McDonald’s has the golden arches, Coca-Cola the scripted font, and Apple… a multicolored apple. A logo is probably one of the most important elements of marketing your business. As your business develops, your logo will become synonymous with the quality of service you provide.

Your logo also conveys information to new clientèle. The style and dynamics can speak volumes. Take Coca-Cola’s logo for example. The scripted text not only gives the familiarity of hand-written words, but also provides and indication that the drink is cool and refreshing. The style of the logo makes you want to say “aaahhhhh,” and I’m sure that’s something they were going for.

According to Entrepreneur.com’s Logo Design Basics, there are three main types of logos in the business world:

1. High-Tech Industry Logos
These logos typically have a chiseled and angular look. They attempt to convey “innovation” to the consumer.

2. Service-Oriented Industry Logos
Typically a smooth and rounded look to convey creativity and friendliness.

3. Business to Business Industry Logos
Typically embodies components of both types to convey stability and trustworthiness.

When you design your logo, keep it simple. It needs to be a design that is easy to remember, so don’t include a ton of information. It also needs to be easy to reproduce. A logo with lots of details will not translate well to smaller mediums like business cards.

To get the most out of your logo, first design it in black and white. This will, again, lend to the translation of the logo onto various mediums. Add color later as an embellishment. And be careful what types of color or font you use. Much of the human reaction to color is subliminal and consumers are generally unaware of the persuasive effects of color. Please visit our color theory page for more information on this subject.

Keep in mind that your logo should be the permanent fixture of your business. Once you decide on one and start to use it, it shouldn’t change, unless you know specifically that your logo is the source of stunted growth in your business. Potential clients will, from the first day your use it, associate that logo with your business. Changing it would only cause confusion.

Whether you hire a professional to design your logo or do it yourself, if you follow these simple guidelines, you’re well on your way to designing an effective logo for your business.

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As we can all probably guess, most of the growth a business will undergo occurs in the beginning. And it is much easier to grow a small business than a large one. Therefore, if your small business isn’t seeing much growth, it’s likely because you’re missing a necessary element.

To determine what’s holding you back, examine these areas of your business:

The Market
Before you even start a business, you should make sure there is a market for the product or service you want to sell. However, if you unknowingly skipped this step before you dove in, stop where you are and check yourself. Chances are you probably didn’t start a business that won’t succeed, but you may have tapped a market that either has too much attention or none at all.

Examine the demand for the product or service you provide. How vast is that market? What competition are you facing and how can you out-do them? If you have a product that no one is asking about, make it known. If there are already a number of other providers, then you have to make yourself stand out among them. This leads directly into the next element…

Advertising Exposure
Ads are all any of us deal with these days. They are every where you turn around. If you’re not taking advantage of advertising, then your business will be stuck. And if you are using advertising, you may not be using enough. The key is how many people you reach, i.e. repetition.

If you buy a radio spot for an ad, but only buy enough for it to play once a day then you must either (a) buy more air time or (b) make sure that once a day air time is during peek listening hours, such as rush hour or lunch time. Reach as many people as possible with the resources you have, whether limited or expansive. Be sure you are tapping into every advertising avenue you can: radio, TV, newspaper, magazine, word of mouth, business cards, etc.

A Believable Message
The last thing potential clientele want to hear is something far-fetched. If the message of your advertising isn’t believable, then your product simply will not sell. Roy Williams, an advertising columnist for Entrepreneur.com says to “close the loopholes in your message.” He provides an excellent example:

Open loophole: Advertisers often cry, “Everything must go!” but the listener is thinking “Or what? What happens if you don’t sell it? You’ll just come up with some new angle next week, right?”

Closed loophole: “Everything must go! Any jewelry not sold by the end of the day will be melted down and sold as scrap. This means that, until 9 o’clock tonight, you can buy finished jewelry for slightly more than the value of the raw materials.”

Couldn’t have explained it better myself.

The Customer’s Experience
Regardless of the effectiveness of your advertising, in the end, the growth of your business depends on the experience you provide to your customers. If they don’t leave your office with a smile on their face, then you’ve lost them and all of their friends they could have told about you. It is imperative that you provide your customers with outstanding service, competitive prices and fair policies. Do all that you can to make your customer’s loyal to you alone for the product you provide.

