Develop systems to leverage your skills into others. You can’t really “build” your business unless you learn to train and manage others… In other words, you only have 24 hours in a day that you can work on your business. By leveraging your abilities into others, you can have more people working more hours each day on your business.

Keep your systems simple so that anyone can learn them. The bigger your potential labor pool, the easier it will be to hire quality people. Also, find people early on that share your passion for your business. Develop these people to be your second generation managers as you expand. By being involved in the development of your business, they will be more likely to look out for your interests.

Advertise! Merchandise! As in SpaceBalls the movie.
Have a good customer policy. Returns welcome with receipt. Print up fancy business cards. Rent out commercial space on TV or computer pop up ads, like Google.

The best way to start a small business is with a passion and a plan. First, make sure that this business is something you can get excited about. If it’s just for the money you’ll get bored quick. Second, build a plan.
- How will you measure your success, what is the goal.
- How will you price your products/services
- How will you evaluate your progress
- What are the costs of having a retail frontage. Is there a need to move out of the house?

Check out your local chamber of commerce and see what resources they may have. There are also SCORE programs and Economic Development forums that are happy to help you launch.

Congrats on your new adventure. Hope you have lots of fun!

Someone sent this to me in an E-mail. I almost deleted it because I didn’t recognize the name. I’m glad that I didn’t. I’m going to try it and see how far I can go. You should too.

I figure I have nothing to lose and a lot to gain.

Carol

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