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Issue #6
money
Save money & increase leads - target customer in-market-now
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top tips to hit the ground running in 2020
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The best strategy for a successful business transition starts now!
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Winter 2019
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sales/ marketing
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Is your business ready for the next recession?
Here's a quick video with all the answers...
Last winter we led with the feel-good stories about relieving stress and self-improvement. this year we're getting serious about the business of business. With the tariff situation still in limbo and fears of a recession hovering on the edge of everyone's minds, we decided that our focus for the next twelve months will be on things you can do as the owner of a small or medium-sized business to put yourself in the best position to weather the storm. And a few months ago NH Business Guild introduced a new series called Recession-Proof Your Business. The idea behind the program is that recessions are a natural part of the business life-cycle. You have no way of knowing if they're going to be mild or harsh, but you can prepare your business so that when the market starts to tighten you will enter the cycle with a strong foundation that can weather the economic storm. Strengthen your business foundation Build systems and strategies to streamline operations Tap into new markets and develop secondary revenue streams We've partnered with local experts to present a year-long series of articles, webinars, and classes designed to help you take stock of where your business is today and what you need to do to weather the next recession. As always, please take a few minutes to check out our articles and advertisers. If you like what you see, share the magazine with your friends and colleagues. Or better yet, join the NH Business Guild and have your business featured. Pat Hammond Editor/Publisher Flackery
Editor's Note
Wondering why the heck we named the NH Business Guild magazine Flackery?
p. 8
36
Business Resources
New Feature
18
Tired of wasting money on social media ads? What if I said you can save money & increase leads by targeting customers who are in-market-now?
Recession-Proof Your Business
22
How to attract & retain staff on a limited budget
39
NH Business Guild Members
16
How to get instant credibility in one easy step - and it's absolutely free!
p. 22
p. 54
12
Optimize your day with a little mindfulness
5
20
How to get opportunity to knock
32
How to stay ahead of your receivables in 3 easy steps
37
Past Issues
27
How to tap the power of your network
Real world tools & strategies to build a strong foundation to help your business stay profitable when the economy is slow.
8
The best strategy for a successful business transition plan is to start now
New Feature:
p. 18
Featured Member
Photo Credits
31
Gotcha! An important warning for people who "share" a PayPal account
38
Advertising
CONTENTS
4
Why did I name the magazine Flackery?
p. 27
Business Meeting & Event Space
In every issue
p. 32
Back to Contents
By PAT HAMMOND, NH Business Guild
The Best Strategy for a Successful Business Transition Plan is to Start Now
Are you thinking about selling your business? It doesn't matter if you're retiring and want to hand off to a relative or if you've had an offer from a competitor. If you want to guarantee a smooth transition you're going to need a plan and you're going to need to start thinking about it now. Do you have a buyer? Will the buyer maintain your vision and can you walk away happy if they don't? How will you be paid? Will you remain on staff as a consultant? Will you have to sign a non-compete agreement? How do you value your business? Who do you need on your transition team? The list of things to consider is long and complicated. But with the right advisers and a little planning, you can successfully transition your business to new ownership. Ed Carter, a local certified public accountant who specializes in taxes, trusts, and business transitions, says it's much easier to transition a family business from a senior to a junior member than an outside buyer because you have more control of the timing. Family-owned businesses usually groom the next generation to run the business well before it's time for the senior member to step down. This creates brand continuity and gives the next generation the opportunity to build relationships with customers before taking control of the business. But now always. Jeremy Lindquist, owner and financial planner at Sky Peak Financial, says not all children want to take over the family business. He says parents sometimes have expectations that aren't in line with their children's skills and interests and warns that families need to have open and honest discussions about expectations and who will take over well before it's time for mom or dad to step down. But what if you're not looking to retire? What if you're a tech startup pursued by a larger corporation? TK Kuegler, co-founder at Wasabi Ventures, a firm that specializes