11 reasons to reject the recession and grow your business
Many economists are predicting that with GM filing for bankruptcy on June 01, 2009 that the economy has hit bottom and will start to improve. With this being the longest recession since the Great Depression and many "green shoots" in the economy starting to appear, it's now time to prepare for future growth and not sit back and wait for it to happen. Besides, if you don't do these things now when will you have time?
So here are eleven tips to be ready for growth:
•1. Let's start with youIf you're running a business that sells products you are used to counting your inventory. If you are a service business and don't have inventory you understand the concept. So this idea is simple, let's start with you. What do you need to be ready for the growth of your business - a vacation to freshen up your energy levels, some training to learn that piece of software you always wanted to know how to use, an accounting, sales and marketing or Social Network Media course.
•2. Do some audits of the businessLet's make sure we are "business ready" so when things get busy we don't waste opportunities. Items to check in this category include your lease; when does it expire and is it worth re-negotiating with the landlord now or hiring a professional to help you do this? Update Training Manuals and Employee Manuals. If you don't have either of them, now's the time to do it or hire someone to do it for you. Answering the same question from each of your employees is not only repetitive but a waste of time. Making sure your manuals are also legally compliant is a good business investment. This audit can also include the corporate records of the business.
•3. Review your business insuranceThis idea is an extension of the above. If you're doing a business audit, talk to your insurance agent to see what changes you need to make. You're probably concerned some policies have gone up but it's possible some have gone down or you can lessen coverage on some items to better handle your premiums.
•4. Talk to your employees and get them motivatedThe recession has been tough on everybody. Being the owner of the business we tend to think it's been tougher on us. However, your employees have been concerned about losing their job, cuts to the numbers of hours they work, reduction in overtime or bonus' plus their own standard of living. It's time to re-engage them; check where they are at and what they see. Perhaps it's time to hand them more responsibility so they can grow as the business grows but this may require training. Let's get that training going and building a team spirit.
•5. Upgrade your office equipmentIf you're working off outdated equipment and its holding back your business, now's the time to upgrade. If the new equipment is sophisticated there will be a learning curve involved. Now's the time to get on with it. And if you do it now, you will be ahead of your competition.
•6. Upgrade your computer networkThe technology experts suggest changing computers and software every 3 years. If this is critical infrastructure for your business operations now's the time to do it. After all, we are in the 21st century and technology is dynamic so let's use it to its fullest extent.
•7. Upgrade your accounting systemYour accounting system is the financial life blood of your business. If you are working off old software that you've been threatening to upgrade, now is the ideal time. Changing systems requires proper research and validation, building a strategy to move to the new version and the associated training. Now is the perfect time to look at this option.
•8. Talk with your customersHere's a novel idea - talk to your customers. I mean really talk to them. Find out how they are doing, how they are feeling and their view of the world. Perhaps they are thinking of spending a little more as they see things are turning around. And as they are one of your customers and already buy from you, they may be willing to buy something else you sell but didn't realize you carried it because they were too busy to ask.
•9. Update your websiteFor a lot of businesses, the website is the gateway customers use to decide if they want to do business with you. If your website has broken links or hasn't been upgraded in a long time, now's the time to have a professional refresh all your products and services and train you on any new technologies they recommend.
•10.Contribute locally in your communityThere are plenty of opportunities to help in your community. In fact, local communities are desperate for help. Find something that's important to you and get involved as your help is needed and will help put your issues into perspective.
•11.Create or make a communications planWhat do your employees say when they answer the phone, write in emails or when they meet customers face to face? What do your sales brochures say that you give to your clients? How about your website, business cards or advertisements? Do your current communications sound tired, bored or uninterested? Now is an ideal time to revisit what you communicate and how you communicate the products and/or services in your business.
Is selling your business in the back of your mind? Now's the perfect time to work through that option. Selling a business requires thought and planning. Building an exit strategy includes positioning your business correctly, not only for potential buyers but also how this impacts you personally with tax and personal financial planning issues. With unemployment so high, buyers will be looking for options other than returning to Corporate America.
