Preparing for 2020 and a New Decade

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I thought I'd share some of my past articles on entrepreneurship, business ownership and growth.  I hope these help you prepare your business for 2020 and the new decade.  Enjoy.  Happy learning.  Prosperous new year.

5 Actions for Double-Digit Business Growth

This article provides five action items to get you out of your “hold steady” mode and into high, predictable growth gear with your business.

11 Tips to Help You Thrive After Losing Your Biggest Client

Theresa just lost her biggest client, one who generates 80 percent of her company’s total revenue.  She’s been in the branding business for six years.  In response, she can hide in her office and wait for the phone to ring or she can take swift action.  Above are 11 tips that ought to help Theresa, or you, if you ever find yourself in a similar situation.

16 Ways to Dodge an Economic Crisis

Whether it is through client work at my own business, running a nonprofit organization, or serving as a facilitator for women presidents of multimillion dollar enterprises, here's what I've heard many entrepreneurs and small business owners saying repeatedly about what they are doing to dodge an economic crisis.  This article is still applicable to today's times.

From Cupcakes To Moneycakes: 3 Ways To Increase Sales And Profitability

Recently, I had a conversation with a woman business owner who claims her business in Chicago is drying up. She bakes cupcakes from scratch in every imaginable flavor and size from her small bakery, Think Sprinkles, eleven miles south of downtown Chicago. As a one-woman shop, how can she increase sales and profitability so her business doesn’t shrivel up? It starts with going back to the basics of good old-fashioned marketing.  Read on ... above.

What Used to be a Man's World on Business Ownership Is Long Gone

Twenty-eight years ago Pam Sullivan wanted to launch her own marketing company in Boston but ran up against one serious problem:  As a female sole proprietor, she couldn't secure a loan. With help from the Small Business Development Center, she put together a business plan and secured the money that helped launch a new career.

Fast-forward to now where that sort of problem is a lot rarer.

According to a new report, "2015 State of Women-Owned Businesses," commissioned by American Express OPEN, nationally, the number of women-owned businesses has increased 74 percent since 1997.  Sales figures for women-owned businesses in New Hampshire where Sullivan is based now reached nearly $8 billion, more than double the total in 1997.

One of the key statements made in the article is this:

“What I’d attribute the growth to is there are quite a large amount of resources, things like the Small Business Association, groups that are very willing to extend their help,” she [Tonya Rochette, vice president and partner at Human Resource Partners, which has offices in Concord and Dover] said. “And perhaps more women are willing to ask and accept the help.”

Read the entire article here.