Managing a small business can be challenging even under ideal conditions, and the economic and weather unpredictability of the last several years have been far from ideal.  The latest challenge we face is a surprisingly active flu season.  Here are a few tips that can help your business run smoothly during flu season....

Entrepreneurs typically learn the value early on of immediately noting down useful ideas and resolutions, perhaps from the advice of a mentor. What words of wisdom have shaped who we are today, and what helpful advice can we share with others?

How closely do the attributes of your ideal customer match up with your typical customer? Periodically reviewing your approaches to attracting customers keeps you in control. Even when your business is doing well, it is always a good idea to step out of your comfort zone to some degree and reach out to new potential customer groups, to ensure continued success in reaching your targets.

Baby Boomers are 80 million strong. In five years, 50 percent of the U.S. population will be 50+; however, less than 5 percent of advertising is geared towards Boomers, who will control 70 percent of the disposable income in the US over the next 5 years, and stand to inherit $15 trillion in the next 20 years. How can we make the most of this opportunity?

Are your employees aware of your mission?  Have they seen and read your mission statement?  Are they effectively engaging your customers to encourage return business?  One of the biggest misconceptions in business is that customer service is easy - that is it just a matter of being nice and polite.  Certainly being nice and polite are essential to dealing with customers; but the truth is that customer service is a cultivated work skill like any other.  By helping your employees to personally connect with your mission, you can improve your customer experience.  Here are 4 ways to get your employees to feel a personal connection with your mission and customers.

Implementation of your automotive shop management software is quick & easy with the Internet tools we utilize to install, train & support you – all of which are included with your AutoBiz Software purchase.

As small business owners, we work hard to offer something unique to our local communities, to provide quality products and services to our customers, and most importantly to keep our businesses operating. We work hard to make sure that our employees can provide for their families, and that we can also provide for our own.  For this reason, reading a negative review can feel like a personal attack. In an ever growing age of social media, online reviews can also have an impact on a small business's success.  What do we do while we’re dealing with all of this and then we get a negative review?