How To Turn Your Small Scale Business Ideas To Reality

Jun 16, 2017

Are you are an entrepreneur with a small scale business idea?

If so, you shouldn’t stop there!

With the right mindset and dedication, you can help turn your small scale business ideas into a reality.

As of September 2015, there were 27 million working-age Americans who started or were running a new business.

That makes up nearly 14% of all working-age Americans!

Part of being a successful entrepreneur is creating a good idea and having the passion, intelligence and work ethic to develop.

Read on to learn how to turn your small scale business ideas to reality.

Identify Your Goals

To bring your small scale business ideas to life, you need to have clearly identified goals.

What product or service are you offering your customers that they cannot get anywhere else?

If your product or service is not the first of its kind, how are you doing this better than the competition?

Once you answer questions like this, you should identify how your product or service will help to solve a problem your customers are facing.

Your goals should be narrowly tailored so that you can measure your progress towards each of them. You should also be careful to ensure that you are setting both short-term and long-term goals.

By doing this, you have a measuring stick for your small business as your idea becomes a reality.

Understand Your Market

Even the best idea can fall flat if you don’t understand your target market.

What are the demographics of the market you are targeting with your product or service?

By identifying this market, you can determine the ways that you can connect with them the best.

This might be through presentations, emails, your website or a combination of different ways.

Understanding your market will also help you to competitively price your product or service. If you are too high or too low, you risk missing out on valuable business opportunities.

Find Funding

You should also be prepared for where to find funding for your small scale business ideas.

Depending on your idea, you may able to fund the initial start-up costs yourself.

But if your small scale idea is bigger or more costly than you think, you may need to seek funding from a bank or investors who may want a stake of ownership in your business.

Make Small Scale Business Ideas a Reality

Bringing your ideas to life in the form of a business can be challenging but rewarding.

You need to ensure you spend time brainstorming your idea and how it fits into the current and future of your industry. But making your idea a reality also requires understanding your target market and identifying your goals.

If you need more funding than what you have on your own, you will need to find it from other sources, which will require you selling someone else on the idea of your product or service.

Rafferty Pendery is an entrepreneur and a venture capitalist who is here to help others who share a passion for business.

Contact him today to learn more about how he can make your business dreams become a reality!

7 Ways to Improve Yourself as an Entrepreneur

Jun 13, 2017

Did you know that nearly 70% of all entrepreneurs start by running their businesses from their home?

What about the fact that entrepreneurship is responsible for creating over 3 million jobs in the United States alone?

The reality is that, no matter what industry you choose to work in, where you start your company from, or even how many employees you have, you need to have an incredible drive in order to succeed as an entrepreneur.

Of course, drive alone isn’t enough. You also need to continually and rigorously work to refine and better your personal entrepreneurial development.

How can you make sure you’re doing that?

You can start by reading this article.

In it, we’re telling you the top 7 things you can do to grow entrepreneurial development and become a better entrepreneur.

1. Surround Yourself With Good People

The company you keep is one of the most important factors when it comes to entrepreneurial development.

We know you’re already probably attending tons of events, talks, and other networking events in your industry.

But keep in mind that, in order to keep developing your own skills, it’s not enough to just milk these connections to grow your business. You have to be willing to really learn skills from others on your team or in your larger industry.

You also need to know how to delegate tasks according to what each member of your team is good at. This can be difficult, as it will often mean acknowledging your own shortcomings.

However, the reality is that every person on your team is an asset in their own unique way (which is why it’s so crucial to hire a diverse team.)

You want to find people who share your vision of success and who you work well with, but they need to be leaders just as much as you are. Ask yourself what you can learn from everyone on your team, and what you can teach them in return.

2. Know How To Measure Your Progress

We all want success – but unfortunately, it never comes overnight.

Instead of focusing on one giant (often unattainable at your current phase of business, anyway) goal, you need to break it down into several smaller goals that you can actually reach.