If you get all of these areas in check, anything else that might be hindering your business is a speed bump, a minor slow down that is easily overcome. Check these areas first and you’re well on your way to growth.

Source:
• Entrepreneur.com: Why Aren’t Your Ads Working?

Tags: start a business, advertising, business

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I work in a law firm, and we get clients of all types in our office. Though most of them have legitimate problems and are very appreciative of the attorney’s help, every once in awhile we see unpleasant people that want something for nothing.

Some think that they know every law applying to their situation and try to tell the attorneys how to do their jobs, without a day of law school. Others insist that they are the only clients we have and that we must drop everything to appease their every whim. And there are some who just absolutely refuse to make any sort of payment on their increasingly outstanding bills.

And, typically, the attorneys I work for will only put up with so much before they withdraw from the case, tie up loose ends, and gracefully let the client go. I honestly believe this is one of the many reasons why the firm is so successful. As every business owner should, they realize that there is no need wasting time on clients who don’t appreciate you and the service you provide.

The basic principal is that bad clients = less profit. Even a client who is paying, but demands far too much of your time dips into your profits because you are not giving other clients the attention they deserve and, therefore, are not earning as much as you could be.

Are your profits being hindered by deadbeat clients?

Here are examples of bad habits by clients you should strongly consider cutting loose:

Non-paying or Low-profit Clients
If they’re not paying you for your services, then they are obviously not worth working for. There is, of course, an exception to this rule. If a client is generally appreciative and can’t afford their entire bill, make payment arrangements that work for both of you. If they still won’t pay, even after you’ve given them a break, then drop them (and, if it’s worth pursuing, sue them for the unpaid balance – after all, you gave them a chance).

You also might want to determine a minimum profit you’re willing to make and cut the clients who don’t meet the quota. If they have potential for growth, great! Consider hanging on. But if things have just gone nowhere for a long time, you may consider putting that effort into the clients who profit you most.

Clients Who Require Justification
The clients that you always have to justify your prices or time to are just not worth having around. We see that sometimes at the law firm because many of our clients are billed at an hourly rate. Occasionally a client comes along who disputes the attorney’s time on their case. These are the sort of clients who want your services, but aren’t appreciative enough to compensate your time.

Time Wasting Clients
Clients who are unprepared for meetings, aren’t sure what they want from your business, or are just unwilling to heed your advice are not worth the headache. You’re the expert in your industry and they are not, otherwise they wouldn’t have come to you in the first place. If they aren’t willing to hear what you have to say now, they likely never will be. It will be a constant battle and stress. No one needs that hanging over their heads or their business.

In the end, it all comes down to your personality and business ethic – just how much you are willing (or able) to put up with. However, if you’re business is struggling, regardless of how nice you are, I strongly urge you to examine your clientele. Some of them may be part of the problem.

Related Reading:
• Entrepreneur.com: Fire Your Bad Clients

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Within the past ten years, most restaurants have installed touch-screens at the server work stations, for the servers to enter in the order for their tables. Now, technology has taken things one step further by recently giving restauranteurs the opportunity to put touch-screen ordering terminals at the table, replacing waiters and waitresses all together.

uWink Media Bistro, which opened in a Los Angeles area mall in October 2006, is the first of it’s kind. The restaurant was founded by Nolan Bushnell, who also founded Atari and Chuck E. Cheese’s, and he hopes to begin franchising this year.

Diners order on a touch-screen terminal at their table, and runners bring the food when it’s ready. In the interim, the terminal doubles as a video-game console to pass the time. If you need a refill on your drink, you simply touch “refill,” and 30 seconds later you have a full glass in front of you.

Lets weigh the pros and cons, shall we:

Pros
• An easier and faster dining experience during lunch and dinner rushes or if you have small children.
• You won’t have to deal with incompetent wait staff (let’s face it, there are some out there).
• Cut in labor costs for the restaurant industry.
• Can pay for your meal at the table, without waiting for your bill.

Cons
• You don’t get the personalized attention that a server provides, including recommendations.
• If you’re anything like Meg Ryan’s character on When Harry Met Sally (everything on the side, please), you may not get your food the exact way you want it.
• Job loss for a number of people who are putting themselves through college, single moms supporting their kids, etc.
• You would have to deal with advertisements on the touch-screen when it’s not being used.

