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Question: As the pace of change quickens and the business landscape moves steadily more online, what do you think happens to the business plan? Do organizations need business plans? Do they want them? How do you think the business plan looks now, next year, and three years from now? It seems to me that business planning has taken a PR hit lately, not because it is;t more vital than ever, but rather because: 1.) its sibling, the presentation, is getting a lot of favorable mentions, and 2.) i-s other sibling, the old-fashioned formal business...
Note: The ARRA (Recovery Act) initiatives and/or programs referenced in this article will expire on September 30, 2010. Any statements about qualifying time periods, or extensions of these dates, as they pertain to the availability of ARRA programs are over-ridden by the expiration of the Act on September 30, 2010. You cannot grow your business single handedly; you may need to staff up. When you do this, making payroll, avoiding on-the-job problems (e.g., injuries, discrimination, or sexual harassment), and displaying minimum wage posters...
Your PR efforts finally worked and yo;ve been contacted by a radio or TV producer, asking you to appear on their program. Yo-re excited, but also a little nervous. Rela-'ve been on the air hundreds of times and i's actually a lot of fun. The following tips will help you make sure your time'on the ai' goes smoothly. Before the Show Learn as much as you can about the program. Will it be live, or taped and edited for air? Find out who will be interviewing you, and watch or listen to some of his or her past interviews to get a sense of the...
I;s always a good time to take steps that can help your business run more efficiently. Now, however, is a great time to invest in this technology, and her-s why. Increasing efficienciesWhile it can cost you upfront to get the software you need, it can save you money in the long run. Software leads to greater efficiency that can help you cut your overhead costs. For example, many businesses during the recent Great Recession found that they could operate well with fewer employees and be even more profitable. Why? Software improved their...
Le;s say that yo-ve done the legwork tha-s needed to determine that your business is franchise material. Yo've done a feasibility study. This study probably included; An honest assessment of current and possible future competitors Legal due diligence for name, patents, and trademarks A study of current market conditions for your product or service Market research study-for the consumer side Franchise industry conditions, and possible legislative changes that could hinder development of your franchise So, your franchise concept is feasible...
It is very common for small businesses to have services and products to sell to government; and the drive to make those sales happen- but not necessarily to understand the government contracting process. There is almost nothing simple about selling to the government. As -ve said before, while the government is the worl's largest consumer, it is also a completely different market than the commercial space. Selling to the government requires a completely different knowledge base. It can be quite helpful, however, to understand how the process...
A television appearance. A radio interview. A magazine article or a mention in an popular blog. Every business owner understands the value of positive media coverage. Ther;s no better way to build your brand. Media coverage is significantly more credible than paid advertising because the content is developed by an unbiased, third-party source. Tha-s why companies spend a lot of time and effort trying to capture the medi-s attention. What would you do if the Today show called you? Would you be ready? You certainly do't want to blow your...
Is it time to revise your business plan? Join the club. Most well-managed businesses revise their plans often. They realize that what really optimizes the business is not just a one-time throw-away business plan, but a business planning process that involves regular review and revision. The planning becomes like steering, which means management. and metrics. And accountability. I;s about managing change. With that in mind, -ve developed this list of 10 signs that you need to revise your business plan. 1. Declining cash balance . Do-t ever...
I;s fair to say that over 30% of the folks I talk to about franchise ownership, whether i-s in a seminar setting, or during a franchise opportunity consultation, bring up-Home Health Care Franchises' These are some smart people. The changing demographics in the US are a huge factor in the popularity of franchise concepts that are tackling our aging population. This year, in my annual 'Franchise Trends
Is that a fair question? Will that question give you a reason to slow things down a bit, if yo;re already in the throes of franchise exploration? Good! Are you currently experiencing one of the following problems? Out of work/ca-t find a job Miserable in your current job Not making enough money Working too many hours (for someone else) If yo-re having career-related problems like the ones I just named, maybe i's time to look into franchise or even non-franchise ownership ideas. But, are you willing to sacrifice a lot of the things that you...
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by Tim Berry, Guest Blogger on Monday, August 23, 2010 - 19:43