in investing in early-stage startups, says a lot of people only sell a business once or twice in their life. "They don't know how to determine the value of their business. They don't know what a good deal looks like or how it will affect them when the deal is done." This is why it's so important to put together a team of advisers who specialize in business sales. Attorney Accountant Financial Planner Talking with someone like Lindquist can help you see the true value of your company and put you in a better position when it comes time to negotiate. He says most owners fail to see the big picture. They think the company value is the same as the salary they take which leads to undervaluation. Then there is the issue of expectations. Attorney Andrew Grosvenor from Merritt and Merritt, says "One of the biggest challenges we see is finding the right alignment between buyer and seller. The personalities at play matter and many sellers have expectations for what the business will look like post-sale. Finding the right buyer is critical because it will influence the deal structure and there are good odds that the buyer and seller will have to continue interacting with each other for a substantial period following closing." These are important points. Most people are looking for financial reward and fail to consider how selling their business will affect them. Many business owners see their companies as an extension of their own identity. They're used to calling the shots and driving the brand, but what happens when the new owners re-brand a product to reflect their own organization? It's not uncommon for former owners to sign non-compete agreements or stay on as advisers as part of a buyout. Will the money make up for not being able to work in the field you're already established as an expert? Can you handle being a part of day-to-day operations without the authority to make or countermand decisions? Transitioning a business from one owner to another is rarely a simple matter. Money, egos, clients, and legal issues can quickly escalate from a hiccup to a deal-breaker. But with a little forethought and input from a team of trusted advisers you can negotiate a deal that ensures you and your business will continue to thrive long after you've vacated the corner office. As for when you have to start thinking about your transition plan, sooner is better than later. You don't have to start your business with an exit strategy, but if your aim is to sell the company, you should be actively working towards that goal and have a strategy in place at least five years before you're ready to sell.
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FACT: Studies show that multitasking makes you less efficient, reduces your cognitive abilities, and leads to depression and stress. So how do you overcome the pitfalls of getting things done while you're actually getting things done? You adopt an attitude of mindfulness. And no, I don't mean yoga mats and meditation. While they are great ways to train yourself to be in the moment and relieve stress, mindfulness in business is more about making conscious choices and setting yourself up so you can focus on the task at hand. Improve productivity Improve concentration Improve your peace of mind Sounds great, but how do you do it? You've already tried Getting Things Done (GTD), bullet journaling and every other must-do productivity program only to find yourself more overwhelmed than ever. It's okay. Mindfulness starts by letting go, not taking on more. There is no need to reinvent the wheel or learn a new system. All it takes is a simple routine to help you control the chaos and bring mindfulness to your workday. Start each day by asking yourself three questions: What did I accomplish yesterday? What are my top three goals today? What are the obstacles to achieving them? Reviewing yesterday's achievements and failures gives you an opportunity to celebrate your success or review where things went wrong. Were the tasks too big for the allotted time? Were you sidetracked by interruptions? Did you choose the wrong goal? Maybe a client called with an emergency or you underestimated how long a task would take, it happens to everyone. Writing down the three things you want to accomplish each day helps you take control of your output so you can operate from a position of strength rather than anxiety. It doesn't mean that those are the only three things you can do, but it does mean that they are the day's primary tasks. Answering these questions forces you to make deliberate choices about how and when you do things. They help you to maximize your ability to focus and reduce stress because they compel you to cull the unimportant tasks and build breathing room into your day. It's what we all want, right? Less stress and more productivity. Give it a try for two weeks. You may just find that mindfulness is your golden ticket to accomplishing all of your goals and having the time and energy to enjoy them.
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92% of B2B buyers are more likely to purchase after reading a trusted review
Need help setting up a mailing list & email campaign? Visit mybusinessvault.com for a free consultation with Kristina Hathaway..
