Monday, December 28, 2009

New Year's Planning For Business Owners.

Every business owner should from time to time pause and do some planning and reflecting. Here is a link to a great article. With 2010 coming this article has some great points.

http://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/08/planning-for-business.asp?partner=forbes-hpm&viewed=1

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Five Rules of Entrepreneurship

December 10, 2009

Five Rules for Entrepreneurship
By Brian Tracy

Entrepreneurship is the art of finding profitable solutions to problems. Every successful entrepreneur or business person has been able to identify a problem and come up with a solution to it before someone else did. Here are the five rules for success.

1. Find a Need and Fill It
Human needs and wants are unlimited. Therefore, the opportunities for entrepreneurship and financial success are unlimited as well. The only constraint on the business opportunities available to you are the limits you place on your own imagination.

2. Find a Problem and Solve It
Wherever there is a widespread and unsolved customer problem, there is an opportunity for you to start and build a successful business.

Once upon a time, before photocopies, the only way to type multiple copies of a letter was with carbon paper places between sheets of stationary. But a single mistake would require the typist to go through and erase the mistakes on every single copy. This was enormously clumsy and time consuming.

Then a secretary working for small company in Minneapolis began mixing flour with nail varnish in order to white out the mistake she was making in her typing. Soon, people in other offices began asking for it. The demand became so great that she quit her job and began working full-time manufacturing what she called “Liquid Paper.” A few years later, the Gillette Corporation came along and bought her out for $47 million cash.

Right-click here to download pictures. To help protect your privacy, Outlook prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. 21 Great Ways to Build a High Profit Business
"Rapidly Increase Sales, Cut Costs and Boost Your Profits!"
Just like you, I've laid awake worrying about money…I've started businesses with an idea and borrowed cash…I've made mistakes and had to try again to succeed. Believe it or not, profitability in any market is predictable—and I want to show you how to cash in year after year. Click for more >>

3. Unlimited Opportunities
There are problems everywhere. Your job is to find one of these problems and solve it better than it has been solved in the past. Find a problem that everyone has and see if you can't come up with a solution for it. Find a way to supply a product or service better, cheaper, faster, or easier. Use your imagination.

4. Focus on the Customer
The key to success in business is to focus on the customer. Become obsessed with your customer. Become fixated on your customer's wants, needs, and desires. Think of your customer all the time. Think of what your customer is willing to pay for. Think about your customer's problems. See yourself as if you were working for your customer.

5. Bootstrap Your Way to Success
Once you have come up with a problem or idea, resolve to invest your time, talent, and energy instead of your money to get started. Most great personal fortunes in the United States were started with an idea and with the sale of personal services.

Most great fortunes were started by people with no money, resources, or backing. They were started by individuals who came up with an idea and who then put their whole heart into producing a product or service that someone else would buy.

Action Exercise
Look for business opportunities everywhere, develop, an entrepreneurial mind-set, and continually be open and curious about the needs not satisfied and problems not solved.

One idea is all you need to make your first million.

Copy of an E-Mail received from Brian Tracy....great content

Monday, November 30, 2009

Daily: Eat a Frog First Thing

November 30, 2009

The Truth About Frogs
By Brian Tracy

Mark Twain once said that if the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, you can go through the day with the satisfaction of knowing that that is probably the worse things that is going to happen to you all day long. Your "frog" is your biggest, most important task, the one you are most likely to procrastinate on if you don't do something about it.

Conquer the Hardest Task First
If you have to eat two frogs, eat the ugliest one first. This is another way of saying that if you have two important tasks before you, start with the biggest, hardest, and most important task first. Discipline yourself to begin immediately and then to persist until the task is complete before you go on to something else.

Don't Procrastinate
If you have to eat a live frog at all, it doesn't pay to sit and look at it for very long. The key to reaching high levels of performance and productivity is to develop the lifelong habit of tackling your major task first thing each morning. You must develop the routine of “eating your frog” before you do anything else and without taking too much time to think about it.

Received in an email from Brian Tracy

Friday, November 20, 2009

Employer's - I-9 Audits

The following link will help with I-9 documentation for each employee your business hires.

www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments/m-274.pdf


www.zibpans.com and www.countrysidedata.com are small business software sites. The payroll section of this software has the I-9 form with lists A, B and C. Not only the text but a area to save scanned documents. ie, green cards, birth certificates, driver's permits etc.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Gold Mine Advertising, Get it now!

