Category: for business owners

Do You Love What You Do?

Do You Really Love Your Business? One of the things I never learnt in school was how to be a psychologist.  Over the years, I took psychology courses, but with a graduate and a professional designation, neither of which are in psychology, I am very ill equipped to deal with psychological issues or offer any… Continue reading Do You Love What You Do?

Business Plans for Newcomers – Part 1

I cannot tell you how many times, I have heard of newcomers turned down for loans simply because they could not produce a business plan. In our lending systems, as covered in a past blog, it is customary to ask for a business plan. In many cases, lenders will not even look at your business… Continue reading Business Plans for Newcomers – Part 1

Demographics for Small Business: market segmentation and counting customers

The last couple of entries have focused on stories of entrepreneurs who have either not cared about customers or who believed that the entire world was a prospective client base. While these strategies may work for some entrepreneurs, generally speaking, we need to have some understanding of the size of the market and what we… Continue reading Demographics for Small Business: market segmentation and counting customers

The Customer is always right….Except when he isn’t…

As part of my continuing series on markets and customers, I would like to tell you about another entrepreneur who was determined to change his customer. Unlike Bob from the last blog who was content to live with his books, this entrepreneur, Luis, has been fighting to convince customers that he was right and they… Continue reading The Customer is always right….Except when he isn’t…

Demographics Part II: The Battle Between the Customer and the Entrepreneur

I promised in the last blog post to guide you through the demographic research component of your business plan. Before we get into it, just understand that knowing demographics is really nothing more than thinking about your customers and every business must have customers. The Story of Sylvan’s Foremost Bookstore I would like to tell… Continue reading Demographics Part II: The Battle Between the Customer and the Entrepreneur

Part III: So Who Needs a Business Plan?

So Who needs a business plan? These days, if you are seeking financing of any form, you probably require one. Do you need a business plan to ensure the success of your business? I would say no. Don’t get me wrong, business planning can be a very valuable exercise. For some personality types (you know… Continue reading Part III: So Who Needs a Business Plan?

Part 2: Why Businesses Fail

Since 1980 onward, business plans have become standard staple in lending and investing. They provide, or so their supporters will argue, a standardized way to look at a business. Business plans require entrepreneurs to actually “plan” and they are the road map an entrepreneur uses from start-up through to a full -scale operation. So why… Continue reading Part 2: Why Businesses Fail