Business Articles

This collection of articles have been written by John Eakins, a member of SCORE Chapter 406. Many of these articles have been published in the Southeast Business Journal (SBJ), Rochester, Minnesota. It is our hope that you find the information beneficial to your business.

(While these articles are based on work supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the views expressed are not necessarily those of the SBA.)

Choosing the right business (how to choose; what to consider; do what you like)

• > Is a franchise right for you?
  
• > Should you focus on a niche?
  

Organizing yourself and the business (legal form; structure; delegate; focus; BP)

• > Advantages of incorporating may be elusive
  
• > Write that business plan
  
• > Should you have a board of directors?
  

Finding money: loans (loans; grants; venture capitalists; partners; shares)

• > SBA (Small Business Administration) website
  
• > Preparing your loan request
  

Attracting customers: marketing (customers; competition; selling; ads; Mkt Plan)

• > Cheap marketing
  
• > Help your community and increase visibility
  
• > Postcard advertising—good and cheap
  

Running the business (practically anything that doesn’t fit elsewhere)

• > Be a strategic partner
  
• > Could your presentations stand improving?
  
• > Great ideas take sweat
  
• > New technologies and techniques
  
• > Tweaking or changing the business model
  
• > Why owners resist advice
  

Building the bottom line: revenues & accounts (revenue, profit, cash flow)

• > Take a tip from your bank
  
• > Want to boost revenues?
  
• > Improving the bottom line I
  
• > Improving the bottom line II
  
• > Want to get paid faster?
  

Making customers happy: customer service

• > Little things mean a lot - customer service
  
• > Make customers crazy about you
  
• > Win customer loyalty with customer service
  

Creating a happy workplace (ways to make a great place to work)

• Hiring great employees
  
• > Hiring great employees
  
• > How can I hire the right employee?
  
• > Two employees, one job
  
• > Management
• > Business owners are communicators
  
• > Communicate to set expectations
  
• > Grooming employees
  
• > Leading employees
  
• > Entrepreneurial employees
  
• > Let employees like their work
  

Using the internet & a website

• > Internet for small business
  
• > Need a website? Where to start
  
• - Website basics
• > Does your website need help?