Starting a Business Archives • Page 3 of 6 • Financially Simple

February 21, 2019

Credit Card Processing Fees – How to Get for the Best Rates

If you plan to accept debit cards or credit cards in your business, you’ll need a company to process those bank card payments. Unfortunately, many cut-throat merchant service providers have given this service a bad name. When I talk to business owners about credit card processing, I inevitably hear groans of confusion and frustration. However, you don’t have to leave your business at the mercy of a few greedy processors. Let me give you a crash course on credit card processing.

January 16, 2019

Understanding and Using Business Debt Strategically

Small businesses are the backbone of America, however, carrying so great a load means carrying a great deal of debt as well. In fact, 49% of small businesses are in some sort of debt. Yet, unlike most personal debts, business debts can sometimes be necessary. As a business owner, you may have experienced the need to take on and use debt for many different reasons.

November 2, 2018

Online Marketing 101 Attracting People to Your Small Business Digitally

November 2, 2018

Online Marketing 101: Attract People to Your Small Business Digitally – Article #21

Consumers are searching for solutions to their problems. Twenty years ago or so, they’d research products or services at brick-and-mortar retail stores, or they’d search for business names that caught their eye in a phone book. Now, with the Internet and its 24/7 availability, consumers are going online first to find information about the products and services they need. Therefore, having a good website that clearly communicates who you are, what you can do for them, and how they can reach you is vital for developing brand equity in today’s market. Yet, simply building and having a website isn’t enough. Just because you put a website online doesn’t mean you’ll be found. You have to use online marketing to bring people to your business. Join me as I outline four ways to get the most out of online marketing.

October 26, 2018

How to Get and Close Sales in a Startup Business – Article #19

Most likely, you began your business to meet a need in your marketplace. If you didn’t think people wanted or needed your product or service, then you wouldn’t have opened your business. However, how can you meet consumer needs if no one knows your business exists? You can’t just open a storefront and expect buyers to flock through your doors. No, you have to “sell” your products and services. They don’t talk, walk, or sell themselves, unfortunately. You and your team members must convince customers that they need what you’re offering. You’ve got to market and advertise to get customers into your sales funnel. Then, you’ve got to train your team to successfully close the sale. Ultimately, you must sell your company and its products or services to get and close sales in a startup business.

October 22, 2018

Quality Control in a Startup Business… Is it Too Early to Think About? – Article #18

As you’re trying to establish a name and niche for your new business within the marketplace, you’ll eventually encounter quality control issues. Regardless of whether you offer physical products or services, I dare say that all business owners—even brand new startup owners—need to come up with plans to control the quality of their goods or services right from the beginning. So I’ve created a list of my top five ways to establish quality controls in a startup business like yours.

October 19, 2018

Untapped Assets: Time Management for the Startup Business Owner – Article #17

One of the coolest things I know is this – every one of us, while we’re alive, has 24 hours in a day. Not 26. Not 30. No one is blessed with more time. We all have 24 hours in a day. Now granted, each of us has different abilities, talents, and gifts. Some are able to achieve more in 24 hours than others. Yet truthfully, we control our time. In my opinion, Zig Ziglar explained this concept best when he said, “A lack of direction, not a lack of time, is the problem. We all get 24 hours in a day.” That’s why time management is so vital for the startup business owner. With that in mind, I’d like to discuss 7 ways small business owners can manage time, in today’s article.