Back to School for Small Businesses: Marketing, Finance and Legal Tips and Tools for New and Established Small Business Owners

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SIMONE GAMBLE
OAAARS

WHAT FINANCE/MARKETING/ LEGAL ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE AN EMERGING SMALL BUSINESS? 

• Finance: Make sure you are on top of bookkeeping from the beginning. Good bookkeeping and accounting are the foundation of a healthy and thriving financial future for your business. I would highly recommend meeting with some of the Start Small Think Big experts to hone these skills earlier than later. Lastly, be super clear about your business plan and how you look to make money from your business and make passive income, along with how to scale. Preparation is truly the key to success for thriving businesses. 

• Marketing: You must do the work to discover your why. Building this foundation helps to develop your brand voice and messaging. Without this core, your business can crumble because it lacks the firm foundation on which it needs to stand. You will attract the right customers and team if you stand firm in your authenticity and why. Secondly, I would advise getting to know your customer to understand how to speak to that particular group. You want it to feel natural and not like you are selling to them. The more you truly learn about their passions and wishes, the more you will best be able to fulfill their needs. 

• Legal: Protect your intellectual property as soon as you have the financial backing to do so.  I would also highly recommend becoming a legal business entity of any sort. Doing so helps separate you from your business in any legal ramifications because becoming an LLC has made me feel protected and legitimized.

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KELLI KELLEY
BRNDMETHOD MEDIA GROUP

WHAT FINANCE/MARKETING/ LEGAL ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE AN EMERGING SMALL BUSINESS?

The best marketing advice that I would give an emerging small business is to create a solid strategy as a foundational element to your digital marketing campaigns. Every post or video should be tied to a purpose, whether making someone aware of your business, encouraging them to consider your product or service, or asking for the sale. Be intentional about creating value and promoting thought leadership on your social channels. It’s a prime opportunity to showcase your expertise and build trust.

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KRYSTAL BENSON
CLIQUE BAIT

WHAT IS A BUSINESS BASIC TIP SOMEONE GAVE YOU THAT HELPED YOUR BUSINESS EVOLVE? 

One of the best business essential tips I've received is to focus on getting your systems (Customer Experience, Team Management, Payroll, etc.) in order. Having organization is pivotal, but having systems in place allows you to scale and maintain it.

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SARAH WILLIAMS
816 NEW YORK

WHAT FINANCE/MARKETING/ LEGAL ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE AN EMERGING SMALL BUSINESS?

Integrity can be a differentiator, but too often, in a rush to become profitable or gain a large following, small businesses fail to survey their place in the market and analyze trends and underserved customers. The most significant benefit to being a small business is that you can pivot much more quickly than a big company. Studying patterns and developing strategies allows small business owners to identify their true worth and cement a more lasting purpose.