Author Archive
by Steve Strauss on November 17th, 2009
Q: Steve – You always seem to write about making your small business unique – so as to set yourself apart from the crowd. That seems like good advice, but easier said than done. In my case, my small business is a website, and most websites are more or less the same, so what can we do?
JD
A: What if I told you that there was a surefire way to make your website standout and POP . . . would that be of interest to you? And what if I further told you that this method is inexpensive, easily... Read more »
by Steve Strauss on November 13th, 2009
Q: “I will ask yet again: Can I have the check now please? We just want to get out of this restaurant already.”
Steve
A: The above exchange occurred over the weekend when my brother, my wife, and I went out to eat at a nice restaurant. It turned out to be one of those terrible dining experiences we have all been through at one time or another. Everything went wrong – bad service, cold food, wrong orders, etc.
But it was when the young waitress started crying at our table that we new it was time to go.
We... Read more »
by Steve Strauss on November 11th, 2009
Q: I hear that half of all small businesses fail. What’s the secret then to sticking around for the long-haul?
Jess
A: Of course there are a lot of things that go into creating a successful business, but one of the most important, and one that is often under the radar, is the need for a great recipe, or two.
Huh?
Think about any great recipe that you like. Why do you use it? I bet the reasons are essentially two-fold. First, you like the result, that is, the tasty food. Second, you probably like it because you can count... Read more »
by Steve Strauss on November 11th, 2009
Q: Hi Steve. With the current strain on the economy, we all know that businesses are looking for ways to better compete in their markets and grow in the downturn. We have noticed that many small businesses are capitalizing on their flexibility and pivoting their businesses to enter new markets. Agree?
Deanna
A: I know of very few small business people who would trade their lot for a gig with a big business, even given the steady paycheck and benefits that would come with it. The lack of freedom alone would likely emotionally pummel most small business owners (and in... Read more »
by Steve Strauss on October 6th, 2009
Q: With business slower than usual it does seem like a good idea to check out possibly getting into e-commerce. I certainly have the time! I was hoping you could give me some steps to follow. Thanks –
Linda
A: There are so many great things to be said about e-commerce that I am not sure where to begin, but let’s start with this one: E-commerce is, even today, a fairly new market; it has really been around for a little more than a dozen years.
Being able to tap such a huge market at the relative start won’t happen... Read more »
by Steve Strauss on October 6th, 2009
Q: In all of your years of representing businesses as a lawyer and giving small businesses advice, you must have come across some good, cheap strategies that businesses can use. If so, can you share them?
Ira
A: If I think about it, there are definitely some strategies I have learned along the way – legal and otherwise – that are inexpensive while also making your business life easier. Some are well known, others are not, but all can make a difference.
And of course, being the lawyer I am, let me note that nothing beats meeting with your own... Read more »
by Steve Strauss on September 9th, 2009
Q: Fall always feels like the new year to me with the kids going back to school and all. Do you think this year will be better than last?
Emile
A: It couldn’t be much worse, could it? Like many others, I do indeed see things continuing to improve as this calendar year winds down, and getting better next year especially.
I think the real question is – what are you going to do to make it better?
By now, you know the drill. I don’t need to tell you to work smarter, or market more, or increase your networking,... Read more »
by Steve Strauss on September 1st, 2009
Q: Hi Steve. With the current strain on the economy, we all know that businesses are looking for ways to better compete in their markets and grow in the downturn. We have noticed that many small businesses are capitalizing on their flexibility and pivoting their businesses to enter new markets. Agree?
Deanna
A: I know of very few small business people who would trade their lot for a gig with a big business, even given the steady paycheck and benefits that would come with it. The lack of freedom alone would likely emotionally pummel most small business owners (and in... Read more »
by Steve Strauss on September 1st, 2009
Q: We are a small general contractor. Can you direct me to a site to find out what certifications and applications we need, and how do we get on the bid list for the redevelopment of foreclosed homes or any other stimulus project? Thanks –
Kim
A: Nothing I have written about in the past year has generated more follow-up questions than the column I wrote a few months ago on the new stimulus law and what it offers small business.
I have received scores of questions like the one above.
But the answer to these sorts of questions has... Read more »
by Steve Strauss on August 19th, 2009
So here we are in the dog days of summer and it seems that no one is working much. Oh sure, we might pretend we are working, we might even try and finish some projects, but is anything of substance getting done? No, not much.
So rather than the normal pithy infotainment I try and offer, and in the spirit of summer, for today, please enjoy The Small Biz Quiz. Answers at bottom.
1. Who said, “There’s no business like show business, but there are several businesses like accounting”?
A: Woody Allen
B. David Letterman
C. Groucho Marx
D. Ethel... Read more »