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Sylvia Landis
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Published work by Sylvia Landis
Article
Planning Can Help A Family Business Succeed, and Survive
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, family businesses comprise 90 percent of all business enterprises in North America, and 62 percent of total U.S. employment. So why are there always so many warnings about going into business with relatives? Though some examples of imploding family businesses have b...
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Accuracy is Essential in Small Business Valuations
When you first contemplated becoming an entrepreneur, you probably spent some time calculating how much your time was worth. Now, you may be wondering how much this business that you’ve built is worth. There are many reasons for determining the value of your small business. You may be ready to raise capital by issuing...
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Understanding the What’s and Why’s of Advertising
Have you ever seen an advertisement and thought that something similar might well benefit your small business? Well, it just could. Or, it could backfire and be a complete waste of money. That’s because advertising is but one element of a business’s overall marketing strategy. True, it has many facets—print, billboard...
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“Success Thinking”—It’s All About Attitude
As a small business owner, you’re not just “the boss.” You’re also the leader, the person employees, vendors, customers, and prospects look to for guidance, support, and confidence. And being a leader is easier than you think. It begins with a positive, “can-do” attitude that your business delivers what it promises, a...
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Plan Now to Survive the Seasonal Sales Cycle
Seasonal businesses devote a large part of the year preparing for those special weeks or months when most of their revenue is generated. For many retailers the holidays are boom time. Fitness centers soar in January and sag with the summer exodus. Some businesses sell more when the weather warms, the tax or wedding se...
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Use Mindful Management to Control Routine Costs
You’re very meticulous when it comes to providing quality service or products to your customers. So why treat your routine administrative expenses the same way? Every extra dime or dollar you spend on supplies, photocopies, postage, etc. adds up. Taken together, those “little things” can take a huge chunk out of your...
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Good Habits Can Translate Into Great Sales
The longer you’re in business, the more you realize that the only constant is change. You may be enjoying strong sales across a broad customer base, but those conditions could be far different in just a matter of months. A competitor’s offer may tempt your customers to try something different. Organizational and opera...
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Revitalizing Your Old PCs Can Maximize Your IT Investment
Computer technology changes so quickly, it almost seems like today’s state-of-the-art today might well be obsolete. Though few small business owners can afford to be on the “bleeding edge” of PC technology, they also don’t want to compromise their employees’ productivity with seemingly outmoded machines. As a result,...
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Your Price Is Right — If You Do Your Homework
“How much should I charge?” That’s one of the first questions most small business owners ask. And it’s not an easy one to answer. Setting a pricing strategy depends on many factors — the type of product or service you’re offering, your own costs to provide it, your expected profit, your customers’ location, the “going...
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Good Planning Will Help You Know How to Grow
After a fast start, your small business seems to have lost momentum. What happened? And more importantly, what can you do about it? Given the interconnected nature of today’s economy, even small, largely local businesses are influenced by trends and events in other industries, and even other continents. But your inter...
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Don't Let Internet Threats Undermine Your Small Business
Many people often overlook Internet security until word of a new virus or email “worm” hits the headlines. Even then, it’s easy to assume that existing firewalls and virus software are enough to safeguard computers and precious data. The fact is that as the Internet has grown in sophistication, so too have the threats...
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For Fast-Track Fulfillment, Consider Specialized Shipping Services
Handling the fulfillment responsibilities yourself may seem like a good, cost-saving idea when you’re just starting out. But as demand for your products grows, so too will your fulfillment backlog. Unless you stay on top of it, your sales will suffer along with your company’s reputation for quality and responsiveness....
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Ethics — Don't Do Business Without Them
Operating an honest, ethical business may seem like a no-brainer. But in today’s highly competitive business environment, the temptation to bend the rules looms large. And don’t think that it’s OK to do something “just this once.” Not only is a wrong choice always wrong, but one-time ethics breaches often become habit...
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The Potential Power — and Pitfalls — of Partnerships
The idea of a partnership may be appealing if you’re considering launching a small business. Unlike solo ventures where the burdens fall on a single person, partners can share responsibilities and often bring different skills and knowledge to the business. One partner may be great with numbers and planning, while the...
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Overtime Awareness Will Protect You and Your Employees
Will you be asking your employees to work overtime this year? Before you start setting those work schedules, make sure you fully understand the rules governing overtime pay. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA, administered by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, hourly employees must be paid ov...
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Article
Overtime Awareness Will Protect You and Your Employees
Will you be asking your employees to work overtime this year? Before you start setting those work schedules, make sure you fully understand the rules governing overtime pay. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA, administered by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, hourly employees must be paid ov...
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Some Insights on Successful Outsourcing
Outsourcing is a common practice in today’s business world, but it’s not the domain of large companies. Small business owners use outsourcing for a variety of reasons— to handle work overflows, receive specific expertise in a new or unfamiliar area such as marketing or IT, or take on more routine administrative tasks...