11 reasons to reject the recession and grow your business - To learn more about this author, visit Andrew Rogerson's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
![]() | |
| |
No article feedback found. |
| |
Leave Your Feedback |
|
| |
| |||
Kim CastleWith nearly two decades in the advertising and design business, with clients like Domino's Pizza, General Motors, Direct TV, Pedigree, Wolfgang Puck, Higher Octave Music, Hollywood Celebrity Products, Disney, and Paramount, as well as thousands of entrepreneurs around the world define, structure, communicate, and position their business for greater profits, BrandU(R) co-creators Kim Castle and W. Vito Montone discovered that entrepreneurs could experience the same power that big brands command for a fraction of the cost with the world's only process-based results-drive Integral approach to business creation. BrandU(R) is helping entrepreneurs grow with the power of extreme clarity from idea...to brand...to market(TM) and helping one million entrepreneurs become successful and whole so that they can make a difference in the world. Are you one of them? If you want to experience clarity all the way to the bank(TM), get started now at http://www.brandu.com. - Visit Kim Castle's Website |
|||
David BarrDavid Barr is the President of Venture Opportunities, Inc. David has been a professional business broker/intermediary since 1980 focusing on General Business Brokerage and Mergers and Acquisitions representing client transaction value from $400,000 to $20,000,000. Mr. Barr has handled the sale of over four hundred and fifty companies. David earned a university degree from the State University of New York majoring in economics and business. David holds the Mergers and Acquisition Master Intermediary and the Certified Business Intermediary designations from the International Business Brokers Association. He is also a Senior Business Analyst and a Texas licensed Real Estate Agent. For more information about David and Venture Opportunities, visit www.bizdealmaker.com. - Visit David Barr's Website |
|||
Anne BarrAnne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website |
|||
Casey GollanCasey Gollan, Business Coaching & Mentoring Programs. Add $1 Million to $10 Million in the next 1 to 3 years. Since 1996 Casey has to added hundreds of millions of dollars to businesses. Watch a free video see client results Business Coaching website. - Visit Casey Gollan's Website |
|||
Jeff FosterWebBizIdeas.com is a Minneapolis website design company founded to help people start an internet business by providing them with website, business, and internet resources that help foster the growth of successful online businesses and develop innovative Internet business ideas. We specialize in internet consulting & internet marketing. - Visit Jeff Foster's Website |
|||
David AchesonDavid Acheson is the founder of DCJA Consultancy. DCJA Consultancy is a management consultancy business specialising in B2B sales consultancy. They offer bespoke and packaged sales consultancy including Sales Optimisation Review, Interim Sales Management, Sales & Marketing Review, 1:1 Sales & Management Staff Analysis, Management Training, Solution Sales Training, Creation of New Pay Plan, KPI's, run Customer Feedback Campaigns, assist with Recruitment, Coaching, Appraisals and set up Strategic Marketing Campaigns. David spent his early career in accountancy and then moved into sales in 1982, working in Office Equipment, IT, Advertising, Training, Outsourcing and Consultancy. He has held many Senior Positions in SMBs and Global Organisations including Head of Sales Operations & Head of Business Development. His knowledge, skills and great experience of the Sales Industry has led to David making keynote speeches and running educational sessions to key businesses through organisations including The Chamber of Commerce and Business Link. - Visit David Acheson's Website |
|||
Leanne Hoagland-SmithAre your sales where you want them to be? Will you be one of the few who achieves sales or business success or one of the many who have failed to change? Are you tired of being told you are like everyone else? Then you may find my first book on sales of interest. Be the Red Jacket in the Sea of Gray Suits, The Keys to Unlocking Sales available at Amazon or at http://www.processspecialist.com/red-jacket.htm. This book is a reflection of my no-nonsense approach to improving sales to overall business results. If you are truly committed to making sustainable changes, then I can help you secure a positive return on your investment because I focus on executable solutions not telling you the problems you already know you have. From training to corporate (group) coaching to executive one on one coaching, my approach is to assess, create awareness, build a goal driven action plan and then execute. The bottom line question is "Not do you or your employees know it, but do you or they want to do it?" Please call for a free strategy session at 219.759.5601. - Visit Leanne Hoagland-Smith's Website |
|||
Cheryl MatthynssensCheryl is a life skills coach, licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and a 20 year entrepreneur. Cheryl's dedication to achieving a life of balance led to her expanding her teaching from the simple managing of life's daily challenges to adding financial well being as well. A direct marketer with DrinkACT, she is gaining ground in the online community with her concepts of making sure business owners, entreprenuers and employees have well rounded life styles. She opened up a small affiliate site - The Balance Guide- to help others find resources for mental and emotional well being. Visit Cheryl's blog to see more of the diversity beyond business she has began offering online at www.thebalanceguide.blogspot.com - Visit Cheryl Matthynssens's Website |
|||
|
To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us. | |||
![]() | |
![]()
| |
![]() | |
|
| |
![]() | |
|
| |
![]() | |||||||
|
![]() | ||
|
| ||
![]() |
| Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details. |
|
|
![]() |
| Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media |
|
|
![]() |
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"
Click Here To Learn More |
|
|
|
|
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
|
![]() |
|
|
![]() | ||
|
More PR Resources
Press Release Builder | ||
|
Fortune Hunters
CBC Entrepreneur TV | ||
![]() | ||
![]() | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||














Subscribe to Andrew's articles











