You have a business off and running, and you are working hard every day to keep the momentum going. At this stage in your company's development, it's important to get a handle on various components and adjust strategies, as necessary.
Do you offer different payment options to your customers? You'll need to consider whether your customer base wants to be able to pay for your products and services electronically or whether payment by cash or check will suffice. If you are adding employees, you also will want to research solutions for setting up a payroll system that helps you meet your legal and regularly responsibilities.
Promoting your business and your offerings on a larger stage is an important consideration right now. Take time to research what marketing efforts fit the size and scope of your business and which ones deliver the best ROI. Even if you don't yet have a full-time marketing director or agency, it's easy to find basic information about best practices and steps you can take to begin marketing your business to a larger audience. Additionally, you and your attorney also will need to review the rules and laws applicable to product labeling, advertising and telemarketing.
Every business has a different sales strategy. Take a look at your business situation and determine what works best for you. Maybe you have grown your business to this point via word of mouth and have no formal sales process. In order to expand your market share, you might want to consider going online with your business. Or it might be time to implement a strategy that focuses on your most important customer audiences. Depending on the products and services you offer, entering international markets could be a savvy business move.
As your company grows, it's vital that you comply with all hiring practices and laws that apply to your particular industry. A human resources department, or specialist, will help you navigate the proper path. Whether your employees work on site or telecommute, there are multiple factors to consider to create a working environment that benefits you and your employees.
As a small-business owner, you are fully invested in your company and its success. That's why it's important to protect your assets with proper insurance coverage while implementing disaster planning and recovery strategies that will enable you to get back on your feet as quickly as possible.
These are just a few of the topics to consider when you're running your business. The U.S. Small Business Administration offers more insight and guidance.
Visit the SBA Guide