What would you say if I told you there was a super-easy, FREE way to add instant credibility and visibility to your business online? If you're like most people you'd probably say it sounds too good to be true and nothing in life is free. That may be true for a lot of things, but when it comes to self-promotion and reputation management the best solution is often the easiest solution. Are you ready for it? Ask your customers for a testimonial. It really is that simple and I have the perfect example to prove it. Local tax accountant Ed Carter has leveraged a generic Facebook page and a one-page business website to become the King of Testimonials. And you know how he did it? He sent an email to all his current and former clients asking them to leave a testimonial on his website or Facebook page if they were happy with the service. That's it. One email sent on a Thursday resulted in 15 testimonials by Monday. It's business 101, not rocket science. Ed's not a tech-savvy guy so he asked his web developer to set up a testimonial plugin and build a new landing page so he could send a link for customers to add endorsements. But if you use a content management system (CMS) like WordPress this is an easy task you can do on your own. The only skills you need are the ability to add a new page and click the install button on the testimonial plugin. And if you're wondering if testimonials make a difference the answer is an emphatic YES! Testimonials, especially for local service providers, improve your SEO ranking, give credibility, and highlight your expertise. People want to do business with people they know, and when that's not possible, they will choose a provider that's been highly recommended by other people. And the statistics back it up. According to a 2018 Local Consumer Review Survey from BrightLocal 86% of consumers read reviews for local businesses and 78% of customers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. In Ed's case, having the testimonials front and center on his homepage quickly resulted in a new client. And all he did was send one basic email. Ed made it look easy, but if you're not sure where to start, Guild community partner and marketing consultant Kristina Hathaway from My Business Vault can help you craft the perfect message, set up the email, and put together the mailing list. Update: Ed says the response has been so phenomenal, he added a similar testimonial request to his standard invoices.
70% of customers asked to leave a review went on to do so
Let's be honest, we all understand the importance of digital advertising for today's business, but social media isn't always the right fit for B2B companies and, as awesome as it is, Google isn't the most user-friendly tool for DIY lead generation. Sure, it's easy enough to buy a display ad and let it run, but how do you get your business to the top of the page when people search for your service? And how do you figure out how to reach the right customer at the right time so you're not blowing the budget on lookie-loos? Keywords, demographics, geolocations, the options are all very impressive until it's time to sit down and wade through the choices. How do you identify the best keyword is for your product? How do you narrow your target to the subset of people who need your service (and can afford it) today? How do you compete with companies with deeper pockets? You could take a deep breath and play eenie, meeney, miney, moe, but is that really the best way to make important decisions about your marketing strategy? Even if you get lucky and manage a few leads, it's not likely your results will be measurable and repeatable. And that's the key, isn't it? Your business needs a steady stream of qualified leads to generate enough sales to make a profit. And the most effective way to do that is to leverage the technology everyone uses. For most B2B organizations, that means landing at the top of the page on Google. According to Daryl Eames, founder of New England Web Strategies, paid search is hands-down the most effective marketing channel because "people are raising their hands and telling us they are in-market-now" for your service. The difference between this and display ads is that instead of trying to get on the radar of someone who might need your product or service five years from now, you're targeting the people who are actively looking for your service today. That sounds logical, right? But where do you start? You start by working with a well-established local agency like New England Web Strategies who can help you: Craft the right message Target the right prospect At the right time Eames says they work with large and small clients across the country and right here in New England. "We craft performance-based, ROI driven marketing programs and strategies that generate more visitors, leads, and sales for your business." He points out that you don't have to have an in-house marketing department and in many cases working directly with a company's owner ensures the best chance of a positive outcome because they are highly invested in the success of the business. How do you know paid search is right for your business? Check out the numbers. According to digital innovation firm Accenture, 94% of B2B buyers report using search as part of their purchasing process and those buyers are already 57% of the way towards a purchase before they even meet with a vendor. These are the people you want to target. And paid search is the way to do it. As Eames says, you owe it to your business to see if you can compete on paid search channels because they are a trackable and potentially scalable point of leverage for your business, and New England Web Strategies can help you do it. If you feel like your digital marketing efforts aren't generating regular qualified leads, contact New England Web Strategies for a free consultation. With a few brief questions, they can help you create the best digital marketing strategy for your business and budget.
SAVE MONEY & GENERATE MORE LEADS!
