If you’re actively growing your business, it’s never too soon to start thinking about your leadership team.
Successfully scaling a business isn’t quite rocket science, but there are quite a few moving parts that you have to get right in order to make it all work. Continue reading
The Cumberland Business Incubator Open House was yesterday. Thank you to all who attended and had the chance to network with our tenants and clients who are always happy to share information about their businesses. There are great things happening in our tenant and client businesses. All are growing. Some of the connections are organic and occurring right within the building. Continue reading
Don’t miss National Small Business Week!
National Small Business Week is April 30 through May 6 this year. It really gets rolling on Monday, May 1, with the NSBW Awards Luncheon in Washington, D.C., when SBA Administrator Linda McMahon announces SBA’s National Small Business Person of the Year. However, don’t feel left out if you can’t make lunch with Linda. On the following days, live events will be broadcast online. Here’s a listing of those events:
Finally, you can join or monitor the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #SmallBusinessWeek.
Developing a marketing strategy for your business can be tough, especially if you don’t know where to start or what to focus on. Referring to the four questions below to help guide you. Continue reading
If entrepreneurs have mixed feelings about selling, that’s nothing compared to what the employees go through during a change of ownership. If you are selling, the new buyer expects the knowledge and expertise of your employees to come in the purchase. If you are the buyer, you based the purchase price on a going concern. Losing trained employees costs money. Continue reading
All TN Promise students must have their 8 hours of community service for Fall Semester 2017 completed and submitted by July 1st. If the hours are not completed and submitted, there will be no TN Promise funds for the student. Continue reading
Stephanie Breedlove started a payroll company in 1992 to solve the problem that families had in paying for their nannies. She began small and self-funded the business growth which averaged 20% per year.
In 2012 annual sales were at $9 million when she received a call from a company that wanted to buy her business and offered almost $40 million – more than 4 times annual revenue. Breedlove turned down the offer. She wanted more and settled on a price of $55 million.
Breedlove’s story illustrates the importance of having a unique point of differentiation, called the Monopoly Control by John Warrilow, author of Built to Sell. She had created a special niche in paying caregivers. The company that bought the business could not easily replicate what Breedlove had developed, which is why they paid such a high premium for Breedlove’s company.
To find out how you’re doing on The Monopoly Control business value driver, complete the Value Builder questionnaire now.
What did your score look like? Call for an appointment to go over your score and discuss ways to improve it. 931-456-4910
5S is a system to organize a workplace and execute tasks that provides the highest levels of convenience. Typically it involves identifying, storing, maintaining and arranging tools and materials to create a more organized and productive workplace.
5S is the nickname for a series of 5 Japanese words that all begin with S along with their English close translations: Continue reading
On February 18th I will celebrate my fourth anniversary with Roane State Community College’s Cumberland Business Incubator. It’s been a great experience working with entrepreneurs and businesses in the greater Upper Cumberland region. Our clients come from far and wide – from West of Putnam County, Morgan County, Fentress County, Bledsoe County, Anderson County, Roane County, Sevier County, Sequatchie County, White County ….and others. Continue reading
If you are considering leasing office space for your business, curb your enthusiasm and excitement long enough to ask yourself these five questions: Continue reading