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Small business by Beth Pratt
Beth Pratt is the director of the Napa Valley College Small Business Development Center.
June 28th, 2009
Balancing work, lifeOne of the biggest challenges business owners and working parents have is balancing work and life. It is important to find strategies to cope with the overabundance of work and life. Here are six strategies to use.
June 14th, 2009
Hiring, laying off your first employeeHiring your first employee can be overwhelming, almost as overwhelming as laying off an employee. Many small business owners don’t know where to begin and what they must cover to avoid potential legal and financial liabilities. Most of the critical steps are listed below, but I would encourage all businesses owners when hiring or downsizing to be aware of the risks.
May 31st, 2009
Social media marketingDo you ‘Tweet’? It sounds like a pick up line. However, the new tools of social media marketing like Twitter, Facebook, Linked-in and the rest are more than just a passing fad.
May 17th, 2009
Get a solid foundationThe first time many folks hear about a business plan is when an investor or lender asks them to create one in order to get business funding. This process of presenting your vision in precise descriptive terms, and then quantifying it in a budget, is incredibly valuable. By having a solid business plan, you have a foundation that will provide you with the roadmap and the credibility to grow your business. A solid foundation will also eliminate confusion, barriers and keep you on track.
Get a solid foundationThe first time many folks hear about a business plan is when an investor or lender asks them to create one in order to get business funding. This process of presenting your vision in precise descriptive terms, and then quantifying it in a budget, is incredibly valuable. By having a solid business plan, you have a foundation that will provide you with the roadmap and the credibility to grow your business. A solid foundation will also eliminate confusion, barriers and keep you on track.
May 3rd, 2009
Young entrepreneursYouth entrepreneurship is booming in the United States. Web sites are popping up all over the Internet with resources, blog sites and stories on how the next generation of entrepreneurs is turning passion into profit.
April 19th, 2009
Where green meets businessWhat do ‘green’ and entrepreneurial have in common? One of the fastest growing sectors of business is the emerging green-tech or small clean tech sector.
April 5th, 2009
Keeping your customers loyalExcellent customer service is the lifeblood of any business.
March 22nd, 2009
New plan to benefit small businessesU.S. small businesses employ about half our nation’s workers and over the past decade have created about 70 percent of all new jobs. But their access to credit and lending markets has dried up, making it harder for small businesses to keep their doors open and their employees working. The new American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is on the way to benefit small businesses.
February 24th, 2009
Businesses work lean and smartDuring tough economic times, we all need to tighten our belts and small businesses are certainly no exception.
February 22nd, 2009
Businesses work lean and smartDuring tough economic times, we all need to tighten our belts and small businesses are certainly no exception. Business owners are wise to watch their bottom line, ensure that their operating costs are under control and curtail needless spending. This might be called “working lean and mean.” However it is critical to keep a customer-centric approach. So, let’s call it working lean and smart.
February 14th, 2009
Work your publicityOne of the advantages of having a small business in Napa County is our size. The county is small enough that local businesses and community events are featured, yet we are big enough to have our own, local print media.
February 8th, 2009
Work your publicityOne of the advantages of having a small business in Napa County is our size. The county is small enough that local businesses and community events are featured, yet we are big enough to have our own, local print media. Getting your business featured in the local media can obviously boost sales, but it can also provide you more credibility with vendors, bankers and the community at large. Media attention can be very important, but it is only a small part of your overall promotion strategy.
January 25th, 2009
Help is hereWhether you are trying to keep your business alive, or thinking of starting up a new venture, there are a number of local free and low-cost resources available for business owners. Help is here.
January 11th, 2009
Keep in businessSix months ago, I did a column on how to thrive during a possible economic downturn. Today there are few businesses, small or large that has escaped the impact of this current recession. This is the time to develop a plan and use as many resources as possible to keep your business vital.
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