Positioning in Small Business Marketing

Myths About Starting Your Own Small Business

by: Daegan Smith

Before you jump into small business entrepreneurship, consider first the following myths which we will debunk.

1. Starting a Small Business is Easier Work

This isn’t true. You’ll probably work harder. A small business needs more work to survive. However, the potential to earn is more. The difference is, at work you would balk at overtime. With your small business, you may actually enjoy working overtime because you are caring for your own business.

2. MYTH: I’ll be the boss.
You may be the boss of your company. But you will still have to please someone else: the client. So in truth, they are the boss. Make sure you keep them happy and well served.

3. MYTH: I Can Now Ratchet Up My Asking Price

We often think that we work too much and are paid too little. When starting a small business we may be tempted to think that we can now push for a price more befitting our skills. However, we should remember that we have competition who might be offering their services for a pretty low amount. We always have to be competitive and practical. And exorbitant pricing may not help our small business any much.

4. MYTH: I Don’t Have to Deal with People I Don’t Like Anymore!

Unfortunately, no. You might find that the clients you now have may be pushier than your boss. And as we said in number 1, your clients are your boss. The goal here is for you to have more and more clients. So from here does it follow that the more the clients, the more the bosses, the more the headaches?

5. MYTH: I Own My Time!

Yes, you do own your time. Unfortunately you will find yourself using more and more of this time to tend to your business. So ultimately, no, you won’t gain much in the time department.

6. MYTH: I can’t work any harder. I can’t do all this.

Do you know that they most managers give more jobs to busy employees because they seem to know how to balance and allocate their time? The key to working more is to work smarter, not harder.

This will take a lot of organization, but being able to accomplish much in less time will prove to be its own reward.

7. MYTH: Freedom at Last!

Free from what? And free to do what. Yes, you will have more leeway to do things when you want to. But this does not mean that you will be free to do nothing. Or be free to do something else than tend to your business when you have to.

8. MYTH: I’m in Charge. There’ll be No Mismanagement from Me.

You may think that your boss was foolish not to listen to your suggestions regarding work. But unless you are on the hot seat, you will not appreciate how hard management really is.

9. MYTH: If I’m good, I’ll be a success immediately.
The unfortunate reality of life is that sometimes, talent and hard work are not rewarded. However, if one is patient with his or her small business, the chance that that business will turn out to be a success increases. So always be practical in your expectations of success. Don’t count your chicks when the eggs haven’t hatched yet.

10. MYTH: I Can Motivate Myself

No man is an island, remember? In any business, your first line of security is your friends and family members. They will help you assess yourself and should be ready with a kind word or two to motivate you to start your own business. But aside from them you should be driven yourself. Without this drive you might not find the fortitude needed to weather the trials that beset starting businesses.

About the author:
Daegan Smith is the leader of the fastest growing team of successful home business enterpernuers on the net. Find out how we’re creating financial freedom all across the globe and how to get in on the action FREE =>http://www.comlev.com

Demanding business cards

It would have been a good idea to have business cards printed over online. But then there is the issue of delivery time and all that. For people who have all the right tools needed, they could just download it there and then and print them using high quality color printers. But then again, not everyone have that capability.Color Business Cards Printing Company gives people the chance to create and design their own business cards with the use of their computers alone. Even if they have not reached the level of those quick printing services, they are surely getting there, and fast.Maybe in the near future, someone would get to invent business card printing software that has readily made cards available whenever people will want them in a jiffy.When this happens, there will be no more running off to the nearest quick printing shops. No more problems when you realize that they are not available 24 hours a day. No more hassles.With the purposes that business cards serve nowadays, expect more and more demand for them. In different designs and styles too.

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Kansas Business- From Aircraft to Agriculture Posted By : Howard Giske-6947

Kansas is a major farm state with some surprises. Like would you know that it is a center of aircraft production? Perfect for your new Kansas Incorporation.

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The Right Small Business Opportunity For You Posted By : Jim Biscardi -

Are you actively looking for the perfect small business opportunity? If so, there are a number of factors you need to take into consideration before taking the plunge and becoming your own boss. Below, weve compiled a list of some of the most critical elements when choosing the right small business opportunity for you:Time CommitmentFirst, youll want to choose a small business opportunity that fits the time commitment you can spend on it. If you can only devo…

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Internet Advocacy and Online Technology Posted By : Joem Hughes

The article offers information on the relationship of nonprofit organizations and the Internet. It also offers tips and advice on how these organizations can tap into the online community and entice them into supporting and advocacy campaign.

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Writing a Working Business Plan

Many women are so confused by the words - "Business Plan". What is it? Who do I show it to? Do I really need it? What is it really going to do for me? A business plan is a written blueprint for your business. It describes a summary of what your business is about […]

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The Wisdom of Crowds and Decision-Making

The evidence is convincing and growing that groups make better decisions than do individuals. To be sure, there can be problems with this approach especially if the critical elements outlined in The Wisdom of Crowds are not adequately addressed. The Taking Aim Decision-Making Process provides a framework to help you and your organization capitalize on this new information.

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Online Business The Truth Posted By : Trevor Kugler

There are some truths about having an online business that it seems like many people don’t want to talk about. It seems that most everyone wants to talk about how simple, easy, and financially rewarding online businesses are while skating around some truths the entire time.

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Five Steps to Starting a Business

by: Abe Cherian

Starting a business can be a rewarding experience, but it
can also be very time consuming and difficult. Many
resources are available to assist you, but information
overload can cause you from moving forward.