I’m sure there are more pros and cons on either side, but, based upon my thoughts, it’s fairly even. The concept isn’t entirely new either. I’ve noted a couple of patents for devices to be placed on the tables in restaurants to signal a server when the diner wants his attention, for a refill, the check, etc. I’m quite fond of that idea, since I’ve felt overlooked by a server several times.

As my husband will tell you, I’m incredibly picky about the service we receive in a restaurant. I supported myself through high school and college by waiting tables, and I know what the standard is. I have a really hard time when our waitress doesn’t meet my expectations.

However, despite my restaurant idiosyncrasies, I’m not entirely on board for taking away the personal element. That’s why I think having a server, as well as a means to let them know from a distance that you need them, would be an excellent combination.

I really think that the DIY (do-it-yourself) ordering terminals, would be right at home in a fast food restaurant, where you don’t have wait staff anyway. Instead of a cashier, you simply get in line and enter in your own order, then wait for someone to hand it to you. There wouldn’t be a large number of people losing their jobs and things would be a bit simpler for the diner.

Another possibility might be putting the terminals at half of the tables in a casual dining restaurant. That way, diners have a choice between personal service or DIY. However, I don’t believe these terminals should be placed in high-end, up-scale restaurants. Part of their atmosphere is being waited on hand-and-foot by a professional who can make recommendations for an entree or wine. Having the terminals instead would simply not be the same.

I guess part of my reserve is this slight fear in the back of my head that we’re all going to be replaced by machines someday. And I know that many people feel the same way. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have movies like I Robot or shows like Battlestar Galactica.

But, alas, the passage of time means change and with the way technology is running full speed ahead, change is all around. Sometimes we just have to learn to adjust to the small things.

Related Readings:
• BusinessWeek.com: Your Waiter Today Will Be a Computer
• SelfServiceWorld.com: Touchscreen ordering finds favor in U.K. restaurant

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Recently, Fortune Magazine released it’s “100 Best Companies to Work For 2007″ and Google’s Mountain View, California campus was number one. Their employees are exceedingly loyal. “A team of wild horses couldn’t drag me away,” says one employee. They’re even more than willing to work all nighters without question.

So, what in the world would make someone want to enjoy working that much? Check out these college-like incentives and I’m sure you’ll understand:

• Free meals from 11 on-site gourmet restaurants and snack rooms all over, complete with cereal, candy, fresh fruit, cappucino makers, the works.

• An on-site fitness center, complete with weight room, lap pool, personal trainers and massages.

• Five on-site doctors and, you guessed it, all free.

• Game rooms that include pool tables, foosball, ping-pong, and arcade games.

• Rock-climbing walls, beach volleyball and roller hockey twice a week in the parking lot.

• Engineers can spend 20% of their time at work on independent projects.

• Employees can bring their dogs to work, so long as their co-workers don’t mind, the dogs are not aggressive, are free of fleas and the owners clean up after them.

• Pajama day, TGIF parties every week and charity events on-site.

• Six weeks paid sabbatical available for every 6 years an employee works there (537 employees took sabbaticals last year).

• Free car washes and oil changes on-site. If an employee wants to buy a hybrid vehicle, Google will give her $5,000 toward it. They also provide free Wi-Fi enabled coach buses from five Bay area locations.

• Free on-site salons and barber shops.

• A $2,000 reward for referring new employees.

• Google will reimburse up to $500 in takeout for the first 4 weeks of an employee’s maternity leave.

• Available resources to study 4 foreign languages: Madarin, Japanese, Spanish and French.

• Free on-site laundromat and dry cleaning.

• On-site childcare.

• Motorized scooters for on campus travel in style (and speed).

• A founders award, up to millions of dollars (literally), for new program ideas and designs.

Whew. No wonder Google receives an average of 1,300 resumes a day (up to 1.1 million a year) for an average of only 2,229 available jobs a year. And Google doesn’t pay for all of these incentives out of their allotted administrative expenses. It all comes out of the company’s profits, which were over $6.1 billion in 2005!

So, raise your hand if you’d like to work in a place like Google. Yeah, me too (sigh). I think what every business owner can take away from this is that they should make their company a place worth working for, even if that means dipping into the profits a bit. In the end, the employee loyalty and productivity are completely worth it.