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Don't Let Office Clutter Clog Up Your Efficiency
For many small business owners, a cluttered desk or office is a sign of success. Things are good, so there’s more that has to be done. But it doesn’t take much for office clutter to go from a source of pride to a serious, potentially overwhelming problem. According to professional organizer Chris Perrow, most business...
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Article
Motivation Matters in Getting the Best from Your Employees
One of the first and most important lessons an entrepreneur learns is that employees really are a small business’s most important resource. In fact, the business literally cannot succeed with out them. Their talent, skills, and effort truly add value to your products or services, allowing you to focus on the planning...
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Article
Point, Click, Read: The Power of Good Web Copy
Good writing is the fundamental element of all your small business marketing strategy. A thoughtful, well-crafted message that connects with your customers will do more to connect with your customers than any other element. This is particularly true for websites. Although the web is a visual-driven medium, with sites...
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Article
Ethics: Don't Do Business Without Them
Operating an honest, ethical business may seem like a no-brainer. But in today’s highly competitive business environment, the temptation to bend the rules looms large. And don’t think that it’s OK to do something “just this once.” Not only is a wrong choice always wrong, but one-time ethics breaches often become habit...
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Article
Equipment Leasing Equals Lasting Value
Ready to invest in some new equipment for your small business, but concerned about the added burden of a loan? Consider leasing. Not only does leasing help you conserve your cash, it also ensures that you don’t wind up paying for equipment that quickly becomes obsolete or unsuited for your needs. And if you need the e...
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Maximize Your Web Site's Visibility and Value
“You do your best business on Main Street,” so the old saying goes. But for 21st Century small businesses, “Main Street” is the so-called Information Highway of the Internet. While a Web site is now considered a must for most any kind of small businesses— whether it’s just a “billboard” or a full e-commerce site— just...
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When It Comes to Finding Freelance Work, Practice Makes Perfect
When you’re a freelancer or solo independent contractor, you are your own Marketing Department. It’s up to you to make the contacts and generate the work that will enable you to grow your business. Freelance newcomers and veterans alike need to continually broaden and update their work-finding and marketing skills not...
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Article
Borrowing from Friends or Family Requires Wise Management
Friends and family are an invaluable source of support for the aspiring small business owner. And often, they’re an invaluable source of financial assistance as well. In fact, more small businesses rely on loans from friends and family than any other funding source. Familiarity with the person and his/her business goa...
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Build a Better Business by Listening to Your Customers
Do you ever wonder what your customers think of your business? Are you meeting their expectations? Are there area’s that need improvement? Will they like that product or service enhancement you’ve been thinking about? All those answers and more are there for the asking. All you have to do is listen. A casual conversat...
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Article
Franchising is Fun and Rewarding — If You Do Your Homework
Franchising has been characterized as a way to be in business for yourself, without being by yourself. Rather than having to “reinvent the wheel,” a franchise owner can take advantage of tested concepts and proven operational and marketing strategies, as well as the franchisor’s institutional knowledge and guidance. B...
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When It Comes to Collections, Never Assume
Business relationships are usually straightforward. You provide a product or service, and the customer pays you for it in a timely manner. But every small business owner will likely have to deal with tardy or missed payments. Don’t ignore them or assume the customer will eventually follow through. Money owed to your b...
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Article
Protecting Your Intellectual Properties is a Smart Move
“TM,” “SM,” “PAT PEND,” “ ,” “®.” These small symbols and abbreviations carry a lot of legal weight when it comes to safeguarding a company’s proprietary names, designs, products, and services. As an entrepreneur, you should consider making sure the valuable intellectual properties of your small business are protected...
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Make Employee Retention a Top Priority
The expression, “good help is hard to find,” has never been more accurate. Competition for talented workers is intense in most locations and specialties, and the “best of the best” know it. If they’re unsatisfied with their current job, they have no qualms about looking for something else. Retailing motivated, product...
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"Green" Business: The Shade of Things to Come
Being environmentally conscious is not just good for the earth; it’s good for your business as well. Studies show that consumers are increasingly attracted to businesses that promote their proactive efforts to protect the environment. Many high-profile companies are limiting the product and service contracts to vendor...
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Article
Experts Can Take the Guesswork Out of Small Business Technology
Nearly every small business relies in some way on computer technology. But it’s not easy to keep up with the seemingly daily arrival of hardware, software, and Web application improvements, especially when you’re trying to focus on growing your business. You can’t afford to assume that your PCs, laptops, networks, and...
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A Makeover Can Freshen Up a Stale Business
Have those good ideas stopping coming? Do your employees appear to be doing little more than going through the motions? Are your competitors making splashes in the media that you can’t answer? If so, a makeover could be just the thing to re-energize your business. It need not be a major overhaul; some minor tweaks may...
