Category: Advice
The 9 Songs that Speak to Every Small Business Owner
It’s the holiday season, and as a small business owner, the chances are you’re going nonstop to stay on top of the holiday season and finish up the year strong. If you need to decompress, here are some classic songs that any small business owner can relate to. 1. “Takin’ Care of Business” Bachman-Turner Overdrive,…
3 Ways to Win Government Contracts
On a typical day, there are between 25,000 and 30,000 active government contracts available on the Federal Business Opportunities website. For entrepreneurs and small business owners, this amounts to thousands of chances to grow your company with the help of the federal government. While you may know about government contracts, you might be wondering how…
5 Things Small Business Owners Need to Know About the New Facebook Updates
The relationship between Facebook and small businesses has been rocky at best. Initially, the site offered a huge opportunity for small businesses to reach massive audiences. Unfortunately, that opportunity dwindled once Facebook updated its newsfeed algorithm and started requiring businesses — both large and small — to pay in order to have their posts seen.…
Small Business Owners, Are Your Employees Excited About Your Holiday Party?
Are your employees looking forward to your office holiday party? For many small businesses, the company party is a great way to end the year and something their employees look forward to. What makes a successful party? Some food, a nice venue, and the opportunity to socialize with friends and coworkers usually make for a…
The 3 Most Effective Ways to Get Vendor Discounts
Creating successful relationships with vendors is every bit as important as the relationships you build with your customers. It doesn’t really matter if you sell a product or provide a service, most small business owners’ work with suppliers who either provide the goods you sell or products that help you deliver the service you offer.…
What Your Small Business Must Do Before the End of December
The holiday season is finally upon us, and while your small business may be focused on creating more happy customers this holiday season, there is another important consideration to keep in mind: the end of the year. Yes, the New Year is right around the corner. For your business, that means now is the perfect…
Is a Personal Mentor Too “Old School” in Today’s Technological World?
With tools like my smartphone, tablet, or laptop, I basically have the collected wisdom of the world at my fingertips; do I really need a personal mentor to help me build a successful small business? This isn’t an unreasonable question, and one David R. Bobbit, president of the SCORE Foundation helps answer. SCORE is a…
The 5 Coolest Small Businesses in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is known as a hotspot of movie stars, musicians and other celebrities, but did you also know that it is home to some of the coolest small businesses in the country? Today, Los Angeles is a go-to destination for budding entrepreneurs and skilled small business owners looking to make waves in their respective…
November Roundup: Headlines From Around the Web
Our blog isn’t the only place you can read what we’re saying about the world of small business. Here’s what we don’t want you to miss from November: USA Today: Where the Rubber Hits the Road: What it Really Takes to Succeed on Main Street—Noah Breslow There’s no shortcut to driving business success, but Noah…
It’s Not Too Late to Create the Perfect Holiday Display
The holidays are officially upon us. If you haven’t already, it’s time to get serious about the perfect holiday display for your small business. Holiday shoppers are probably already at your door, and the right display – either in your window or on the floor – will help attract even more buyers and show off…
5 Reasons Small Businesses Don’t Rely On Black Friday
Black Friday (a term born in the 1960s when Philadelphia cops complained about holiday shopping traffic) has become an increasingly important event for the likes of Walmart, Target, BestBuy, and other big box stores. Last year, about 141 million consumers took advantage of the day’s famous deals, with the average customer spending a little over…
6 Business Secrets From America’s Biggest CEOs
Growing and running a business at the highest level takes a wide variety of skills, many of which aren’t taught in a classroom. Here are 6 takeaways from business leaders who have used all manner of routes and abilities to rise to the top of their fields. 1. Don’t Wait for Someone Else to Create…
5 out of 5 Business Owners Agree: Bankers Just Don’t Get Main Street
Earlier this week we invited five OnDeck customers in for a face-to-face discussion about their experience finding a small business loan, and their experience with us. Over the next few weeks we’ll be sharing what the panel had to say and how it could help other small business owners on their journey. All five, before…
3 Easy Tips for Choosing a Payment Processor
With so many payment processors out there, how do you decide which one you should choose for your business? A new study from NerdWallet suggests both brick and mortar, as well as online small businesses, consider a number of factors before picking a provider. In order to narrow it down to what should work for…
The 4 Best States for Veteran-Owned Businesses
Across the country, states are finding ways to give thanks to the men and women who have served in the U.S. armed forces. From dedicated government contracts to affordable and help securing small business loans, there are certain states that are making a concerted effort to for help veterans business owners. Here are four of…