So you’ve set up your own small business and now it’s established and doing well. What next? Should you carry on as a sole trader and personally shoulder the risks of the business? Or should you consider giving the company it’s own legal identity through the process of small business incorporation? Here are the primary benefits and disadvantages to small business incorporation that you need to consider.   Firstly, the significant benefit of personal liability protection. If you incorporate your small business it becomes […]

There are many Types as well as Styles of small businesses. Types would include retail sales, consumer services, consultants, etc. Styles, on the other hand, define the way the business is operated. For example, a ‘bricks and mortar’ retail business (e.g., storefront on Main Street) is one Style while a retail business selling by mailed catalogs, or via the Internet, is another Style. If you don’t deal well in person with people, a ‘bricks and mortar’ store would be contra-indicated […]

We all want to know how to make money easy, so we go on this mad hunt, wondering what is going to pop up in front of us. However, some of the most obvious opportunities can make money easy. Take the notary public, for instance. A notary public is there to seal documents that have been signed. In other words, they are a legal witness to document signings. For example, someone sells a car and they need to sign the […]

Coming up with the right name for your business is one of the most important parts of starting a company. It’s a good idea to spend some time on finding a name that’s unique, memorable and reflective of what it is you have to offer your clients. When I tried to think of a name for my animal massage business, I got a bunch of friends together at a bar and asked them to help me brainstorm. They came up […]

Opening a restaurant is going to take a lot of work, but with perseverance, you can enjoy the fruits of your labor come opening day and when you start making profit. Being in the restaurant business isn’t always glamorous as you might imagine. You can dream of having important VIP guests for your restaurant launching and it can be possible if you strive till you get everything in order. One of the most important things you have to take care […]

Website? Check. Website tuned? Check. Rent due? Check. Business rushing through the door? Um… not so much… Unfortunately, “build it and they will come” only works for baseball movies. When it comes to business, it takes a lot more than a field of dreams to succeed. The truth is that when you’re in business, you’re in sales. And when you’re in sales, that means at least one very imporant skill in need of mastering: developing your elevator speech. This applies […]

These days, everybody is looking to save a buck but times are uneasy and it is still important to acknowledge hard work. Here are ten ways to bump up employee morale without burning the green. Two words: Thank you Kind of a no-brainer. A public pat on the back, say, at the monthly sales meeting, or a sincere email with specifics (Jane, you hit your quota and did 5% better this month) goes a long way. Flex time Companies pay […]