This won’t just hone your entrepreneurial development and keep you motivated to moving forward.

It will also allow you to clearly evaluate whether or not the current steps you’re taking, and methods you’re using, are actually effective.

3. Outsource What You Can

Especially at the start of your business, you need to seriously evaluate how much time you’re losing every day to tasks that, in the end, could really be done by someone else.

As an entrepreneur, every minute of your day is incredibly valuable – and every wasted one represents a real loss.

To foster your own entrepreneurial development, ask yourself and your team to think of the tasks that can only be done by them, that could probably be done by someone else (especially down the line) and that could easily be outsourced.

For example, only you can meet and pitch your company, vision, and projections to a potential million-dollar investor. However, someone else can probably run the updates on your computer.

4. Know How To Lead

Even if you’re just starting out, we know you ultimately want to still be in charge when your company grows to a multi-million dollar empire.

But to do that, you’re going to need to teach yourself how to be a good leader. This doesn’t just mean managing your specific team.

It means becoming an innovative thought leader in your field of choice.

Ask yourself: what are you continuously doing every day to make sure you know the latest news and trends in your industry? How are you incorporating that into your own management style and product/services?

Always learn from mistakes – your own, and other people’s. Make sure those you work with feel valued, and take the time to listen to and ask for their ideas.

5. Take Risks

Especially in today’s hyper-competitive world, if you don’ take risks as an entrepreneur, you’re never going to see the kind of growth you want – personally and professionally.

If you’re not comfortable playing around with money, keep in mind that there are lots of other ways to take risks.

Hire someone who thinks differently than you do. Attend an industry event with people you look up to, and make it a point to talk to them. Take on a bigger client.

Do something that your competition is afraid to.

It’s the only way you’re going to be able to differentiate yourself.

6. Avoid Distractions

Yes, it’s true – in order to get the most out of every day, you’re going to have to schedule your time like crazy.

This also means that you need to be incredibly protective of it.

Especially in today’s world, it’s easy for a “quick five-minute break” to turn into a long lunch, cocktails, happy hour, and a hangover the next day. If you don’t see your time as one of the most valuable aspects of your business, you won’t make it far.

This doesn’t mean you can’t take breaks. In fact, they’re incredibly important when it comes to keeping you productive! It just means that these breaks need to be scheduled.

Give yourself at least 5 minutes every hour to unwind. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself losing hours of time later.

7. Always Remember Why You Started

Accepting some losses and going through some challenging times are an important part of entrepreneurial development. But often, especially if these are big losses, it can make you feel like you want to quit.

When this happens, think back to why you started your company in the first place. What problem did you want to solve? Who would you help? What do you love about it?

This will encourage you to push yourself through the tough times.

Build Up Your Entrepreneurial Development With These Tips!

Thanks to these tips, you’re ready to make this the year your company hits its all-time highs!

Looking for more ways to motivate yourself and manage your time?

Want to know what else you can do to push yourself to grow?

Check out the blog and website to ensure that you never let another opportunity pass you by.

10 Tips For Branding Your Business

Jun 12, 2017

Do your customers or readers know who you are? I’m not talking about them knowing about your brand. We mean, do they know who your brand is as if it was a person.

Does your brand have a personality? Do your posts tell the world what your company is about along with what you do? To stay relevant in today’s market your brand needs to be knowable and read like an open book.

If this is a new concept to you, don’t worry! It’s not too late to start branding your business. We’ve got 10 tips for you to make it easier to turn your company into a friendly face.

What do Well Branded Businesses Look Like?

Successful businesses are open books in that you know what they stand for. For example, Starbucks stands for good coffee and well-treated employees and suppliers. They market as friendly and welcoming. That’s why employees try to learn names and orders.

They want you to believe that each store is a friendly place. That’s their brand: your friendly neighborhood Starbucks. What’s yours?

10 Tips for Branding Your Business

Branding your business is not a quick process. Like anything worth doing, it takes time and effort. If you’re willing to do the work, you’ll be rewarded with more visibility and loyal customers.

