Business Owners Toolbox Blog

Cost of training when cash is tight

November 15, 2011

Are training costs an essential part of your budget? Do you allocate funds to training programs even if your revenues are lower than expected? Linked In question by Eric Saint-Guillain I advise owners of small growing businesses. When their business is small, money is tight, there’s no budget for training. So one of three things [...]

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Getting Paid for Work for Canadian Client

November 15, 2011

How do I bill for my graphic design work for clients outside the U.S.—especially in Canada? LinkedIn question by Priscilla Pike, graphic designer Specify in your contract: – You get paid in US dollars – Disputes will be handled in your jurisdiction Who owns the work you do? Check the laws in other countries about [...]

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Business Growth Dilemma #1–Doing Paid Work and Developing New Work

October 8, 2011

Who could you hire to give you the support you need to boost your company’s growth?

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Growth Plans for Small Business–Some Rules

October 6, 2011

A successful plan is brief, dog-eared, marked up, covered with coffee stains, because it gets regularly reviewed and revised.

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Business Growth Myth #2. “I must oversee everything.”

October 5, 2011

Everybody comes to you, so you can’t get other things done. This is another management habit that can keep you from focusing on the things necessary for growth.

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What Drives You Crazy About Growing Your Business?

September 29, 2011

What’s the difference between a company that seems to grow with ease and one that has a lot of problems growing? Often it’s the owner’s management style and attitudes.

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Can Apple Thrive Without Steve Jobs?

August 25, 2011

Could your business thrive without you? Can you “bottle your soul”? How can you instill your seemingly unique qualities and values into your management team?

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How Do You Set Prices for Your Products and Services?

August 15, 2011

Question from Alicia Terry on Linked In. She also asked, “What is your biggest challenge in setting your price?” Set prices using two different methods: A. What the market will let you charge, e.g., competitors B. What costs you must cover, plus a profit margin If A > B, charge A If B > A, [...]

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Alternatives to Bootstrap Financing

August 8, 2011

Bootstrap financing may be unavoidable initially, but it’s a huge barrier to healthy growth, and you should get outside growth capital as soon as possible.

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