Source:
• CNNMoney.com: 100 Best Companies to Work in 2007

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Customer service is hard to come by these days. So much so that advertising agencies are coming up with ad campaigns that emphasize the effective customer service a business provides. Instead of it being an expected part of everyday business dealings, quality customer service has become a commodity. I know I’m not the only one who finds that appalling.

Let’s look at recent news for an example, shall we. How about that American Airlines flight the Friday before New Year’s, traveling from San Francisco to Dallas (usually a 3.5 hour flight). The flight was diverted to Austin, Texas because of bad tornado weather in Dallas.

Continue reading : What Ever Happened to Customer Service? »

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Regardless of how old your child is, it’s never too late to teach him how to properly handle his money. The lessons that you can teach your teenager are vitally important. He is on the verge of being on his own. If he doesn’t know how to handle his money the right way, you are going to have to watch him endure years of financial woes. Take what little time you have left as an authority in his life and show him how it’s done.

Checking and Savings
Start by opening checking and savings accounts under your teen’s name. Whether she have a part-time job or just does some babysitting on the weekends, use the opportunity to show her that its better to use a checking account so that you can keep track of where the money goes.

Sit down with her each month when the account statement comes in and be sure she understands how to balance her checkbook. Explain the importance of recording every transaction in the register and figuring the current balance after each purchase or deposit.
Be sure that she understands the ATM balance shown after a withdrawal is rarely accurate and to never depend on it.

These tasks may seem common sense, but many people have no idea. I have a close friend who works in banking and she could tell you crazy stories. For example, she has many people who have bounced checks and swear by the fact that they thought there was still money in the bank just because there were still checks in their checkbook (Hello!)

Establish a Budget
Help your teen come up with her own budget to determine how her personal earnings will be spent. Determine whether she will be responsible for paying the insurance on her car, what she will be putting in savings each month, if she will be responsible for buying her own new clothes, etc. Compare her budget to the family budget so that she gains an understanding of how easy she really has it at this stage in her life.

Make a chart, indicating each spending category and how much each is allotted every month. Have your teen keep tabs on how much is left in the budget by writing down what she spends in each category and how much remains after that purchase. This will help her to know where she is overspending and to see how she can stick with it. It may be difficult for her in the beginning, but she’ll get it eventually.

Teach Real Debt
Nothing gets me more that parents who buy their teen a brand new Mustang for their 16th birthday… and, when he totals it, a Mustang convertible to replace it. Grrr. Those parents aren’t teaching their kids anything except that they can always count on daddy to get them whatever they want.

If you want your teenage to understand the real world, then teach him what it means to really be in debt. Go ahead and buy him a car, if you have the means, but get something more reasonable (say, less than $5,000) and have your child pay you back, with interest.

Make a monthly payment plan – something that is feasible based upon your teen’s income. Predetermine a percentage rate that won’t overwhelm him, but will convey the weight interest bears to him. Five percent is a good number.

Put the entire matter in writing, and be sure to include what the consequences will be for a late or missed payment (loss of driving privileges, TV time, etc.). Having a written document as a reference point helps to eliminate excuses. Also, map out a “loan payoff” chart, showing when each payment should be made and what remains on the loan after its application, all the way to zero. This will help your teen to see how much they will really be paying in the end and just how long it takes to get out of debt.

I also recommend you show them how long it would take to pay off (and how much more it would be) if they purchased the car on a credit card with the average 18-21% interest rate. I would imagine this would deter your teen from ever wanting to use a credit card for anything they couldn’t pay off each month.

In my opinion, this method is far more effective than the “prepaid card” that many parents use because the prepaid card is not teaching them the reality of debt. All it teaches is that prepayment is different from debt, but not the consequences and hardships debt can bring. Many teens end up getting a credit card anyway when they move out, without the proper education on how to handle one.

Truthfully, the possibilities are endless for teaching your teenagers about money. Anything you can do to help them understand being on their own (anything comparable to what you do) will help tremendously. Just don’t give up and don’t get frustrated. It will be well worth it to see them succeed.

