Owning a small business often means wearing every possible hat available, from marketer to sales clerk and inventory manager to HR professional. Learn from the experiences of the small business owners who are NFIB members as well as the best experts for each industry. Below you will find small business tips for everything from taxes and regulation to promotion and networking.
Posted On: October 26, 2011
Equity partnerships provide much-needed capital for promising businesses, bringing in funds—and a sophisticated investor’s eye—to develop and launch new products and take companies to the next level.
Given the challenge of getting a small business loan, Denise Beeson, a commercial and private money-lender at Bay Sierra Financial Inc. in Santa Rosa, Calif., considers equity partnerships an exciting marketplace for...
Posted On: October 21, 2011
For many small business owners, the way their companies launch a new product can be as important as the product itself. An effective campaign requires careful planning that demands a unique, innovative approach.
Here’s how three NFIB members launched products successfully:
1. Engage potential customers early.
Before one of his books, “Bypassing “NO” in Business,” became available to the public, business consultant and...
Posted On: October 20, 2011
Price anchoring in small businesses typically results in a higher price threshold that customers compare to lower prices—often characterized as deals or discounts—when assessing the value of products and services.
When Hewlett-Packard lowered the price of its new TouchPad tablet from $499 to $399 in August 2011, the price point failed to turn the TouchPad into an iPad competitor. HP...
Posted On: October 19, 2011
When you’re running a small business, a good reputation can bring endless success. But when your business gets negative publicity, the effects can be devastating.
From online complaints to word-of-mouth rumors, follow these four tips to handle negative publicity:
1. Confront the source.
You have to find the source of the problem in order to deal with it, says Mark Grimm, president of...
Posted On: October 07, 2011
Payroll Discounts for NFIB Members
This article was provided by NFIB’s member benefit provider CompuPay, one of the leading payroll, tax filing and HR-related service providers in the country. NFIB members receive special discounts on NFIB Payroll services that help small business owners simplify their payroll process. Learn more about NFIB payroll discounts.
Small business owners face a variety of challenges every...
Posted On: September 20, 2011
Building a strong outside sales team—the team that’s on the road and meets customers in person—is vital to the success of your business. Since your outside sales team is always on the go and rarely in one place, it can be a challenge to help these employees improve their performance.
Here are 3 ways to build a strong outside...
Posted On: August 30, 2011
Working with vendors is a necessary part of many small business operations. And though you might find vendors whose work is valuable and trustworthy, some contract sections can be a major disadvantage to you if you’re not careful.
Here are three of the biggest vendor contract blunders small business owners make and how you can avoid them:
Mistake #1: Not having intellectual...
Posted On: August 19, 2011
In this tough economy, many small business owners find themselves on the brink of throwing in the towel. But how do you know when it’s time to shut your doors for good or whether you’ve just hit a rough spot?
Several years ago, Brock Blake, CEO of Lendio (formerly Funding Universe), a Midvale, Utah-based company that connects small businesses to lenders,...
Posted On: August 16, 2011
Reprinted with permission
First impressions are crucial, especially for small business owners. And while online networking has become more popular, nothing compares to the relationships you make face-to-face.
Your business card is a timeless tool for promoting yourself and your company. But how can you distinguish yourself when everyone has one? Keeping your business card updated and on the cutting-edge of design...
Posted On: August 12, 2011
Launching your new business often feels like climbing a mountain, and information and advice can be like oxygen for your efforts along the way.
To help you breathe, we assembled a roundup of the best three blogs dishing out solid advice for you.
1. Up and Running
The Scoop: This comprehensive resource covers every aspect of starting a company. From posts on accounting...