Here are Five Questions to ask yourself as a Solo Entrepreneur, if business shyness is getting in the way of your business's success.
1. Do you dread asking for money from your customers or raising your fees when you need to?
2. Do you feel you do not deserve to be paid for your services because you feel you don't know enough?
3. Do you feel as if getting paid for your services means that you will have to compromise what you do or say in order to keep business coming in?
4. Do you break out in a sweat thinking of meeting new people or talking in front of a large crowd to promote your business?
5. Do you find yourself saying, "I HATE the thought of selling or marketing myself," "I have no time to market myself" to the point that your business never gets off the ground?
Well...answering YES to any one or all of these questions means that you definitely need to keep reading this article.
I Think I Have a Really Good Idea? Why am I Not Making Any Money?
Most people start a new business based on her present skill set and/or a passion for something. This can be anything from making custom handbags to guiding people on a different spiritual plane. Their product or service is dynamite.
But what often happens is the happy new entrepreneur quickly realizes that, no matter how fabulous her product or service is, at first not many people will beat a path to her door. The dream of working for oneself quickly dissolves into the reality that all businesses face: having to find and keep paying customers.
That is usually when the "deer in the headlights" look comes out. Why don't I have enough customers? Usually it is because the solo-entrepreneur has not done enough or anything to market or sell her product effectively. The thought process goes something like this:
- "I am really good at making pocketbooks but I know nothing about marketing. I don't even know where to start."
- "To be really honest, I hate the thought of selling. I don't want to be a salesperson."
- "I don't have the time to market myself."
I am sure you realize that just creating a business does not guarantee its success, no matter how great the idea behind it is. Yes, we have all heard the dismal statistics about new business startups and their failure rate. But, should this discourage you from starting a new business or working to get your business off the ground? I certainly hope not!
Working for yourself will bring freedom and personal rewards that cannot be measured in any amount of money, so don't give up. Believe it or not, the success of your new business is really much more under your control than you think.
The Hard Part Starts the First Day You Open Your Doors for Business
I probably don't have to tell you this; once you have started a new business, the really hard part starts immediately. I will not sugar coat the fact that if you have an idea that amounts to selling ice cubes to penguins, the chance of your business succeeding are slim indeed. Well, maybe with global warming this might actually be a good business. Of course, your business's ultimate success depends on you having a viable market for you product or service.
I am sure this is not news to you. It is really up to you to attract customers to your business and eventually selling your offering to thim if there is a viable market for you. If you do not market and sell your business consistently and effectively you are the one who is blocking the flow of money into your business. You have to be the one that gets out of the way of your money stream.
May Seem Obvious But...
I know this sounds kind of like a like a "DUH, I know that." But let me show you where most beginning entrepreneurs make their first fatal new business mistakes. I have found that working with new self-bosses, the most common initial complaints I hear from them are is that they are uncomfortable asking for money for their product or service. They are worried that people will think less of them if they sell their product or promote themselves. Worse, they never make the time to do any marketing.
Do you hear yourself feeling the same way? Once you do get up the courage to get out and meet with new people, do you feel you might have nothing of value to sell, even if that is not true and have spent years developing your product or service?
It is important you do something to rid yourself of these business shyness fears or your business will not grow. I don't mean that you need get to the point where you sort of tolerate doing this. You really have to learn to ABSOLUTELY, and I mean ABSOLUTELY LOVE PROMOTING AND SELLING yourself and your business.
The good news is that this is easily learned and can actually be fun to accomplish. I know this is hard to believe, but once you understand where most of your sales and marketing jitters come from you will see that it is possible to effectively overcome them.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Does Your Business Need an Employer Identification Number?
If you have a business and you have employees, then you need a Federal Employer Identification Number, or EIN. Basically, it is a number that the Internal Revenue Service uses to identify your business.
Your EIN is a nine-digit number that the IRS assigns to identify tax accounts of employers. The EIN is not a substitute for your social security number, and it's important that the business owner use the EIN, not their social security number when dealing with the IRS.
How do you know whether you need an EIN? If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you need one:
---Do you have employees?
---Is your business incorporated?
---Do you file tax returns for the following: Employment, Excise, Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms?
---Have you filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 7?
---Are you forming a pension, profit sharing or retirement plan?
---Do you have a Keogh plan (A Keogh plan is a a tax-deferred pension plan for employees)?
---Is your business involved with the following: Trusts, except certain grantor-owned revocable trusts,
IRAs, Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Returns,
estates, real estate mortgage investment conduits, non-profit organizations, farmers' cooperatives, plan administrators.
