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The Chicken Wing Guide to Small Business

10/28/2013

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As many of you know, one of my favorite foods is the famous Buffalo Wing. In today’s blog, I’ll cover The Chicken Wing Guide to Small Business.

Here are the Categories:

Suicide. If you’ve ever eaten a ’suicide’ flavored wing, you know that the first two, three, maybe four wings are really good. However, by the time you start to pick up the fourth or fifth wing, all kinds of alarms are going off trying to keep you from the next wing: cleared sinuses, sweaty forehead, blazing mouth, and rumbling stomach. A small business in this category is the one that outgrows its strategy and quickly heads down the path of destruction. These are the businesses that seek out the one HUGE customer that will make them rich. Instead, they find that that customer leads to a faster exit.

Hot. These are the best wings. Full flavor plus the punch of a good, hot sauce. A HOT business is one that is finally cooking. Typically, for a business to be HOT, it must catch a break. A key alliance, deal, or breakthrough will take this business quickly from Medium to HOT, but avoid the suicide temptations.

Medium. Medium is safe, for both wings and business. A medium-flavored wing will have some of the zing of a HOT wing, but save the mouth from the fiery after effects. A Medium business is a little more mature. It has weathered the startup storm and has moved on to the ‘cash cow’ phase of business. New sales will come from referrals and word-of-mouth. This business has been there, done that, and doesn’t need to impress anybody by trying too hard.

Mild. We’re starting to reach the limits of way I’d call a true ‘Buffalo’ wing. Eating a wing with Mild sauce says, “I’ll join you in eating these things, but I’d really be eating something else.” Same thing for the Mild business. This business is likely to be more of a hobby than a business. From mowing your neighbor’s lawn to selling crafts once a year at a show, this is not a 
full-time gig.

Before closing, I should mention Teriyaki and Honey BBQ. I normally would not accept honey BBQ as a wing sauce, but the inventor of the original Buffalo Wing, the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, does offer Honey BBQ — so it gets an exception. Teriyaki, though, will not receive an exception.

So, what kind of business would I describe as Honey BBQ? This is the business that was fueled by Passion! This business owner would not take “NO” for an answer. When everyone else was full of doubt, this entrepreneur was full of enough spice to push her/his way through and was sweet enough to get what they needed!

That’s the Chicken Wing Guide to Small Business.

Where can you find the hottest businesses in Chandler? At the Chandler Chamber Community.

Where can you find the best wings in Chandler? At Teakwoods Bar and Tavern (SEC of Ray and Kyrene).  Where are the best wings in your town?  Battle it out in the comments below (keep it civil, please).



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Is Your Business Ready to Sell?

10/25/2013

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Chances are, you’re NOT thinking of selling your business anytime soon. But…all of us should be thinking about the possibility. I am not suggesting it’s time to get out of the business. I’m suggesting that you get your business in shape to be sold. We have all heard that the point of a business is to be profitable. A profitable business allows you to do all the things you’re really after: doing your craft, leisure time, riches, etc. I say we take it one step further. Be more than profitable…make your business salable. What does that mean?Here is what you’ll want to look at:

1. Debt. You want to make it a goal to get rid of your business debt, whether that is credit cards, an SBA loan, or a loan from grandma. Any balances that are due within the year should be less than the amount of assets that are easily turned into cash: inventory, cash, receivables.

2. Net Income. You want to get your bottom line big enough that it will support you AND the business. You want your business to provide you a good income AND be able to grow itself, keep itself modern, and save for a rainy day.  A business that has been around for a few years can focus on reducing expenses, paying down debt, and increasing sales (even by a little bit). That will help create a salable business.

So, regardless if you plan to sell your business or not, I recommend you take a look and see if anybody would buy your business. If the answer is ‘no’, then you've got some work to do. If the answer is ‘yes’, then keep up the great work
!

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The One-Man or One-Woman Show: Can You Make It? Part II

10/23/2013

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In the last post, I addressed the sales revenue a one-person shop might need to generate in order to make an average income. Today, I’d like to address operations. If you are a sole operator, and a service business, you might want to take a look at your doctor’s office for a good model on how to set up your business.

A good doctor is passionate and skilled at healing people. It follows then, that she would want to spend her time healing patients, and not filling out forms, answering the phone, or taking patients’ vitals. Therefore, the doctor will set up an operation around herself that allows her to heal patients.

