May 15, 2012 | 5:05 pm
Perhaps the most important document for any new or established business is a Business Plan. Yet too many business owners fail to sit down and prepare or update one.
May 10, 2012 | 10:12 pm
Networking is supposed to create opportunities for your business.
May 08, 2012 | 10:33 pm
Effective marketing doesn’t need to cost a lot of money. Marketing results can be more about what you do rather than how much you spend.
May 03, 2012 | 6:06 pm
As the world works to restore a healthy economy, Canadian business owners are doing their part to ensure the well-being of their own company finances. Finding and managing hidden expenses is one way to improve those fortunes.
May 01, 2012 | 5:59 pm
Your growing business needs more employees…but you’re on a budget.
April 26, 2012 | 5:26 pm
Canadian business owners work hard for their money – so naturally they want to keep as much of it as possible.
April 24, 2012 | 5:17 pm
Across Canada, business owners (and their tax preparers) are racing to complete the paperwork required to file 2011 tax returns on time.
April 19, 2012 | 5:18 pm
Your federal, provincial and municipal governments collectively offer hundreds of millions of dollars in financial incentives to small businesses in the form of grants, subsidies, loan guarantees, tax deductions and tax credits.
April 17, 2012 | 5:16 pm
There’s strong debate among entrepreneurs about LinkedIn – called the worlds’ largest social networking site for professionals.
April 12, 2012 | 8:09 pm
Like renovating a house, it’s easy for new business owners to get caught up in the excitement of the project and exceed their start-up budget.
April 10, 2012 | 7:04 pm
You likely have your own reasons to consider switching banks. For some business owners, switching is about economics – they want a better deal. A few more may switch to enjoy rewards and benefits. And others may value a richer banking relationship.
April 05, 2012 | 6:45 pm
If your marketing is working well, your business should pull in a healthy number of prospects. If your selling function is working well, your business should pull in healthy revenue.
April 03, 2012 | 7:20 pm
Your growing business may require capital. That may take the form of money blended from several sources, including credit, savings, profits and investors.
March 29, 2012 | 9:22 pm
I believe business owners should focus on their strengths and delegate weaknesses. It allows you to do what you do best and leave the rest. Choosing to perform tasks you don’t enjoy (or, worse, don’t understand) may cause disasters for your business.
March 27, 2012 | 7:29 pm
A new or established business has a better chance of success if the owner seeks input from a variety of different advisors. You need as many opinions as you can collect.
March 22, 2012 | 11:16 pm
While walking to work earlier this month I passed by my neighbourhood barber shop.
Hi Don. Great post! I agree, media publicity is one of the most effective and affordable marketing strategies available to small business. Enjoyed my fair share of press, too. I enjoyed your informative article. In your experience, are media releases too old fashioned these days? Or, would media contacts simply prefer a pitch or story idea outlined in an email? Please share your thoughts with this community.
Roger Pierce, Get Growing for Business
March 20, 2012 | 10:10 pm
It seems everyone these days is looking for affordable techniques to bring in more business. One source of new business might be lurking in that stash of business cards collecting dust inside your desk drawer.
March 15, 2012 | 6:53 pm
If you’re supplying services as an independent contractor, consultant or project manager through a small corporation, it may be worth your while to learn more about the issues surrounding Personal Services Business (PSB) designations.
March 13, 2012 | 6:41 pm
Reduce your tax burden by investigating these popular deductions. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) makes it fairly easy to understand the various deductions and tax rules affecting your business.
March 09, 2012 | 12:02 am
As we race toward the 2011 tax filing deadline of April 30, 2012 (or June 15 if you’re self-employed without a balance owing), you may be thinking about letting someone else handle all that paperwork for you. Hiring a professional to process and remit your financial information may help you to sleep better at night.
March 07, 2012 | 1:26 am
Content marketing is a term you’ve likely heard before. It involves creating and posting original information online in the form of blogs, white papers, articles, videos, podcasts and photos. Thanks to major search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Bing, people can easily find your helpful or interesting content and connect with your business.
March 02, 2012 | 12:44 am
Every entrepreneur occasionally dreams about what it would be like to run a business without competition.
February 28, 2012 | 7:19 pm
Whether you are starting or growing your business, you’ll need some space to operate. And, naturally, you’ll want to save money on whatever space you inhabit.
February 23, 2012 | 7:10 pm
By Roger Pierce,
Like naming a new baby, it’s fun to think up names for your new business.
February 21, 2012 | 7:09 pm
By Roger Pierce
Turning a profit in your business could be easier if you elect to serve Canada’s largest demographic group known as Baby Boomers.
I sold something to baby boomers last year - my company! My company dealt with luxury services, which baby boomers were purchasing. Lucky for me, when I decided it was time to retire, those same baby boomers wanted to purchase the entire company. But I wouldn't have been able to make the sale without Tim Armstrong of Canada Business Sellers (www.canadabusinesssellers.com). I have to thank Tim Armstrong for helping me make a fabulous, fair, and timely sale, and I have to thank the baby boomers for their interest in luxury services!
Congratulations, Hunter! Can you share any tips for other entrepreneurs looking to sell their business? How long did your sale take?
- Roger, Get Growing for Business
Thanks for the tip Hunter. I'm considering selling my business as well. Checked out Canada Business Sellers, and I'm definitely going to contact them for help.
Hopefully these baby boomers are just as interested in buying my company as they are yours!
Grant, thanks for your comment. It's important that every business owner looking to one day sell their company obtain maximum value. We've developed some excellent tools to help business owners prepare to sell a business, located in the Tools section of this site. Check out the Ownership Transition Tool and the 4 videos on Selling Your Business.
February 16, 2012 | 6:43 pm
February 15, 2012 | 1:30 am
By Roger Pierce, Small Business Expert
This time of year can be financially stressful.
The months of January and February catch many Canadians struggling to pay off their holidays bills, while at the same time fretting about taxes due in April.
February 10, 2012 | 1:46 am
By Roger Pierce, Small Business Expert
There’s no way around it. As a business owner, you’re going to need to deliver a pitch.
February 08, 2012 | 1:32 am
Stuck is no fun. Yet stuck is a common condition suffered by business owners because there’s no longer a boss available to push us.
January 04, 2012 | 6:45 pm
New Year’s resolutions are easy to make but can be hard to keep. According to University of Minnesota researchers, about 80% of the resolutions made by individuals on January 1 are broken by Valentine’s Day. When you’re making resolutions that will impact your business, you’ll want a much higher success rate. Here are some tips for making that happen:
December 14, 2011 | 10:36 pm
Many Canadians have family traditions that mark the year-end holiday season. Adopting traditions for your business can also bring benefits in the new year. Here are some suggestions for your business:
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Don1 month ago
The Fast-Track to Attracting Buyers
If you are on a tight marketing budget and are trying to get your name out there, consider spending a little time and just a few dollars on a public relations campaign.
A comprehensive public relations program educates, informs, explains, persuades and can enhance credibility of your company and can boost sales.
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