Advice Archives

Even though Support4Business is still actively involved in our core small business service offerings – bookkeeping/payroll, web design & hosting, promotional products, etc. – I really missed creating physical products. As mentioned on our About page, I have a degree in design, specifically clothing design, and though web design has some creative components, I really ...

I was recently made aware, by a friend looking to start a local business, that my blog has failed to discuss one very important topic. I have given advise on bookkeeping, marketing, organization, and many other topics to assist small businesses, but I have not addressed how to actually START a small business. So, here ...

Happy New Year! I know, as a small business owner, it can be a challenge to carve out some relaxation time during all the hustle and bustle of the holidays. But, hopefully, you were able to enjoy your time with family and friends, and are ready for the new year. So, as we enter a ...

Certainly, having a local bank is beneficial for small businesses, especially when a relationship with your local loan officer is important to solicit capital necessary for expansion. In addition, traditionally, making deposits is more convenient locally. However, with the majority of consumers using debit cards, and skipping the use of checks or cash, online banking ...

In continuation of our previous post, “Make a Great First Impression,” where we discussed the importance of professionally printed marketing pieces, in this post we will talk about making a great impression with your business’ forms and checks. We believe strongly in frugality, and we understand that it is much more affordable to use blank sales ...

In this week’s Small Business Development Center newsletter, distributed through our local college, there is a link to a great article at Lawn and Landscape, about how to survive the first five years of your business. As we all know, the first five years of a business are most crucial, as most do not survive ...

Advertising is a part of doing business…and no matter your industry, if you want to keep your business sustainable, some of your operating budget needs to include spending money on generating new customers. And, advertising is an important component of your overall marketing strategy. As the old saying goes, “You have to spend money to ...

As I spoke mentioned in my post, Free and Low-Cost Small Business Consulting & Training, there is a plethora of valuable FREE training available for small business owners…and I am a firm believer in “never stop learning!” One of the best source of guidance for small businesses is SCORE – Service Corps of Retired Executives. This ...

If there was an emergency, is your computer data protected? Imagine if there was a power surge, a natural disaster, or your computer was infected with a ransomware virus. Is there anything on your computer that is irreplaceable? If so, you need to seriously consider protecting your data before disaster strikes. There are a couple of ...

Did you know March 29th is National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day? Who knew we had a day?! (Though, I shouldn’t be surprised, as it seems there is a day for everything. Just Google a subject, and you can find something to celebrate every day!) Anyway, I think it is a great thing to celebrate. ...

In our last ‘Tips & Tricks’ issue, we discussed The Danger of Competing On Price Alone. We warned against using your pricing strategy alone to be competitive; however, we did not discuss how to set your pricing. For some, this is easy to calculate. For others, it takes some trial and error, to learn what ...

Unless you operate your business solely to garner a tax write-off, you are certainly interested in generating a profit for your business. Unfortunately, many times, small businesses think that the best way to get more customers is to be cheaper than the competition. This is very dangerous for the longevity and growth of a business. The ...

One of the most common questions I get asked by my small business clients is, whether their workers should be classified as independent contractors (1099) or employees (W-2). I understand the reasoning. Employees are one of the most expensive cost of doing business. At first glance, it may appear that it is less expensive to ...

It’s a new year! Time for resolutions, cleaning out the closets, putting away last year’s files…and changing your online passwords. On your list of of resolutions, make sure foiling Digital Pirates by changing passwords is at the top of the list. If you are like most people, you use the same password, or a variation of ...

As a small business owner, there are many tasks jostling for your attention. And “learning” typically takes a back-seat, until there is more time. But, there is never enough spare time. So, this new year, we encourage you to carve out a few minutes each day to expand your knowledge, which will help you and ...

As a small business owner, the deadlines never seem to end. And, unfortunately, right after all the hustle of the holidays, January can be the most overwhelming for tax deadlines. Below are some of the deadlines that need to be heeded before the end of the month: If you have employees: Form 941 filing and payment for ...

With my small business clients, one of the scariest terms seems to be the dreaded “business plan.” And I get asked regularly, “Why do I need one?” Well, to be honest, you don’t, unless you plan an asking for funding from the Small Business Administration (SBA) or other entity. I successfully started a business from ...

As a small business owner, there are so many IRS tax due dates to remember, and forgetting can cost you in penalties and interest. We recommend using QuickBooks or setup your calendar app to alert you to upcoming due dates. If you do not use a software, you can setup a manual calendar or spreadsheet ...

As a small business owner, you know you need to wear many hats. Areas of importance to any business include: inventory management, bookkeeping, financial analysis, financing, human resources, information technology…and the list goes on. The challenge is when you are a “one man/woman show.” Many of these areas are not our forte, but that does ...

The term “marketing” is used in almost every industry and organization. There are plenty of books and blogs that tell us how important marketing is for business growth. But, what is it and what does it mean for your business? The dictionary defines marketing as “the action or business of promoting and selling products or ...

The holidays are coming, which is a busy time for all of us. It is hard enough to find time for all the holiday preparations and events, but it is crucial for small business owners to set aside a few minutes a day, over the next month, to get year-end business in order. Of course, we ...

In today’s world of communication via technology, hand-written Thank You cards are an anomaly. Don’t get me wrong. I am a strong proponent of the efficiency of electronic communication – texting, emails, etc. I am able to accomplish so much more in one day via emails, than any other form of communication. And as time ...

Social media is a wonderful tool to drive traffic to your website…but is it for you? I regularly tell my clients that no website can function properly as an island. There needs to be a number of reputable links into and out-of a website, in order to rank well with the search engines, which, of ...

If you’re like me, you love uncovering a great deal! I will spend hours scouring the web to ensure I find the best quality item at the best price…thus eliminating any “buyer’s remorse.” As we have posted on in our Toolbox, Daily Deals, we have vetted a few sources that offer excellent Daily Deals. As the ...

Like days of old, today’s digital pirates are after one thing…money. Either money in your accounts, or money gained by using your identity. Unfortunately, every day, these pirates get smarter, as is seen with the recent Equifax security breach, which investigators just announced, has affected an additional 2.5 million Americans, for a total of 145.5 ...

If you have visited my Resource Toolbox, you will know that I strongly recommend Dave Ramsey’s education on financial literacy. Understanding and properly managing finances is important for all people and businesses, but it is especially crucial for small business owners, where the line between personal and business finances can become very blurred. It is ...

Anyone who knows me, knows that I always have a pocketful of “sticky notes.” I always thought myself quirky, until I recently read The Organized Mind: Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload. This book offers the tip of carry around index cards (or in my case, sticky notes,) to free your mind of ...

Back when online auctions became popular, I had many clients contact me about listing their handcrafted items on eBay or Amazon. Unfortunately, major artisan marketplaces had not yet become commonplace, and though I recommended against selling handmade items on online auction websites, there were no other options with such a large, established audience. Online auctions ...

In this issue of my advice & tips, I am listing some of my favorite Internet protection tools…which are FREE for personal, home use. I have been using these tools myself for over 20 years, with exceptional results. Many of the computers I have repaired over the years have relied on the more expensive, name-brand ...

Everyone and their brother has written a book about how to sell on online auctions…tips and advice from the experienced and professional. I have been selling on eBay, Amazon, and Yahoo auctions for almost 25 years, and honestly, I have not read any of these books. However, I am sure that they have a number ...