Daryl Eames, Founder & Lead Generation Specialist New England Web Strategies To learn more about how you can leverage paid search marketing for your business, visit NewEnglandWebStrategies.com today!
If you have received an IRS demand letter or are being audited, I can help.
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When it comes to opportunity there are two facts that stand the test of time. Opportunity favors the prepared We create our own opportunities There is no magic wizard dropping synchronous events in the path of unsuspecting people. The truth is the whole idea of being in the right place at the right time is predicated upon the assumption that you have the forethought to be at that spot when opportunity comes knocking. It has nothing to do with luck and everything to do with preparation. To put is simply, when you plan and are actively working towards an end goal you will a.) create situations to lead to new opportunities b.) be able to recognize real opportunities when they present themselves, That's it, that's all you really need to know. So make a plan and act on it. Create your own opportunities.
In today's tight labor market it's more important than ever to put together the right hiring package to find the top talent your business needs. If you feel like you can't compete with bigger companies with deeper pockets we've got the solution for you. As part of our Recession-Proof Your Business series, our partners at Process & Strategy Solutions have launched a series of webinars featuring noted experts to help you: Attract top talent Overcome budget limitations to offer swoon-worthy perks Create a balanced work-environment guaranteed to keep staff happy All without breaking the bank. Cynthia Kalina-Kaminsky, a global leader of business strategies and solutions, brings her expertise to small and medium-sized businesses in a series of webinars designed to help you build the foundation your business needs to survive and even thrive during an economic downturn. And her first webinar, Surefire Steps to Choosing THE Right Retirement Offering, provides a variety of budget-friendly ideas for offering the type of perks typically found only in large businesses to attract talent and foster a long-term relationship with your employees. Along with retirement specialist Chris Shea from Concord Wealth Management, Kalina-Kaminsky reviews different retirement vehicles and how offering a retirement plan is not only an economical way to make your business more appealing to top-level employees, it can be a very effective tool for fostering a long-term relationship with employees. Tie retirement contributions to bonuses as part of the reward for reaching goals Open account for your employees as part of a sign-on bonus Contribute to employee's retirement account on their annual anniversary Give a special retirement contribution on their 5 or 10-year anniversary Provide a corporate match once the employee invests a set amount We all know that staffing and continuity are critical components of building a stable business foundation. That continuity starts by hiring the best workers. Keeping customers happy by meeting deadlines & demand Maintaining company morale to assuage fear Doing it all with a shrinking budget In today's competitive labor market, something as simple and affordable as offering a retirement plan with an employer contribution really can give your business the edge when it comes to hiring and keeping top talent. The second webinar in the series, Transform Your Business into a Talent Magnet, features guest Dominic Militello, president and executive coach with the Job Search Gurus, and takes a deep dive into how to attract the employees your business needs to grow. Militello rejects the old paradigm of creating a unicorn job posting with the hope of finding the perfect worker and offers suggestions for how to make your company irresistible to the right person to fit your needs and culture. Explain your value to attract the correct talent Make sure managers have the power to hire Have a process in place to recognize, capture and maintain candidates when you find them Corporate brand is king in today's market and he says decision-makers should write a value statement and demonstrate how their organization lives those values. He also encourages business leaders to innovate their job postings. Skip the fluff and write job postings that reflect what you really need, rather than an improbable laundry list of unrelated skills to attract the right talent Think about eventual career paths, how a candidate can grow within the company and communicate that with workers Be continuously looking for the right people whether you have a current opening or not As an added bonus, Militello also takes a look at how employees can beat automated systems to find the right company and job they're looking for. He suggests employees start their search by re-thinking how they look for their dream job. Look for company brands that are a good fit for your personal brand Taking ownership of your career --> Actively research and network companies and jobs rather than blindly sending resumes Write a job offer that you'd like to receive including start date, duties, etc... and use it as a treasure map Use the formula Problem + Action = Result to demonstrate your value to decision-makers Write a vision statement with your ideal day, job, and opportunity Have a white paper you can send out to get yourself in front of decision-makers Remember you are as valuable to them as they are to you 
 There is no magic formula to get your business through an economic downturn, but the stronger your business is going into it, the more likely you will be able to weather the economic storm. If you struggle to attract and retain quality workers take a few minutes to check out these videos. You may just find the inspiration you need to recruit the right team to grow your business.
