As an entrepreneur, you know how important seed money is. The numbers on small business survival aren’t comforting—half will fail within 5 years and two-thirds will crumble within 10 years. Having a good financial cushion gives your business a shot beating the odds. To do that, you need to understand the process of how to raise capital for a startup and the best approach to take in doing it. The first round of funding is at the grassroots and it’s termed “pre-seed.” This includes your own money … [Read More...]
At SBDPro, we take pride in helping entrepreneurs run their small businesses. Whether it's real estate, finance, legal, insurance, or any other organization, we're here to help you achieve your business goals.
As a part of that pursuit, we've dedicated our blog site to answering your questions and providing tips for managing your small business. Are you home-based? We've got expert advice for your niche. Do you need help with marketing yourself? There's a category for that. Would you like to learn more about outsourcing? We've got that covered, too!
Often, running a small business can make you feel like you're on an island. Not everyone understands the pressure and circumstances of your passion—but we do! Stay up to date with your field of work and learn new tricks with our ever-growing blog. Let's take this entrepreneurial journey together.
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3 Questions to Ask When Starting a Business
There’s a lot of things to know when starting a business. Certainly, how to get financing and setting up budgets are a big part of that. Knowing the legal obligations you’ll be undertaking, both as a business owner in general and for your industry in particular, are also important. But transcending all of those particulars are 3 big concepts that every entrepreneur must know. What’s your niche? When you don’t have the resources of a large corporation, then doing “everything” (however you define … [Read More...]
5 Business Tips for Beginners
Entrepreneurship is an adventure and, like any journey, it’s nice to have a roadmap when you begin. While no one can anticipate everything that will come up in the early days of a new venture, there are some common elements that apply to most everyone. Follow these 5 basic business tips for beginners as you get off your feet. Tip #1: Know thyself There’s no getting around you’ll probably have to fulfill a lot of roles in your business. You’ll have to produce the product or service, do the … [Read More...]
3 Small Business Seasonal Survival Tips
Running your own business and keeping it profitable is a challenge even in the best of times. When your industry is one that moves up and down with the calendar, the challenge becomes amplified. Here are some tips for small business seasonal survival. 1. Stash your cash Let’s say you’re a landscaper. Clearly, you’re going to be a 3-season business with winter as the off-season, summer being boom time and spring and fall being when things ramp up and taper down. Even though you may be flush with … [Read More...]
Should I Expand My Business? 3 Indicators to Tell You It’s Time
Is the question of business expansion quietly gnawing at you? Are you wondering whether that gnawing is an inspired instinct on the one hand or an overly ambitious hope on the other? The question “Should I expand my business” certainly isn’t one to be taken lightly. There are a lot of good indicators that tell you whether it's time and they can be grouped broadly into 3 categories. Market demand Are your customers frequently asking about new products—enough that you might need a larger … [Read More...]
HR for Startups Can Be the Difference Between Success & Failure
When you’re a startup business fighting to establish cash flow and keep a lid on expenses, a human resources (HR) staff can get left behind. But HR for startups, when done correctly, can bring real long-term benefits. Attract the right people Getting the right team in place is important for any business but particularly for a startup. In fact, studies show that over one-fifth of business failures can be traced to personnel issues. Human resources can help you navigate this … [Read More...]
The 3 Key Methods of How to Accept Payments Online
The COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home orders drastically changed the landscape for a lot of small businesses. Brick-and-mortar stores suddenly got in the business of curbside delivery. People became increasingly used to shopping from the comfort of their own home. Even as society starts to open up again, things aren’t going back to the way they once were. All stores are going to need to be in the e-commerce business, at least to some degree. That means learning how to accept payments … [Read More...]
Benefits of Small Business Networking & How to Get Started
You know small business networking should be an important part of your marketing, but it can be hard to make it a priority. After all, you have a million things on your plate and finding time for something whose immediate rewards are not readily apparent can be difficult. That’s true, but your long-term success is much more likely with a good network of fellow small business owners. Here are some of the benefits you can expect from consistent networking and tips for how to get rolling. Benefits … [Read More...]
Short-Term & Long-Term Tax Tips for the Self-Employed
It’s that time of year when the tax bill comes due and that adds 1 more layer of stress to the already hectic life of small business owners. Here are some tax tips for the self-employed, from short-term strategies to lower this year’s tax bill to longer-term goals with an eye toward future years. Tip #1: Know your deductions It’s obvious to say, but harder to do, especially if you’re not a tax expert and are trying to keep up with your business. There’s the basic deductions—everything you’ve … [Read More...]
The Keys for Promoting Your Small Business on Social Media
Social media can feel like a double-edged sword for many small business owners. On the one hand, it has become an essential part of any small business marketing strategy. On the other hand, social media’s benefits are often indirect and it can seem like a large time suck. In other words, it’s fine for big companies with a large marketing staff, but more troublesome for small business staff that have to wear multiple hats. We understand the dilemma. To help make the best use of your time, here’s … [Read More...]