---Are you a new corporation?
---Did you recently purchase or inherit an existing business?
However, you do not need an EIN if you are simply changing the name of your business or moving.
If you are forming a corporation, getting a EIN should be a priority, because you won't be able to make a deposit or file a tax return until you have one in hand. It takes about two to four weeks to get an EIN, so it's important to plan ahead.
If you do have any questions about whether your business requires a EIN, the IRS can answer most questions. Also, several online incorporation business can handle all the paperwork involved in setting up a new business, including filing for an EIN.
Roberto Neuberger is President and CEO of ActiveFilings.com which has over 8 years experience forming over 39,000 corporations, LLC'S and non-profits.
Click Here to find out why the decision to incorporate can mean the difference between success and failure in your business.
Your EIN is a nine-digit number that the IRS assigns to identify tax accounts of employers. The EIN is not a substitute for your social security number, and it's important that the business owner use the EIN, not their social security number when dealing with the IRS.
How do you know whether you need an EIN? If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you need one:
---Do you have employees?
---Is your business incorporated?
---Do you file tax returns for the following: Employment, Excise, Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms?
---Have you filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 7?
---Are you forming a pension, profit sharing or retirement plan?
---Do you have a Keogh plan (A Keogh plan is a a tax-deferred pension plan for employees)?
---Is your business involved with the following: Trusts, except certain grantor-owned revocable trusts,
IRAs, Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Returns,
estates, real estate mortgage investment conduits, non-profit organizations, farmers' cooperatives, plan administrators.
---Are you a new corporation?
---Did you recently purchase or inherit an existing business?
However, you do not need an EIN if you are simply changing the name of your business or moving.
If you are forming a corporation, getting a EIN should be a priority, because you won't be able to make a deposit or file a tax return until you have one in hand. It takes about two to four weeks to get an EIN, so it's important to plan ahead.
If you do have any questions about whether your business requires a EIN, the IRS can answer most questions. Also, several online incorporation business can handle all the paperwork involved in setting up a new business, including filing for an EIN.
Roberto Neuberger is President and CEO of ActiveFilings.com which has over 8 years experience forming over 39,000 corporations, LLC'S and non-profits.
Click Here to find out why the decision to incorporate can mean the difference between success and failure in your business.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Save Money With Green Office Solutions - Three Benefits of Recycled Office Systems and Furniture
In these tough economic times saving money has never been a bigger concern. This is true for households and businesses alike. So, whether you run a large corporation or work out of your home office, it is wise to search for office solutions that will adequately meet your needs without taking a huge chunk of your budget. One of the best ways to save money is to purchase green or recycled office systems and furniture. This article discusses three benefits of purchasing green, recycled, pre-owned or used office cubicles and furniture.
Abundant Supply
The first benefit of purchasing green or used office furniture is the abundant supply to choose from. Unfortunately, due to the current economic downturn many businesses have had to file bankruptcy and close their doors. Naturally, those failed businesses had one or more offices filled with furniture or equipment they could no longer use. As a result, there has been a huge increase in the supply of used or pre-owned office furniture. Such a glut of second-hand, office-related merchandise means there are an ample variety of good, quality office cubicles, desks, chairs, and conference tables available to the would-be buyer.
Reduced Cost
The second benefit of purchasing green or recycled office furniture and equipment is the reduced cost. It may go without saying but such a huge supply of pre-owned or used office furniture means a tremendous price reduction for the consumers able to buy it. The drop in value is due to a number of factors including (a) the abundant supply of available used items, (b) the amount of low cost new furniture imports coming from China and other developing countries, and (c) general merchandise giants like Wal-Mart and Sam's Club that buy new furniture in bulk and undercut the market.
Saving Natural Resources
A third benefit to purchasing used office cubicles and furniture is that it saves both natural resources and landfill space. Purchasing old but good quality business furniture is recycling and, therefore, it is green. For every used desk that is reused, there is less need to cut down another tree or strip mine the earth for more iron ore. By forgoing the need for something new, you have a chance to contribute to a safer environment and preserve resources for the next generation.
In these tough economic times saving money has never been a bigger concern. This is true for households and businesses alike. This article has discussed three benefits of purchasing green, recycled, pre-owned or used office cubicles and furniture.
