The One Ratio Every Business Owner Needs to Know
My clients often ask me about benchmarks and ratios. They want to know how their business financials compare to industry standards. What’s the appropriate profit margin for a farm business; or what…
What I learned about business from tea sandwiches
When I launched my catering business in 1997, I was starved for work. While I had a clear mission of the kind of events I wanted to do, I also needed to pay the bills. So when a prospective client…
10 Tips for Getting the Most from Your Advisors
“Opinions are like armpits: everyone has them, and they usually stink.” When asked my opinion, whether in a casual conversation or through my consulting work, I’m quick to acknowledge that I don’t…
The Skills for Success
Math, along with numbers in general, scare many small business owners. Rather than deal with this fear, they often stick their heads in the sand and ignore the hard truths and opportunities that come…
Growing Your Business: From Bootstrapper to Manager
For many entrepreneurs, planning growth through spreadsheet analysis is pretty straightforward. Though entrepreneurs may not like numbers, or have a particular affinity towards them; numbers are…
Thinning the Herd: Letting Go of Unprofitable Clients
As entrepreneurs, we’ve come to accept that being our own boss isn’t always peaches and cream. We deal with dreaded tasks and chores (bookkeeping, anyone?), and service difficult clients. With some…
Ego Check: Is Your Pride Hindering Your Success?
Food is personal. Small businesses are, too. Entrepreneurs share their passion and drive with their customers; I am continually inspired by the heart and effort that my clients commit to their…
Debt vs. Equity: What’s the Right Type of Financing for You?
As you prepare to grow your business, one of the first things you'll consider is funding. Most entrepreneurs base their decision primarily on the repayment terms: what sort of interest/return does…
New Year’s Goals For Entrepreneurs
There are many reasons why New Year's resolutions don't work. They are things we think we “should” do and therefore don’t have the vested interest; and we try to make too many changes at once. They…
Entrepreneur$#*!
Do you consider yourself an entrepreneur? If you’re anything like me, you probably said no. You’re a farmer, a chef, a food producer. Entrepreneur? Well, maybe. You got into farming or…