Related Readings:
• BusinessWeek.com: Teens, young adults need money skills
• About.com: Teach Your Teen Financial Responsibility
• FamilyEducation.com: 5 Steps to Teach Your Teen to Budget
• FinancialLiteracy.com: Teaching Your Teen About Money

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For most of my life I knew very little about how to handle money. My examples growing up were usually of living paycheck to paycheck, and, when finally on my own I followed suit for a long time. The only advice I ever received was from my grandmother who told me regularly to “save, save, save,” but never told me how to get to a point where I could actually do that.

Unfortunately, my story is all too common. Today’s children are tomorrow’s business owners and many of them will go through years of financial struggles because they were never taught by their parents how to properly handle money. I firmly believe that teaching our children about money from the moment they are able to count (around 2 years old), is vital to their future happiness and survival.

The Boxes Method
When you’re little one can count to 10, she can begin to understand money. Remember, kids learn by observation and repetition. Give her a small allowance in increments that can be divided. I recommend starting with three pennies each day. I know, pennies sound small, but that is about all that will hold their attention span at a young age. Provide her with three small boxes and label them: spend, save and give. Show her each day that she should put a penny in each.

The “spend” box is, of course, the money that she gets to spend. Buy some stickers and new barrettes or, for your little man, a packet of baseball cards or bubblegum. Give him the opportunity to buy a piece of gum immediately, or wait until tomorrow so he will have two cents to buy a baseball card. What seems like an insignificant process will help him to understand how spending works.

The purpose of the “save” box is obvious as well. Give him ideas of things he can save for and buy at the store within the next month, such as a matchbox car. Tell him how many pennies it will take and remind him how close he is to buying it each day.

Avoid the temptation to help him along by adding extra funds. At such a young age, he may get the idea that mommy and daddy will always help him get what he wants. You want him to learn personal responsibility, not dependence on you.

Using the “give” box depends on your preferences. I am a firm believer in giving to charity, whether it be offering at church or donating to the local shelter, so it’s part of my teaching strategy. I believe that giving will eventually produce a return.

For example, the Rockefellers are an extremely well-known and wealthy family. What most don’t realize is that from John D. Rockefeller on down, the family has always been predominately givers. John Rockefeller gave over half of his $1 billion fortune during his lifetime, and the tradition continues through the generations.

Get Them Involved
As your child gets older, expand the financial lessons (and the amount of allowance) accordingly. Make her aware of your family’s position on finances - explain where your money goes.

Too many parents feel that it’s none of their child’s business how their money is spent, but that attitude is all wrong. You child learns by watching you. Your attitude about finances will become hers as she gets older. Openness will only help her to learn more and be more responsible with her own money down the road.

Let your child have input on what the family saves for, such as a family vacation, summer camp, or new family bikes. Map out how much you will need to set aside as a family each month in order to reach your goal, and have the kids contribute some of their allowance savings (such as $5 a month). Show them how even a small amount helps you to get there that much quicker.

Teach Debt Early
It’s also important to start teaching your child the shackles of debt. When you child begins to ask for a luxury item, such as an X-Box, agree to purchase that item with the understanding that your child will pay you back out of a portion of his allowance (Christmas is an exception, of course).

You may even consider adding a small percentage of interest, say 2%. Seem harsh? Well, it might be to some, but it’s highly effective. He will soon realize that it’s better to save up for something big and be patient than to spend money that you don’t even have yet. This will also begin to teach him the difference between needs and desires.

But what if your child is already a teenager and you are starting to witness the repercussions of not teaching her earlier about finances? Don’t worry, it’s not too late. As long as she is still under your roof, you still have ample opportunity to teach her how to handle money correctly – before she gets in trouble out on her own.

Tomorrow I will cover how to reach a teenager about finances, even when it seems impossible.

Related Reading:
• FamilyEducation.com: 15 Ways to Teach Kids About Money

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If you haven’t seen NBC’s “The Office” yet, and you’ve ever worked in an office, then you should definitely catch an episode. Its Nominations for two golden globes this year are not surprising, as the show just keeps you rolling. It’s one of my favorites and I think the appeal is not only in it’s humor, but that at least one of the characters on the show reminds each of us of someone we’ve worked with.

Angela from Accounting
I think I can probably generalize that everyone has unfortunately had the pleasure of working with someone like Angela. There have been too many to count for me.