Are you tired of your competitors poaching your employees?
Do you struggle to find the right employees?
Employers & employees must take ownership of the job search process
Subscribe to Recession-Proof Your Business on Process & Strategy Solutions YouTube channel Process & Strategy Solutions, LLC is a preferred partner of the NH Business Guild. In addition to the Recession-Proof Your Business series of webinars, Dr. Kalina-Kaminsky has put together the 8-week Performance Magic program based on the techniques used by Fortune 500 companies to streamline and grow your small or mid-size business.
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Building relationships that grow your business
Overwhelmed by big networking events? Try coffee dates or hobby meetups as a casual alternative
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Networking, shmetworking. I get it. You're tired of hearing about networking. You're tired of going to events just to pass out a few business cards. And you're tired of meeting the same people week after week. You have no idea why people go on and on about how much you need to network when it's it's the same old, same old at every event. No new connections No new clients No new leads Why should you take valuable time out of your day just to hear another pitch for a product you don't want or need? The short answer is because networking works. When it's done right, networking is the best way to build a community of like minded business people who can help you with everything from referrals to partnerships and support. No one cares about your elevator pitch or your business cards. Business gurus used to tell people to go to networking events and hand out 25 - 50 business cards. Why? Yeah, it's easy, but what's the point? The reason we network is to meet people and build relationships. Not collect business cards. A carefully tended and nurtured network creates opportunities well beyond the person standing in front of you. Introductions Partnerships Product development ideas & more! It's like a ripple effect. One connection leads you to the people they know and the third level of people those people know. And when you start thinking of it in those terms, the possibilities are endless. How do you start? Instead of dragging yourself to another mindless mixer, take a look at the people you already know. Current & former co-workers People you know from hobbies and non-work activities Social media connections like LinkedIn Start simple. If it's someone you only know online, send them a message or comment on one of their posts. If it's someone you know in the real world, invite them to coffee. People want to do business with people they know and one cup of joe can open a lot of hidden doors. Instead of talking about yourself or your business, ask the person what's going on with them. Did they start a new job or project? Is there a big challenge keeping them from reaching a goal? Can you connect them to someone who can help? Pay attention to what people say. These conversations not only help you establish a relationship, but they're a great way to brainstorm ideas for new products and services. For example, if you're a bookkeeper and the person across from you is complaining that they can't figure out how to make basic changes in QuickBooks it could lead to you offering a set-up service for DIY'ers, one-on-one tutoring on how to use QuickBooks, or even an online course. If it's a common problem and you have an easy answer, share it. You don't have to give away your services, but a few free tips or a shareable blog post that will save someone else a lot of time and frustration will go a long way to building your reputation as an expert. That's a lot of mileage for a simple cup of coffee. As an entrepreneur or solopreneur you don't have the luxury of an in-house development team, a production manager, accountant, or marketing team. But when you have a strong network you can easily tap into the resources and connections you need. So what are you waiting for? Skip the mixer and leave your elevator pitch in the lobby. Take the time to make quality connections and build relationships and before you know it you will be a networking star with more connections and referrals than you ever imagined.
Your network is the most valuable tool in your business toolbox
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Gotcha! An important warning for people who share a PayPal account
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This should be a no brainer, but it apparently needs to be said. Stop sharing your PayPal account. I'm serious. You wouldn't let other people use your social security number, so why are you letting them use your PayPal account? Local tax accountant Ed Carter says sharing your account with others can create a serious tax headache because PayPal reports money paid to your social security or EIN number to the IRS. You read that right. PayPal files a 1099 for all your earnings. It might not seem like a big deal, but it could change your tax rate and set you up for an audit for unreported earnings. And if you think that it will never happen to you, think again. Carter says it happened to one of his clients right here in New Hampshire. Someone let another person accept a few credit card payments with their PayPal account and the next thing they knew the IRS was sending demand letters about unreported income. Talk about major headaches. On top of all the extra paperwork and potential fines, once you've been audited it opens the door for the IRS to review an average of 3 - 6 years of past taxes. I don't know about you, but it seems like it would be a lot easier to help a friend set up their own PayPal account than it would be to pay fines and deal with the IRS.
