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Do you know where your company is headed? How do you know when it’s time to grow? How can you manage that growth so it doesn’t run away with you? In this five-minute video – Strategies for Growth – SBA, in partnership with Dell, talked to Carey Wilson of the Maryland Small Business and Technology Development Center. He offers the following five valuable tips for preparing your small business for growth. 1. When is it time to grow your business? You can only grow when business indicators show that you are ready for...
Thinking of exporting your products or services? Want to expand your existing exporting business? The U.S. government can help. The SBA, for example, is making it a priority to help small business owners develop or expand their exporting activities through initiatives such as its Export Loan Programs and free online informational videos. What else does Uncle Sam offer? Well, did you know the U.S. government can help target and facilitate meetings with potential international partners and buyers? Or that it provides U.S....
If you have a business blog, then you are probably aware of the challenges of coming up with topic ideas, finding time to write, and – let’s face it – keeping that blog alive. This explains why blogs on the subject of blogging are ranked as the most popular articles here on the SBA.gov Community. Here are just a few: Thinking of Starting a Blog? Tips to Help You Start, Maintain & Grow a Small Business Blog! Never Run Out of Blog Topic Ideas: Here are 36 8 Tips for Keeping your Business Blog Current, Relevant and...
Selling to the federal government can seem daunting for many small business owners. However, the market is lucrative – approximately $100 billion in contracts are awarded annually to small businesses – and once you have your foot in the door, it can be a profitable, long-term revenue source. SBA has numerous resources and programs to help small businesses get established in this space, including the Government Contracting Guide and the Government Contracting Classroom. If you’re new to this market, you can also check out...
One of the more perplexing questions small business owners ask is, “Why did I lose that deal?” or even more worrying, “Why do I keep losing deals?” Whether you sell to other businesses or directly to consumers, you’re not going to win them all. But there are always going to be times when a sale that looks like a sure thing goes cold – for no apparent reason. If these times worry you and you’re looking for a better win rate, here are five things you can do about it. 1. Be First and Be Prepared to...
Hiring new employees is an opportunity, but it’s also a huge risk. So perfecting your interviewing skills is critical. But what kind of interview questions are most effective at helping you find an employee with the right skills and experience, and the best fit for your company culture? The most successful interviews are based on facts, and these are usually best gleaned via the behavioral interview technique. As in life, actions and (in this case) past actions, speak louder than words. You can get a pretty good sense of how anyone is...
Social media is one of the fastest growing channels for businesses to connect with existing and potential customers. However, taking that first step or next step can be a challenge. How do you find the time for it? How do you build a following and engage with your audience? What social media platforms are the best for your business? If any of these questions have crossed your mind, you’re not alone. During this year’s National Small Business Week Conference in Washington, D.C., in May, hundreds of small business owners posed...
If you run a home-based business, you probably are an object of envy for your family, friends and neighbors. “You’re so lucky!” or “I wish I could work from home” are probably familiar phrases to you. Whether your hours are 9-5, or 6-3, the home can be a low-cost haven of productivity and efficiency, giving you the opportunity to balance the demands of work and life without the pressures of a commute or the costs of a commercial lease. Home business owners also tend to be more successful than their counterparts....
Starting a retail or service business? Looking to form relationships with wholesale suppliers? There are currently 300,000 companies in the U.S. wholesale distribution industry, so as you can imagine, finding and forming trusted relationships with wholesalers takes time and research. Here are some tips for finding wholesalers, and best practices for entering into agreements with them. 1. The Wholesale Business The wholesale industry is large and highly fragmented, with 50 of the largest distributors generating 25 percent of industry...
From starting and growing a business to managing operations day-to-day, one thing is certain in business – dealing with laws and regulations. Whether you are hiring your first employee, formalizing your business structure, or applying for a license, you’ll encounter a hairball of ever-changing federal, state and local rules and regulations. To help business owners unravel the hairball and get answers, SBA.gov offers a variety of helpful tools and resources. 1. Comply With Universal Business Laws Whatever your business...
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by Caron_Beesley, Community Moderator on Thursday, August 30, 2012 - 07:02