The woman is tiresome. Her holier-than-thou complex is just down right rude, not to mention obnoxious. She is absolutely convinced that no one can do anything as well as she can – that everyone in the world but her is a moron. We could all do without the “If I were you” statements that continually spill out of the mouths of the Angelas in our office.

Inevitably, however, everyone puts up with Angela, doing nothing about her behavior. Despite the fact that we couldn’t help but feel relieved if the soda machine tragically fell over on her (or is that just me?).

Face it, when it comes to the Angelas in our office, we all just roll our eyes, mumble obscenities to ourselves and move on. We don’t say anything because the boss clearly sees something in them that keeps them around and we don’t want to risk losing our job by pointing out the elephant in the room. Say la vi.

Michael, The Manager
Incompetent is the word that comes to my mind. How the man obtained the position of manager, I’ll never understand. How did he kept a job at Dunder-Mifflin long enough to even be considered?

I have most definitely had managers like him, especially in the food service industry. You’d be surprised how many managers in a fast food restaurant stand around dumb-founded most of the time (well, maybe you wouldn’t).

I’ll have to give it to him though, he tries. Well, he doesn’t try to do the job, he tries to get everyone to like him. Granted, his attempts are often ridiculous, but the occasionally margarita party would probably bode well in any office.

Michael is genuinely concerned about what people think of him. He lacks the self-confidence that most stereotypical managers thrive on. He’s a rarity in that regard, at least in my experience.

Dwight, the…. Uh…
What does he do again? Besides brown-nose, that is. Much like the Angelas, we could all do without the suck-up Dwights of the business world. When was the last time we heard anything about Dwight’s actual job on the show? While he deems his position “Assistant Regional Manager,” Michael is often quick to correct him, noting that he is “assistant TO THE regional manager.”

The basic scenario is all too familiar – Dwight’s desire to be more than he is requires him to spend too much of his time at the bosses beck and call to get anything done. And guess who is stuck with picking up the slack, while the Dwights try and take all the credit? But we keep on doing the work, with the meager hope that someone will notice.

Pam, The Receptionist
Now she is the type of co-worker that everyone could get along with. The co-worker we all wish sat next to us. And she is a rare jewel. Pam is sweet, caring and even funny. When Michael is down, despite the fact that she often loathes him, she will help to pick him back up. She even covers him when he’s messed up (as usual).

If we all just strived to be like Pam, work would be much more bearable. The reality is, however, that there will always be someone you work with whose personality clashes with your own. That’s just how it is. The best way to cope is to watch “The Office” and find some laughter in the familiarity.

Related Readings:
• Entrepreneur.com: Is Your Office Like “The Office?”

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Baby boomers, those born between the years 1946 and 1964, represent 75 million of the nation’s population. And, in 2008, the first of that generation will hit the early retirement age of 62. Many boomers, however, don’t plan to retire. The new wave of business start-ups that is expected in the next couple of years will probably not be headed-up by 20-somethings as in recent years, but, rather, by potential retirees.

I Dream of Ownership
Of over 2100 people surveyed in a Yahoo poll conducted last year, 55% checked “own my own business” as the work they would prefer to do late in life. And 37% of those plan to start their businesses in the next five years. Ten percent of the general population owns their own business and, as a basis of comparison, 16% of baby boomers do. They make up 54% of all business owners.

Is there something in the water these days that has caused the boomers to keep on working through their golden years? You could say that. Many have a love of labor (who would of thought). But overwhelmingly it is their desire to be free and independent. Baby boomers are known to have what is called a “Peter Pan Complex.” They reject growing old in the traditional fashion, instead seeking new stimulations and challenges in their lives.

I can’t help but think about those commercials for retirement investments that talk about how, these days, retirees are looking at retirement in a whole new way. Instead of sitting in the rocking chair watching TV and darning socks, boomers reaching retirement age are taking motorcycle trips across country, skydiving, and just overall living the life they always wanted to. Why not add starting a business doing something you love to the list?

Want-to or Have-to?
Many boomers are going into business for themselves at retirement age out of necessity rather than desire. It’s the only way they will have an income during the latter part of their life. An unfortunate 90% of 45-54 year olds have less than $250,000 saved up for retirement. That equates to less than $10,000 annually to live on for 30 years.

