Business Discussions

Rcently I started playing with my new google calendar app and I saw some things that I really like. Maybe its been around for a while and I am late to the party but this is so good and is helping me run my business more smoothly. When you tap the + sign to add something new it will give you three items to begin with.GoalReminderEventI love the Goal optionExcerciseBuild a SkillFamily & FriendsMe TimieOrganize My LifeOnce you tap one of the above you get to narrow down the actual name of the activity. Then it will give you a choice for how often.Once a week3 times a week5 times a weekEvery daymore options...Here is a link to start the fun!https://www.google.com/calendar/about/  Let me know how you are finding it to help your business run more smoothly? Steve Chase PSMy wife often brags to me that she is more efficient with her time management in her business and I joke back that I am. But truth be told she does rock the calendar and it is fun to see her get s

  When the 2008 recession left Rachel Bowes out of a job, she was in no hurry to jump straight back into the rat race. Instead, the creative entrepreneur invested her event management experience and flower arranging expertise into a way more exciting option: launching her own business.   Rachel chatted with us about taking a skill she learned on the fly to make Finch & Thistle thrive, as well as how she deals with a surprisingly heavy amount of admin in the day-to-day running of her business.   Name: Rachel Bowes Business: Finch & Thistle Started: 2008   How did you create your awesome job?   I organized fundraisers for the Seattle Symphony for about three years, so my background is in nonprofit event planning. While I was working at the company, I started creating the bouquets we needed for our events because it was so hard to commission a florist and stay on budget.   I didn’t have any experience in floral arrangement at

I personally find this to be a challenge. As a self-employed person, we don't want to price ourselves out of the market, but we also don't want to be underpaid.   Do you have any experience successfully setting prices, or perhaps your journey in finding the right pricing for you and your business? 

    After a blip in her career, Anne Smith decided to harness her creativity to produce ‘80s-inspired goods from recycled materials. Soon after, she began selling her fun retro designs on Etsy as Sweetgyrl Designs.    We caught up with the Seattle-based artist to chat about how social media has been effective in helping her business grow and how next she wants to tackle balancing her busy work schedule with an active personal life. Name: Anne Smith   Business: Sweetgyrl Designs   Started: 2011   How did you create your awesome job?   After the retail store I managed went out of business in 2010, I decided to go to back to school. I took on a full-time academic load, which left little time for a traditional job. So, that's when I decided to try Etsy and see what I could do while working from home.    When I started, upcycling was a new thing and I really liked the idea of turning discarded items into

    If you spend any time reading posts and comments from this online community, you’ll notice one issue comes up again and again: pricing. Figuring out how to set (or adjust) what you charge for your products or services is a conundrum that just about every small-business owner faces.   Entrepreneurs selling a product like handmade jewelry or baked goods may be able to use a relatively straight-forward mathematical formula along the lines of materials + overhead + time = price to determine their magic number. But for folks offering services – tax accountants, bookkeepers, social media consultants, brand strategists and graphic designers, for example – price-setting can be a little (or a lot) more challenging, especially when their “product” is less tangible than a delicious donut or sparkly earrings.   We decided to take the pulse of this awesome community in order to identify some key pricing challenges – and, more importantly, to share some key strategies for so

  Becoming successfully self-employed is no easy feat. However, after talking to so many of you here about how you created your jobs and how you found your first customers, we passionately believe in the opportunity to tap this powerful community to successfully make the leap to self-employment.   Whether you want to hone your skills as an independent contractor, kick off freelance work, start a business from home or sell on Etsy, your fellow members and their stories enable all of us to learn faster and realize success sooner with fewer mistakes along the way.   If you haven't checked out The Handbook for How to Be Self-Employed, Part One, stop right here and head over there first. In this section we'll be covering some of the questions you've probably asked yourself about getting customers and generating revenue from day one.   The Handbook forHow To Be Self-Employed: Part Two 1. How am I supposed to get customers if I've never had one before? Think about the la

