The Small Business Blog

MARCH 11, 2008

Small Business Start-Up Idea: Image Consultant by Stefan Töpfer on Mar 11, 2008 This business is ideal for someone who has worked in the corporate world or the media for a number of years and understands the importance of image within it. Skills needed: Experience is the key to success in this industry.

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Productivity Bits

NOVEMBER 22, 2011

T he global economy has experienced several recessions since the industrial revolution, however, the current recession is unique in many respects. Previous recessions affected traditional industry and resulted in large populations finding themselves out of work and with no hope of future employment. Copyright © 2011 Productivity Bits.

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Productivity Bits

OCTOBER 28, 2011

These are generally focused on sales activities, but also encompass other critical business functions such as customer service, marketing and technical support. The traditional viewpoint in industry used to be “here’s what we can make – how can we sell it?” Photo Courtesy Of Hayley Vallejo.

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The Small Business Blog

MAY 20, 2008

Small Business Start-Up Idea – C.V. Writing Service by Stefan Töpfer on May 20, 2008 The competitive job market makes it important for applicants to have a résumé that stands out from the pile. Business environment and set-up cost: Other than language, there are no major barriers to this business being successful internationally.

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The Small Business Blog

APRIL 1, 2008

Small Business Start-Up Idea – T-Shirt Design by Stefan Töpfer on Apr 02, 2008 There is always a great demand for custom-made T-shirts, ranging from sports teams in need of new kit to event organisers wanting promotional shirts to give away. The estimated cost to start this business varies from £5000 up to around £15,000.

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The Small Business Blog

JANUARY 24, 2010

Look for someone with expertise in your industry so they will already know the relevant issues. « Competitive Intelligence: Not Just For Big Business Keeping Track and Keeping Up: Are You Focused? Be honest with them regarding the success of your business. They can only be effective if they have an accurate picture.

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Service Untitled

APRIL 4, 2012

Clients and customers love the personal touch and having the ability to comment on an issue; the problem arises however, when no one from the company responds back or follows up on a complaint, lack of service, or even a social issue. Statistically the majority of Facebook posts and Tweets remain unanswered.

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The Small Business Blog

JANUARY 31, 2010

Research the going rate for CEOs in your industry. « Keeping Track and Keeping Up: Are You Focused? Bruce Said on February 6th, 2010 at 7:27 pm Many small busineeses in today’s economy it ends up where the owner either takes no or very little pay just to keep the business afloat. Some very good points here.

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The Small Business Blog

JUNE 20, 2010

Try to learn a bit about the industry that your prospective business customer works in so you don’t look out of your depth. Make sure they know exactly how your products and services can help their business succeed. Keep following-up over a period of time. Listen carefully to what your B2B clients require.

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The Small Business Blog

JANUARY 13, 2010

Brian Scudamore dropped out of high school in 1989 with $700 (£400) and a beat-up old pick-up truck to start his company 1-800-GOT-JUNK? Not surprisingly this group includes mentors within his own industry, but what is unique about Scudamore is that some of these mentors run the businesses he competes against every day.

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The Small Business Blog

NOVEMBER 8, 2009

Steven Said on November 11th, 2009 at 1:04 pm These are all great tips but another tip I would like to offer is to see what courses your industry association or governing body are offering or whether they can recommend any training providers specialising in your industry. Digg Furl Netscape Yahoo! Digg Furl Netscape Yahoo!

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The Small Business Blog

FEBRUARY 28, 2010

It is such an important point that you make about gaining testimonials from your first customers, but I also think those customers should be asked about their contacts in their industry and see if you can sell to their contacts. An excellent way for quick growth – recommendations! Digg Furl Netscape Yahoo!

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The Small Business Blog

DECEMBER 20, 2009

Ideally they should follow a proven path, just perhaps from some other business, industry or expert. do cost cutting do credit control do customer service export find funding grow your business handle problems keep data safe lower overheads manage your time market and sell motivate your staff not to do it!

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The Small Business Blog

FEBRUARY 23, 2010

by Stefan Töpfer on Feb 24, 2010 Many Search Engine Optimization (SEO) consultants and companies have theories about the best SEO tactics, but they don’t always back them up with proven experiments. Nicholas Kemp Said on February 25th, 2010 at 2:59 pm Other SEO tactics include article writing, setting up a Google Knol and on-page factors.

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The Small Business Blog

MAY 10, 2006

SME / SMB Have Become Obsolete Acronyms by Zoli Erdos on May 10, 2006 Software Industry analysts seem to have a fun time coming up with three-letter combinations. throw out any random letters and chances are it means a new product, technology, industry trend, market segment.

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The Small Business Blog

JANUARY 20, 2010

The term competitive intelligence may conjure up images of espionage and James Bond movies, but it’s simply the honest practice of gathering and analysing public information on competitors. RSS Feeds deliver timely updates from your favourite websites and blogs and can help you keep abreast of what others are saying in your industry.

