There was something I discovered when I started working for myself about small business, and how it compares to larger businesses. Coming from a company with several hundred employees and many contract staff, I moved to a company that had exactly one employee – me. The difference was so fundamental, I wondered if any of [...]
Often in my line of work, I have conversations with people who have thought of an idea for a product or service, and are looking to turn it into a business. The first barrier they need to cross, namely, having a GOOD idea, has been crossed via validation from potential customers of the product or [...]
A recent course which was titled “Starting a Business” and ended being better named “Writing a Business Plan” got me thinking about what kind of advice I would give to someone just starting out. I thought back to a few businesses which started out as a single person, and have grown, and realized that there [...]
A conversation recently with my insurance broker had me highlighting a problem in the economies of Canada and the US, to which policy is seemingly being addressed, but in reality is not. We are aware, of course, that small businesses play a significant role in our economies, employing large numbers of people and contributing in [...]
In a discussion this week with the owner of another company, I was surprised to hear the following fact: It’s easier to borrow $5 million than it is to borrow $50 thousand. In fact, if all you want is $50,000 then most lending institutions are not really interested in your business. Surprised, I went to [...]
Ten questions to be asking yourself constantly as you start and grow a new business.
Elie Kochman is the author of Advice for Small Business Owners and the founder of Optimal Upgrade Consulting. Using his experience working in the corporate world along with his exposure to the world of small businesses, he writes these articles to assist others avoiding common pitfalls of growing a business. His experience in the corporate world, building his own business, and working directly with other growing businesses has given him some perspective on the trials and pains of running a business.
