Setting the Right Price

Question: How should I go about deciding how to price products for my small business? Answer: Deciding on how much to charge for a product or service is a common question among small business owners. Developing a pricing strategy depends on several factors: the type of product or service, the costs to provide it, your [...]

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Free Financing for Small Business

Question: Does free financing for small business exist? Answer: Nothing good in life comes easy, and that includes getting financing for your small business. No federal government agency — including the Small Business Administration — offers grants to start or expand small businesses, despite advertisements to the contrary. Many corporations, foundations, and private institutions that [...]

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SEO Marketing Builds Awareness

Question: What role do search engines play in my small business? Answer: As the old saying goes, the early bird gets the worm. In the same sense, the high-visibility web site gets the business. A great way to make your business web site shine is to utilize internet search engines. You probably already know how [...]

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Connect to Your Customers

Question: How do I keep connected with my customers in this ever-changing, fast-paced world? Answer: Developing well written and concise messages should be included in your small business marketing strategy. A well constructed message that will connect with your customers is the key factor. This is particularly true for Web sites. Although the Web is [...]

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Could Your Business Survive the Worst-Case Scenario?

Question: Could the “Worst-Case Scenario” happen to you? Every year, this hypothetical question becomes very real to thousands of small business owners who suffer losses due to fires, natural disasters, and other events. Think about all the time and money you’ve invested in your small business and imagine one day that it is all gone. [...]

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The Lure and Limits of Advertising

Question: Successful advertising requires a lot of research into the various options available—print, broadcast, Web,direct mail, etc.—and whether their potential results are worth the investment. In other words, people may see your ad, but will they respond to it?  And are they the audience you want to reach in the first place? Answer: Advertising is [...]

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The Next Generation of Business Planning

Question: With the current unstable business environment, what should I be doing with my business planning? Answer: Starting a small business requires extensive research and planning, but planning should be considered an ongoing necessity. Regardless of the current economic situation, the environment in which your small business operates continually changes, new opportunities and challenges will [...]

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Stand Up to an Economic Downturn

Question: I am very concerned about keeping my business afloat in this current economy. What can you suggest that will help me watch my bottom line, but still be mindful of sustaining my company? Answer: Small business owners, including those in stable industries, are feeling the heat of the broad economic slowdowns. Individuals tend to [...]

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Manage Your Time Better With Task Management

Question: As a small business owner, I often find myself scrambling to complete tasks and don’t want this time crunch syndrome to spill over into my customer services. What advice can you give me to help with this ongoing issue? Answer:The single resource that small business owners say they want more of is time. With [...]

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Retirees Going Into Business Should Consider These Angles

Question: I am now retired and have been considering going back to work – but instead of working for someone else, I’d like to start my own business. Are there any statistics on the success of retirees beginning businesses? Answer: This is a frequent query asked of SCORE counselors. A survey by AARP showed that [...]

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