Should your business offer its investors debt or equity in exchange for capital? The answer may be both. There are many ways for a nascent small business to acquire the money it needs to start operations and expand. By now, many owners realize that the traditional bank loan is the most difficult and least advantageous source of capital for many small businesses. They instead turn to venture capital firms or angel investors. When you finally find the right funding partner and shake hands on the … [Read more...]
Small-Business Moneyball
If your payroll only goes so far, you'll get more bang for your small business' buck by taking a page from the Oakland Athletics' playbook. Who could resist a movie with Brad Pitt? In Moneyball, which is based on the 2003 book of the same name by Michael Lewis, Pitt plays Billy Beane, general manager of the Oakland Athletics. Pitt or no Pitt, I normally stay away from sports movies. But Moneyball is no ordinary sports movie. It’s a lesson in hiring to which all small- and large-business … [Read more...]
Sale Price: How a Buyer Will Price Your Company
Knowing the basics and getting help will result in a sale price you can live with. When it comes time to sell your business, there are only three potential scenarios for agreeing on a final price: The buyer is better informed than the seller and buys the company cheaply The seller is better informed than the buyer and is able to extract a juicy premium above the true market value Both sides are equally matched and a fair price for both parties is negotiated In my experience, it’s … [Read more...]
¿Por qué debe vender un Producto Mínimo Viable?
Hace poco conocí el concepto de Producto Mínimo Viable o MVP, por sus siglas en inglés. Si usted trabaja en la industria de desarrollo de software, es muy probable que haya escuchado hablar de MVP. Sin embargo para cualquier otra persona, ésta será una experiencia reveladora. La primera vez que escuché el término de Producto Mínimo Viable, definitivamente me pareció extraño. Mi instinto de valor para el cliente inmediatamente cuestionaba cualquier concepto que incluyera las … [Read more...]
El estrés financiero perjudica gravemente a sus empleados
Muchas empresas establecen políticas que ayudan a sus empleados a ocuparse de las pequeñas distracciones de la vida que pueden mermar la productividad. Ofrecer almuerzos gratuitos, café de cortesía, acceso a un gimnasio e incluso servicios de lavado en seco es mucho menos raro hoy en día, en comparación con lo que sucedía hace treinta años. Si bien estos programas pueden ayudar a que los empleados se concentren, no ayudan con el problema que mas impacta la productividad: las finanzas … [Read more...]
A Crash Course in Cash Flow Management
Need a refresher in cash flow management? Check out these great resources, and our latest Cash Flow Crash Course. The best indicator of a company’s chance to succeed over the long-term is its ability to generate and hold onto cash. Sales growth, profit margins, expanding customer lists and increases in headcount are all important measures of a company’s performance, but without cash, growth is near impossible. Unfortunately, many small business owners fail to take a proactive approach when it … [Read more...]
Companies are hoarding cash
Companies are hoarding cash, stake your claim on $850 billion , there are still business opportunities available. You just have to prove your case. The 1,000 largest publicly traded companies in the United States hold a collective $850 billion in cash, according to recent research by REL Consulting. The global working-capital consulting firm compiled this statistic by reviewing financial filings through June of this year. This amount of cash is 6 percent more than last year and an astounding … [Read more...]
3 Ways To Deal With Threats To Your Cash Cow
Dealing with competition is natural, but if a company is after your biggest client, then you need to play smart. Here are 3 Ways To Deal With Threats To Your Cash Cow Many small businesses have a cash cow customer, that is, a buyer who generates a significant portion of the company’s revenues. Oftentimes, these customers renew contracts without much effort, generating a stream of reliable cash flow—until, of course, a competitor zeroes in on the client with the intent of taking the business … [Read more...]
How The SIPC Protects Your Brokerage Accounts
The SIPC was instituted in 1970 to protect client assets when a brokerage firm goes bankrupt. Here's what it can do now. MF Global, a leading derivatives broker with over $40 billion in assets, filed for bankruptcy on October 31. Headed by former Goldman Sachs CEO/Senator/Governor Jon Corzine, the company made risky investment decisions, which failed and wiped out the company’s capital. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Securities and Exchange Commission are investigating to determine … [Read more...]
The Importance Of Aligning Metrics And Goals At Your Company
Your company is losing money but you can't figure out what's wrong. Here's how to properly use your metrics and goals at your company. One of the most difficult challenges business owners and managers face is processing conflicting information. Some business metrics simultaneously show that a company is doing well while others raise red flags. These diverging signals could be caused by faulty metrics, poor tracking, unclear goals or perhaps all of the above. But how is an executive supposed to … [Read more...]
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