(Inc.) — It makes no difference what business you are in, suppliers and vendors play a key role in your company’s success. Having a formalized system in place to track and evaluate supplier and vendor performance is essential to the smooth operation and profitability of your company. Successful companies embrace their suppliers and vendors, viewing […]
(Black Enterprise) — In 1994 Curtiss Pope’s first job was as a grocery store clerk. Only 15, he couldn’t understand why there wasn’t a document to show customers which aisle had the bread and which aisle had the dairy. “I had to be well versed in the store layout,” remembers Pope. Fast-forward to 2008; Pope, […]
(Dallas Morning News) — 1. Improve your personal credit scores: Personal credit scores impact business owners seeking capital. If you are looking to secure financing in 2011, it is important to know that lenders can access your personal credit history from companies such as Equifax and Dun and Bradstreet (D&B). And they make lending decisions based […]
(Huffington Post) — Like so many other Americans who’ve turned to entrepreneuship, I decided to start a home business and start selling the pique assiette mosaic art I’d been designing as a hobby. The first move was to load up on supplies — getting more plates on eBay, colored grout, tile cement and gloves from […]
(Wall Street Journal) — These days, small businesses are increasingly tapping online communities to save time and money on product development. Some are turning to crowdsourcing sites such as Eyeka, Hypios and Jovoto to quickly generate ideas from freelancers, often through contests, for low fees. Others are using free platforms like Facebook and Twitter, or […]
(Businessweek) — 1. Treat your consultant as a partner. The most successful consultation relationships I’ve had, both as an employer and a contractor, are when service providers are treated as an extension of the team. This manifests through setting clear expectations, presenting an atmosphere that respects the contract services, and working seamlessly so you enlist […]
(Entrepreneur) — Hard to believe, but according to the learned folks at the National Bureau of Economic Research, the economy’s been in recovery since June 2009. Unfortunately, a big reason for the stagnation so far has been, well, you. Tons of people–71 percent, says a recent survey by Discover Small BusinessWatch–are waiting for economic indicators to rise […]
(Entrepreneur) — Option 1: Seek Strategic Financial Investors. This can be an option worth exploring if you can find an investor (i.e. angel investor) or group of investors (i.e. venture capital fund) that are interested. In this instance, you will be giving up some equity but these financial investors are generally very helpful. They offer […]