Help Start My Small Business

This week I interview Tom Reber. Tom has started three different businesses in his career. Two residential painting companies and Motor. Tom shares with us his desire to be Uncommon and how he is teaching others to do the same. He has some great ideas to share with everyone including: The three things he would change if he could start his small business journey over How he manages to juggle two businesses and his growing family His experience in a business partnership How he always keeps his pipeline full of leads To find out more about Tom and Motor check out his Uncommon Website.           How have you been uncommon lately?  Please comment below...  

Most new business owners are overwhelmed with 'too much business.' They are often 'too busy.' Do you ever feel this way? Running from one appointment to the next without much to show for it except more proposals to write. If this describes you, you are not alone. When starting a business it's natural to want to bid every possible project that comes your way. But is this a good use of your time? This week we give you some guidelines to use when evaluating a new potential client. Should you spend the time necessary to bid this project or are you better moving on to something more prosperous? How can you get a prospect to open up about your competition? How to drill down with a prospect to see if they are a fit for your company What should you NEVER do if you want the job? Curiosity is the basis for all sales Do you have a list of questions to ask potential clients to qualify them as a customer? Comment below...    

What Is The DiSC Profile

It took us far too long to learn the benefits of a sales system. We struggled for years not knowing why people would or wouldn't buy from us. It was all a happy accident! Now-a-days we have a repeatable system for handling the sales process. By developing a predictable flow chart of events it helps us to ensure that every potential client is treated the same. It also allows to channel our energy into leads that might actually turn into a sale and weed out the tire kickers early in the process! This week we will share the five step process every small service business should use to handle sales opportunities. What starts the sales process? Why do customers really buy from you? How to recognize a real client from a window-shopper. Why being curious is a really good thing in sales. What is the ONE outcome every sales call should have. Why we would be happy to turn away a 'potential project.' (and no we're not crazy!) Download a transcript of this episode   Do you have a system you use in your sales process?  Please share below...

Being vague is a problem for many new business owners. Be specific about your ideal client by creating a picture of this person. Or avatar. By having an example of your client in your head you can better convey this person to networking partners or in your advertising. Hear all our thoughts on defining your ideal client in this episode.   Download a transcript of this episode   What does your ideal client look like?  Share your avatar below...    

It's important to know where your marketing efforts are doing the most good. Tracking your sales leads is a big part of this discussion. This week we discuss the basics of lead tracking. What is a lead? What is the purpose of lead tracking? How to gather the lead tracking information. How to keep track of lead data Sales Force Infusionsoft Sales Nexus ACT Highrise How to use the data in your business   Download a transcript of this episode How do you use lead tracking data in your business? Comment below...  

Is there such a thing as 'luck' when it comes to business or life? Neil goes on a short rant about luck. Business icon Sir Richard Branson and country super-star Miranda Lambert are examples of people that are "lucky."  But are they really? Does hard work trump luck? Neil compares magic to luck and why people use these terms.   Download a transcript of this episode What are your thoughts on luck? Does it exist? How have you "gotten lucky" in business?

Starting a small business with the wrong attitude is a disaster in the making! Do you have the attitude, mindset and drive necessary to make a successful small business? This week we explore: How do you know if you have the right business mindset? How do you know if you have the wrong business mindset? What are the signs you should look for to assess your mindset? What questions can you ask yourself to determine your attitude? Can you be lazy and start a business? When does 'get rich quick' work? Take Your Own DiSC Profile Here   Download A Transcript Of This Episode   How has your attitude made you successful? Comment below...

One of the questions we get asked most frequently is "How can you work with your brother?" This week we tackle partnerships. What are the benefits to a small business partnership What are the drawbacks of a partnership How does personality effect a partnership (DiSC profile) Can a partnership work if you have the same skills or different skills What do you legally need to have in place to start a partnership What type of insurance do you need to have for a partnership What is the number one, absolute most important element to a successful partnership Download a transcript of this episode   Could you ever work with a sibling? Comment below...    

When it's time to start your business you need a team on your side. One of the first people you need to recruit is an accountant. This week we talk about - the importance of having an accountant for your small business how an accountant can help you what role an accountant plays in your business where to find an accountant how to interview an accountant for your business how to recognize that your accountant is no longer the right fit for you Download a transcript of this episode

Every small business needs money (aka funding, capital, investment) to get started. It takes a little seed money to grow your idea into a thriving small business. This week we cover some basics about funding your business- Why you need money to start a business What initial expenses you might encounter What causes fluctuations in cash on hand Find sources for start-up funding What is the best way to finance a new business Sources of funding to avoid Potential pitfalls of certain funding sources Download a transcript of this episode   How do you plan to fund your new business?

It's important to know what success means to you BEFORE you start a business. By having a clear definition in your mind you can design your business around that image. If you don't have a definition of success your business might just happen TO you instead of FOR you. This week we give you some ideas about how to define success and we expand on why it's important.   Download a transcript of this episode    

When starting out in business having a mentor to show you the way is a great benefit. This week we discuss the benefits of having a mentor, what a mentor does, and how to find a mentor. The guys also share their experiences with having a mentor of their own and what they wish they had done differently when first starting out regarding mentors. Download a transcript of this episode

This week Neil talks with Marketer Jay Ehret. Jay is the creator of The Marketing Spot. Jay's mission in life is to turn entrepreneurs into marketers. Jay shares with us how to increase your sales AND raise your prices! Most small businesses start out by undercutting their prices. And when that doesn't work they cut some more, and more, and more. Until they have nothing left to cut. At this point they are confused why they aren't selling more with their new lower prices! Well, Jay will explain to us why this strategy doesn't work and what you can do instead. Make sure you stick around until the end when Jay tells the story of the $10 oil change! How is that even possible? Here's a hint - - It's Not!!   Download a transcript of this episode   Find Jay at TheMarketingSpot.com Find episodes of his former podcast at PowerToTheSmallBusiness.com    

When starting your small business it's important to build a database of people to draw business from. The easiest place to start is with your 'sphere of influence.' This week we discuss- what makes up your sphere of influence what information to include in the letter what call to action must be mentioned in the letter email versus snail mail of your letter   Download a transcript of this episode