1. Keep it Simple

Let’s think about some big successful brands we know. Google, Netflix, Dunkin Donuts, and Amazon. What do they have in common? They aren’t overachievers. Their brand is one or two things at most. It’s simple.

Dunkin Donuts does coffee and donuts, that’s it. Amazon does home delivery of goods, Netflix does streaming, it’s not complicated.

A good brand’s services can be easily described and easily remembered. So when you’re branding your business don’t go overboard!

2. Don’t Be Fake

No one like a facade. The same is true when it comes to brands consumers commit to. If your company’s brand is about honesty and you’re caught lying about anything – you’re finished.

This is something to think about when you’re branding your business, can you live up to your own brand?

3. Write it Down

Before you decide on a solid brand identity, get out your business’ mission statement and values. Look at those and consider your ideas for a brand. Once you’ve decided, write it down.

Your brand needs to be concrete, something you can tell marketing directors or people you hire who are new to your company. It has to be concrete.

4. Catchy Tagline

This may come before or after you’ve decided on a concrete brand identity, but either way, it’s important. When you’re building your brand you need to have people remember what you do, as well as who you are.

Make sure that your tagline fits within your brand. For example, if your tagline is about being family friendly, make sure you post only family friendly content.

5. Your Logo isn’t Brand Content

In simpler days, it was enough to have your brand be represented by your logo. Now, you need to have appealing and engaging content that is unique to your business.

For your company’s Instagram, your logo will be your profile picture, but that should be the only place it’s visible. If it is on your product and you post a picture of that product, that’s ok.

6. Be Visible

Speaking of Instagram, your company needs one. It’s hard to keep up with all the social medias, that’s true. However, if you want to engage younger generations, it’s a necessary evil.

When you’re choosing networks to be on . Start small. You don’t want to have accounts that get neglected. Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat are a must.

7. Be Consistent Across Networks

When you have a presence on different social media networks and otherwise online (emails, website content) you need to stay consistent. Your brand needs to be obvious for your content on each one.

Try not to post the same content on each social media network at once, your Facebook page and your Instagram shouldn’t match post for post. If you are announcing something big, tweak the graphic or the picture a little on each network.

You should be consistent across networks, but not copy and paste your content.

8. Be Consistent In Person

This goes along with creating an honest and fitting brand. When a customer engages with your company in some way, they should feel like your brand is representative of your services.

This is a little vague, so let’s go back to the Starbucks example. Their brand is friendly and welcoming. They act on that in person by learning customers names and their orders. That’s what it looks like to be your brand.

9. Brand Ambassadors? Don’t Hire Out!

This is a tip for smaller businesses. If you have a huge marketing budget and want Kylie Jenner to advertise your product, then go ahead.

If you have a small or medium sized business, you don’t necessarily need a Kylie. You have brand ambassadors right under your nose. Your employees! (Assuming that your employees believe in your product) They are a gold mine of brand content.

10. Associate Strongly

Pick some companies with similar brands. For example, if part of your brand is about being a local business, feature another local business from time to time. You don’t have to make it extreme.

An Instagram post of a snack table at a meeting with a local company’s food and logo visible would be a good example. This is something you should keep in mind when you’re partnering as well: do your brands work well together?

Hopefully, we’ve given you some helpful tips for branding your business in today’s ever-changing marketing world. The name of the game in 2017 marketing is engagement and you have to give your consumers something they can engage with.

If you’ve already picked a brand for yourself and it’s not working out, re-branding is always an option. You can be successful at branding your business if you work hard at it, even if you don’t have a marketing team.

Now go get your brand on!

9 Tips and Tools Every Solopreneur Needs

May 28, 2017

Being a solopreneur is filled with challenges.

While the freedom from bosses and incompetent coworkers is incredible, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. After all, you don’t have anyone else to help pick up the slack.

It’s just you.

So what can you do to keep on top of the never-ending flood of to-do list items and keep from burning out?

