HOW TO GROW YOUR CUSTOMER BASE

            At the heart of a successful business are satisfied customers. Growing that customer base is a challenge. But it can be done. Here are some tips that you can adopt to help your business grow. 1. Focus on the right customers and do everything you can not only to keep […]

HOW TO BE AN IMAGE-MAKER

  With so many products and services in the market, what usually makes the difference is the image you project for your business. An image is a cluster of impressions and perceptions, often hard to define but it does influence the way your clients or prospects think of your company and is an important deciding factor when it […]

IS YOUR BUSINESS LOCATION NEIGHBOURHOOD-FRIENDLY?

Choosing a location for your business generally has three main considerations – proximity to customers, suppliers and employees. Other issues are easy transport and parking facilities,proximity to competitors and affiliated businesses which could impact your business.             Depending on the nature of the business, you need a location with ready access […]

Pitching your idea to investors …. in 30 minutes or less

              You have a great business idea. Very soon it will become clear to you that to turn that idea into concrete reality will mean raising capital. You will need to sell the idea to investors. And usually you get a window of 30 minutes or less to make your pitch. […]

THAT FIRST YEAR AS AN ENTREPENEUR

Remember your first year as an entrepreneur? Or would you rather forget it? That was when you let yourself get wet behind the ears and learnt many lessons, mainly through trial and error. Ouch, some things still hurt!                 Here are some lessons all new entrepreneurs- can benefit from. They […]

Shared Office vs Home Office

So, you’ve taken the leap. You have decided to give up working for others and start a business on your own. You have the determination and the drive – and are willing to do what it takes to make a success of your business. At this juncture, it is likely that you will need to take a […]

Checklist For Business Travellers

You’re a business traveler. You know too well that things don’t always go as planned. To avoid hassles, even last-minute panics, here’s a checklist of things to pack, as collated from frequent travelers. Don’t leave home without them!   Your own MiFi hotspot. It’s a credit card-sized package that give you access to 4G networks. Saves a lot […]

Sharing An Office Makes Good Business Sense

One of the first important decisions a start-up or small business needs to make is – where do we work from?  While a home office may seem like an attractive low – or no – cost option, there are several drawbacks, the main one being that it does not give a professional image. So you […]

Keeping your home-based business legal

Starting your own business may be triggered by a new year resolution – or there may be other considerations that may prompt you to start anew. It’s an exciting milestone – which might however become a ‘millstone’ if you don’t take some simple precautions to protect yourself legally. Here are some basic guidelines: Pick the right business […]

TEST YOUR BUSINESS IDEA

So, you have a brilliant idea for a new product. But the idea is only the first step. It’s the spark that lights the fire. Just as a spark won’t burn in a vacuum, your business won’t survive without customers. To make sure your customers will be as excited as you are about your idea, hit the […]