Keeping it simple is often the best way of maintaining the
momentum necessary to get your business started. There are
a series of steps to ensure success.

The first step toward getting your business going is
deciding on a name, for example “New York Landscaping.”
Any name that you do business under other than your own
given name is called a “fictitious” or “assumed” name, and
certain steps need to be taken in order for you to do
business under that fictitious or assumed name.

Depending on where you live, different government agencies
track which names are available. Look in your local phone
directory, under government agencies to find the number, or
contact your local Secretary of State.

Check to find out if the name you want has been taken. If
it is available, you may need to file a fictitious or
assumed name certificate with the state or local fictitious
name office. Some areas will also require you to publish

a notice in the local paper about your new assumed name.
Both state and federal law regulates the use of names and
“trademarks”. To avoid conflicts with other businesses
regionally or nationally using your business’s name, or the
names of your products, you may want to consider
registering your trademark on the federal or state level.
Contact an intellectual property attorney for trademark
search and registration services.

The second step is knowing that different areas have
differing licensing and permit requirements depending on
the type of business you are going into. Most businesses
that require a license will have a local licensing
authority that can guide you through the process.

Find out the licensing requirements on federal, state, and
possibly even local levels for your type of business and
get licensed. Failure to be properly licensed could result
in penalties such as fines, closure of your business, and
imprisonment in some cases.

The third step is getting insurance. When things are going
smoothly, insurance can seem an unduly burdensome expense
on a small business. But when things go wrong, whether or
not you have insurance can mean whether or not you and your
business survive a catastrophic event like a lawsuit, fire,
or natural disaster.

Liability insurance protects you against liability in the
event of injury to others or damage to other persons
property. Liability insurers most often have two duties:

1. The duty to defend you. Hire a lawyer, if you get sued
and

2. the duty to indemnify you. Pay for damage or injury to
others. Both duties are extremely important, but the
first is often overlooked by small businesses.

The cost of defending a lawsuit can easily run into the
tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars
even if you win. That’s why being careful is no substitute
for liability insurance.

Make sure you have adequate coverage for your vehicles and
those of your employees when used for business purposes.
You can be sued and held liable for injury or damage done
by your employees if it is within the course and scope of
their employment.

Property and theft insurance may be an important
consideration, as well as product liability or service
liability insurance. This is often called “errors and
omissions” coverage.

Interview a few local insurance brokers and find one that
seems knowledgeable and that you feel comfortable with.
Then ask the broker to do a risk assessment to determine
what coverages you might need and why. Remember, the
broker makes money by selling you insurance “products” so
be sure to question the types of coverage and amounts. If
your broker can’t explain why he or she is recommending the
types and amounts of coverage in the risk assessment, find
another broker.

The fourth step is recognizing and implimenting taxes. Sole
proprietors need to be conscious of local, state and
federal taxes and registration requirements relating to
their businesses.

Hiring an accountant or bookkeeper to help set up a simple
accounting system, or using a software package is a good
place to start.

Hiring a tax professional knowledgeable about local and
state taxes relating to your business, or contacting the
local tax authorities before you begin generating revenue
or expending money can help you stay organized and be ready
for tax time.

Additionally, the IRS offers assistance for entrepreneurs
starting a small business in various publications. You can
download IRS Publication 334, entitled “Tax Guide for Small
Business”, and Publication 583, entitled “Taxpayers
Starting a Small Business” from the IRS web site.
http://www.irs.gov

The fifth step is hiring employees (if needed). Though many
small business people start out running their own shop,
success will often bring the need for expansion. When an
employee is added, you must obtain an Employer
Identification Number from the IRS. You can download Form
SS-4 from the IRS web site.

In the United States, the Workers Compensation scheme does
a lot to protect employers from lawsuits by employees
injured on the job, while also providing employees with
easier compensation for workplace injuries. Be sure to
talk to your insurance broker about workers’ compensation
insurance.

Talk to your tax adviser, and make sure you register with
your state for payment of unemployment compensation taxes.

Download IRS Form W-4 from the IRS web site to take care of
employee withholdings. You should get copies of INS Form
I-9 to verify your employees’ eligibility for employment in
the United States.

Finally, issues regarding wrongful termination,
discrimination, workplace harassment, and other legal
issues have come to the forefront in today’s business
environment. Make sure you have an employment agreement
that spells out whether your employee is “at-will”. ex: can
be let go at any time without cause, or the terms of the
employee’s contract for employment.

Make sure you Draft employee guidelines or an employment
manual to make sure there are no misunderstandings about
what expectations, rules and responsibilities are in place.
Document any issues relating to your employees well and be
proactive about handling disputes. A little planning in the
beginning can save a lot of headaches and legal expense
later on.

In conclusion- hiring independent contractors is often a
good way to avoid the administrative burdens of hiring
employees, but be precautious. There are many pitfalls to
hiring an independent contractor who is for all intents and
purposes an employee. Talk to a lawyer and your tax advisor
about who is an employee versus a contractor.

About the author:
Abe Cherian is the founder of Multiple Stream Media, a company that helps online businesses find new leads and more customers without spending a fortune. http://www.multiplestreammktg.com

It is time to Outlaw Adverbs - A Different View of Decision-Making

Not is an adverb and my subconcious mind doesn’t know what an adverb is. When you stop to think that even God had this problem when he told Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden to Not eat from the Tree of Knowledge, maybe we should outlaw adverbs and find a more positive or constructive approach to decision-making.

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