How can a small (3-5 employees) brick and mortar/e-commerce B2C retailer survive and thrive in an increasingly competitive market (outdoors/sports products) when it cannot compete on price? Any good examples of small companies doing just that?
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posted by Foci for Analysis
on Apr 15, 2013 -
5 answers
Book recommendations requested: I liked
My Korean Deli, which went into considerable detail about the day-to-day operation of a small convenience store.
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posted by enn
on Sep 21, 2012 -
9 answers
I run a electronic music blog and we are in the works of snagging some pretty big deals. A number of my partners mentioned forming an LLC. While our profit is low, we are potentially entering some big contracts in the future and need some credibility and protection. What is the most basic, simple form of corporation we can form?
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posted by ascetic
on May 15, 2012 -
4 answers
I need a free online bookkeeping / accounting website, can anyone suggest one for a small business?
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posted by ascetic
on Apr 30, 2012 -
2 answers
Investing in a food business. How can we make sure that we're getting a fair share of ownership and a good return on our investment?
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posted by yellowcandy
on Nov 10, 2011 -
1 answer
I want to start a small business (a vintage clothing store) in the Washington, DC area. I have a location in mind and I'm saving up the money. My hope is to be open within a year. What do I need to know?
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posted by nonasuch
on Jun 19, 2011 -
18 answers
This may be one of those "you should consult a lawyer" questions, but I thought I'd give it a shot and see if anyone might be able to help.
Basically, I'm in the middle of starting a business that will be donating 50% of our net profits to charity, but I have a few questions:
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posted by ISeemToBeAVerb
on Jan 4, 2011 -
3 answers
For my wife: What are the best ways to find opportunities for freelance bookkeeping and accounting work?
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posted by ogunther
on Nov 11, 2010 -
8 answers
I'm an independent contractor -- a developer for web and mobile devices (iPhone, etc) -- currently having to pull in extra developers to help out on a few larger projects. It's kind of feeling like a proto-company situation.
I'm feeling a bit out of my comfort zone and am looking for a bit of business development advice...
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posted by chasing
on Jul 9, 2010 -
7 answers
Do florists need refrigerated vans? How do they keep flowers looking fresh without one?
posted by coco124
on Jun 1, 2010 -
8 answers
Looking for insights, guidance, and advice on the 8(a) Small Disadvantaged Business application process - particularly around paying for sample "narrative kits".
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posted by pants
on Feb 10, 2010 -
2 answers
good research materials on the subject of electric cars, 3d modeling and/or entrepreneurship?
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posted by groovinkim
on Jul 20, 2009 -
4 answers
What blogs/sites like Moxie Cinema offer similar insights and real discussion of the business elements of their operations? Cafes, restaurants, book shops, video stores, bars, widget makers, whatever!
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posted by bystander
on Jun 11, 2009 -
5 answers
Mixing business and pleasure as a small businessperson, I need a little advice regarding taxes and business travel.
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posted by TungstenChef
on Jun 8, 2009 -
1 answer
If you were starting a business in the current economic climate and you had $25k-50k start up capital, what type of business would you start?
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posted by ibechase
on Mar 20, 2009 -
26 answers
How can I identify software for online registration for soccer training sessions? I'm thinking there are some solutions out there that are basically blackbox that can then be tailored to my site, but I haven't been able to turn them up. I don't want to use just something like regonline.com because I have people signing up for each session and there are dozens of different sessions in a week.
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posted by ewiley28
on Mar 11, 2009 -
3 answers
I want to design a human system (like a small business) and then bootstrap/instantiate it. At the moment, I'm not focusing on psychology but more on franchise-esque/"operations manual" type considerations.
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posted by zeek321
on Dec 2, 2008 -
6 answers
My friend works in database applications each day to create in house reports. He's bored and wants to go it alone.
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posted by simplesharps
on Sep 3, 2008 -
0 answers
Starting a small, part-time, home-based eBay business in New York. What are the implications of registering for a Sale & Use Tax certificate?
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posted by kmtiszen
on Aug 27, 2008 -
1 answer
Specific questions, and general advice and suggestions, on purchasing a very prominent, locally owned, retail business.
