Being a small business owner is an enormous task. Much of the operational responsibilities of your business rest on your own shoulders. With so much on your plate, it’s no wonder that business owners often fall into habits that may not always be healthy for their business.
Read MoreTopics: small business owner, bartercard, strategy, starting up your business, small business, business start-up, save cash, business needs, trade dollars, marketing
When you first started your business, you had a plan. It may have been something roughly scratched out on an A4 sheet of paper, or a complex business plan you presented to your bank manager, or maybe something in between. Your business plan provided you with a mission, a path for your business to help keep things moving in a positive, forward direction.
Read MoreTopics: starting up your business, small business, save cash, build business networks, business blog, succession planning, trade dollars
It’s something every business owner knows they need to do but very few put aside the time for it. Not surprisingly, it’s those who do that tend to be the most successful. Strategic planning is essential to the development and growth of your business. So why is it like pulling teeth to get business owners to sit down and focus on it? The answer is clear. You’re too busy working IN your business to take a step back and work ON your business. Strategy and planning is put on the backburner while you deal with more pressing issues.
Read MoreTopics: business strategies, growing your business, increase cash flow, starting up your business, build business networks, increase sales, customer loyalty, trade dollars
Every business owner knows there just aren’t enough hours in the day. Working 50, 60 even 80 hours a week seems to have become the norm. Perhaps sometimes that’s what it takes, but maintaining such a strenuous pace over an extended period can take its toll.
Read MoreTopics: starting up your business, attract new customers, unrealised potential, increase sales, business needs, trade dollars
Everyone likes a bargain. Why pay full price for something when you can receive a discount? This is why discount websites are gaining popularity. They’re great for the consumer, but are they good for the merchant and small business owner? As a small business owner, have you worked out the real cost of discounting and the impact it will have on your business? Daily deal websites charge a fee of approximately 15-20% of the sale price and stipulate that the offer presented must be at least 50% off the original sale price.
Read MoreTopics: growing your business, increase profit, buyer demand, starting up your business, small business, attract new customers, save cash, branding, discounting
It might start with a name and a logo, but if there’s one thing the team at Bartercard knows, it’s that building a trusted brand is much more than just graphic design.
Building a trusted brand is critical in the digital age. Having a strategy and focus to help build trust in the right places can maximise your impact, your brand reach, and your market sway.
Read MoreTopics: growing your business, increase cash flow, starting up your business, small business, market research, attract new customers, save cash, spare capacity, build business networks, branding
Are you ready to start a fresh, new business? You may be just at the idea phase, thinking about what to do next. Maybe you’re down the road a bit but not quite ready to launch. You might have your brilliant idea set to go but are stuck for finance. Here are a few tried and true tips to help your start-up business no matter what stage you’re at.
Read MoreTopics: small business owner, attracting new customers, strategy, starting up your business, business start-up, attract new customers, save cash, build business networks