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The Small Business Blog

JANUARY 22, 2008

There are companies who will help you to set up or do business abroad, like Zana Network. In hynsight everyone would agree it would be one of the worst industries at the worst time to begin a business. Keep overheads to a minimum, review and change your suppliers if there not giving you the best value for money and service.

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The Small Business Blog

FEBRUARY 9, 2010

Categories Announcements Balderdash Business Books Business Checklists Business Ideas Business Quotations Comments Customer Service Guest Blog How to … avoid growing pain be eco-friendly be successful bootstrap choose your office deal with taxes do a reality check do a SWOT plan do bookkeeping. Digg Furl Netscape Yahoo!

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The Small Business Blog

OCTOBER 26, 2007

In both cases it is true to say, it does not matter what kind of small business and start-up business, like SOHO-, SME, SMB-, Micro-, Lifestyle-, Home-, DIY-, Hobby-, Boomer- or Personal business, like professional, contractors, freelancer, self-employed, sole-trader and virtual assistants, you run. Digg Furl Netscape Yahoo!

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The Small Business Blog

NOVEMBER 19, 2007

Often you try to sell to your clients as if they are industry insiders who understand exactly what you are talking about. While in reality they are customers and don’t know what makes this widget so special. You need to sell the benefits of the widget, that is what customers want, benefits. Thanks for the reminder. -AC

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The Small Business Blog

APRIL 20, 2010

In this technologically advanced world there is no reason that work cannot be carried out within the family home, allowing mothers to work and bring up their children, being there when they are needed. Technology is making it better and easier but the mindset in industry and business at large has still a long way to go.

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The Small Business Blog

FEBRUARY 2, 2009

This limited co-operation served us all well, something some of the new start-ups should not forget. But seriously, we should establish a standard of service, security and co-operation, for the sake of our customers and for our own sake. I think that when the reputation of our industry is at stake we need to work together.

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The Small Business Blog

NOVEMBER 9, 2009

While the Bank of England has lowered the interest rate to the lowest level on record, the banks have doubled the interest they demand from small business owners, up to almost 20% for certain loans – that is a 19.5% the recession is nothing the media hyped up, since you lost your job because of it, you should know; 4.

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The Small Business Blog

NOVEMBER 19, 2007

My wife will always ask me why I can’t give up work, she will say you don’t have to do anything, why not stop? Home Design Software Said on September 13th, 2008 at 8:27 am I have been running my small business now for 5 years, I would have given up 100 times and 100 over if I didn’t feel the passion for what I do.

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The Small Business Blog

NOVEMBER 16, 2007

The last piece in the puzzle was the advent of the software as a service industry, which took longer to develop than I had foreseen. and will outstrip our economies within the next decades, unless our politicians, will finally stop putting barriers up for micro businesses. « The Week Ender: Finding that Home Business Idea!

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The Small Business Blog

FEBRUARY 12, 2008

The truth is that charging by the hour is terribly customer unfriendly and is therefor very bad for your small business and start-up business, like SOHO-, SME, SMB-, Micro-, Lifestyle-, Home-, DIY-, Hobby-, Boomer- or Personal business, like professional, contractors, freelancer, self-employed, sole-trader and virtual assistants.

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The Small Business Blog

JUNE 29, 2006

The legal status your business takes maybe decided by what industry you are working in. It is worth noting, once the partnership agreement has been drawn up and signed, it can be modified at a later date. A limited company must also file annual tax returns (“corporation” tax returns) with the Inland Revenue just like an individual.

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The Small Business Blog

MAY 31, 2006

Simply because the needs of a $100M company, which SAP and Oracle consider a "small" business are not even comparable to a 6-10 person company – traditionally referred to as SOHO , while recently a new term is popping up: VSB – very small business, the absolute "S" part of SMB. We spent a crap-load of money.

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The Small Business Blog

MAY 8, 2006

Next, does the accountant have relevant experience in the industry you are in, or an allied industry, after all, it’s going to make life a lot easier if he actually knows a bit about the industry you’re in when offering advice. But what if you don’t know anyone who can make a recommendation, what next?

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The Small Business Blog

SEPTEMBER 22, 2007

So I saw little of my family and especially my son who is now grown-up and ready to go to university. So for the past eight years I have been there when my son came home from school, I even picked him up often enough. This whole process began with the “Industrial Revolution&# some 150 years ago. What do you think?

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The Small Business Blog

AUGUST 16, 2007

look at it this way, you are getting a professional on a timeshare basis, and believe me when I say, having you phone answered in a professional manner makes a lot of difference to your business, or keeping up with your bookkeeping, so you know where you are – this all will make your business much more professional. Have a nice day!

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The Small Business Blog

OCTOBER 1, 2007

So if you are thinking about starting, growing or running your small business, like SOHO-, SME, SMB-, Micro-, Lifestyle-, Home-, DIY-, Hobby-, Boomer-, Professional-, Personal businesses , but are worried about if you can be successful, worried about failing, worried about giving up your job, etc. than bootstrapping is for you.

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