Financing Your Business..Yes it is possible

Part 1 Financing Your Business.

Need to finance your business and not sure what to do BEFORE you go to the bank?

There are a number of things to do to get yourself ready. These steps apply to start ups as well as growing or well established businesses.

First check your personal and business credit score. If there are negative remarks on your score check to see if they are correct. Up to 30% of credit reports are incorrect.

Second: Make sure your bookkeeping and accounting is in order. You will need up-to date balance sheet, profit and loss statements. Understand what they mean!

Third: Check the status of your payroll taxes...all is paid and on time.

Fourth: if you have personal student loans...make sure they are current.

Fifth: Any Agreement that you have regarding taxes make sure it is being kept and up to date:

Sixth: Have copies of the last three years of personal and personal tax returns, they are part of the loan package.

Seventh: Check insurance coverage and have copies/proof of coverage

This is just the first part of several articles. Remember to WIN at the financing game you need to be prepared and when you go into the banker you are not fumbling around for vital information.

If you have questions please give us a call 412-440-6969, or sent me an e-mail at selfimagebz@aol.com. SIBA has helped raised 40 million dollars in small business loans. We can guide you through the process.

Stay tuned for Part 2

Hello all..something you all should know and support On Saturday November 26, 2011 Support Small Business Saturday!

Support Small Business Saturday is a national movement that marks a day to support the local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country.

First there was Black Friday, then Cyber Monday...Now, Small Business Saturday Join us in this event that drives shoppers to local, independently-owned merchants.

Watch for further details from me...and remember..Apple was once a seed..watch and learn how small business grow and build a stronger America.

Check out the link below

http://www.wipp.org/resource/resmgr/Docs/SBS_Fact_Sheet.pdf

Most Business Meetings are NOT productive

Most business meetings are unproductive. Usually they end up too long, little decided and people turned off. You can change that! I suggest the following:

1. Decide what needs to be accomplished today and FOCUS on that.

2. Each morning take ten minutes and decide what are the most important tasks for your employees and communicate it.

3. Check on them several times with mini meetings. You will be surprised how much will be done.

4. Make sure you thank them as they do it and correct problems as they occur. Do not wait to give praise or correction.

5. When you do have staff meeting...have an agenda with time lines and stick to that.

6. At the meeting make sure you tell people what happened that is positive.

7. Present what is going wrong in the approach of "How do we solve this". ..not who do we punish.

Most of all think of meetings as a chance to motivate, communicate and inspire.

To advertise or not to..special guest Diane Daniels

You are invited to listen to the EMPRESS OF BIZ! Reinvent in Rugged Times on www.talkshoe.com

So you think you cannot afford to advertise..well guess what you can..in fact you have to.

Special guest Diane Daniels of D I D & Associates, veteran business owner , journalist, writer and p

Listen to Diane Daniels as we discuss what you can do and what you should use
To advertise or not to advertise...that is the "question" and the worry of many. Without advertising people do not know you are in business. Yet? You worry? How can I afford it. Special guest..Diane Daniels of D I D & Associates will be talking to you about What you can do and how to afford it. Diane is a 20 plus year business owner, writer and promoter. She has many creative and cost effective methods to share. Remember if you cannot listen now you can always listen later, Just go to www.talkshoe.com and then go to Caller id 80050.

Customer Service is back!

One of the side benefits of the "great recession" is customer service is back! Should of never gone away!

Expecting employees to know how you want customers treated is foolish. Managers must demonstrate by their actions good customer behavior. They must consistently instruct, correct, confront negative behavior and notice when they get positive results.

Also employees need to be empowered to correct mistakes immediately. Give employees the authority to correct a negative situation quickly and satisfactorily.

Example: Recently in two days I was at two chains for lunch.

Chain A: There was a hair--uck-- in my soup. I called the waitress over and eventually she got to my table. I pointed out the problem. She did apologize and said I get you another bowl. By that time..I did not want any..so I said no thanks. And that was it.

Chain B: The next day there was a problem with the salad. I called the waitress over, she apologized and offered to correct the problem and said there was no charge for the lunch and brought over a dessert. Now what restaurant do you think I am going to go back to?

Simply put.. Treat your customers as gold and gold will come back to you.

What happens when things go RIGHT!

Are you the type that gets worried and apprehensive when a plan works out? Do you think something is wrong because you made money on a job..Did I miss something.? I know something is going to bite me on this. Many business owners are prepared to handle things going wrong...but when the things go right...then they really worry.

I have watched a number of my clients and students really make their lives miserable by worrying about success. I am not sure how to correct it for every one . Each person has their own individual reason for worrying, but what I can recommend are some basic tips to stop the success worry.

1. Use visual reminders to re-enforce it is OK to be successful.

2. Every time you find yourself worrying put money in a "worry jar". One client I know started putting $5 in a jar each time he caught himself worrying...it quickly got expensive. He decided it was too costly to worry...and stopped.

3. Do something nice for someone who needs it. A good way to put those extra dollars to work.

4. Ask a good friend to help you change yourself . Every time she hears you 'worrying" she asks you why.

5. Learn more about your business.. sometimes we worry when we know we are skating by.

6. Ask yourself what is the worse thing that can happen if I am successful. You might be surprised at the answer.

7. If you are really devoted to worry...make yourself worry intensely for a half hour each day. No smiling no joking..just worry and frowning...it soon gets boring.

8. Give us a call..412-440-6969! We like to work with people who want to adjust their attitude.

Life can be so much more pleasant when we decide to enjoy it.