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posted by anonymous
on May 28, 2008 -
4 answers
Is there an expense reporting app that's flexible, handy, and will help me finish next year's taxes quickly and easily? I know about excel, quicken, and various financial transaction apps, but what if I drive 100 miles to a tech conference and want to note my mileage? And what if I'm out entertaining clients and I want to pop onto my iPhone to note the total bill for the evening (before I forget the next day to open excel). Are there any web-based flexible apps for doing all the expense reporting you might need for a small business' bookkeeping needs?
posted by mathowie
on Jan 31, 2008 -
7 answers
What free or cheap software, or webapps, can I recommend to help my friend manage and build her small business, a salon? Although there is software out there specifically made for this purpose, it seems out of her price range and shares a lot in common with more general software.
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posted by abkadefgee
on Dec 13, 2007 -
8 answers
My husband has been given the opportunity to purchase a small business. He knows that the company will be sucessful. We need about $10,000 to start it up. Here is the problem: he has a great credit rating, but he is currently unemployed and we do not own a home to put up as collateral. Are there any creative financing solutions out there for him?
posted by amysk
on Dec 3, 2007 -
19 answers
Help me find a insurance company that will cover my home-based ebay business.
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posted by nmogno
on Aug 1, 2007 -
3 answers
Do I have to be a citizen of the US to register a small business?
I want to keep everything legit and above-board and recently I have been thinking of registering a small business to represent all the online activities that make me money, like hosting a couple of people, designing and fixing wordpress blogs etc.
The question is - do I have to be a US citizen to register myself as a small business.
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posted by carthik
on May 13, 2007 -
15 answers
Any recommendations for a no b.s. sales lead service for a one person mortgage broker biz?
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posted by swiffa
on Oct 19, 2006 -
1 answer
I'm trying to make my new web project legal in California. After reading through the Nolo press book(s), we thought that perhaps the LLC was the best corporate structure (we are going to issue stock and give the primary developer a portion in lieu of payment). While the Federal government taxes LLCs like sole proprietorships - you aren't taxed unless you make profit, and I don't see our profit outpacing our costs for a year - the State of California charges an LLC "tax" (really a fee) of $800, due almost immediately after your incorporation paperwork goes through, so...
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posted by luriete
on Sep 8, 2006 -
9 answers
What books and websites should a non-business-major read to learn about the legal and practical aspects of starting a small business partnership in the US (MD, to be exact)?
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posted by Alterscape
on Aug 27, 2006 -
7 answers
What are good resources, books, etc. on how to find investors/business partners for buying a bar?
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posted by scody
on May 18, 2006 -
4 answers
What are the advantages, disadvantages, and Important Things To Know about officially starting a business?
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posted by cortex
on Mar 28, 2006 -
17 answers
I'm looking for recommendations for hosting for a new Australian small business. Yes, I've searched the archives. Yes, I've read all the old hosting recommendation threads.
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posted by obiwanwasabi
on Feb 22, 2006 -
7 answers
StartupFilter: What questions would you ask a startup you were thinking of joining? What questions would you ask yourself?
More about the startup: its a software company that has VC funding. They are just starting to create the product. There's less than ten people involved.
More about me: a corporate monkey who's looking for a change in life if possible but can stay put if that's best. I have a good job salary-wise right now, but I do not feel like I am moving anywhere with it. I have worked long hours in the past and am interested in the product being created. I felt the need to post anonymously because I have posted about my job here before.
posted by anonymous
on Jan 27, 2005 -
12 answers
I own a very small company, and I feel that my product is the best in its category. If I can just get my message to the masses, my company will be a success (otherwise I'll have to go back to work for "the man"). What's the best way to ge the message out? I realize that everyone is advertising-averse, and I don't want to consider anything that might irritate people.
posted by yaquina27
on Nov 27, 2004 -
15 answers
So I'm thinking of starting a new small business... it involves food, though. My idea is to make a very small range of products -- say, baked goods -- and sell it at farmer's markets and upscale grocery stores. Since it involves food, I imagine I have to jump through more hoops than I might otherwise, but I don't even begin to know where to look about what all is involved. Health inspections? Licenses? Anyone have any experience in this sort of thing?
posted by crunchland
on Oct 14, 2004 -
7 answers
I am thinking of starting a very small business, but I have a few questions for those of you who have done so before I really make up my mind wheter to go forward or not. [More Inside]
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posted by shotsy
on Jul 29, 2004 -
10 answers
SmallBizFilter! A pal of mine has asked me to help him build out a small shipping-and-fulfillment center serving an online store he started recently. Things are going well, but my part of the work will be most challenging. Advice? Recommendations?
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posted by mwhybark
on May 19, 2004 -
2 answers
I want to start a web design business focusing primarily on Flash design, but I need some tips on how to acquire clients. [More Inside]
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posted by banished
on Mar 16, 2004 -
6 answers
