businesses could be lower in 2013, … Read More

8 Common Characteristics of Successful Business Owners

By Dave Lavinsky - Apr 18, 2013 - 15 Comments

Over the past 15 years I’ve started several companies and helped thousands of others. In doing so, I’ve seen tremendous successes. I’ve also witnessed tremendous failures. In assessing what I’ve seen, I’ve identified the following 8 common characteristics of those entrepreneurs and … Read More

50 Time Saving Tips for Small Businesses

By Annie Pilon - Apr 17, 2013 - 18 Comments

As a small business owner, free time is probably not something you have a whole lot of. What you do have a lot of are tasks to accomplish and deadlines to meet. So how can you better accomplish these tasks in a shorter amount of time? Below are 50 time saving tips to help you save time … Read More

10 Steps to Make Over Your Mindset and Adjust Your Attitude

By Deborah Shane - Apr 17, 2013 - 18 Comments

"Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude." ~ Zig Ziglar One of my all time favorite quotes that changes me every time I read it. This quote resonates with me because I've gone through my own cycles over the past few years. I work daily with professionals who are … Read More

Do You Have Business Relationships or Mere Entanglements?

By Kenneth Vogt - Apr 16, 2013 - 1 Comment

There was a time not long ago, when most business owners considered it a hostile world. They were at odds with their competitors, with labor and with their community. They felt at the mercy of the economy, the environment and the government. In short, it was "us" against a pretty big … Read More

U.S. Postal Service Will Keep Saturday Delivery After All

By Joshua Sophy - Apr 12, 2013 - 3 Comments

Small business owners still reliant on delivery by the United States Postal Service can breath a sigh of relief. The USPS recently announced that it will not cut Saturday deliveries later this year as it had previously planned and we'd previously reported. In a statement this week, the USPS … Read More