Showing posts with label businessguiidance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label businessguiidance. Show all posts

Sunday, March 3, 2013

EmpressofBiz, Biz Tips: Reflection...what are you in business for?

Sunday Biz TiP: Reflection Time: 

What are you in business for? 

To make a difference in your community? 

To make money?

To be independent?

Become wealthy?

Build Security? 

Be creative?

Be innovative?

To Help Your Family?

 It is important to know your "reasons'" for STARTING and BUILDING a business.
 When your business model strays away from the reason you are in business...this is when you become unhappy. The business is your creation...make sure it is what you want.

Need to sort out what is going on in your business and keep on track...give SIBA a call...we have been guiding small business to success since 1975.  We know from our own personal experience what it means to create the business you want.  412-440-6969.  

Thursday, January 24, 2013

FIVE STUPID Business Mistakes

Great conversation with Alice Williams of WEEE and Joanne Quinn Smith aka 'Techno Granny" as they shared on my show the Empress of Biz  on "The Good, The Bad and the Stupid Mistakes" small biz owners make.  Listed below are some of our "favorites" .  ...I really should not have done that!


1. CHECK YOUR INSURANCE  POLICY!   If you are a home based business PLEASE check your insurance policy..you may not be covered for your home office or if your  vheicles, equipment, tools and etc are stored on the property. One client of mine had a fire in her office and had over $35k worth of damage and the insurance would not cover it.  Yes it may cost you a few extra bucks...compared to a loss of thousands of dollars...minor costs.

2.  NO PLAN TO PAY YOURSELF!   Save money, I won't take a paycheck I will help the business...I can manage without it.  Right? WRONG!!  You MUST have a reasonable salary for you in your overhead (fixed costs) to have an accurate idea of what it costs to be in business and set the right price for your product or service.    Think..what you would have to pay someone to do your job.  Most often a great deal more than you now make.

3.  BORROWING MONEY from FAMILY.  This is "touchy".  Your Dad believes in you, your brother has some cash to throw in to your business...Mom has money to invest...what do you do? You have written agreements on the money invested or loaned to your business, how you will pay it back, interest, time period and etc.  And most of all you clarify the role they will have in your business.   Sometimes when family lends you money they automatically think they can tell you what  to do.  If you do not want your sister in your business...you have to clear that up front.

4.  Using Credit Cards to Finance your Business.  Your impatient, you want that computer now, that jigsaw, that power point, that truck and you do not want to have to wait.  So what the hay...I will just put it on my credit card and pay it off within a few months.  That kind of thinking can quickly get you into trouble.  Banks do not  like and will not re-fiance credit card debt.  The interest is often exorbitant and miss one payment and you are  quickly into a situation that can spiral out of control.

5.  Hiring Family members.   This can be good for the business IF your brother  is the person you would hire anyway...if NOT..then don't.  Taking in friends and family without them being an asset to the business is a STUPID  and a DANGEROUS MISTAKE.  

Want to avoid the above and other "stupid" mistakes...put  your ego aside..give us a call at 412-440-6969.  Don't worry we have done "alot of  stupid things"...and we are here to help you grow.
412-440-6969 ask for JoAnn  aka "Empressof Biz"



Saturday, July 7, 2012

Ten Steps to Achieve Success

I am so excited my article was published in the Pittsburgh Business Times...check it out  and let me know what you think.
Ten items you need to achieve business success was published this week in the Pittsburgh Business Times://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/print-edition/2012/07/06/ten-items-need-achieve-successful-growth.html