Introduction
Every business has an operational aspect to it. Whether you are running and managing a restaurant or a retail business, the manner in which you run your operations can determine if your business is profitable and sustainable.

Most SME owners and investors do not pay any attention to this critical aspect of their business. Read more »

The brand is the experience and the experience is the brand – Why brand strategy and branding matters for SMEs!

A logo alone is not a brand!

Top of mind awareness

Have you ever wondered why some brand names are synonymous to their product or service category? Have you also wondered as to why some brand names come first in your mind when you are thinking or considering a certain product or service category? Go ahead; pick a category ranging in products say from copiers to phones? Which brand names come first in your mind? Why did that particular brand come to your mind? It is so because those companies who own their brand name have a purposeful branding strategy and have committed significant resources to ensure that their branding achieves top of mind awareness from their existing and potential customers.  I will discuss later, as to why this is critical. Read more »

Cash is king – Managing your cash flow – It takes money today to make money tomorrow!

This is the third and final part of my “Cash is king” series. As a recap, in the first part of this “cash is king” series, I wrote on why you need a business plan and what the key elements those are required in a business plan before you seek funding. On the second part, I wrote on the different sources, strategies and tactics for the funding of a small business. This last and final part of the “cash is king” series, I will discuss on the strategies and tactics of managing your cash flow. Read more »

This is the second part of a 3 part series on “cash is king”. In the first part, I wrote as to why you need a business plan before you seek any funding for your business, and what the key elements are, that goes into a business plan. Before you go out and seek funding for your business, it important that you have a business plan. Please read my article “Cash is king – Plan! Plan! Plan! – An essential requirement before you seek funding for your small business!” Read more »

This is the first part of a 3 part series on Cash is king! – Planning, funding and managing your cash flow for your business

Busines planning for small business

In business and in personal life, cash is the life line for everything we do. There are many sources of funding that a small business owner and or an investor can turn to fund their new business, and or mange the growth of an existing business.

Managing cash is not just raising cash for your startup or growing business. Cash flow management is beyond funding. Read more »

Hiring for your small business

I know that the title above might seem a bit alarming to some folks. No, I am not espousing that you treat your people like disposable assets. As people are really the most important assets (and occasionally liabilities), that any business has, it is important that due prudence and diligence is given, when hiring key employees for your small business. Read more »