It seems that I have walked the floors at trade shows or vendor display areas at conferences a lot during 2015. If you have plans to participate in booth (or table and chair) marketing events in 2016, I hope these tips make your time spent there more rewarding. Continue reading
“Good leaders must first become good servants.” Robert K. Greenleaf
45 years ago, the phrase “Servant Leadership” was used by Robert Greenleaf. Since then there have been a number of business books written about this style of leadership and what it means. The topic of leadership is always a hot one. We’re all looking for better answers. Although servant leadership isn’t always specifically referenced in business writing, most successful leaders practice it to some degree. Continue reading
You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
Mahatma Gandhi
Are you looking for a better workforce? Did you know you could influence the workforce of the future?
Consider getting involved in creating that pool of employees you will see in the future. Become a tnAchieves Mentor and help this year’s high school seniors be successful in their path to a community college degree or vocational certification. Continue reading
“Your title gives you claim to the throne of our country, but men don’t follow titles, they follow courage.” – William Wallace, Braveheart
Why? Leadership is much more than a title. Many business owners are finding that out as they seek to develop their next generation of leadership for their companies. True leadership is earned and it is much more than just knowledge of the business and a title.
Applications will soon be accepted for the Cumberland Business Incubator’s (CBI) 2016 Accelerator, 100 Days to Launch – Tourism. The selection committee will review applications to find the top candidates with an existing business or those interested in launching a new business with a tourism focus. Continue reading
Business loans – particularly those for new startup businesses – often require the borrower to provide a personal guaranty for the bank to proceed with the loan. A number of the clients that we speak with aren’t clear that if the business is unable to make the loan payments that they are personally liable to pay the business loan back even if the business closes. In short, you promise to pay the loan back even if the business no longer exists – from your personal assets.
The following article, written by an attorney, helps explain the personal guaranty…
Personal Guaranties: What Small Business Owners Need To Know
BY JOSEPH F. KOLB
Why do small business owners need to know about personal guaranties? Because personal assets – homes, cars, checking accounts – are on the line, not just business assets.
As a small business owner, it’s likely you’ve been asked to sign a personal guaranty agreement. If not yet, you will be. Personal guaranties are staples of small business financing. Consequently, it’s to your benefit to know a few things about them. Continue reading
Gift cards are big business. Each year $400 billion worth enter the market. About 30% of gift-card values go unspent annually, in part because it’s so easy to forget about that piece of plastic you’ve tucked away somewhere. At 23 George Bousis started his Chicago-based company, Raise, offering gift-card holders the chance to sell the cards they don’t want and buy others they do want at a discount. With the new mobile app, Raise lets consumers grab discounted cards as they wait in line to make a purchase. Continue reading
Posted by the Internal Revenue Service
FS-2015-22, August 2015
For anyone starting a small business, especially those who are self-employed, the Internal Revenue Service offers some basic information on filing, reporting and paying taxes.
Generally, one is self-employed if they:
This article appeared in Forbes Magazine 8/28/2015 – by Bob House
Selling a business can be a challenging process. However, like many challenges in life, business owners who take the time to properly prepare will fare much better than those that jump right in.
This is the real life lesson learned by one couple that successfully sold their North Carolina cafe after 18 years of devoted ownership. Their story is an example of how a little prep work can ease the selling process and perhaps more importantly, lead to a higher sales price. For every small business owner, whether planning to sell now or much farther down the road, these lessons apply. Continue reading
Attracting a prospect’s attention does not help if they disappear: if you want to make a sale, you need to direct your prospects to take some kind of action.
Your prospects can’t read your mind. If you want your prospects to take the next step you’re encouraging, you need to tell them exactly what to do. The most effective marketing messages give the recipient or prospect a single, very clear, very short action to take next. Continue reading