If you are a sole operator, how can you do the same? Think about the team you need around you to free your time to perform what you do best and what you are most passionate about — what really flips your pancakes!

There are a million different service providers out there to help you as part of your team. Here 

• Payroll and HR Companies

• Organizational experts

• Virtual assistants

• CPA and bookkeepers

• Business Advisors

• Marketing Consultants

• Cold calling firms

• Subcontractors

• You name it!

Take advantage of these services and free up your time to do what you do best. That way, you’ll maximize your billable hours through efficiency, customer service, and higher quality. Plus, you’ll just feel a whole lot better about business and the good you’re doing.

Where Should I Go Now?
The One-Man or One-Woman Show: Can You Make It? Part I
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The One-Man or One-Woman Show: Can You Make It? Part I

10/10/2013

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When I did the ‘research’ for my latest e-book, Do You Have What It Takes to Succeed? one of the things I discovered is that 
successful business owners always had a good team and a good mentor. That quickly led me, a sole operator, to ask myself, “Can a sole operator run a successful small business?”   I was shocked to find that in all the examples of successful businesses, I did not find a single example of a  good one-man or one-woman shop.  So, lets figure out what that would look like.

A single person shop will typically be a service business. It is impossible to run a retail or trade business without employees. A service business will typically charge by the hour or project. Given a 40-hour work week (okay, stop laughing!), let's look at what a sole operator would have to bring in, in terms of revenue, in order to ‘make it.’

Here’s what I’ve come up with:

Median income in America is around $48,000

Billable hours in a week: 25 (that’s five hours a day, allowing three per day for admin, etc.)

In order to make $48,000, you would need to clear (net profit) $925 a week

That is $37 net profit per billable hour

If your Net Profit Margin (you know, the bottom line) is 50%,

then your hourly rate should be $75 per hour

At 25 hours, that would be a weekly sales revenue of $1850

And a monthly revenue of $8000

If you’re a service business, you might be thinking that your profit margin is more than 50%. If so, I recommend taking a look at your other 15 hours in the week (and your P&L, but that's another post!). If you’re running a successful business, then you've built a team around you: CPA, marketing consultant, PR consultant, business advisor, etc.consultant, business advisor, etc. Chances are, your expenses are eating up a good chunk of those revenues.

These numbers might not line up for you and your business, but I think they provide a good exercise, even if you’re not a service business. Take some time to sit down and figure out what you need from your business’ bottom line. You might be surprised.  No matter what you learn, don't be afraid to look at it because knowledge is power.

Where Should I Go Now?
The One-Man or One-Woman Show: Can You Make It? Part II
Main Blog Page
Become a Business Coach like Stuart


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Finding A Mentor

10/3/2013

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I was fortunate enough to speak to the great group of small business owner the Chandler Chamber of Commerce at their event a few weeks back. I did a presentation called ‘Do You Have What It Takes to Succeed ?’.  In answering that question, we revealed that a key component is having a good business mentor.

As I combed through my past business ventures, my clients, and other small business owners , I realized that having a good mentor has been a key to just about every successful small business. Mentors can range from a former boss, a relative, or somebody in the industry who is willing to lend advice and a helping hand.


In my case, I sought out my mentor on my my first day as a Sales Rep (a million years ago!).  I had just started my own rep business by basically becoming a sub-rep to existing firms that didn't have an office in Phoenix. The national sales manager for my biggest product was in town, and we met at the office of one of my accounts to do some ’sales.’ I showed up in sandals and shorts. What a lesson. This national sales manager realized right away that I needed help. Over the next two years, he became the mentor I needed. I called him for advice. I asked him to visit my accounts frequently. We had very different selling styles, but we had the same goal: increase sales. 

Today, I credit my success in that venture to my mentor. I was able to increase my sales from $1.9M to over $3.5M in just over two years thanks to his mentorship.  The bottom line here is that I recommend you go out and find that mentor. It can be a friend, family, competitor, or somebody on the verge of retirement. Seek him/her out, ask for a lunch meeting, and let them know you’re looking for a mentor. It may just be the difference you’re company needs!


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Main Blog Page
Become A Business Coach like Stuart
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    Stuart Preston

    Stuart has run MyBusiness Advisors for over ten years.  Here, he share his experiences for those who also run or wish to run business coaching practices.

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