The past couple of weeks, we’ve discussed vision and planning for your business. It is clear a successful small business needs a team of advisors, such as a business attorney, banker, financial planner, accountant, and insurance agent. It is nice to know someone and feel comfortable before you have a problem. How do you find these people? Word-of-mouth referrals are the most powerful. Ask other business owners, friends, church members, and colleagues whom they use and why. I

One of the cheapest ways to protect yourself as an entrepreneur or business owner is to have appropriate commercial insurance. Be strategic about it. Figure out what risks you have that insurance can cover and get an appropriate amount. If you are just starting out, check with your home/auto agent, but don’t be surprised if they can’t help you. Insurance agents specialize in different areas, and commercial lines of insurance are different from personal lines like home and au

Now that we are back in our regular routines of work and school after the year-end holidays, what are your business (resolutions) goals for the year? A resolution is a “firm decision to do or not do something.” A goal is the “result toward which effort is directed”. Merely resolving to do something without creating actionable, measurable steps generally means there will be no results. Business goals are often to be more profitable, to be more organized, to hire more employ