Abundant Supply
The first benefit of purchasing green or used office furniture is the abundant supply to choose from. Unfortunately, due to the current economic downturn many businesses have had to file bankruptcy and close their doors. Naturally, those failed businesses had one or more offices filled with furniture or equipment they could no longer use. As a result, there has been a huge increase in the supply of used or pre-owned office furniture. Such a glut of second-hand, office-related merchandise means there are an ample variety of good, quality office cubicles, desks, chairs, and conference tables available to the would-be buyer.
Reduced Cost
The second benefit of purchasing green or recycled office furniture and equipment is the reduced cost. It may go without saying but such a huge supply of pre-owned or used office furniture means a tremendous price reduction for the consumers able to buy it. The drop in value is due to a number of factors including (a) the abundant supply of available used items, (b) the amount of low cost new furniture imports coming from China and other developing countries, and (c) general merchandise giants like Wal-Mart and Sam's Club that buy new furniture in bulk and undercut the market.
Saving Natural Resources
A third benefit to purchasing used office cubicles and furniture is that it saves both natural resources and landfill space. Purchasing old but good quality business furniture is recycling and, therefore, it is green. For every used desk that is reused, there is less need to cut down another tree or strip mine the earth for more iron ore. By forgoing the need for something new, you have a chance to contribute to a safer environment and preserve resources for the next generation.
In these tough economic times saving money has never been a bigger concern. This is true for households and businesses alike. This article has discussed three benefits of purchasing green, recycled, pre-owned or used office cubicles and furniture.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Small Business Loan Advisor - Avail Government Small Business Loans to Boost Your Trade
Small business loan advisors offer a financial support to those people who are in financial crises and wants to run a small scale business. If you run your own business, it is obvious that you require funds at a point of time. It is very important to find out Small business loan advisor to obtain a financial support.
Small business loans can be obtained in secured as well as unsecured forms. In a secured mortgage, a person can obtain money for a long term by placing a security and in a unsecured business, loan is given for a short period of time.
Government offers various kinds of mortgage and there are no limits on the loan amount as government is interested in promoting small business. A person applying for a mortgage should not have any criminal records . You can easily apply for a loan by filling an application form online. By this you can save your time and need not to pay any processing fees.
How to Avail Government Small Business Loan to boost up your Trade:
· Initially, make a plan to start your own company . You must state plans to the Small business loan advisor clearly and submit it with proper records to them.
· The repayment of loan must be discussed earlier. Whenever you borrow a mortgage from the government, just make a proper schedule of making payment to them on time. There should be no delay in the repayment of mortgage.
· Owner has to convince to the government, so that they provide loan to them easily after explaining the profile of the work. You have to request them sincerely for the mortgage.
· You are required to prepare a document with complete details along with all the paperwork that may be required by the government. Submit all the documents to them which will help you to obtain loan easily.
· Government provides various special loans to their customers. You must make a decision and avail that option which can work in your favour.
President Obama has come up with Stimulus Package that will focus on providing assistance to low- and middle-income Americans, to check if you qualify for Government Grants
Click Here --> Federal Grant Programs
Government Grants may not be enough, you also need add new income sources. Try the free trial for Google Cash & learn the secret for earning thousands of dollars per month online.
Small business loans can be obtained in secured as well as unsecured forms. In a secured mortgage, a person can obtain money for a long term by placing a security and in a unsecured business, loan is given for a short period of time.
Government offers various kinds of mortgage and there are no limits on the loan amount as government is interested in promoting small business. A person applying for a mortgage should not have any criminal records . You can easily apply for a loan by filling an application form online. By this you can save your time and need not to pay any processing fees.
How to Avail Government Small Business Loan to boost up your Trade:
· Initially, make a plan to start your own company . You must state plans to the Small business loan advisor clearly and submit it with proper records to them.
· The repayment of loan must be discussed earlier. Whenever you borrow a mortgage from the government, just make a proper schedule of making payment to them on time. There should be no delay in the repayment of mortgage.
· Owner has to convince to the government, so that they provide loan to them easily after explaining the profile of the work. You have to request them sincerely for the mortgage.
· You are required to prepare a document with complete details along with all the paperwork that may be required by the government. Submit all the documents to them which will help you to obtain loan easily.
· Government provides various special loans to their customers. You must make a decision and avail that option which can work in your favour.
President Obama has come up with Stimulus Package that will focus on providing assistance to low- and middle-income Americans, to check if you qualify for Government Grants
Click Here --> Federal Grant Programs
Government Grants may not be enough, you also need add new income sources. Try the free trial for Google Cash & learn the secret for earning thousands of dollars per month online.
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