With 15 minutes to spare. Here is the link for, Gold Mine Advertising for your business.

Click on the orange display just to the right of this post. When clicked on, will take you to a whole new level of business.

3 Options are available for every small to mid-sized business. One recently added benefit, SEO help utilizing a 3 month jump start for your ad and web site.

Check it out and tell the world your story. We will take it from there...telling it over and over. Good Luck in your mining of the web to grow your business.


Saturday, October 24, 2009

49 Hours until Gold Mine Advertising kicks off!

49 hours until we kick off our Gold Mine Advertising concept. We had room for 195 small to mid-size businesses or professionals. 7 of our clients have already begged for a spot, what can I do, they been with us for a long time and have tried the test roll out!...so it's really going to be 188 open to the rest of the world. Don't miss it. www.zibpans.com

Friday, October 23, 2009

78 Hours until the small business advertising world changes!

78 hours until small business marketing / advertising changes... at least for about 195 businesses!

Keep checking for sneak previews over the week-end and Monday. No bull or hype, just great effective ways to get the word out about your business and be part of a select advance group with special benefits.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Soft rollout users suggest adding 2 new features

Our Gold Mine Advertising concept will be delayed for a couple of days, until Monday, October the 26th.

Early users suggested we add several powerful features and benefits. So, we listened and are now adding features and benefits into the Gold Mine Advertising products. Wow! is it going to be something...Remember Monday October 26th at 9 PM (Mountain Time-- 11 PM Eastern Time.)

Friday, October 16, 2009

It's getting better...Gold Mine of Advertising tips and hints...

It's getting even better...Gold Mine of Advertising tips and hints...will be available on or before Tuesday of this coming week, October 20, 2009 at 9 PM (11 PM -Eastern Time)

We think you will be excited about the potential for your business where ever you live. During the early stages of the roll out we will be limiting the number of spots available, so check in from time to time but no later that the appointed time or shortly after...

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Six great articles on starting a small business

USAToday is currently running a series of article on, "Starting a Successful Small Business." Here is a link to the current week article. Check it out and checkout the past and future articles as well.

http://alturl.com/azwq

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Gold Mine of Advertising ideas, tips and hints

Gold mine of ideas, tips and hints for small business advertising. Work required. Results out of this world.

While doing research on advertising for a business client. I ran across this site. Simple, common sense stuff. http://alturl.com/onp7

We will introduce more on Tuesday October 20, 2009 at 9 P.M. (MDT) about a series of tools to help small business tell their story on the web. Stay put, be a leader or dominate your local market or niche. First come, first served. Catch the wave...


Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Create A Sales Plan

In a recent email we received this article...it will be of interest to most of you...since your business lives on sales.

September 29, 2009

Create Your Sales Plan
By: Brian Tracy

Nothing happens until a sale takes place. Your actual ability to sell your product or service to your customer determines your profit or loss, success or failure, in business. The sales process, to be effective, must be planned and organized in detail from start to finish. Every word and action must be scripted, rehearsed and memorized. Nothing can be left to chance.

Sales Recipe
Making a sale is like cooking with a recipe. You must use the correct ingredient and blend them in the proper quantity with the right timing. All successful companies have developed a proven sales process that can be duplicated over and over. By using a proven sales system, you can accurately predict the quantity of your sales, the average size of your sales, and the profitability of your sales activities.

Prospecting
It is important to speak directly or by telephone to people who can and will buy and pay in a reasonable period of time. Start with your ideal customer profile. Who is he or she exactly-in terms of age, occupation, income, education? Who is he or she exactly—in terms of problems, wants, needs, attitudes, and experiences regarding your product or service? If you could advertise for perfect customers, how would you describe him or her?

Marketing and advertising is aimed at telling your ideal prospect that your product will help them. The ideal prospect has an immediate need for what you sell. The ideal prospect knows you, likes you, and respects your products or business. The ideal prospect can buy and pay for your product if he or she likes it.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

How to keep track of employee I-9's

Every United States business owner or manager with employees must have on file for each employee a current I-9 form. The I-9 form validates that the employee is documented to work legally in the United States.

The requirement of the I-9 has been around since 1986. Until recent times has been loosely enforced. This is about to change and fast. Be ready employers.

Information about the employee and the documents required and any expiration dates are in three lists. List A, B and C.

