Before you embark on building or buying a business, first and foremost, love what you do and be dedicated to it.  Steve Jobs thought of Apple as his passion.  Here are some of my favorite principles that Jobs used as he built his business and bought other businesses that you can apply to your small business and to a potential business you might buy. 1. Do what you love. Jobs once said, “People with passion can change the world for the better.” Asked about the advice he would offer would-be entrepreneurs, he said, “I’d get a job as a busboy or something until I figured out what I was really passionate about.” That’s how much it meant to him. Passion is everything. 2. Put a dent in the universe. Jobs believed in the power of vision. He once asked then-Pepsi President, John Sculley, “Do you want to spend your life selling sugar water or do you want to change the world?” Don’t lose sight of the big vision. 3. Make connections. Jobs once said creativity is connecting things. Don’t live … [Read more...]

LISITEN ASSOCIATES BUSINESS BROKERS   Announces new Exclusive Sales Agency listing   Aging In The Comfort Of Home, Inc.     (For Immediate Release: October 18, 2011) –   Lisiten Associates Business Brokers is the exclusive sales agency in the Northeast for Aging In The Comfort Of Home, Inc. LISITEN ASSOCIATES is in charge of MARKETING and selling their MASTER DEALER as well as INDIVIDUAL DEALERSHIPS. The dealer comes to the home and gives a free analysis for individuals who are considering modifying their home so they can stay home rather than going to an assisted living facility. As an added bonus, the company also offers construction, products, items and services plus recommendations for future ongoing work. They offer forever contact with the customer and are there every step of the way, from beginning to end.   Aging In The Comfort Of Home is a full service consulting, home modification, products and services related company.  … [Read more...]

According to a new FedEx Office survey, six out of ten businesses feel confident in the long term success of their small business.      As reported by Newsline, The 2011 survey also indicated that nearly one quarter (23 percent) of owners feel that their marketing materials do not reflect the quality of their products and services. Moreover, nearly half of respondents believe they do not spend the right amount on marketing and advertising materials, with 24 percent saying they spend too little because of budget cuts and 23 percent indicating they spend too much but cannot find a better deal due to lack of time or knowledge.   This latest survey also analyzed changes in small businesses’ use of traditional marketing tactics versus expanding online options. Fifty percent of respondents indicated that they have experimented with social media to market their business. In addition, 52 percent plan to improve their company’s online presence and 45 percent … [Read more...]

 Is your business sellable?  Most small business owners don’t even think in terms of selling a business because to them its their “baby” and they become co-dependent on their business.  I always think of this as “small business suicide” because at some point in your life you may NEED to sell your business so you should always think in terms of would someone else want it.  Thinking about the opportunity to sell also let’s you look at your business in a more objective manner because you look at the business in terms of whether other people would want it or not.  And you are more likely to make better decisions to ensure the success of the business. Think about what makes your business unique, this is always an attractive lure to prospective buyers.  Think about recurring revenue, as this will also attract buyers.  Does your company have future long term contracts?  Most owners think that financial history is important to buyers when in fact quite the opposite is true.  The past may … [Read more...]

This is a great time to start a business or grow a business, as it seems the events going in and around the world are marked for positive change.  The signs that signal the strength of a strong company headed for growth are companies that have leadership who anticipates how to use world events to the company’s advantage. While there is no way to really anticipate most world events it is important to figure out how to react to them for your business. As each business is different it would be difficult for me to explain exactly how, but it is a simple thing to know that you don’t throw a party in the middle of a stream of tornadoes, but you can have your business hold an event to help those in need. The Positive Progress began last Friday when the Royal family finally showed a mark of stability with the marriage of Prince William and her Royal Highness, Kate Middleton.  As many have commented, it shows signs that the monarchy is headed for strength and this strength will keep … [Read more...]

People always ask me how can they grow their business to the next level.  These are the questions you should ask yourself when you’re thinking about increasing your business' revenue and profitability.  What is your advantage? Your prices? Superior products or services? Timing? Some of the things you should you emphasize are the quality, selection, location, services, your expertise and/or the history of the business. Define your Competition. What’s their edge? Who are your best customers? Why? What are the best aspects of your business in the customer’s view? What improvements do customers want?   Also, do target marketing and hire a consultant to handle all aspects of social media and public relations as it relates to your business. Targeted Marketing doesn’t have to be expensive, rather, it is the focused and personalized nature of inexpensive Targeted Marketing which make it worth considering. Some examples include:   - Online Boards … [Read more...]

Most business owners start out with a business name, when really they should start out thinking about what type of business entity to form.  Selecting a name, registering that name, and possibly trademarking the name mean that you have made a commitment to that name.  Check out these great tips from www.mynewcompany.com: Which Type of Business Entity to Form? When starting a new business, one of the first decisions to be made is deciding which legal structure your company should take. You have 4 choices: DBA Regular or "C-Corporation" S-Corporation Limited Liability Company DBA A DBA (also known as a "sole proprietorship", "Doing Business As", or a "Fictitious Name") is a business that is not separate from its owner, merely a different name that the business owner operates under. The owner is personally liable for the company and its debt; all income is added on the owner(s) personal tax returns (pass-through taxation). If there is more than 1 owner, then the … [Read more...]

  A report by the payroll company, ADP, states that small businesses, those with 50 or fewer employees are doubling the amount of workers hired since last year.  Firms hiring include transportation, service companies , manufacturing, financial, electronic and computer companies as well as many others.  According to the labor department, the unemployment rate for March, dropped to 8.85 %, to a two year low.   Before you decide to add staff to support your small business here are some rules you should follow:   1.Before you hire, show yourself the money -  Don’t hire until you have the revenue to support it. 2. Take your time and hire the right people - There is still high unemployment despite the drop so there are plenty of prospects out there. 3 Create a productive workplace in which people are treated well - Creating a positive workplace will bring success back to you in spades . i.e. Apple, Google, Amazon. 4. Focus on increasing your sales team - This … [Read more...]

1. Define your customer. Know who you are marketing your business to.  Establish your demographic. 2. Make a real social media push. Create customer accounts with Twitter, Merchant Circle, Fastpitch, Manta, Facebook and LinkedIn. The business benefits of social networks are very real. Countless small business owners have made valuable connections, including new customers, through their participation in social networks.  Participation is the key to success when it comes to social media but you also have to establish your credibility as a member of the social media community.  3. Use public relations to legitimize your brand and expertise. Getting your brand in Print, TV, and Radio all increase Brand Awareness. 4. Don't Underestimate SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Hiring someone to handle your SEO is a must.  However, before you hire an SEO consultant make sure to get references and don't hire anyone who seeks you out.  Remember no one can guarantee you a number one spot on … [Read more...]

Business owners win when they leave their companies on their terms and on their schedules. The process owners use to achieve this victory is known as Exit Planning. In short, Exit Planning is the deliberate, adaptable, and customized process that a business owners use so that they can leave their businesses on their own terms and schedule. THERE IS A PROVEN step-by-step process that leads business owners to ultimate success — the profitable sale or transfer of their businesses. Thousands of business owners have tailored this process to meet their particular exit objectives and have left their businesses with more cash than they’d ever imagined. A complete Exit Plan rests on The Six Step Exit Planning Process. These Steps are illustrated in six simple questions: Do you know your exact retirement goals and what it will take — in cash — to reach them? Do you know how much your business is worth today, in cash? Do you know the best way to maximize the income stream generated by … [Read more...]