Have a Great Idea or Invention?
A patenting tip for you…from Eric Frickey, Business Consultant Thinking about obtaining a patent for your idea? A crucial first step would be to get a patent search and legal opinion from a registered patent attorney. The few hundred dollars spent on the search and opinion could save you thousands in patent drafting and prosecution […]
How to Build a Brand That Stands the Test of Time
When it comes time to develop a brand, many companies set their sights on attention rather than retention, but 64 percent of people say a shared sense of value is the main reason they’re loyal to a brand. On top of that, 48 percent of those same consumers say a positive first experience with a […]
Three Types of Small Businesses
You have a small business but you’re not making a profit and haven’t in some time. You may have an employee or two, and you pay them before you pay yourself. You either aren’t paying yourself or are paying less than you could make working for someone else. You may be adding your own money to the business to keep it afloat. […]
Business Essentials Steer Cumming Auto Parts Company into the Fast Lane
Brothers Kevin and Randy Redd make Ford and Chevy street cars both fast and “fly.” Their uniquely designed Concept One high performance pulley systems mount on an engine and drive all of its belts, improving power and maximizing performance. In 2001 they began selling their systems and other product lines to hot rod muscle car […]
Can I Export My Products …. and Where?
American companies make excellent products; they really do. And many of these products are sold all over the world, but some never leave the country. There are several reasons things can or cannot be exported, including their price, overseas demand, technical competitiveness, and sometimes a company’s own willingness or reluctance to undertake the export process.
Careful Pre-Planning Helps Complex Industrial Business Secure an SBA Loan
Rod Meyer had worked in Minneapolis 25 years with the market-leading industrial x-ray imaging equipment company, rising to vice president of sales and leading a tenfold increase in capital sales, before the company was sold and narrowed its product line. “The new company decided to focus on standard x-ray imaging systems. This decision opened an […]
3 Ways to Organize Your Sales Team for Success
One of the most common mistakes early stage entrepreneurs make is assuming that their product or service will “sell itself.” With very few exceptions, this is almost never the case; sales success is usually the combination of hard work, persistence, and having a well-organized sales strategy. One of the key reasons the “selling itself” myth is so persistent is that […]
Business Loan Application Tips Borrowers Can Take to the Bank
Whether it’s to start, operate, expand or acquire a business, capital is required. Just how much is available, and what it will cost depends on each business’s unique situation and the personal financial position of its ownership. These two factors are so important that they find their way into the starting lineup of every loan application. Borrowers who have a good understanding of […]