The successful solopreneur toolkit

You might not want to hire a support staff, but there are a number of apps and online resources that can be just as helpful as a paid staff.

1. Evernote

One of the best parts of having a personal assistant is having someone available to write down your good ideas as you have them.

Evernote isn’t quite that good, but it is a great tool for keeping all of your notes in one place. Evernote includes a huge amount of free storage and is accessible from any device.

It also won the 2010 Webby for the best mobile app, so you know it’s good.

2. Sighted

The most important part of any business is making sure you get paid.

Sighted allows you to send and manage your invoices in one place. It allows you to work among several different currencies.

And when your business outgrows the free accounts, the premium options are still affordable.

3. Grammarly

You don’t have time to proofread. You’ve got business to do.

That’s where Grammarly comes in. Grammarly is a program that proofreads as you type, saving you time and embarrassment. There’s also

There’s also a free Grammarly extension for Chrome. Can’t beat that.

4. Hootsuite

You can’t do business these days without a social media presence. But it can be hard to manage all your separate accounts without a social media manager.

Hootsuite allows you to manage all of your social media pages from a single program, saving you time.

5. Canva

If you want to lose legitimacy fast, the easiest way to do that is to have bad design work.

Canva is a free web-based design program. It features beautiful drag-and-drop templates that allow you to create fresh graphics for all of your design work.

And all of this without hiring a designer.

6. Square

No one carries cash anymore.

And if you’re trying to get paid, that’s worth remembering. Square is a convenient alternative to traditional Point of Sales systems.

With Square, you can accept credit cards anywhere thanks to their free reader and mobile app.

7. Workflow Max

Workflow Max is the ultimate program for maximizing your productivity.

It allows integration with over thirty add-ons so you can handle your invoicing, scheduling, client management, and more from one program.

8. WiseStamp

Nothing legitimizes you as a serious solopreneur like a high-quality email signature.

WiseStamp creates a professional email signature with a variety of customizable features.

You can add your picture, link to your social media accounts, list your contact information, and more. All for a low-price annual subscription.

9. Assistant.to

Scheduling meetings can take forever if you’re doing it on your own.

Assistant.to makes it easy to organize meetups and appointments using only your email. It’s like having your own personal secretary, but without all the unsolicited gossip.

Oh, and you don’t have to pay it.

Beyond apps: more solutions for the solopreneur

These days, we are rich with free resources for every task.

But there’s only so much we can do on our own.

If you are a solopreneur that needs individualized help with organization, expansion strategies, social media, or online PR and marketing, contact me today.

How to Start an LLC: A Beginner’s Guide

May 27, 2017

Have you always wanted to start your own LLC, but had no idea where to start?

If so, then this is the perfect guide for you!

Here, we’ve created a beginner’s guide that will briefly and clearly tell you how to start an LLC, so you can stay focused on your business for years to come.

Step One: Pick A Name

The first step in understanding how to start an LLC?

Picking and claiming the perfect name!

First, you’ll need to make sure that no one else has already claimed the name you’re interested in. Most states won’t allow for duplicate names or names that are too similar to an existing one.

Additionally, your home state likely has local laws when it comes to picking out a name. You can find out more about these local laws here.

Be sure to select a name that’s relevant to your business, easy to pronounce, and clearly separates you from other businesses in your industry. Remember that in most states, you’ll need to include the initials “LLC” in your business correspondence and official documents.

Once you’ve chosen your name, you can reserve and register it either at the time you file your articles of incorporation or before you create your LLC (this will once again depend on your state.)

Should You Trademark Your Name?

Once you’ve made the effort to select the name of your dreams, it’s generally a good idea to have it registered as a trademark. This way, no one can steal your name and your intellectual property will be protected.

To start the trademarking process, you can go to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office’s website.

Step 2: Start Setting Up Your LLC

It’s time to start making some decisions about the overall operations of your LLC.

When it comes to who is in charge of your company, there are two possibilities.

