Small Business Boomers

If you’re experiencing a slowdown with your business during this sluggish economy, consider how you might be able to enter the “green” movement momentum.  If you can slant your business to encompass some phase of environmental concerns, you may be able to attract more customers.

Perhaps you already have a product that falls into the “green” category, but you simply haven’t been focusing on promoting this aspect.  So, rethink your promotion techniques.
What about providing a service that helps others conserve, reuse or recycle?  Perhaps this would incorporate some of your present products.
Can you conserve in your business and let your customers …read more

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Do you take your small business seriously?  Do you put business practices into place?  Do you think like an entrepreneur?

Set goals and know what you want to achieve
Set up a business plan (You’ll need this if you want to get financing.)
Keep accurate track of income and outgo.
Set up a bookkeeping system.
Keep specific times of business, especially if you have walk-in customers
Set up a web site and/or blog
Be persistent and consistent

What suggestions do you have for entrepreneurs of small businesses?

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Many small businesses consist of some type of handcraft and those on Etsy.com all have a connection with crafts.  Here’s a place for small and home businesses, as well as the hobbyist, to promote and sell their wares.
Some may start out here and, like Keara Sexton, develop a small business, OAK,  on Newbury Street in Boston.  Although Keara isn’t a boomer, you can learn from her.  Her mom, Karen, a small business owner, in Nashua, NH, helped Keara start her business, and now is learning from her daughter about social media and marketing in a techie world.
To learn more about Keara and Karen’s …read more

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What shall small businesses do if the “cap and trade” tax goes into effect?
 
Do you realize that according to estimates, this tax on energy and energy use will cause an average increase per family of more than $3,000 per year?  Can families and small businesses endure it in this recession prone era? 
 Obama and the Democrats, as well as others promoting the global warming agenda, are trying to push this bill through as quickly as possible.   (They’re ignoring that more and more scientists say glocal warming is  over emphasized.)   They are using scare tactics to push it through Congress and impose this tax …read more

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When we talk about Small Business Boomers, we may wonder what defines them.  Who are they?  Generally they’re considered those born right after World War II until 1964.  Those born shortly before and after fall into the fringes and have some of the same interests and habits.
Jean Murry, former blogger here, has a nice description of boomers and their characteristics and activities.  This post is located in the Small Business Boomers pages, titled, What Are Small Business Boomers?
I think you’ll find this interesting reading.  Are you among them?

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Many people don’t go into business because of the uncertainties, lack of success guarantees, and the unfamiliar.  They’re hesitant to try something new.
Even with failure, comes learning, one of my readers commented on Jean Murray’s post,  Should You Use an IRA to Fund Your Business?
“In fact I would argue the lessons learned from starting a business would be worth the cash you spend even if you aren’t profitable and go out of business. People are so scared nowadays to do anything out of the norm- but the ones that step out of his or her comfort zones and defy the norms are …read more

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I’ve had positive reactions to my post about Journaling Your Small Business, in other words writing down the story of your business, day to day events, business news, etc.  As I’ve thought about it, I realized there are and could be many types of journaling, those eminating from the older hand written logs, records and notes to today’s computer journals and records.
For more than nostalgic purposes, keeping logs, appointment calendars, and records often proves important for legal and tax purpose.
Various journals & logs:

A calendar or planner with appointments and reminders
A sales log
A mileage log
Correspondence
A notebook with information about customers so …read more

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A commenter on Jean Murray’s post (former blogger here at Small Business Boomer), Baby Boomers Leading Non-Profits , suggested that many boomers would like to volunteer or even establish a non-profit, “But we do not have the skills or confidence to do so.”Why not start volunteering in a small way at an organization you’re particularly interested in? Then as you build knowledge and confidence, you can see where it will take you.  You’re likely to learn many different skills and acquire knowledge that will come in to your advantage if you’d like to do more in this field.  Also, what you …read more

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I shall be blogging here at Small Business Boomers and helping you with business tips.  Jean Murray has done a fantastic job with  the Small Business Boomers blog.  I hope I can provide you with the same degree of helpful information.
I also blog at b5’s Home Biz Notes, My Organized Biz and write at Blisstree’s Parenting and Arts/Crafts sections. I’ve been involved in family businesses and home businesses all of my life.  Currently my husband and I work from home.  In addition I do substitute teaching during the school year.
Also, I invite you to share your boomer business experiences with us here …read more

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I have been writing for Small Business Boomers for almost 18 months.  I feel I found a home here and cut my teeth, so to speak, on blogging.  But it’s time to move on. In February I started doing the daily Small Business section for b5media’s Bizzia portal, and I find myself torn between that assignment, Small Business Boomers, and Home Biz Notes. So today is my last day at Small Business Boomers.
I have enjoyed writing about Baby Boomers in small businesses, learning about how Boomers have managed to succeed…and sometimes fail.  I have learned from experts like Jeff Thredgold …read more

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