  After working as a design researcher for more than a decade, Amelia Black began to feel like her creativity was stifled. Inspired by her undergrad days, she decided to start working with ceramics again.    Today, she splits her time between her ceramics business and freelance graphic design work. We chatted to Amelia about her first big gig and how she learned to love crunching the numbers.   Name: Amelia Black Business: Amelia Black Ceramics Started: May 2015   How did you create your awesome job?   I originally studied design, going on to work in architecture, industrial design and design research for more than a decade. But over the last five years, I felt unfulfilled focusing purely on digital art. I think most people who work in design love creating objects, and when I found myself missing that, I returned to my passion for making ceramics.   I joined a group of makers in April 2015, and together we have a large studio space. Af

    Last May, we were lucky enough to have Maxie McCoy on hand for a very special live chat where we talked about how to network like a rockstar and find your tribe — a.k.a. the people who understand your passion and who will keep you afloat, no matter where you are in your business.   Maxie is a writer, speaker, community builder, coach and world traveler who specializes in helping individuals tap into their greatest potential so they can grow their brand, their business and their following. She's a master at networking and truly an inspiration. Let's revisit Maxie's three tips for how to maximize your networking mojo.   Here we go!         1. Know that your network wants to help you succeed.   "Every opportunity I've ever had was because someone stuck their neck out for me."   When was the last time you asked your closest friends, parents or buddies: Who do you know that I need to know?   Maxie reminded

  Cricket has had an impressive career, with top jobs at companies like Yahoo! and Edelman on her resumé. But recently, she left her corporate career behind for the world of Pilates.  We had to know more about how she made the switch and what inspired her to open up a community-oriented Pilates studio, so we sat down with her to hear her story.   Name: Cricket Wardein Business: Mighty Pilates Started: 2010 How did the idea for Mighty Pilates come about? The idea for group Pilates sessions came to me when I moved to Sydney, Australia. I worked at Yahoo! from 2006 to 2007 and spent some of my downtime practicing Pilates. When I came back to the US, I realized it was all about individual sessions here, but out there the classes had a different vibe — there was an energy I wanted to bring back to the States. I set up Mighty Pilates in 2010 with my business partner, Victoria. We self-funded the business, which meant I wasn’t able to quit my day job for awhile after we st

  Meghan Benson started her business selling unique necklaces as a way to raise money for the adoption of her son. When it became clear that she was building a fan base, she decided to keep it going. Now, she has two toddlers at home and she's working hard every day to create harmony between family life and entrepreneurship.   We asked Meghan to share with us about her own experiences with finding new customers, how she plans her week when she's balancing kids and family and the difficult lesson she learned from a disgruntled customer.     Name: Meghan Benson   Business: Ellie & James   Started: August 2014   How did you create your awesome job?   I started Ellie & James as a fundraiser for our child’s adoption in 2014. It all started when my sister moved back to Barcelona and I made her a necklace with a map of the city as a going away gift.    I started creating jewelry for other people and

   Robert Armstrong took a family tradition and turned it into a thriving business in his hometown of Selma, Alabama by learning how to bake, sell and distribute his signature G Mommas Cookies, described as "the best cookie you’ll taste comin’ out of the deep south." Robert has been winning over tastebuds and votes recently as a top 10 finalist in Small Business Big Game, so we had to learn more about the story behind starting his business and how he stays inspired day in and day out. Take it away, Robert!   Name: Robert Armstrong Business: G Mommas Cookies Started: July 2009   How did you come up with the name for your business?  G Mommas Cookies is named for my grandmother, Anice Armstrong. We used to call her “Gammy” and the recipes that we use to make G Mommas Cookies are inspired by the chocolate chip pecan cookies she made us in junior high and high school.  Together, she and I came up with our BuddaScotch Oatmeal recip

When creativity and the perfect audience collide, it can be a beautiful thing. Sticker designer Lisa Villafane learned this when she discovered her target market online, then created her colorful line of fun, practical stickers for planners. This mom of two has racked up over 14,000 sales on Etsy in less than a year, so we had to find out what she's learned so far about creating a business from her home.  Read on to find out how Lisa gave up on the world of advertising to pursue a passion closer to her heart.   Name: Lisa Villafane Business: Sticker Designer and Owner of Lisa V Creations Started: December 2014 How did you create your awesome job? I’ve always been super organized. Even as a child, I loved stationery and anything that helped me plan.  Two years ago, while searching for a new planner, I stumbled on a Facebook group for fans of Erin Condren products and decided to join. I reached out to the 30,000-strong community and found a lot of likeminde