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46.2% of B2B invoices are past due
STEP ONE: Develop a guideline, including a timeline for handling slow or non--paying customers before you send your first invoice
Do you know what's more frustrating than an aging invoice? Nothing. You did the job. The client was happy with the work and it sounds like they want to hire you to do another project, but it's been 30, 60, or 90-days and they still haven't paid. What's the deal? You really need the money, but you're afraid to bother them about an outstanding invoice. What if they get mad? What if they refuse to hire you again? What if they tell people you're a jerk? Get over it. Clients have a million reasons for failing to pay and the creative ones can make it seem like it's your fault. According to a survey by Attradius Collections, 92.6% of businesses reported late payments from B2B customers with an average of 46.2% of invoices being unpaid at the due date. [1] Those numbers are crazy. What would happen to your business if almost half of your clients were late paying you? It may feel like you're at their mercy, but you did the job and have a right to be paid. Today we're looking at three simple steps to help you stay ahead of your receivables. Mike Cyr, operations manager at MDC Recovery, Inc. says "Businesses have to be proactive on their first notice." He stresses the importance of small and large organizations creating a receivables policy so your business has a consistent procedure for invoicing and follow up. 
 Set terms and expectations in a contract or time of service so the client is aware you expect payment by a specific date. 
 Identify who in the company is responsible for following up on outstanding invoices - especially important for small businesses that don't have a separate accounts receivables person
 Automate reminder notices for unpaid invoices Have a standard pitch for the receivables person or account manager to use when they call late-paying clients
 Create a plan for if a customer ignores your demands and fails pay It sounds like a lot, but establishing a receivables policy is one of those things that you do once and never have to think about again. The fact is that 30.3% of businesses use unpaid invoices as a form of free financing. [2] And if you want to discourage that practice you're going to have to find another way to encourage people to pay. Many companies offer a 2% discount for invoices paid within 15-days. Most clients won't take advantage of it, but it might be enough to motivate a few clients to pay today instead of 45-days. Consider offering alternative payment options. The main reason people don't pay is that they don't have the money. The easy availability of merchant services means that almost every business can accept credit cards online or in person. A lot of small business owners balk at the idea of customers paying with a credit card because of the processing fees but in many cases losing 3% of your payment to get your money today is a much better option than waiting for someone to write a check, find a stamp, and go to the post office. And if you're dealing with a customer who is always a slow-payer consider requiring a retainer or payment at the time of service. There is no point in having a receivables policy if you don't follow it. Start by being consistent about when you send invoices. It doesn't matter if your system generates an invoice at the time of the order or if you manually write them daily, weekly, or monthly. You can't expect your customers to get in the habit of paying promptly if you don't invoice them promptly. Automate anything you can. Invoices Reminder Notices Final Demands Finally, if you tell customers you will pursue them for payment with an attorney or collection agency, you need to do it. It's hard for many small business owners to take that final step, but the longer an invoice stays unpaid, the less likely you will get your money. If you end up in a worst case scenario and have to sue a client for payment, it will be beneficial to be able to show the judge that you made every effort to work with the client and settle the matter amicably. It doesn't usually come to that, but the sad truth is in today's economic climate you have to assume that some people won't pay without a nudge. Having a set procedure for your company's receivables will make it much easier to handle non-paying customers without stress or guilt. Remember, when it comes to receivables, the squeaky wheel really does get paid first.
It's been 30, 60, or 90-days and they still haven't paid...
How long would you stay in business if only half of your clients paid you?
