Every business needs the basics and that's what you'll find here. The resources you need to make your business successful.

Marketing and SEO, Search Engine Optimization

Marketing strategy matters and its importance can't be overstated. Entrepreneurs have a tendency to fall in love with their product/service and just assume that everyone else will feel that same attraction. Too often all the company funds have been expended by the time the product is ready for market under the logic that very little marketing will be required once customers realize the product is available.

"Build it and they will come" works in the movies not in the business world. Search Engine Optimization, SEO are the methods used to increase the ranking of a site in the search engines so it shows up high. That's important because people searching for a subject usually will choose one of the sites on the first page to visit, usually one of the first 3 or 4 sites listed. The higher a site rates the more traffic will be generated from the search engines. SEO Consultants use a number of techniques such as meta tags, directory submissions, and backlinks.

Website Design is important to every business whether they have a physical presence or are strictly an Internet based business. A poorly designed site can lose sales and chase visitors away. A site that uses too many flashy bells and whistles can come off as unprofessional. Web Site Designers use many tools to develop a site that represents your business.

Marketing Strategies consists of: Marketing Objectives, Image Definition, Distribution, and Promotion. Find out more about Marketing and Search Engine Optimization

Outsourcing

Outsource consulting services, programming and web design. Hire freelance writers to compile your in house technical manuals.

There comes a time when your new business is going gang busters and there just aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done. Outsourcing can be the solution to managing your work overload. Why should you outsource? Here are three reasons.

Hire expertise

There are lots of tasks running a business that you personally may not have the expertise to tackle. While you could learn to do these tasks, the learning curve costs your valuable time. And the results may not be as high quality as you would like. Hire an expert, save money, save time, and get the job done correctly the first time. Read More at Outsourcing

Services

Every business needs an array of services to stay in business. A Business Directory can help you find a variety of services in one convenient place.

Communication needs include Internet access, hosting, website design, and domain registration. Telephone Systems, email hosts and email distribution services are just as important. Retail businesses require credit card processing, gateway services, shopping carts, and of course an easy to navigate store to show off their products.

For those conducting retail business online or off line, reliable wholesale providers are required as well as shipping and fulfillment houses. Wholesalers are the link between the manufacturer and your business. They can often provide a better price than if you contacted the manufacturer directly because they buy in large quantities for a number of different businesses. Wholesalers can also provide products from overseas manufacturers as well as domestic. Wholesale Forums are good places to ask questions.

Drop shippers mean you don't have to take possession of the product but can have it shipped directly to the customer from your source. Fulfillment houses take possession of your product and fill the orders and ship the products. Both drop shippers and fulfillment houses can save you money.

And of course, every business, whether large or small, needs a variety of insurance including: life, car, disability, health and dental insurance.

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Finance

Financing is a critical component for success. More than 90% of businesses fail in their first 5 years of business and the most common reason is not enough financing. Business financing is available through venture capital, angel investors, SBA loans, lines of credit, and leasing.

There are alternative methods of financing such as asset based, trade and barter, and royalty financing to name just a few.

What Kind Of Capital Is Right For Your Business?

There are two kinds of capital: debt and equity. Both kinds are typically used by a company during its lifetime. Lenders have different objectives than investors and therefore look at different factors about a company when deciding whether or not to invest or make a loan. Keep in mind that while there are two kinds of capital, there are many ways to find money for your company.

Debt

Debt is money borrowed, which must be repaid at a set time period and generates income for the lender over that time period. Lending sources include not only banks, but also leasing companies, factoring companies and even individuals.

Lending sources look primarily at two factors: how risky the loan is; and whether the company can generate sufficient cash to pay the interest and repay the principal. The growth potential of the company is secondary; the primary considerations are the track record and asset base of the company. Usually the debt must be secured against the assets of the company and very commonly must also be secured against the assets of the owner of the company, also called a personal guarantee.

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Business Planning

Business Plan Basics will help you establish goals, objectives, and strategies that are the road map to your business's success. Prepare a complete and concise business plan. Exactly what you need and nothing that you don't. Organize your information in a logical, easy to follow, format. Know what investors and bankers want to see in a business plan. Avoid killer mistakes. Use a format that is effective in raising capital. Know where to find general economic information and industry information. Find information about the market and the competition. Business Plan Basics.

Experts

A strong management team is critical to the success of your business. Sometimes it's isn't feasible to have a full time attorney on staff, or perhaps you can't quite support a Certified Public Accountant full time. You still need those services so hire them on a retainer or hourly basis.

Small Business Startup Ideas and Advice can lead you to a profitable business model.

Accountants are important members of a company's team. If you're a start-up or small business you may not have the resources to hire an accountant full time. There are software programs that can do most of the data entry but it's still a good idea to hire an accounting firm on a consulting basis to oversee your accounting systems, processing, and tax returns.

Attorneys are just as important, perhaps more so than accountants. An attorney can guide you to select the most appropriate way to set up your business. The best time to retain an attorney is before you need one. It's worth the money to know that if something comes up you have a legal expert who is familiar with your company.

Find out what Accountants, Attorneys, Business Appraisers, and other experts can do for your business at Experts