BizOp Blogs

Globe and Mail: Pete is a friend of mine who is, in a word, paranoid. He’s always willing to share things that you should be concerned about. In the past, I’ve learned that you can be electrocuted while talking on the telephone during a thunderstorm, 200,000 serious injuries happen in the... More

Women Entrepreneur: Delinquent clients are like an acid drip: They eat away at your profit margin and corrode your cash flow. And once a client moves from late-paying to delinquent, it’s usually too late to expect a quick and happy ending. Just as in sports (and war), “the best defense is... More

BusinessKnowHow: 1. Obtain free or low cost business cards at a company such as www.VistaPrint.com. 2. Have a new or rebuilt shopping center opening in your town? Attend the grand opening and chat with the business owners and staff and hand out your free or low cost business cards. 3. Create flyers... More

Young Entrepreneur: 1. Get Away You don’t have to take a vacation to give yourself a break. Spending some time on a hobby you love, such as golf or playing music, can quickly re-energize you. If you’re really stressed out, head for a relaxing place far from the stimulus of a TV, phones and e-mail,... More

Work.com: Investing green with a piece of your retirement, business assets, or general investment portfolio not only sends an important message, but has a long term ability to profit as the world goes greener. Hardcore DIYers may want to take more risk by investing in individual stocks, but I would... More

PTN Blog: At retail, they call it the final foot before closing the sale. The consumer is alone on a shopping aisle. Just 12 inches away from the product on the shelf, and anything will help close the sale. In travel, agents have a far greater advantage – you can close the sale with even a minor... More

5 tax-specific benefits that make the 401(k) a smart choice for any small business. Forbes.com: 1. Tax credits make it easy to get started: Businesses with fewer than 100 employees, but at least one besides the owner, qualify for a $500 tax credit to offset the administrative costs of the plan for each... More

MSNBC: There’s no doubt that buying an existing small business is less risky than starting one from scratch. Why? Because, unlike a startup: * the business has equipment and inventory; * the business already has a location, and maybe there’s a few more years left on the lease; * the business... More

Wall Street Journal Blogs: 1. Tap your own experiences. Stick with industries and topics you know and preferably have worked in. You’ll be best-positioned to spot great business opportunities and take advantage of them – and have a leg up on any competitors who don’t share your expertise. 2. Solve... More

YoungEntrepreneur.com: Identify your Unique Selling Proposition Once you know your own strengths and your competitors’ weaknesses, you can figure out what makes you different from them. This is your Unique Selling Proposition, or USP. It will be the driving force behind your marketing campaign. What... More

Entrepreneur Daily: If you’re mechanically and environmentally inclined, a $10 million prize could soon be yours. The X Prize Foundation is offering $10 million for a super-efficient car. The competition is open to established automakers and unknown engineers, and it’s meant to result in... More

New York Times: Bill Neugent, an engineer in McLean, Va., is doing his bit to ease the looming generational financial squeeze as the nation’s 75 million baby boomers begin to retire. He’s working longer. Mr. Neugent, 62, plans to work full time until he is 65 and then part time for the Mitre Corporation,... More

The Wall Street Journal: For entrepreneurs, the importance of picking the right name for a company may rank second only to naming a child. (And it’s lot more expensive to change.) Name consultants are paid millions each year to help decide what to call a company. San Francisco naming boutique Eat... More

Travel Wires: If you are planning on starting a travel agency business, then you need to realise that although some people might view it as just selling air tickets, your customers will more than likely be interested in your expertise. In an interview Marion McPherson, former CEO of the Association... More