All posts by SBS

How To Do A Quarterly Review?

How do we know if we are on track for our yearly goal? How can we ensure that our strategy is working?
 
Small business owners need to do a quarterly review!
 
Without a quarterly review we are falling into the trap of working in our business and not on it. All of our activities become tasks rather than things that will help our business grow.
 
This video walks through:
1. Why is a review so critical? What are the reasons why our quarterly review might be higher or lower than we expected? What are the reasons why we might have to tweak the rest of our annual plan?
2. Super quick overview of strategic planning
3. How to do a quarterly review. What to be analyzing and what to be considering for the future.
4. Best practices and the top things to avoid when executing a strategic plan.
 

 
Contact The Expert
 
The Small Business Solver Team
info@smallbusinesssolver.com
 
Additional Resources
 
Like the PowerPoint? how do to a quarterly review
Want a template to use for your quarterly review? Quarterly-Review-MODEL
 

Avoid The Top Reasons Why Small Businesses Fail

Small business owners don’t have it easy. It is an uphill battle and we are always told that the odds are forever against us.

So what are we supposed to avoid and really look out for as small business owners?

This starts off with the reality check of how many small businesses actually fail and what the success rates are.

Then we look at what industries are more successful, what areas of Canada are starting businesses, and if Canada is competitive.

Then we look at the top 5 things to avoid.

Finally we compare this to what non-profits should be considering.

Contact the Expert

Carla Langhorst
e: Carla@smallbusinesssolver.com

 

Small Business 101: Making Your Dream a Reality

Starting up your own business is not as hard as you think.
 
This video walks through the critical logistical steps you need to be taking to get started.
 
1. How to select and check your business name?
2. Business location
3. Sole proprietorship vs. corporation
4. Registering for HST, Payroll, WSIB
5. Protecting your intellectual property
6. Taking your business online
7. Get Started!
 

 
Contact the Expert
 
www.bdc-canada.com
 
 

Universal Management Principles

It is impossible to be good at everything. In this webinar, SEF Canada teaches us that we don’t have to be!!
 
Success lies in understanding that all of the functions of a business can never be done perfectly by one person. Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. By knowing what you are best at and what you love, you will simply be more successful.
 
What do you love to do? Isn’t that what you should be doing if you are starting your own business?
 
Here are the main buckets of skill sets that you need to have in your business. Now that you know, you can get started in the right direction.
 

 
Contact the Expert
 
Suzette McFaul
SEF Canada
suzette@sefcanada.com
 
 

The Secret To Getting More Sales

The Secrete to Getting More Sales is all about following these 7 keys steps:
 
1. Do pre-contact research
2. Tell better stories
3. Ask better questions
4. Get commitment
5. Get broader agreement
6. Influence the influencers
7. Justify the cost
 
Great 35-minute video that will make a huge difference in how you look at sales!
 

 
Contact the Expert
 
Adrian Davis
adavis@whetstoneinc.ca
 

Latest & Greatest Social Media 2014

Social media is always changing!! It is important as a small business owner to stay social mediaon top of these changes and how this will impact your business online.

This 30 minute video talks about how social media is changing and where it is headed. Specific new tools are reviewed and any way that you can use them in small business is discussed.

After the webinar, a few questions were asked.

1. What other goals can you have for your social media?
– you can do market research, marketing testing, and find out how your customers actually feel about your business.

2. How do you decide where to spend your time?
– start with the basic ones, LinkedIn and Twitter are more stable to invest time into. Explore the new social media platforms when you have ‘free time’.

3. How can you think out of the box and become viral in your social media marketing?
– social media isn’t as viral as we all think it is. It is all about reaching a certain threshold where your video or post is highly ranked in its search. To get there, promote to your network and friends. Once you hit the threshold this becomes easier and easier.

Contact The Expert
Allan Pollett
allanp73@gmail.com

 

Resources

http://www.snapchat.com/
https://vine.co/
http://www.houzz.com/
http://www.impossible.com/
http://www.mobli.com/
http://www.yioop.com/
http://www.linkedin.com
http://www.twitter.com
http://www.facebook.com

Top Home Based Businesses

Starting up a business from home is a viable option. In fact over 50% of self-employed people run their small business from the comfort of their own home.

Find out why you should consider working from home, some surprising stats, the top trending home based small businesses, the top home based small businesses in operation, and if it is right for you.

Finally this 20 minute video reviews some best practices to help you start and keep your own small business at home.

Contact the Expert
The information from this webinar was gathered from small business resources and Stats Canada. For more information, please contact us at info@smallbusinesssolver.com

Like the Slides? Top Home Based Businesses

Action Planning

Get Started. Keep Going! This is the life of the small business owner and entrepreneur in 2014 trying to get their business ramped up or growing.
 
The number one reason why a small business owner is successful in the short term is based on how much they are moving forward.  Every time that you say the words ‘I will’, are you?  Not that you necessarily have to be on time, but you need to do it if you said you would.  Being action oriented and getting things done is critical to success.
 
The Action Planning Process includes the following steps;
1. Goal Setting
2. Action Planning
3. Implementation
4. Measure the Results
5. Assess/Reassess
 

 
Contact Information
 
Gary Brown
gary.brown@fsainc.ca
 
Like the Slides? SBS-action planning webinar

Cold Calling Basics (Part 2)

Cold calling is the most effective way to get new business to business prospects aware of what you are doing. But most small business owners and people in general dread the idea of picking up the phone.

Learn the more advanced tips of how to cold call with specific attention of what to actually say on the phone and what to do after that first phone call.

The tips that will be covered are;

1. Show them the money.
2. Minimize their commitment.
3. Maximize your credibility.
4. Appointment setting and closing.
5. Get a ‘no’ from them ‘yes’ man.
6. Have a goal.
7. Keep it simple.
8. First impressions on the phone.
9. Follow up tips.
10. Keep up your momentum.

Contact The Expert
Carla Langhorst
Carla@smallbusinesssolver.com

Like the Slides? Cold calling basics-part 2

What’s Your Business Worth?

Business valuation is critical for all small business owners as there is a high probability that you will be needing to evaluate how much your business is worth due to needing a loan, going through a divorce, or selling your business either voluntarily or involuntarily.

 

When it comes down to it, the value of your business is the price that someone is actually willing to pay you for it. But if you are trying to put a dollar value on your business without this step or before this step, there are some things to consider;

 

1. Net tangible assets
2. Identifiable intangibles
3. Goodwill (transitioned and non transitioned)
4. Redundant assets

 

If you are selling your business, there are some great ways to increase the value of your small business. And there are some specific value drivers to be aware of.

 

If you are buying a business, there are some specific details you should be looking for and specific circumstances where you may buy a small business for a lesser amount.

 

Watch this video for all of the details.

 

 

Contact The Expert

 

Fabyelle Chevalier, CPA, CA
Manager – Financial Advisory Services
BDO Canada LLP
Direct: 705 726 6331 ext. 8523
fchevalier@bdo.ca

 

Like the Presentation? Valuation Presentation