We will be posting a link at the bottom of this posting on September 28th. It will be worth checking out the details.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

W-4 Hints! Employee updates

Here are some suggestion to employers / managers on w-4 forms. This information came from AIPB

How To Implement a New W-4

—and Handle Complaints

Problem: Employees try to increase their take-home pay by handing in a new W-4 with more withholding allowances or by claiming exempt from withholding.

Solution: Tell employees that you are not required to post the new W-4 until the first payroll period ending on or after the 30th day from the date the new W-4 was submitted (see IRS Circular E). This is the most time that the law allows.

Example: Joe is paid on the 15th and 30th of each month. On September 10, he gives you a new W-4. The September 10th withholding changes must be applied to his paycheck of October 15, the first payroll period following September 30.

If we can be of further assistance visit our web site at www.zibpans.com and check out the payroll tab area.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Monday, July 27, 2009

Backup 101 : Do It!

It's scary. A disaster waiting to happen. I spend a good share of last week and the week-end helping to recover a clients accounting / payroll records. It would have been a piece of cake had they kept a backup copy of their records.

It only takes a minute or two, can be done on your machine or thru a web based or remote backup service. It is most critical to make backups. Besides having a valid backup can save hundreds of dollars of recover time, stress and perhaps...heart failure.

So, please, if you are reading this post. Take time to make backup copies of critical data on your computer or small network. Doing so will make life a lot easier.

Also, your web site...check with your web master or hosting firm. Do they have timely back up copies?

Monday, July 20, 2009

Client wants to hire an ad salesperson! Do you know one?

I have a client that needs to hire an ad salesman (woman) for a new web based venture. He is stumped at how to start or where to even look for that person (s).

It's a challenge ...it would be on a commission basis, but would have opportunity to build and have great income potential for someone that can figure out how to get the word out about this product and the exposure it would provide for small business owners. (They would get a piece of the action)

So world, how do I tell them where to start and what to look for? Any ideas...if so send an email to whm@onewest.net and we will forward your tips, ideas or resumes ...stay tuned for the results.

Monday, July 13, 2009

2nd Quarter Payroll Tax Reporting

With July about half over many clients I work with are frantically working to complete their payroll 2nd quarter reports done and filed.

While I help some clients with this issue. I am amazed at the stress and frustration for many small business owners or managers. Much of the stress comes from the current financial scene and the tightness of money. The headaches of payroll can be overcome or simplified by developing an organized way to do the reports. Using a hand ledger system or a computer program helps a lot. It's the dread of actually filing the reports. So what's your take on payroll tax reporting. Let us know how you handle it and what might make it easier on your end.

Several clients indicated that just having someone to walk them thru the maze would help. Others indicate having someone review or even do the reports would take a load off their mind and let them get on with the everyday running of the business...like meeting the next payroll.

We would like your comments on the following, "Simplify My Payroll reporting of the 941, SUTA, FUTA and state or local income tax."

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Walk The Plank Tactics

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July in the States and to our Canadian friends a great Canada Day on July 1.

It's great to be with family and friend on holidays. I spent part of the week-end at my mother's taping a landing / stair well. One of my favorite things. While I have done many landings and stairwells it is not one of my favorite experiences. Setting up the drop cloth to cover the stairs is the easy part. It's setting up a ladder or two with a plank and then walking out on that plank to reach to top and outer edges to mud the edges and embed the tape. Height is not something I look forward to either. I did everything right and minimized my risks to get the job done right.

That's how it is in business. We tackle risk and attempt to manage that risk with the tools we each have or can get. Then we move ahead with the job at hand. Hopefully we are successful in what we do. Some times we don't , so we pick up the pieces and try again. Even with taping and drywall, I have on some occasions have to start over or re-work some of my earlier attempts.

Walking the plank...so to speak is not the end of the world as with was in the days of the pirates. We as business owners/managers can regroup and give it another try. That's where success comes from...overcoming challenges, learning new skills and snapping victory from the jaws of defeat.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Vacations Over...Now What

As you can see from the recent postings we have been absent.

Taking a break to enjoy everyday life and the family is something we all need to do. But most of us in small business probably don't do it often enough. The summer is yet new and not spent. Take time to go and see new things.

Travel and seeing new things can happen even in your own region of the country or world.

So take a break, plan one and then tackle the business with a fresh out look, renewed energy and...perhaps a different approach or products.

