We love to focus on profit and business growth. But sometimes (for all sorts of reasons) we still need to shut down a business. This needs to be done and planned well.  It will take several months and the steps will vary based on location and situation. The following steps are designed for a Canadian incorporated business, but the general steps may be similar in other locations as well. Cease Trading. It's important to have all operations completed. If you’re still accepting orders or doing the odd job this will stretch out this process. Make sure that your website reflects your non-trading status (we recently had…

“Five frogs are sitting on a log. Four DECIDE to jump off. How many are left? Five, because deciding is different than doing.” What is the meaning of this riddle? Allow me to state the obvious. Just because four frogs “decide” to jump off the log doesn’t mean any of them actually jumped.  Does this ever happen in your business? A decision is made to go in a certain direction, or take on a particular project. Everyone is smiling and nodding their head at the meeting. But afterwards nothing happens. Why???  Commitment. Deciding IS different than doing. Ask yourself these questions. Does everyone have: Clarity:…

There comes a time for every small business to raise their prices. While it may seem scary, remember that it’s your job to keep prices fair, both for you and your customers. That means you have to charge prices that work for you and allow you to remain in business. Read on for six reasons to raise your prices. Your costs have grown The thing about inflation is that everyone is going to feel the pinch – including you. If your business supplies are now more costly than they were before, you have to pass those costs on. Otherwise you’re the one losing…

Balancing customer experience against your budget is a difficult task. You need the right amount of staff working to keep customers happy, but not so many people that workers are standing around looking for things to do.

You’ve probably heard the maxim that it’s better to work smarter than harder. Working smarter means allocating your time, energy, and money so vital tasks get done more efficiently, freeing up your personal time.

If you’re looking to grow your business, you might consider expanding your service offerings. Adding additional services is a good way to increase your profitability, diversify your income and expand your market. But there are important things to consider before adding to your income streams.

If you want your business to grow, at some point you’ll have to think about scaling it. Scaling it isn’t exactly the same as growing it, though they are often used interchangeably. Growth refers to adding resources and increasing your revenue in a linear fashion. You...

The unfortunate reality is most business owners don't take proper holidays. Usually this is because their business relies on them and they don't have the support to keep the business running without them. As a business owner, have you ever considered what would happen...

Starting your own business requires enough capital so you can pay your bills until your company turns a profit Depending on the type and size of your business, you may need thousands of dollars monthly to cover overhead. If you’re wondering where to find business...

Starting a business means you’ll be in competition with other companies that already exist. It’s actually a good thing if you have competition to go up against. Competition pushes you to be innovative. It also means there’s an established market for your goods or...

Every business needs a financial plan. Your financial plan gives you a way to monitor and review your cash flow, make adjustments to your spending, and anticipate any upcoming financial issues. It can also make you more prepared to request funding or find investors so...

Solid cash flow management is vital to ensuring your business survives, but not everyone understands what cash flow is or how to manage it. That’s likely what makes it a leading cause of stress for small business owners. In fact, a Capital One study found that 42% of...

For many business owners, partnerships are an ideal way to run a business. Operating a business with a partner means you don’t have to make all the decisions on your own. It means you have someone there with you, to help you carry the burden and share ideas with. That...

If you ask 100 business owners what they like least about running a business, chances are good that bookkeeping will rank high on the list. It's an annoying and frustrating chore that takes up a lot of time and is easy to put off until tomorrow. Avoiding your...

Financial management is a vital part of running a successful business, but often entrepreneurs start their business with little understanding of how to make solid financial decisions. Managing your finances is about more than bookkeeping and paying taxes—although...

Gone are the days when an entrepreneur was expected to be entirely focused on making a profit. Obviously, earning money is important to being sustainable and therefore staying in business, but it's possible to both earn a profit and make a positive difference in the...

Many entrepreneurs start their business with the goal of earning an income for themselves, but they often think of the business only in terms of them running it. In truth, there is a huge benefit to starting a business either with the goal of selling it or at least...

The start of a business partnership is an amazing time. Generally speaking, both people are invested financially, emotionally and professionally in the business. It may be stressful to start a business but doing so with a partner gives you someone to share the...

All business owners need to be aware of their break-even point — that is, the number of units they need to sell in order to cover their operating costs. Once you’ve reached your break-even point, it’s time to celebrate: your business is no longer in the red, and you...

Some small business owners find themselves in the difficult position of running a business that appears to be profitable, but still having no money in the bank. It's an important situation to address. After all, a lack of adequate cash flow is one of the main causes...