The first is called a “member-managed LLC.” This means that everyone who owns the LLC also manages it. This is the most popular option because most people who start their LLC want to be in charge of it!

If you’re the only member of your LLC, and also want to serve as its manager, good news! Depending on your state, you might not even need to file any articles of incorporation.

The second management option is called a “manager-managed LLC.” This is when those that don’t own the LLC are in charge of running it. As the LLC owner, of course, you decide who manages your LLC in this option.

Step 3: Filing Articles Of Incorporation

Once you’ve decided on a management style, it’s time to file your articles of incorporation! These need to be filed with your state’s specific secretary of state.

You will need to provide your LLC’s name, the legal address of your business, the purpose of your business, and who will help to manage and own your LLC. You’ll also need to provide an outline of the basic structure of your business.

Of course, you’ll have to pay a fee when you file! Luckily, it’s only between $100-$300.

At this time, you’ll also have to select who will be the “registered agent” of your LLC. This means that you need to pick a foreign or domestic company – other than your own LLC, of course! This entity will need to be registered to legally do business in your state and is usually a partner of your LLC.

Step 4: Get Your Business License

What’s the next thing you’ll need to do when you want to know how to start an LLC?

Apply for and receive your business license! Though the specific license requirements will vary based on the state in which you live and do business, there are a few more general things you can expect.

You’ll likely need to get additional licenses that vary based on the type of business you’re planning to run. This can be things like liquor licenses, licenses from the health department, and more.

The Chamber Of Commerce in your specific city will also be able to give you additional information about the fees, overall application process, and kinds of licensing you may need to have.

If you’re lucky, you might even be able to both get and renew your business license on the Internet!

Step 5: Get Right With The IRS

Next, it’s time to apply for your own Employee Identification Number (EIN,) through the IRS. This will ensure that your employees’ taxes are handled and filed properly.

Even if you are the only person in your LLC, you’ll still need to get an EIN. Keep in mind that if you’re only working with independent contractors, you won’t need an EIN.

If you’re your LLC’s only employee, you can apply for your EIN online through the IRS’s website.

Once you have your EIN, you’ll be able to open your LLC’s official bank account! Select your bank carefully, and always ask about the different account options available to you.

Step 6: Draw Up Your Operating Agreement

This is the final, and also one of the most important, steps of how to start an LLC.

(Of course, if you’re the only person in your LLC, you won’t need to complete this step.)

Even if you’re in a state that doesn’t legally require you to have an operating agreement, it’s still a smart idea. This agreement will help you to ensure you keep your status as an LLC, will help you outline in writing your financial and management plans, and will help you to set out rules for operation.

You Know How To Start An LLC

Thanks to this quick guide, you now know the basics of what it takes to start your own LLC.

Though there initially might be a bit of work involved, it’s always worth it in the end!

Looking for more advice on how to start your own business? Want to make sure things keep running smoothly?

Check out the website and blog for more invaluable advice!

7 Online Business Ideas That Work

May 20, 2017

You’ve always seen yourself as someone that would be a good business owner, but as of yet, you haven’t taken the chance to open one of your own. After all, it’s estimated that 25% of all new business fail within their first year, and you’re worried about taking that kind of risk.

Instead of opening a brick and mortar location, think about starting a business online. Whether you want to start a new career or make money on the side, there’s something you can do. There are plenty of online business ideas that could make you a lot of money.

The best online business ideas

The online market for businesses is unlimited. If you stay focused on your latest business venture, you could make an entirely new career for yourself.

Are you curious about what the best online business ideas are for you? Take a look at these and see if any of them interest you.

Social media consultant

Do you like using Facebook, Twitter, and other major social media platforms? Have you had success gaining your own followers?

If you enjoy social media, you may want to consider becoming a social media consultant. It’s something you can do entirely online and demand for social media help is high.