You may be asking what the baby boomers have to offer that can lend to their success as entrepreneurs. Well, the typical stereotype associated with those reaching retirement age generally doesn’t apply to the boomer generation.

Baby Boomers:
1. are better educated that previous retiree generations.
2. are more willing to take on challenges.
3. have more funds available that younger entrepreneurs because they typically don’t have kids at home to support and have their mortgage paid off.
4. have more time available to develop their business correctly.
5. have years of experience in the real world.
6. have a vast network of connections from, frankly, years of being a part of this world.

I can’t help but cheer the boomer generation on. That’s what retirement should be… doing what you love. And why not make money doing it to support you in the years ahead? And let’s not forget, the successful businesses to come from the boomer generation will help the rest of us too, by creating new jobs, decreasing the tax burden and aiding the economy.

All I have left to say is, in the words of the 20-something generation to which I belong: “More power to ya!”

Sources:
• AgeTimes.com: Start-Up Explosion on the Horizon
• BusinessJournal.com: Most Americans Dream of Starting Business
• PowerHomeBiz.com: Entrepreneurship and the Retiree
• RealtyTimes.com: Baby Boomers Boost Home-Based Business Market

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Have you seen Apple’s PC vs. Mac commercials (click to view ads)? You know, the ones where:

Two men stand side by side in front of a featureless, white background. “Hello, I’m a Mac,” says the guy on the right (who is much younger and dressed in jeans). “And I’m a PC,” says the guy on the left (who wears dorky glasses, ill-fitting khakis, and a jacket and tie). The two men discuss the many advantages of using a Mac and seem to agree that Macs are “better” than PCs [description courtesy of Slate.com].

I love those commercials, and I’m utterly a PC fan. But they are so well made and appealing (which, of course, is the idea). In fact, the ad campaign is rather brilliant, I’d say.

And, with 2007 being a war of new technology release between Microsoft and Apple, I would say that we’ll be seeing this ad campaign for awhile. Both companies will be releasing new versions of their main computing operation systems this year. The releases are expected to lead to upgrades to both the inside and outside of computers as we know them, as well as increase the selling price, for the first time in nearly 10 years, by 20-25%.

Microsoft will be releasing Windows Vista toward the end of January. The new operating system boasts features such as Windows SideShow, a technology that enables laptop manufacturers to include a secondary or auxiliary display in future laptop designs, which can be used to easily view the critical information you need (such as e-mails), whether the laptop is on, off, or in sleep mode.

Other Windows Vista features include voice recognition and Windows Backup, which allows you to access lost elements of your hard-drive more readily, even if the system crashes.

Apple’s new operating system is called Leopard. Some features include Time Machine, a similar program to Windows Backup, which allows you to search for deleted or lost files. Another feature, Spaces, organizes your on-screen windows into categories such as “work” and “play.”

Apple is also due to release iTV, a video-streaming technology, this year. This unit, a box similar to the Mac mini and designed to send video from a computer or iPod to your television screen, is expected to sell for around $300.

Intel has jumped on the release train as well. Due to release this year is their new wireless technology, Santa-Rosa, which will feature the latest Wi-Fi as well as greater power saving capabilities and faster access to memory. Robson, another innovation that is designed for Windows Vista, helps to speed up the start-up and application loading processes, making them up to two times faster (finally!).

There is also expected to be a boom in the ultra-mobile PC industry that Sony and other electronics manufacturers have already tapped in to. A cross between a notebook and smart phone, ultra-mobile PCs are designed for the consumer to be able to take their entire computer absolutely anywhere.

I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to the innovations coming our way in 2007. It never ceases to amaze me how rapidly technology advances right under our noses. Who knows, maybe we aren’t far from the world of The Jetsons afterall.

Source:
• BusinessWeek.com: Tech - The Look Ahead to 2007

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Ah, the joyous time for New Year’s resolutions. Dieting to getting fit, spending more time with your family, redecorate a bedroom… the list goes on and on. I’ve made more of a commitment than a resolution this year. I plan to start my own business.

I know, it seems kind of odd that I would write all of this information about small business and not have my own. But I have learned so much writing this blog the past few months. Enough, in fact, that I have the confidence to really follow my dreams and start something.

Some 671,800 small businesses started up in 2006, two-thirds of which can expect to be in business for at least two years. So, now it’s our turn. Are you ready? 2007 is our year, right?

