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These days your personal data is everywhere, and that information is valuable to marketers, hackers and everyone in between. If you want to prevent the unauthorized use of your personal information, you need to take a proactive approach to protecting yourself and your identity. You can no longer afford to be blasé about your data security – if you are not taking proactive measures to prevent the use of your…  Read more

“For a list of all the ways technology has failed to improve the quality of life, please press three.” Alice Kahn If you feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of technological gadgets out there, never mind apps and other digital “solutions”, you’re not alone. Technology sprawl and the rabbit hole of more and more information, available all the time, is making productivity—and healthy downtime—a real challenge for many of us.…  Read more

Following up on late or non-paying customers is no freelancer’s favorite task. Which is precisely why you need to set payment terms up front – and in writing – before you work with a new client or customer. By communicating and agreeing on the non-negotiables for doing business with you, you’ll avoid awkward misunderstandings, frustrating disputes, and in most cases, the ugly hassle of debt collection. These tips will help…  Read more

If you’re like most budget-conscious companies, any opportunity to grow your business while saving a few dollars is a win. These tips will help you create professional business stationery that builds trust in your brand, promotes your company, and helps market your services without breaking the bank. Explore cost saving DIY options As you consider your business stationery options, if you’ve already got your brand’s visual identity down, you’re halfway…  Read more

Stale inventory is a costly nuisance for any business owner. Ideally the rule of thumb is to sell the goods taking up space on your sale floor within 90 days; after the three month mark stale inventory becomes dead inventory. Products are much harder to move and nearly impossible to get top dollar for. Fortunately there are a number of ways to recoup at least part of your investment on…  Read more

Most business owners appreciate that online marketing is increasingly important for sales and growth, but drafting effective web copy can be an intimidating prospect. The good news is you don’t need a background in marketing to master the basics of effective web writing. You just need to know a few guidelines that can make your copy more engaging to an online audience. Here’s how. 1.Think like your customer Knowing your…  Read more

Cloud computing is quickly moving from an obscure concept to an everyday reality for small businesses all over the world. A 2015 survey of small business owners found that 52% had already adopted some form of cloud-based data storage; however, a general lack of awareness regarding the logistics and advantages of cloud computing has made others a bit more resistant. The truth is, there are several very practical benefits to…  Read more

Being an entrepreneur is often about getting the most value out of your resources. That means spending only on the necessities, and nothing more. Unfortunately, things you consider to be a waste of your capital may actually be what your start-up needs to survive. Some of them are expensive, especially for a new company, but they’re worthwhile. Data Analysis Successful entrepreneurs are usually well informed. They don’t make decisions solely…  Read more

Have you had a potential investor turn away from your business for seemingly no reason? Investors don’t usually turn away from good opportunities so was there something that made your company or business plan unappealing? Here are six reason businesses makes themselves unattractive to investors. 1. There’s No Proof of Concept You can find good ideas everywhere but only a few of those ideas will actually end up profitable for everyone…  Read more

The key performance indicators (KPIs) for one company will invariably be different from the KPIs of another firm.  What both hypothetical companies share, however, is the challenge of selecting which KPIs are best suited for measuring the goals and progress of their particular business model. Indeed, entrepreneurs have a vast array of reports and data sets from which to choose and select from, but that data needs to target those…  Read more

Our business plan diagnostic is an easy-to-use tool designed to assess how well developed your business plan is to help you succeed in your business. It won’t take long to complete (as little as 10 minutes) and at the end of the process, we will prepare a downloadable list of recommended actions for you to take. This includes plenty of information to help you implement the recommended changes. If you…  Read more

Most small business owners can’t afford to think small. They always need to keep their mind on growth strategies to help them achieve long-term profitability. But becoming profitable in the first place often requires business owners to work long hours on a shoe-string budget. They don’t always have time to implement systems that will support them when they’re ready to scale. It’s not uncommon for entrepreneurs to use free or…  Read more

Few business owners have extra time to devote to a lengthy business planning process. But every entrepreneur needs a solid blueprint to get their business successfully up and running. The Lean Canvas—designed by Sparks59 CEO and Running Lean author, Ash Maurya—is a simple, effective planning tool that helps entrepreneurs assess and test their ideas before investing too deeply in building a product. For the small business owner, the Lean Canvas…  Read more

If growth is your primary goal, take note of these two essential sales strategies: cross-selling and upselling. Why? Because it’s much easier to sell to existing customers than to acquire new ones. According to Marketing Metrics, the probability of selling to an existing customer is 60 to 70 percent, while the likelihood you’ll sell to a new prospect is just 5 to 20 percent. Some entrepreneurs use the terms “upselling”…  Read more

In business, finding a niche that can supply enough revenue is important. More entrepreneurs than ever are realising the importance of finding a narrow set of customers and catering their product or service to them. This allows you to focus your efforts on being great at a few things, rather than mediocre at many. But how do you find your ideal target market? This article will get you started by…  Read more

Taking out a business loan may be your first plan of action for financing business growth. But there are excellent reasons to consider other options for finding capital to expand your business. For one, it can be very difficult for a small business to secure financing, especially in the early days. You’ll need to prove to a lender that you aren’t a high risk, with financial documentation that shows your…  Read more

7 Steps to increasing your profit and keeping more cash in your business Gaining larger profits depends on accomplishing all the little things better – rather than making one huge change. You’ll need to focus on every little detail to reduce your expenses and increase your sales turnover. Sign up to our course and explore our tips on how to increase profits and keep more cash in your business. *Includes FREE…  Read more

Most small businesses experience cash flow problems from time to time and urgently need working capital. Many business owners immediately think of the bank or loans when they’re short of money. But there are other resources you can tap before you ask for that expensive overdraft or overdraft extension. The money you need might already be there—locked up in inventory, assets or your debtors’ book. You can often free up…  Read more

If you’re like most small business owners, you spend the majority of your time managing daily operations, keeping customers happy, and looking for new ways to grow. Spreadsheets, cash flow analysis, and financial projections are probably not your first passion. However, measuring profitability, creating realistic budgets, and planning ahead for the future are crucial to your professional success. Follow these four tips to get a handle on the numbers, and…  Read more

Too many businesses fall over because the owner has not established efficient business systems. This typically happens because the business owner is so caught up in the day-to-day running of the business that the fundamentals of good business management get forgotten. Often too it must be said that the owner simply doesn’t like bookkeeping or other administrative tasks, so these get put on the back burner. The symptoms are familiar,…  Read more