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Article
Money Matters When Starting a New Business
Starting a small business requires extensive planning and research. But just because things are up and running doesn’t mean your days as a strategist are done. In fact, they are just beginning. Planning is an ongoing necessity because the environment in which your small business operates continually changes. New oppor...
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Relatively Speaking, Family Businesses Need Extra Care
The family business is an American small business tradition, one that gives parents, spouses, children, and others an opportunity to contribute to and share in a dream that can grow and prosper over many generations. But without proper planning and management, family businesses can also be the source of contention, ac...
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Need a Hand With Hiring? Consider a PEO
Nothing good comes easy, and that includes hiring and managing good employees for your small business. That’s why many entrepreneurs are turning to professional employer organizations (PEOs) to handle the complex, time-consuming administrative burdens of human resource management. PEOs are companies that help business...
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Being Environmentally Friendly is Both Easy and Cost Effective
With climate change and diminishing resources dominating the news these days, small business owners are looking for ways to make their operations more environmentally friendly. Simple steps such as recycling soda cans and turning off lights are a good place to start, but there are many other ways you can make a big di...
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Regular Data Backups Will Keep Your Small Business Moving Forward
Quick question—have you backed up your small business computer files today? This month? Ever? If the answer is no, you’re putting hours and even years of hard work at risk of being damaged or lost entirely due to a computer malfunction, power failure, or other unforeseen problem. Damaged or lost data files have cost m...
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In Search of Big Customers for Your Small Business
Landing a public institution, government agency or major corporation as a customer can be a big coup for your small business—IF you can find and meet with the right people. If you’ve been having difficulty getting your proverbial “foot in the door, the Small Business Administration’s Business Matchmaking program may b...
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Change is Coming: Don't Let It Leave Your Small Business Behind
Predicting the future is one of humankind’s oldest endeavors. Nearly everything from tealeaves to caterpillars has served as a bellwether of fate. Twenty-first Century small business owners can draw on a host of technology and information resources to chart the course of their enterprises. But given the increasing pac...
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Understand the Many Facets of Franchising
Franchising is a popular way for entrepreneurs to fast-forward their small business ownership ambitions. Franchisors provide a tested and proven base structure of the business, freeing their franchisees from having to invent the operational wheel. Franchisors also provide ongoing guidance, innovations, and tested mark...
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Secure Your Database from Information Leaks
Locks, alarms, and cameras can help safeguard your facilities and equipment. But what about your computer databases—the places where valuable, sensitive, and potentially irreplaceable assets of your small business are stored? It may be easy to assume that Internet firewalls and PC passwords are enough to prevent unaut...
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Give the Boss — You — A Well Deserved Break
“Be careful what you wish for; you may just get it.” That adage certainly applies to owning a small business. Being your own boss has many rewards, but success usually requires a lot of hard work and long hours that can take a toll on your emotional health. The result is burnout, a condition that also has mental and p...
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Loyalty Comes from Making a Commitment to Your Customers
The competitive nature of today’s world may be intimidating to the small business owner. If a competitor cuts prices or offers other incentives, you may feel tempted to do the same thing in order to hold on to your customers, even if it puts the stability of your business at risk. Though cost is important to customers...
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Make Your Website Memorable for the Right Reasons
As more and more customers rely Internet search engines and online directories to locate sources of products and services, Web sites are increasingly becoming a “must” for all types of small businesses. But it’s not enough to simply have a presence on the Web. Unless your site is set up with the customer’s needs in mi...
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To Your Good (Business) Health: Get to Know Your Cash Flow
Just as watching your blood pressure is important to your personal health, monitoring cash flow is vital to the well-being of your business. Minor “hiccups” may be expected, but they can also be an early warning of bigger, potentially chronic problems ahead, especially if other indicators such as sales seem positive....
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Article
Business Planning: The Next Generation
Starting a small business requires extensive planning and research. But just because things are up and running doesn’t mean your days as a strategist are done. In fact, they are just beginning. Planning is an ongoing necessity because the environment in which your small business operates continually changes. New oppor...
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Contractor or Employee? Get the Facts Before You Hire
Independent contractors are an attractive option for small businesses that don’t have the resources or need for full-time employees. In fact, your small business may be built entirely on serving as an independent contractor to other enterprises. But before you hire one or more independents, make sure that relationship...
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Don't Be Your Company Leader in Name Only
“Just wait ‘til I’m the boss…” That sentiment has helped sustain many aspiring entrepreneurs through the process of getting their small businesses up and running. Among the many benefits of small business ownership is the opportunity to do things “the right way” when it comes to employees and customers. Once in charge...
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Column
Ask SCORE
SCORE, "Counselors to America's Small Business," is a nonprofit organization of more than 13,000 volunteer business counselors who provide free, confidential business counseling and training workshops to small business owners. Call 610.327.2673 for the Pottstown SCORE chapter, or find a counselor online at www.pottsto...
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