Some small business problems lurk beneath the surface; others wave a red flag that’s impossible to miss. Cash flow problems can be the hardest to ignore. They feel big because they are. In the earliest stages of a new business, people are often heavily focused on cash. Much like living paycheck to paycheck, new bu...
Some small business problems lurk beneath the surface; others wave a red flag that’s impossible to miss. Cash flow problems can be the hardest to ignore. They feel big because they are. But issues with cash flow aren’t insurmountable. If you're not making enough money to cover your expenses, it means something abo...
If there’s one point we touch on again and again, it’s this: You can’t run and grow a successful business while doing the day-to-day work yourself. Sure, many entrepreneurs start out on their own, but you have to start delegating at some point—the only alternatives are stagnation and total burnout. You may wonde...
As an entrepreneur, nothing can be more frustrating than inconsistent results. You can have high revenue one month, directly followed by low revenue the next without clear indicators for why. If every peak you hit is followed by a dramatic drop, the resources you spend climbing to the next peak cancel out the wi...
When you start every day staring down a growing to-do list and playing Tetris with your calendar, three words probably pass through your mind: I need help. But acknowledging that you need help in your business is one thing. Actually getting it is another.
While 2020 was an unprecedented time for business owners, 2021 has continued to present some unique situations. For some, it's remained a challenge to keep business going, managing through pivots and some hard choices. For others, business has been able to stay the course—or even boom. Whatever side of the coin yo...
Growing fast is a good thing if you know how to handle it. When you meet or exceed a customer’s expectations—when you go above and beyond the promises you’ve made—you’ll be rewarded by the look in their eyes, the happiness in their voices. You’ll know their names because they keep coming back. Their pleasure becom...
When there’s a management gap to fill, you might look to your top performers first. And it makes sense—”super technicians” work hard and know how to do their job well. They deserve to be recognized for that, and you know they have the technical knowledge needed to lead other technicians. But knowing how to do a ...
Want to plan for growth and financial stability in 2023? Our new workbook will help you identify, prioritize and reach targeted annual goals.
In small businesses, it’s not uncommon to accrue millions of dollars in revenue each year without actually producing any meaningful cash flow. You may very well know how frustrating it can be to show profit on your income statement, but not have money in the bank. One part of this issue is a fundamental misunderst...
When you think about your business and life as a business owner, do you know why you do what you do? Does leading your business provide the life you imagined it would when you started it, or is it running you ragged with little payoff?
When I read The E-Myth Revisited for the first time in 1996, one of the quotes that stuck with me most was this one: “How you think about business is how you end up doing business.”
Retaining your employees takes creativity and problem-solving in the best of times. This is even truer for small businesses who may not have the financial position to offer higher pay. When your employees are weighing their options, watching job boards or responding to eager recruiters, the promise of making more ...
You might be frustrated—or even frightened—by the economic changes that are currently impacting nearly every business and family. The truth is that economic cycles are a reality of life. So what adjustments can you make to protect the health of your business given whatever changes are happening? Cutting costs may ...
You might be frustrated—or even frightened—by the economic changes that are currently impacting nearly every business and family. The truth is that economic cycles are a reality of life. So what adjustments can you make to protect the health of your business given whatever changes are happening? Cutting costs may ...
If you own a business and have employees, it’s easy to understand why systematizing your business puts you at a great advantage. You know how you want things done. You know how things should work. You know the way you want your prospects and customers to be treated. But your ideal is just a series of pictures in y...
Does it feel impossible to find and hire your people? Are the candidates you interview impressing or disappointing you? A strong team can take your small business from good to great. But you have to get the right people through the door first—and then give them the resources they need to perform well and stay happ...