What is a good business proposition? That is a tough question to answer. I am sure that many people thought that two old hippies were crazy when they started an ice cream company in Vermont, where summers last only a few months and the temperature can drop to near freezing in August. But those that saw promise … More Bright ideas for business
Business incubators can provide start-up enterprises with professional space for reasonable rents – but they can play a much larger role as well. They can connect new entrepreneurs to the technical assistance and training that will provide them with a running start. In addition, business incubators can provide a network of entrepreneurially minded cohorts in close proximity to foster the type … More New approaches to business incubation
There is a lot of new information that indicates that the economy may be nearing recovery. Although layoffs continue, home sales are increasing, construction is up ever so slightly and energy prices are rising, too. All three are indications that people have adjusted to the recent changes and there is some pent up demand. Add to … More What you can (and should) do now
Norm Brodsky is a writer for Inc. Magazine. He is the co-writer of: The Knack: How Street Smart Entrepreneurs Learn to Handle Whatever Comes Up. He also has started six businesses. Lets call him an entrepreneur. In the April issue of Inc, Brodsky writes in his Street Smarts Column about lessons to use when your original plan goes … More Making lemonade
For a little fun, check out Inc. Magazine’s online slide show on the top 30 fictional entrepreneurs from TV, film and books. I missed a few of these, but I’d argue that Willie Wonka is in the top three, rather than number six. He knew his market, had great promotions, excellent staff management skills, pursued quality control … More A little entrepreneurial fun
You’ve spent years building your professional reputation and protecting your organization’s good name, but in today’s interconnected, information-rich world it’s easier than ever for the actions of others to damage the goodwill you’ve established. Networking is a basic responsibility of business owners and organizations serving them. We network to keep abreast of best practices, to … More Trading Faces: Building and caring for your online reputation
Once you have designed and launched your Web site, your next task is to get it noticed. One of the top ways to do this is to make sure you show up in relevant Web searches. If you are selling your charming and thriving business district, you will want to be sure that your Web … More Get noticed
While the Virginia Main Street staff was unable to travel to Chicago for the 2009 National Main Streets Conference, Becoming Main Street 2.0, Jessie Chase from Harrisonburg was able to attend and reported back that it was fun, interesting and worthwhile. We returned from the Chicago National Main Street conference on Wednesday evening tired and … More Report from the Main Street 2.0 conference
Want to be sure your small business never becomes a big business? A surefire method to ensure a lack of success is to have shoddy accounting practices. Knowing where your money is, how much of it there is, and when you can expect more are key to proper business planning. Without a plan, your endeavor is … More Keep your books in order
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