The right insurance protection is necessary for the long-term success of a small business. Here’s a breakdown of the five most common types of small business insurance and how to utilize them to protect your business. Starting a business always involves some level of risk. It’s an owner’s job to ...

Trademarking your company name and brand is one of the smartest ways to protect your small business. Failing to register your trademark can result in financial losses and threaten your ability to stay in business. Here are five basic ways that a registered trademark can safeguard your small busin...

People do business with people they trust. Closing the sale is simply the end result of building relationships and earning the trust of your prospects and eventual customers. If you’re selling a product or service to a business where your sales cycle is long –12 to 18 months or more –closing the ...

Entrepreneurs enter the world of business ownership for a lot of different reasons. Most have a passion for the product or service they create and the people and businesses that they serve. Passion is an important element in running a successful business. Passion, however, is not a sales strategy...

There’s a big distinction between marketing and sales, but a smart business strategy aligns both to drive revenue. Learn the differences, so you can create a strong strategy and grow your small business.Entrepreneurs without direct marketing or sales experience often lump the two together as a si...

Every business starts as an idea. Turning that idea into a profitable small business startup requires your idea–your productor service–to achieve what’s known as product/market fit. Product/market fit is the evidence that your product or service fills a need in the market and that the market is w...

It’s a big part of your role as the owner to continuously show your appreciation for the hard work and dedication your team brings to the table each day. And it doesn’t need to be expensive to celebrate your employees. Body:Small business owners and their teams work incredibly hard for every goal...

European equities and American futures dropped early this morning on the news that the Food and Drug Administration will recommend pausing the use of the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine following a number of blood clot issues. The drop in risk sentiment is likely going to be viewed as a “knee...

Business owners must take steps to protect their businesses from cyber-attacks. These attacks can cause proprietary information to be leaked and businesses to close. Here’s how to approach cybersecurity for your business and protect your information. Every year, businesses become more sophisticat...

Finding the right financing to make sure your business is well-funded is one of the most important steps before you launch or expand. Learn about the four primary types of small business financing options out there and which is the right one for your business. It takes capital to start and run a ...

Are you looking for an angel investor for your small business? If so, you will need to ensure that your pitch is professional, informative, and thorough. Before you make your pitch, here are some tips to help with your preparation from previous SCORE Santa Barbara Chair Gary Kravetz. If you need ...

Going from “employee” to being your own boss brings some significant changes professionally and personally. One of the most significant to become accustomed to is no longer having certain taxes neatly taken from your paycheck from your employer. As a self-employed individual, not only are you res...

Developing and launching a new product requires research, resources, and a determination to follow through despite roadblocks and setbacks. If you have a product idea, how can you better ensure your development efforts goes smoothly and the end result is a win for your company? While product deve...

According to the United States Small Business Administration, small businesses comprise 97.7 percent of United States firms that export products and services to other countries. In fact, they account for 33.6 percent ($471 billion out of $930 billion) of known export value. As the Internet and so...

Starting a business with a cause offers much satisfaction as you work to make lives better for others. To launch a nonprofit corporation, it requires taking many of the same steps a for-profit corporation or LLC does, but there are differences, too. Nonprofits must comply with some requirements t...

Negotiating is a skill that like warfare tactics must be honed. It is important to be mentally prepared to win. Do the ground work well before your reach the negotiating table and decide on the “path” you are going to take. Positivity will help as also a sense of confidence and self esteem. Set a...

While no product or service can be a good fit for everyone, niche products have an even narrower market than most.
If your business is focused on meeting a specialized need in a specialized market (for example, wholesale vegan spa products), the strategies and tactics others use to market their p...

As you’ve visited business websites, you’ve probably noticed some have a “Terms of Use” section while others do not. This raises the question, “Does your small business’s website need Terms of Use?” Also sometimes referred to as “Terms and Conditions” or “Terms of Service,” Terms of Use specify t...

Compiling demographic information about your buyers will only take you so far in understanding how to reach and what to say to your target customers. By creating a “buyer persona” (a profile of a customer to represent a particular group of buyers) for each group of customers to whom you wish to s...

A day in the life of a business person can be filled with joy and satisfaction or it can be frustrating and stressful. When things go wrong, some people lose control. Holding emotions in check and reacting professionally under fire is not always easy. It is particularly difficult to be nice to pe...

Live video streaming has become one of the most powerful ways to forge stronger connections with customers. Apps like Facebook Live, Instagram Stories, Snapchat Stories, YouTube Live Streaming, and Periscope can help small business owners boost sales and strengthen their brands.
Going “live” enab...

There are multiple ways for a small start-up business to secure the funding it needs to get off the ground. Crowdfunding has shifted the funding landscape and allowed businesses to secure start-up costs from a community of supporters rather than from a single lender. Here are the dos and don’ts o...

While carefully selecting employees can help prevent human resources issues, your small business might still find it has hired a staff member who isn’t a good fit. A number of issues may justify termination of an employee.In some circumstances, a warning, coaching, or amended responsibilities mig...

"It seems somewhat contradictory, but the more technologically savvy buyers become (and the less time they spend visiting stores or talking to services providers on the phone) the more they want a personal, emotionally gratifying experience with businesses.Entrepreneurs must find ways to not only...