Three companies that needed additional sales staff to help convert leads into sales describe their different sales team needs, and how this affected hiring. More
During lean times, you need to work harder to get work. That means ó if you want to grow your business ó you'll need to spend more on marketing. More
When Ty Melton first envisioned the smoothly operating, successful business he runs today, he imagined an aquarium. Fish, plants, crustaceans, all harmoniously living together. “I wanted to build a little ecosystem,” Melton says. He had, when he started his Boulder, Colo., company, recently left a job at a cabinetmaker, where he worked 70-hour weeks for low pay. “It was a great company, and I learned a lot,” Melton says, but he didn't want to keep working there. “The idea was that [my company] would be a more fun place to work if the people working for me thought I was a good guy and liked working for me.” More
What can we learn about accountability in business from The Apprentice, Donald Trump's televised search for his next executive? In Trump's version, you're on a team where you avoid taking responsibility and sometimes even undermine team performance to protect yourself. To survive, you may have to throw teammates under the bus. Most importantly, a small mistake will get you called on the carpet for public humiliation, and probably will get you fired. More
If you're asking: Why can't my employees be responsible for what they promise? Linda Case has some suggestions for building a culture of accountability. Part 1 in a series. More
Setting fees is relatively straightforward. Knowing how and when to raise them, however, can be a bit tricky. Costs such as labor, insurance, and equipment tend to rise steadily with occasional sudden spikes; materials are more volatile. If your fees don't account for that fluctuation, your profits slip. More
Remodeling is a highly technical art. It requires a grasp of the principles and practice of electricity, plumbing, engineering, geometry, and architecture. It requires a high level of craftsmanship as well as an ability to manage homeowners' expectations during a very emotional process. All of this while turning a profit. More