  John didn’t mean to start a business — he just wanted to make his son an exciting new bed. But when people started to offer him money for the plans he used to create it, he realized he was on to something big.  Over 1,500 sales later, John can’t believe his good fortune — and we couldn’t wait to find out his secret to success.   Name: John Forck Business: Jeep Beds Etsy Shop Started: December 2013   How did Jeep Beds come to be? I’m an engineering manager at an avionics company and I have a background in electrical and computer engineering. I haven’t worked with wood much in the past, but my Dad used to have a workshop, so I learned from him and eventually inherited his tools. A few years ago, I was looking to buy a bed for my son, but couldn’t find anything fun. I decided to make one myself in the shape of a Jeep. I’d never even owned a Jeep, but I enjoyed working on the bed so much that I bought one as soon as it was finished! I started chatting to other Jeep o

Johnny Zone knows a thing or two about good food. After an impressive 13-year career working for chefs like Gordon Ramsay, the obvious choice might’ve been to open a fine dining restaurant, but Johnny chose to start his own small business instead — a fried chicken food truck in LA.  We couldn’t wait to find out this master chef’s recipe for success! Name: Johnny Zone Business: Howlin’ Ray’s Hot Chicken Started: June 2015 How did you create your awesome job? When I was 16, I ate a burger in New Mexico that blew my mind. From that moment on, all I wanted was to be able to cook food like that, so I took a job in a French Bistro — Figaro Bistrot in Los Feliz — instead of going to school. From there, I continued to work at more refined restaurants. I was part of the original team at Gordon Ramsay at The London Hotel in West Hollywood, where I spent three years in the kitchen and I was the chef de partie when the restaurant was awarded a Michelin star. I’ve appeared on a few TV sh

 Taking inspiration from the Colorado mountains where she lives, Sarah is a full-time artist who specializes in hand-drawn portraits of animals. Her work is a labor of love, but by listing her work on Etsy she’s bought enough freedom to devote her life to her passion. We couldn’t wait to hear more about the person behind the prints and how she's learned to price her artwork.  Read on for more about Sarah and to find out what she's hoping to learn next from you. Name: Sarah Petkus Business: Nest and Burrow Prints and Gifts Started: September 2011 How did you create your awesome job? I’ve been drawing, painting and sculpting since I was a kid and I always knew I needed to lead a creative life. Becoming an artist happened organically over the years. I sold my first piece of art when I was 13 and it seemed like common sense that I should try to sell more. After college, I started to research the business of making art for a living and I looked at how other artists

Bank of America is using a service called ViewPost to send vendor payments. It seems a little like bill.com but less expensive. Has anyone had experience using this feature? I don't want to cause my vendors any headaches as it requires them to create an account and enter their banking information. I checked and this is not listed in the app section of QBO, but they can connect to your QBO and send the information to QBO. 

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  Three years ago, two sisters on a mission to make a difference teamed up to start Sword & Plough — a social enterprise that works with veterans to repurpose military surplus materials that would otherwise be thrown away. Their unique tote bags, handbags and accessories, along with their passion for providing employment for veterans, recently catapulted them into the national spotlight as a top 10 finalist in Small Business Big Game, so we had to find out the story behind starting their business. Take it away, ladies! Names: Emily and Betsy Núñez Business: Sword & Plough Started: January 2012   Why did you both decide to build your business around the idea of giving back to the military? Emily: We were born into the military and it has always been a huge part of our lives. Our dad served for over 30 years, so we grew up on military posts. I'm currently an active duty U.S. Army Officer, stationed with the HUD special forces group. Betsy:&nbsp

