Off the Ground Blog
Pros and Cons of Accepting Credit Card Payments
Customers expect rewards, cash back or air miles with every purchase they make - merchants, on the other hand, have fought for years to reduce 'payment processing' fees. If your business offers point of sale (POS) payment by Visa, Mastercard, Interac or other credit cards, getting informed on the pros and cons of these payment methods, and how best to handle payments received, makes good business sense.
Who are you Partnering with?
An organization - it is often said - is only as strong as its weakest member. For small business, this holds especially true, as the potential impact of a single partner (positive or negative) is high. To manage this risk, the first step is to fully understand: who are your partners?
Online tools for a shoestring budget
There are literally thousands of incredible web-based tools that have flooded the online marketplace over the past few years. Most of the hype tends to surround the most popular forms of social media, such as Facebook/Twitter/Youtube/Etc. You might be surprised to learn what lies 'beneath' these giants - and how many of these free online tools can play a role in your business.
The Daily - Your Key to Statistics Canada Resources
Statistics Canada is perhaps best known for the national census it produces every 5 years...but did you know that (beyond the census) StatsCan also conducts research into nearly every aspect of Canadian life, with over 350 research surveys currently ongoing?
Using Business Source Complete
One of the key resources available to business researchers is Business Source Complete (BSC), an online database of scholarly articles, industry reports, company profiles and much more. If you've never used an online research database before - BSC can be a little intimidating at first. Here are a few steps to get you started, and advice on how to make the most of this key resource.
A List of Small Business Books for Libraries / Learning Centres
Recently updated - Suggested Titles for Small Business Collections. This list, jointly created by Vancouver Public Library and the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre (IKBLC), has been put together to help librarians and other business literature collectors across B.C. develop their small-business collections.
Business 'Innovation' - More than an MBA buzzword
Ever found yourself scrambling for pen and paper after being struck by a clever new business idea? It's fair to say that entrepreneurs benefit from a creative mind - and that the greatest success comes to those who are most willing to take risks and go beyond the status quo - but just how innovative does one have to be in order to build a successful business?
Replacing You - Business Succession Planning
At some point we'd all like to retire - and when we do, it's good to know that someone will be there to keep the flame burning brightly for your business. A few weeks ago, Warren Buffet made news by announcing that he had picked his successor, to lead the Berkshire Hathaway empire he worked to build over his lifetime.
Will it Last?
We've all heard the bad news: not every small business will succeed. If you listen to various news sources you've probably heard a number of discouraging statistics regarding the long term viability of small business operations. Ever wonder why?