Okay, so you may be with me on a positive outlook for starting a business this year, but your enthusiasm may be lacking due to the fact that you don’t know what kind of business to start. We all have ideas, but whose to say that our ideas land in a flourishing market? Don’t worry, help is out there.

The most important key to picking the right business to start in 2007 is to pay attention to the world around you. Find a trend and revamp it to fit your style and a specialized market. If ideas are scarce, Entrepreneur.com is ready for you with their Hot Center – a list of the hottest business trends for 2007. And it’s a long list. You’re bound to find something you would enjoy.

Here are some possible ideas to get you brainstorming:

Home Sales Parties
Many stay-at-home moms are tuning into this trend in order to add a little adult time to their lives, as well as bring in some extra funds. Pick a product you believe in, whether it be makeup, jewelry, spa treatment supplies, home décor, scrapbooking supplies, etc., and arrange to have “parties” at other people’s homes. You get a certain percentage of the profits and your friends who host the party get special incentives as well.

Personal Service Industry
Put simply, saving time for someone else. It could be anything from a grocery shopping service, to walking their dogs, to putting together the scrapbooks others can never seem to get around to (one of the areas I plan to make part of my business).

Writing
If you have the talent, then put it to good use. One of the largest growing internet industries these days is a need for copywriters. Businesses want their webpage text to draw the consumer in, and they need good writers to do that. One of the best parts is that, typically, it’s a freelance job so the possibilities are endless.

Landscaping
This is an industry that will probably never go out of style. People want beautiful yards, whether it be for their home or business location. If you have a talent for sculpting the spectacular from rocks, water and flowers, then you should definitely consider this industry.

Coffehouses
In a category all their own, despite the fact that you can practically find one on every corner. Thing is, if you have a block near you that doesn’t have a coffeehouse, chances are that you could start one there and be very successful. Everyone’s got to have their coffee. And if you can beat the prices and selection of “those other guys,” you’re in business.

I could go on and on. There are so many wonderful possibilities for a successful business in 2007 that, as long as you stick to the trends, you really can’t go wrong.

HERE’S TO A PROMISING NEW YEAR!

Sources:
• Entrepreneur.com: What’s Hot for 2007?
• Entrepreneur.com: 13 Niches to Investigate for Part-Time Business

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As far as small business goes, 2006 was a not-so-great year due to a slothful real estate market, rising gas prices and a decline in employment, according to Chad Moutray, Chief Economist for the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration.

How promising does small business look for 2007? Some things aren’t getting any easier. The main concern of the majority of small business owners are the issues surrounding labor. If you own and operate your business on your own, 2007 looks outstanding.

But if you have employees, then you probably already know what I’m talking about. It’s hard enough to find qualified employees for your business, and analysts say it’s not going to get any easier. The challenge of finding the right person for your business is expected to continually increase as more and more baby boomers begin to retire, and the prospects begin to dwindle.

Meanwhile, competition for the meager selection of prospective employees continues to increase, as small business owners have to try and match the salaries offered by larger companies.

According to SurePayroll.com, the national average of base pay salaries rose 7.4% in 2006, to $31,292 a year. And, as we all know, when you pay someone more, you have to do something to make up for it, which is typically an increase in the cost of your product.

Another issue that small business owners face when it comes to retaining employees is the continued increase in the costs of health insurance. While it is not expected that the increase will be as dramatic as more recent years, it is expected that health insurance rates will raise another 7.7% in 2007.

One other somewhat insignificant but worth mentioning challenge that faces small businesses that are online is the increased competition of other online businesses, as it’s not surprising to see three or four new businesses in your industry pop-up daily. This poses the challenge, that many find intriguing, of making your website stand out among thousands.

Despite the negative effect labor issues may have on small business in the next year, most entrepreneurs remain optimistic. The NFIB’s Index of Small Business Optimism is currently at 99.7, a continued historic high. As stated in Entrepreneur.com’s article (below), “a positive outlook itself bodes well for growing business… confidence is a critical indicator of current and future economic activity.”

Sources:
• CNNMoney.com: Glimmers of Hope for Entrepreneurs in 2007
• Entrepreneur.com: A Look Ahead - Challenges of 2007

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