01/14/2021
We are a Small Business and Love Supporting Small Biz. Mom and pop stores are the livelihood of our communities. If there's anything we can do to help you, we're here for you!
5 Tips for Small Owners
1. Show up and be consistent-
Running a business is not easy and there is a misconception that all of a sudden when you own a business that life is now easy and glamorous. This is far from the truth. You go from working an 8-hour job workday to working 16 hours or more for your business in a day. When you have an appointment scheduled, show up. If you have a call back scheduled, call people back.
If your business is open Monday-Friday 10am-6pm your business should be open those hours, unless you have an off-season, emergencies, or holidays. Just because you're not feeling it one day or want to go home early two days a week should not be your mode of operation every week unless those are the hours of your business. The worst feeling for a customer is taking off time from work, showing up to a business at their regular hours and all the lights are off and the parking lot is empty. You handle business how you would like business handled for you.
2. You don't have to know everything right now-
You can spend a lifetime reading all the books on small business, all the how-to's or dummy for everything books and you still wouldn't know everything you need to know. A business has its seasons and unforeseen circumstances can happen. Be a consistent student and learn everything you can and know that your process will need to be improved and tweaked on an ongoing basis.
3. Believe-
You will be tested in this area and the dream does not come with motivation or belief. You must fuel this into your business. Do not second guess your decision or the dream. All of it is for the process of making something spectacular work in the marketplace.
4. Build Relationships-
Customer service is more than being nice to a client, smiling, or opening the door. Building a relationship is really caring about the needs of your client and how you serve them. Listening to what they have to say and determine if what you have can help make things easier or better for your client. That's what business is. Providing a service or product to improve the lives or lifestyle of others.
5. Don't get shut down-
Make sure that you aren't running a bootleg operation. That means to file your necessary paperwork with the State of Secretary, keeping your records, tax documents, receipts, etc., organized and completed and file and pay your taxes. Be true and don't operate a shady business. It is not worth it.
End note-Business is hard but it's beautiful. What you bring to the world is necessary and people/customers would miss what you provide if you were to close or shut down. Focus and pivot, hire a person or a team, whatever you need to do to keep your love alive.
Be safe, wear your masks, wash your hands, keep your immune system up and grow your amazing business!
