For example, call forwarding and call waiting are features; never missing another call is their benefit. Financial ratios reveal a company's performance over time (longitudinal analysis) or in comparison to competitors (cross-sectional analysis). There is no stronger position at the negotiating table than indifference'to be able to walk away without …

Customers are likely to be concerned about how well your respective strategies fit with theirs. Retailers of auto parts, home improvement supplies, and all sorts of other goods have found that simply having knowledgeable salespeople who know how to replace the water pump in a 95 Chevy will lure customers …

The #1 reason employees don't accept accountability or responsibility is that they don't know exactly what you want them to do. Therefore, because of the potential importance of intellectual property and proprietary information, an attorney should be consulted to ensure that it is properly protected. The marketing options are many …

Should you begin your new enterprise when the economy is strong or when the economy is in a recession? In order to market your company's value effectively, you have to start with a target list of customers who are the most likely to need what you have to sell. That …

Not unless it works by itself, goes up in value every year, and produces a positive cash-flow without much management. It s not necessary to get into much detail here just make it clear that you need it for x, y, and z. Values are created in relationships because resources …

Seek opportunities to maximize your bottom-line. It also notifies people and companies to fix problems now and not wait until the final product is produced and it is too late to fix them. Certain UCC provisions, such as implied warranties, will govern unless specifically disclaimed. Successful business owners focus on …

They ll want, above all, to make sure you can pay your bills, so be sure to include adequate cash flow forecasts and other financial reports. However, material costs have human costs embedded in them. Consumers buy products at retail because they want or need them. The average Fortune 500 …

If you were thinking about becoming a partner in a firm, you d no doubt be very concerned with the responsibilities you would have, the authority you would carry, and the ownership you would receive in the enterprise. Becoming a success is directly proportional to what you give. The advantages …

Profit is the company owner's reward for taking business risk. that s you! The more you're seen doing good things and helping out, the more people will see the good in you, and call on you to help them out. The sliding scale, or a system of premiums or bonus …

Entrepreneurs know that cash-flow, working capital, profit, and equity are collectively the lifeblood of their future. When feeling stuck while weighing an important decision, it is almost always helpful to seek out new, objective information on any aspect of the matter even if the effort or information to be gained …

If you know these interests up front, you can be sure to take them into account when preparing a plan for that particular audience. Scarcity doesn t mean that you will be running out anytime soon. If you have the right qualities or will acquire them, at least a thousand …

They proactively market their services, sell what they have to offer, nurture new customer targets, create loyal customer relationships, get involved in industry and community organizations, offer differentiating services to customers, and work hard to put customers first. First and foremost, it should grab the reader s attention. Over 80 …

Finally, the adequate combination of roles and interfaces depends on the priorities and capabilities of the various suppliers. Don t count on getting your product into a major retailer on its own merits. Credit unions may also offer a sense of camaraderie because they are typically sponsored by a business …

It has to briefly hit the high points of your plan. People want to know what's happening: sales, customers, profit, changes, opportunities, growth, or expansion. Risk homeostasis theory says that people have an innate sense of the level of risk they consider acceptable; when a given system is made safer …

Placing ads in newspapers or magazines is expensive for businesses serving their local markets. If you d begun a car dealership specializing in yacht-sized gas guzzlers right before the Arab oil embargo in the 1970s, you would probably have been out of business in less time than one had to …

The customer calls and asks you to revise your proposal to include more items. Many business owners get stuck at this point. It may be used to sustain a growing company during the often lengthy process of preparing and completing a public offering of stock. Leadership has nothing to do …

A manager often lacks such specific knowledge but has generalized understandings of personnel, training, motivation techniques, evaluation, product distribution, compensation, and budgeting. You must have an attorney s advice on almost anything you plan to market. The SBA website provides a very comprehensive overview of all its loan programs and …

Your employers are wrestling with a question. The more you do for your customer, the more business you'll do with your customer over time. Consumers buy products at retail because they want or need them. As the leader, you are 100 percent responsible for everything: sales, profits, growth, quality, customer …

Neither do you have the time or money to start educating potential customers about why they need your product or what it can do for them. To get the results you want, you must get everyone on the same page. On-Target goals that are aligned with your vision and values …

Becoming a success is directly proportional to what you give. If you don't like the idea of physically working at home all day, then work away from home while using it as a base. Metaphors are also a great way to help people remember your brand. Specialisation in developed relationships …