1. Attradius Collections - Payment Practices Barometer Americas 2017 2. Attradius Collections - Payment Practices Barometer Overdue Invoices
STEP TWO: Offer incentives and alternatives
Need help with your receivables? NH Business Guild has partnered with many local services to help you get your money faster. Merchant Services B2B Collection Agencies Accountants We can connect you to the people who know how to prevent or fix an accounts receivable nightmare. info@nhbusinessguild.com
STEP THREE: Follow through
Winter 2018
Milford Coworking House (CoHo): Conference room, meeting, office and desk space.
For a small state New Hampshire has an abundance of free and low-cost resources for startups and small business owners. Here is a short list of organizations who offer classes, tools, and one-on-one mentoring to help you with your business challenge.
NH District Small Business Administration: Free online tools, articles, and links to partner resources. Center for Women & Enterprise: Free and budget-friendly classes and workshops NH Small Business Development Center (NHSBDC): Free online tools, budget-friendly mentoring & business advice. Veterans Business Outreach Center for New England: Free resources for veterans, active duty service personnel, and their spouses interested in starting or expanding their own business. Includes information about how to start a business, business planning, funding, and other general business topics. Live Free and Start: Live Free and Start is a collaboration between the Governor's office and the private sector. They offer many free resources for local small business owners looking to start or grow their business in the Granite State. This is a great resource for anyone looking to prepare or seek outside funding.
Manchester WBC Office Suites: Conference room, meeting, office and desk space. Jupiter Hall: Meeting and event space.
Londonderry CoWERC of Londonderry: Conference room, meeting, office and desk space.
Fall 2018
Spring 2019
Cover Photo by Tatiana Rodriguez on unsplash.com p. 5 Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash p. 8 Photo by Hello I'm Nik on Unsplash p. 12 Photo Boris Smokrovic on Unsplash p. 16 Local Consumer Survey graph from Bright Local
Business Mentoring & Planning
Fall 2019
p. 22 Photo by AllGo - An App For Plus Size People on Unsplash p. 27 Photo by Hannah Grace on Unsplash p. 29 Photo by Susan Holt Simpson on Unsplash p. 31 Photo by Helloquence on Unsplash p. 32 Photo by Wei Ding on Unsplash
Click the covers to view previous issues of Flackery Magazine.
Spring 2018
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Key Takeaways Plan Early Have a team of advisers Understand your expectations Open discussions with key players Know your company's value Have a "Plan B" for after the sale
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nhbusinessguild.com
8-WEEKS TO BUSINESS SUCCESS!
Target the customers you want to serve then align and deliver the service and performance they need
Cool, easy-to-use tools and processes to super charge what you do. Giving you more time to work on your business, not just in your business
NH Business Guild Services for YOUR business
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We're not just networking & marketing!
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The program was incredible! The methodology guided us through a systematic approach that allows us to identify, design, evaluate, and ultimately helped me determine the viability of a new service offering for our GS1 Consulting company. - KS, Co-Founder, small , 10-year old tech firm
Woring with you we accomplished in 3 months what took 12 years in my previous company. - CS, Co-Owner small home services business
Performance Magic is a hands-on course for small businesses that want to grow now, not later
Performance Magic
We now have the exact high value customers we wanted to serve. - CS, Co-Owner small business, cleaning and landscaping business
End the chaos - simply design built in coordination and collaboration to achieve your strategic goals
Did you know that the NH Business Guild offers a wide range of professional services for your business? Digital Publishing - We can design look books, portfolios, magazines, and other publications to promote your business Ask the Expert - Get easy to understand answers to your basic business, web design, graphic design, and general tech questions Brand Strategy - Develop your brand and create a plan to connect to your target audience Web Design & Hosting - Coming Soon! All of our services are budget-friendly and tailored to your needs. Members also enjoy discounts on community partner and member-to-member services such as advertising, content creation, business strategy, and more!
Take Your Business to the Next Level
You don't have to drive yourself nuts. Just take a look at your overall business plan and break it down into manageable SMART goals. Set quarterly benchmarks with monthly action steps. and leave a little flexibility for the unexpected.
Business Rule #2: Define Your Goals