From the article: Money for a Small Business
Okay, small business owners present or past, help your fellow readers out by sharing your advice, tips or experiences. Share your tips or advice
The clothing
- Fashion..is my passion....the image is what I enjoy....business wise...i have many ideas...yet I tend to cater to the styles I recognize in my location..even thou its my place I want to add spice and flare.... I feel in some self made business soon as money is made they hire people that dont carry the same enthusiasm....then you as a business owner you spending on yourself instead of putting it towards the expansion of your business that will pay off but not from the jump and thats how you lose
- —Guest Iman
Small Business Challenges
- It is too easy for Major Corp, to destroy Small Businesses (SB) and the System is not doing enough to protect Small Business Owners. Knowing that we have no $ resource to defend ourselves.Home Depot (HD) just destroyed a $6Million I created. I was supplying Jobs to over 250 Minority workers daily. HD after finding out that the owner was Black Haitian, set a Regional HR meeting and said "We do not want Haitian in our Mix" On You Tube type: Home Depot the Plight of a Minority Vendor n c the video. 2 many Small Bus. Owners are suffering n won't say any thing by fear of Retaliation. The judge dismissed the case without Prejudice. I said we Go Public, HD Fearlessly sent a letter stating HD supports all the major Minority Civil Rights Org. On Google type: Haitian Business crushed by Home Depot but not by Earthquake. SB need better Representation at a time where US is challenged by China n Europe, we need a stronger Economy n there is no other way. We R in the Same Boat let's save US economy
- —Guest Ludin Pierre
positive contribution family business
- We ought to learn to be creative and a family business is the fertile ground to be creative. under watchful eye of the head of the family the children must work in family business as for the efficient success is within his reach. sky is the limit for your progress. you learn the trick of the business without any risk as your family head is guiding you. by the time you mature you bring in new Idea and look for bigger horizone . look at TATA empire. I too am a businessman , I regret that I started late . I am advising my children to join me than to waste time and energy elsewhere. Why we cannot be like Birlas? Do not be pasimistic. However be obedient to your family elders . Learn from the Marwari family siblings.
- —Guest K sensowa
Greatest Challenge is that we are...
- running a small business. Not like the good ole' days when you used to approach the banker in your town, provide a feasibility study and a five-year plan then ask for their support and guidance. Now you only qualify if you have proven a 3 year track record. Who needs them after the first three years? I'm in my third year and I am bent on continuing without a loan from those blokes!
- —damefrank
Stay focused
- It's so easy to get distracted by the 101 things you need to do instead of staying focused on your goal and the most important thing - making the phone ring. The best way to do this is create a service that people really need, and do it better than anyone else doing it. We are all unique so tapping into your passion will help you stand above the rest. I also have lots of support from other small business people in my industry. We aren't competing for the same target market, so we can support each other. This keeps our spirits high. It goes without saying that you have to work your butt off! You can do what you love, but the money won't follow unless you are working hard. Last but not least - if something doesn't work, keep trying. Don't be afraid to change your direction.
- —Cre8iveForce
small business problems
- My small business of fiberglass/composites in Pakistan,was a wonderful experience for 2 yrs.But later on due to changing govts./policies it became hard to get new orders and had to close down. I am basically a graduate chemical engr. and am now on a paid job. However, I intend to try again for my business in the field of pure drinking (mineral) water, fiberglass composite products moulding, such as boats, frp pipes, frp tubewell strainers/filters for underground water/tube wells, cooling tower stacks, fan blades, etc. Any suggestions and technical help would be highly appreciated and thanked.
- —Guest inam ali
Keep trying even you fail more than once
- I own a small DJ business, it is hard for me even I did good marketing but due to competions, a new kid on the block like myself is hard to survive. I had my capital to open this small business from my company afer my laid off the company gave me a nice package. Now I am trying to open an other a small business( painting and carpet cleanning), with hope, that I will have more business, Regardless what happen, I will not give up on the DJ buisness because I do it for a passion because I love music, but it hard to find business with the Dj biz. People say I can find grant money, but I don't believe in it, also I plan to ask some family member to help me sign for a small loan to open that new business
- —Guest Mr B
It is hard.
- I thought running a business was a piece of cake, but I was never ready for the expenses or problems that were before me. Just never give up, and there is help out there. Get together with friends and family for assistance, and don't give up.
- —Guest harris finance tax
You are the BOSS! Don't take it lightly!
- Many people think that being an entrepenuer is easy money, and that if you work for yourself; you've got it made. Totally untrue.. You are responsible for EVERYTHING that makes that business operate, including producing the capital. Any type of startup help you can get is a definite plus, because there's no way you can run a successful business; especially in this economy, without having some operating capital and some capital to remain open when you aren't keeping busy, because that is happening to more folks than we'd like for it to right now and I'm no exception. Everyone thinks that you have all of this freedom by working for yourself, and in a way it's true because you can take off whenever you need to, but on the other hand that work has to get done and you're the only one who can do it and if you hire folks, it's not as easy as it sounds, becaue once they learn how to do their jobs, most of them think they can run the business and think that they can put you our of business
- —JTrentVines
No one can cover for you
- Growing up, my family owned a small business that was open 7 days a week. We only had a handful of employees, so the biggest challenge was having no one to cover for you if you're sick or need to be somewhere else. Even if one employee were out sick, it was a struggle for the rest of us. On very rare occasions (probably fewer than 5 times in the 7 years we owned the business) we just had to hang up the "Sorry, We're Closed" sign for a few hours or for one day.
- —DorisLin
Keep your eye on the prize
- I currently own a small business and have owned two others before now. There's nothing like being your own boss, but running a business comes with a lot of challenges. One of the hardest lessons to learn, and one that most of us have to keep relearning, is to avoid letting priorities overwhelm necessities. When you have a lot of work, it's easy to feel too busy to continue marketing your business or to keep your records up to date, but these things are building blocks of your business and can't be neglected without serious consequences. Learning to budget your day to include time for these essential but not always urgent tasks will help you keep your business on track and moving toward success.
- —Guest Serial Entrepreneur