Ryan always loved collecting old knick-knacks, but it wasn’t until he started repurposing them into unique lamps that his business was born. Now, he spends every spare hour outside of his 9-to-5 job reconditioning vintage pieces and selling them on Etsy or at local flea markets.  As Ryan gets ready to explore how to turn his successful pop-up shop into a real brick-and-mortar business, what are the key steps he needs to address first? Read on to learn more about Ryan — and add your tips for him below!   Name: Ryan Seagrist Business: Northern Electric Lighting Company Started: September 2013 How did you create your awesome job? I’ve always been interested in antiques and I run Northern Electric Lighting Company alongside my full-time job, partly as a hobby and partly as a business.  Monday through Friday, I work for Whole Foods Market as a Receiving and Maintenance Manager. During my evenings and on weekends, I run my Etsy antiques business. I basically have tw

     In 2011, Mike Brown was struggling to keep his upstate New York coffee shop open when he asked himself a question that would change the course of his business forever: "What is the world's strongest coffee, anyway?" Not long after, Death Wish Coffee was born. Touted as "the world's strongest coffee," Mike told us that it some third party resources even say it's twice the amount of caffeine in your typical cup of joe. Mike and his team of highly caffeinated coffee elves were honored recently to be the big winners in Small Business Big Game so we asked him to spill the beans on what his current challenges are as a small business owner and how he stays inspired day in and day out.   Name: Mike Brown Business: Death Wish Coffee Started: 2011   Why did you decide to start Death Wish Coffee? I've owned a small coffee shop in Saratoga Springs since 2008. Toward the end of 2011, I started  Death Wish Coffee in the basement of that shop with the go

        Brooke was struggling with getting sales in her Etsy shop until, on a whim, she tried selling something a little different — hand-painted dinosaur planters.   Three+ years later, Brooke has learned a ton about supply and demand after a big magazine feature kickstarted her sales and she experienced a rough period of burnout. We chatted with her to find out what her biggest pricing mistake was and how she manages her day-to-day during the busy holiday season. Take it away, Brooke!   Name: Brooke Hoerner   Business: Alyce Paul Crafting Studio   Started: November 2012   Where did you get the idea for creating and selling dinosaur planters on Etsy?   My ex-boyfriend was a dinosaur fanatic. We had dinosaur toys on top of the fridge, in the kitchen — just about everywhere you can imagine. I decided to paint one gold as a gift for him and added an air plant because I had lots of them at the time.   After making that firs

      "How you face your morning is how you face your life."   Sarah Harrison shared this bit of wisdom with us — and it immediately changed the way we start our day!   Through her own experiences dealing with burnout and leaving a full-time job to carve out her own path as a small business owner and consultant, Sarah has learned a ton about how to create systems that help her begin each day on the right foot.   Let's check out Sarah's five key tips for maximizing your morning ritual.   Are you ready?!         1. A successful morning ritual starts the night before   A self-professed "night owl living in an early bird world," Sarah struggled with her New Year's resolution back in 2014: to simply get up earlier every morning. She had recently made the leap from working a 9-to-5 to becoming self-employed and her daily schedule was changing every day. Some days were filled with energizing meetings, other days were empti

I thought I might reach out and ask if anyone has suggestions with regard to reaching / securing (software related) Accelerators and or VCs? We're beginning a funding round and all suggestions are welcome. Note, yes our pre-money valuation is complete, business plans, budgets, etc. and this is a new product we will be releasing. We recently added our company to Gust, but no others just yet.

  Finding the right beachwear at the right price was a conundrum that friendsGeorgie Pickering and Sophie Mill had separately encountered, so a chance conversation last spring led to a new business idea that (luckily!) enjoyed instant success. Sister Design’s rapid growth has taught the founders many a lesson in what it takes to design and launch a kaftan collection. Now, they’re curious to discover what next season will bring.   We caught up with Georgie and Sophie to chat about chasing the elusive promise of finding work-life balance, using focus groups to drive new product creation and their favorite tricks of the trade.       Names: Georgie Pickering and Sophie Mill Business: Sister Design Started: 2015   How did you create your awesome company?   Sophie: I have a background in fashion PR and have worked with brands including Versace, Paul Smith and Boden. But I struggled with giving up work after I had my kids. I

I'm curious what others have read about the art of writing a business proposal. Is there a book that you can recommend that does a great job teaching someone like a bookkeeper on how to effectively write a solid proposal?