The combination of your story, values, mission, perspective, and what you stand for is unique. Profit is the remaining amount after all direct and indirect costs are deducted from the total revenue collected. It can be difficult to unpick and redo ' and shrink ' the underlying cost structure once the business …

The marketing options are many and expensive, including door hangers, newspaper coupons, mailings, advertising, website placement programs, and billboards. As an entrepreneur seeking a bank loan, or any type of funding for that matter, you ll want to make sure you have everything in place, including all of your financial …

But how do you build a different, more effective business? Just raising questions can sometimes lead to a solution, or at least ensure that if conditions change you won t be forced to make decisions hastily. Have your short elevator pitch (discussed at the end of the book) ready, and …

A good lawyer can help you determine which entity would be best for your particular company and situation. The approach selected may be affected by the downstream market strategy. If you have a simple concept, you may be able to express it in very few words. The fact is, no …

(Current assets are assets likely to be turned into cash within a year.) Net working capital, which is what this term usually refers to, is current assets minus current liabilities. Maybe you are environmentally conscious, or buy fair trade products, or only eat organic food. Does a business owner getting …

To get the highest return on your marketing dollars is a tougher task if your company serves a large number of targeted customers. Want to double your business? This doesn't make people excited about coming to work and making a difference. And think about how you can leverage what else …

Look for experience in your industry, as well as chemistry between you and the firm. Call any residential real estate sales office and the owner will tell you their agents offer the best service in the area. This can be investments, money, family, time, freedom, peace of mind, contentment, enjoyment …

when it comes to our memories, they simply aren’t perfect, and nothing is going to change that. And, for most of us, having a “not perfect” memory is a significant understatement. Our memories usually aren’t crystal-clear videos, but a set of crib notes from which we reconstruct mental …

Finance-sector investors were drawn to farmland partly for the same reasons as everybody else—crop prices are high, ergo it pays to own a farm—but they also had their own reasons. The year 2008 saw not only a global food crisis but the worst financial meltdown since the Great …

One of the best toolsets to accomplish this task—intentionally designing for behavior change—comes from behavioral science. And, in addition to being useful, behavioral science is fascinating.

Behavioral science is an interdisciplinary field that combines psychology and economics, among other disciplines, to gain a more nuanced understanding of how …

You let the customer know your new pricing structure. Rather than focusing on day-to-day activities, leaders set the vision, set the goals, track targets, and then inspire and motivate their people to follow. Meetings are a simple way to manage systems, leverage yourself, and communicate expectations to your employees, managers …

How would you like to get your bank statement sent out differently every month, or to have your favorite restaurant make your favorite meal too spicy, too bland, or too salty, depending who cooked it that night? Accepting the universality of departments is essential to setting up and growing a …

There are all kinds of reasons why a venture capitalist, banker, or other investor may refuse to fund your company. Emphasize a cogent, succinct summary and explanation of the basic business concept, and do not stint on the details about the impressive backgrounds of your management team. Entrepreneurs know that …

By creating and following a plan, the manager can assign tasks and hold people accountable. And they particularly don't want to feel that their hard-earned cash is going on unnecessary glitz. Today s consumers like to take things with them they want apps and gadgets that are portable. Passive assets …

Although many businesses are founded to develop new, never-before-seen products, they re still built around a product, even though it may not exist at the moment. The middleman in capitalism's distribution channel, wholesalers act as intermediaries between manufacturers and retailers or consumers. Most small business owners and managers think of …

Don't give up. When having difficulty maintaining quality standards, achieving desired outcomes, meeting schedule and cost targets, or getting others to prioritize and perform well, see if you can t reduce the number of things being attempted, and focus on doing them better. Have your short elevator pitch (discussed at …

Manufacturers dictate design and production to suppliers. The choice is yours! Make people a top priority. Do something for your employer when you are out of the shop or store.

Try to restrict the flow of goods to competitors

You only get one life to live. 'Double-entry' simply means that every transaction is recorded in two places, with the entry in one account offset by the entry in another. So, how do you get people to follow your orders? On the subject of liability, here is a good place …

What you GET is a RESULT of what you GIVE! Big corporations have large staffs, which can be devoted to year-round planning. Identify what you need to train your people to do and then make these your training topics at least once or twice every year. Some people create amazing …