Business Feeds

Branding and brand identity are important aspects of marketing that a business can benefit from immensely. When it comes to small businesses, branding is put on the back burner because of the high marketing costs involved. But small business owners, who want to establish their businesses and carve a niche for themselves, should consider developing their brand identity. Here are 10 simple and low-cost ways to do it.

1. Brand Message

   If there is anything that the major brands have in common, it is a strong message. Your first step, therefore, is to create a branding message that is simple, yet strong enough to make a point about how your company is different from the others in the industry.

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Bankruptcy is one of the worst fears that every small business owner has to deal with. The enthusiasm with which you started your business eventually sobers down, and may even disappear when you find your business crumbling. When sales are dwindling and you are deep down in debt, desperation may push you to make a few not-so-wise decisions. And then, you may be left wondering if you should fight your way back to growth or just give up and close shop.

If giving up is not an option, then there is some good news for you. Reviving your small business and propelling it back to making profits is possible. Here are some steps you should take.

Start With the Problem

Identifying the problems is the first step to finding a solution.

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So you think you can lead a small business? No, this is not a reality TV show – this is reality. Entrepreneurs can get caught up in starting a small business, and as it grows, most are behind the curve when it comes to customer relations and staff management.

Sure, small business leadership takes vision, drive, goal setting, and decisiveness. However, leading people are a different matter. While there is no absolute method of managing a small business, there are some rules you should follow.

Here is a brief course in small business leadership 101:

Dress Your Best

Dressing your best doesn’t necessarily mean wearing suit and tie every day. It means wearing clothes that are fashionable and a step up from what you expect your employees to wear.

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When you decide to venture out on your own and start your very own business, it seems there are dangers awaiting at your every footsteps and risks to be taken at every single stage. In this respect, it’s not all too difficult (or uncommon, for that matter) for a start-up entrepreneur to make a mistake with the strategy and/or expectations of their small business’s performance. Mistakes can cover a whole variegated gamut of missteps, from choosing an unsuited location to open a restaurant, employing the wrong currency conversion rates when dealing with foreign business partners or simply expecting too much too soon. The key to mistakes in business is to identify them as quickly as possible, owning up to them, and then finding the proper way of turning them around. Onc Read more…

AUSTIN (KXAN) – A local business is making a big television debut this week. Matt Chasen started U-Ship seven years ago while in college at the University of Texas.

The company lets haulers bid on shipping big items — everything from statues to camels. The CEO called the premise perfect for a reality TV show — which has been named ” Shipping Wars .”

“We’ve known for a long time we have a lot of colorful characters, independent haulers and transport companies that us our site to find business,” said Chasen.

The show premieres Tuesday night on A&E.

Franchising, although more expensive initially than starting a new business, is also a most-likely-to-succeed business worth looking into.  In a Palm Beach Post article, the IFA Educational Foundation  says more than 90 percent of franchises renew their agreements.  With contracts averaging five to seven years, that means the rate of success is much higher than small businesses as a whole, said Matt Haller, spokesman for the International Franchise Association.

Pizza, frozen yogurt, bagel shops. Child day care, indoor playgrounds, tutoring. Hair salons and home health care. If

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Buying a business requires that you, the buyer, make an informed decision before closing the deal.  Researching about the business starts the moment you are thinking about buying a business.  Start making inquiries from your friends and entrepreneurs in the same industry.  You should read trade and industry publications, and search the Internet.  If you like the preliminary information you heard or read from your initial meeting with the seller, make an offer.  If the seller accepts this, he or she will grant you a period of time, usually a month to several months, to access the companys records and books.  Take this time to know everything about the company you intend to buy. Get a Read more…

In 2009, Jay Goltz was decreasing his inventory. Now, the owner of five Chicago businesses, and writer of The New York Times small business blog Youre the Boss, said he is re-investing in his businesses.

This may come as surprising news for small businesses, many of which have been saving money and holding their own. But Goltz said businesses who remain stable should try to push forward.

“[If] you can afford to take some calculated risks, this might be the time to get out of the bunker and try to get ahead of the pack,” Goltz said, adding that he is revamping the business for one of his shops and purchasing a bigger warehouse so he can buy in larger quantities to save money.

Goltz said many businesses need to focus on moving forward, taking some chances and building their company up instead of standing still.

If more business owners take the initiative to invest in their company, there could be a slight improvement in the economy by virtue of more jobs for small businesses.

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