Draft posting plans and write content for clients. In fact, if you’re good online, you may want to consider another internet career path…

Web designer

Building a good website takes time. If you have HTML and design skills, you could easily start to build websites for clients.

Doing web design full time or for freelance work could be one of the online business ideas you’re looking for. You’ll be able to make your own schedule and build a portfolio while you work.

Online craft seller

Do you see yourself as a crafty person? Do your friends love it when they get your homemade gifts? If so, selling goods on Etsy or Amazon could be what you need to do.

It’s estimated that over 1.6 billion people purchased goods online last year. There’s a market for what you’re selling, and you could make a lot of money.

Event concierge

If you’re a good planner and don’t mind spending time on the phone, being an event concierge may be the new career you’re looking for.

Planning a wedding, party, or other event means that someone needs to spend a lot of time on the phone making arrangements or learning about services. You could make money acting as a go-between for event hosts and businesses.

Affiliate marketing

Do you like to leave reviews on Amazon or Yelp? Your opinions could help make you money!

Affiliate marketing may be one of the best online business ideas ever created. People with established accounts on big websites can give their honest feedback on products or services.

Resume writer

A resume is essentially an advertisement you’re giving a potential employer. If you have good writing skills, you could make money online by writing resumes professionally.

Talk to clients about their professional background, and ask them for a list of places they used to work. If you have a creative enough mind, you’ll be able to do the rest.

Consulting

Nearly every business or company could benefit from a consultant. If you’re knowledgeable about a certain industry or business practice, you could be a consultant.

If you know how to market for small businesses, be a business consultant. If you know a lot about making sales you could be a sales consultant.

If you have questions about how to make money, write us a message so we can start a conversation.

The Difference Between a Business Owner And An Employee

Jan 13, 2017

Starting a business is a lucrative option more and more people are choosing to explore as a career path. The potential benefits are outstanding, but people often misunderstand all of the responsibilities that come with owning a business. Earning potential and flexible schedules are the main benefits generally associated with entrepreneurship. However, a business owner’s money and time are subject to risk and fluctuation, a departure from the stability and security of being an employee. The rewards of entrepreneurship often outweigh the risks, but it is a lifestyle that will require a certain mindset and skill set to do successfully.

8 Ways to Get More Done with Less Time

Dec 31, 2016

Often I have wished for more hours in the day. Here are some of the successful actions I have to be more efficient with the hours that you do have.

5 Simple Tricks to Keep your Staff Happy and Productive

Dec 30, 2016

The performance of your staff is essential to the success of your business. Dealing with a diverse group of people, with different skill sets and roles can be challenging. I have always felt that a productive staff is a happy staff, and a valued staff is a loyal staff. Here are some things I have implemented to increase the effectiveness of my staff, as well as their well being in the workplace.

Why Switching From Employee to Business Owner Isn’t Always What you Imagined

Dec 25, 2016

Let’s take an example of a business owner named Bob. Here is his story: Just last night I was sitting down to examine my tasks for the coming week. I was excited at the prospect of implementing some creative new tech ideas, when my task list reminded me of pressing bookkeeping and personnel management tasks that needed to be handled before anything else. I sat down and took care of them and made note of my new creative ideas, which would have to wait for the time being.
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Secrets to Staying Focused on Your Business

Dec 12, 2016

Distractions can be the death of your entrepreneurial endeavors. The digital age has opened countless opportunities to grow and expand your business, but it has also opened a huge number of possible distractions. Looking beyond the screens in your life, there are also numerous aspects of your life that can negatively affect your focus on your business, and some of them may surprise you.
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What to Do if You Want to End a Business Partnership

Sep 5, 2016

If you aren’t sure it’s time to end your business venture, I wrote another post that can help you out: 6 Signs It’s Time to Cut Business Ties.

First off, I’m not an advocate for ending business relationships if they can, and should be salvaged. But I also know first hand what it’s like to drag and partnership on and on that should have been ended earlier. It’s no fun for anyone.

So you have decided to end the business partnership, what do you do now?
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