Some new products we discovered if your interested. Easy to use business 5 year planning that everyone can use, even coaching if you would like. Check it out at: www.ProBizPlanner.com Also, for those payroll headaches a new approach to United States payroll reporting at: www.SimplifyMyPayroll.com

We would like to start adding more and more business solutions in all areas of running a business, so let us know what you are aware of.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Can't or Won't

The other day I read this sign, "Can't or Won't."

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Chrysler's Bankrupt...Now What!

Shift gears, that's what they are going to do and perhaps so should you.

Take a look at the business landscape. Some think the sun is setting and will never rise or shine again. Others see the setting of the past with a new future coming with each sunrise.

So, you have failed, lost a major client, or some other opportunity. Take a look at your situation (as is Chrysler, the courts, the new possible owners, bond holders etc). Shift gears literally and revamp your business plan, products or services, financing, the market you serve or any other host of possibilities. The sun will rise and shine again in your world.

The old saying, April showers bring May flowers and you know what the Mayflower brought, "pilgrim's" and with the pilgrims came the hope of a new future and look what that brought over the years, a might America a country of new hope where anything is possible. Get out there and tell the story of your service or products. People will listen, we all need services and different products...

Think it over and get on with life and go for the new day. Business is just waiting to be discovered. Even in your neck of the woods.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Business Story Telling

How well do you do at telling the story about your business?

How well you tell or explain your story is critical to your existence. Your potential or current customers / clients need to have a clear understanding of what goods or services you provide and why buying from you rather than your competition is in their best interests.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Proposals to help small businesses

Small businesses in the United States, Canada and the world as well. Are the cornerstones of the villages, towns, cities and countries in which they operate. They are the foundations of the economy.

While the impact and needs vary thru out the world. Lets look at the United States in general. The strengths of the American economy are at the farm and street level of every state. We as small business owners and managers can do our part by pulling our employees together and uniting with other businesses to strengthen our impact.

Tell your story. Tell about your products and services. Get the word out. Communicate your business mission to new clients / customers. Keep in touch with your past clients / customers. Run specials to acquaint others with your products and services. Go the extra mile in the coming months to refine your products and services. Display or explain them in different ways until your prospective market knows well what you do. Add value to what you do best.

As you plan the process of: getting the word out. Map out where you are and where you want to be in 6 months, 1 year, 2 years , 5 years and in 10. If you fail to plan your: getting the word out, you plan to fail or wander about.

Get to the point and go for it. Courage is what we need not fear or holding back.

proposals to help small businesses

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Challenges or Opportunites for Small Business?

The old saying, if life gives you a lemon. Make lemonade. Is even more relevant in today's marketplace.

Small business: This is your opportunity to "squeeze" more juice from the lemons you may have been given or received. Take a look at your business, whether new or ongoing. What is your main product or service? Is there a new twist or repackaging you might do to increase your sales or profitability?

Who, are your clients? Many businesses do not know who they really sell to or who seeks them out. Where do you stand in the market place of your neighborhood, community or vertical market (niche)?

With the coming future and hopefully eventual upswing of the economy, are you now or soon to be planning to "capture" a larger market share when things turn around.

This past couple of weeks we have been learning quite a bit about how to deal with the current situation in the country, in our business and what we need to do better in the future. It is really exciting to move forward.

It's not all gloom and doom...Happy days will soon be here again!

We have a new friend, Zib, that we will be introducing soon who can help get the ball rolling for all of us. Happy days are here again...or soon will be.

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Small Business Stimulus Deals

The big boys of business have received billions in bail out funding. Now it's time for small business to enter the stage.

The U.S. Government is now spending billions on stimulus packages to get the economy growing and moving forward once again. Most of these stimulus dollars may never reach the small business owners of the United States, Canada or the world in general.

We as small businesses need to take things into our own hands and rebuild the prosperity of our villages, towns, cities, states and nations. This is a call to action on everyone's part.

Long journeys begin with one step...step up and let's tackle this problem as business owners / managers the best way we can. Provide great products and services at a reasonable price and at a profit. Take courage and take charge.

We have located a "small business stimulus" deal that can help plan, expand or promote your business. We will be providing the link over the next week or so. The number of packages available is unlimited. There is something for everyone in this package. We need your help in spreading the word once it's ready to go.

This package will benefit your business and all businesses not only in the short term but the long term as well. If we stick together as business owners we all win. If we go at it alone...We will be just that...alone.