Business Discussions

All successful businesses meet a market need by solving a problem ("Gee, it's really hard to clip this new phone to my old bike handlebars!"). When necessity begets invention, a new business may be born as well. Is your business based on a new invention? If so, how did you approach patenting or trademarking your new discovery? Did anything surprise you about the process? Any advice for would-be inventors?   Want to weigh in but not yet a QB Community member? Click HERE to sign up in a flash!

First, we want to say a hearty congratulations to QB Community member Katharine Huber. Katharine, a professional architect, is the founder of Wit Design, which sells kid-sized furniture that’s functional, comfortable and totally gorgeous. No wonder Katharine’s Wit Chair was just awarded a Special Mention in the 6th annual Architizer A+ Awards celebrating the year’s best architecture and products.   Now Wit Design is officially an award-winning brand. Which got us thinking:   Do you have an award-winning product or service? If so, how did you find the contest or program you entered – and what was the submission process like? Most importantly, how have the words “award-winning” affected your business?   We’re excited for you to join this conversation by posting your comments below!   Want to weigh in but not yet a QB Community member? Click HERE to sign up in a flash!

QB Community is celebrating its one-year anniversary this week (yay us!), and we're marking the occasion by asking: How old is your business, and what date or time of year do you consider to be your small-business "birthday"? Why did you choose that moment to begin counting your days of operation?   (Want to weigh in but not yet a QB Community member? Click HERE to sign up in a flash!)   Let's start with a shoutout to @258370, @lweins, @202689, and the many other QB Community members who are celebrating a FIRST business birthday this year (read more about a few of them below). You made it!!   Erin Williamson - Engender International   Ika Aliyeva -  Femigrants Foundation   Karen “Ms. Karen” Dycaico - Dance Magic Studio   Sarah Alexander - East Pine Woodworking   Lee Weinstein - Intentional Life Planning    Katharine Huber - Wit Design    Alexia Burke - Izza Pops

I once spent months lining up a major sponsor for what would turn out to be the largest event I'd ever planned for my business. During the band's last set I hopped up to the mic to thank everyone for coming. After so long working behind the scenes, I was nervous to be in the spotlight - and guess who I forgot to thank during my big speech? My biggest sponsor, that's who. (Sorry, North Shore Realty Group!!)   Have you ever blown a public speaking opportunity? What happened, and do you chalk it up lack of preparation, over-preparation, or just plain nerves?   Want to weigh in but not yet a QB Community member? Click HERE to sign up in a flash!

Ellie had to fire one of her very first hires. Afterward, he posted negative and untrue things about her business on social media. This is how she dealt with it and went on to run her successful London barbershop.     Flexibility is not only a crucial key to success, it’s also necessary -- especially when bringing a brand-new business to life. Things don’t always go according to plan, and when that happens entrepreneurs have to think on their feet, come up with new strategies and sometimes even take their venture in a new direction. In The Startup Snag, we’re learning from established business owners who hit a snag early on and cleverly solved the problem. We’ll also find out how they’re doing today.         Entrepreneur: Ellie Pamphilon Business: Barber Streisand Started: 2015 Location: London The startup snag: Ellie says, “I took an eight-week refresher course on barbering just before it was finally time to open, both to sharpen my skills and to scout

  There are two times a year that I absolutely bleed money: during the winter holiday season and the summer. Toward the end of the year, my money goes toward gifts, decor and entertaining. In the summer, I spend on home improvement projects, yard upkeep and travel. Speaking of summer travel, taking a vacation for us self-employed folks often means leave without pay, which only adds to a general lack of funds.   Did you know? According to a 2016 American Express Spending & Saving survey of 2,000 adults, the average person spends $941 per individual on vacations.   While I’m dreadful at saving for retirement (or anything else) in the summer months, others like fishing captain Megan Corazza are opposite. She says, “Fishing is definitely a seasonal business and one that depends both on market conditions and the return of salmon to the ocean. Some years are lucrative, and some are very poor. On the big years, when you receive all your profits in a lump sum from the cann

At what point do I switch from putting money received for freelance work in my personal account, to tracking it separately as a business? I'm asking mainly for the sake of understanding taxes. Do I roll these into my personal taxes, or do I file separately? I suppose that makes it two questions. Since March, I've earned a bit over $5,000 as a freelance editor. Most of it from a company that uses me as a freelance fill-in (and will be sending a 1099) and the other for a fiction author who uses me as a proofreader/editor (I don't know if she'll be sending out a 1099). I have a business license with the state of Washington.

Name: Taughnee Golubović @taughneeBusiness: Endeavor Creative Location: Čazma, Croatia Launched: 2002 Taughnee Golubović ("Tawny Go-LEW-bo-vich") spent much of the ‘90s doing “techie stuff"  as a technology manager in a marketing and research firm - until the dot-com bust in 2000 pushed her (hard) down the self-employment path. At first she focused on finding clients fast just to pay the bills, but things worked out so well that she soon became entirely independent, designing websites. Today, with so many great DIY website design options available, Taughnee has wisely reinvented herself as an online marketing and branding maven, helping small business stand out in the vast World Wide Web. Like many web-based business owners, Taughnee loved the freedom to travel and work wherever she chose, so when she met the love of her life -- who happened to live in Croatia -- she took her biz overseas in 2015. We spoke with her about the reality versus the dream of working anywhere in

  Cash is one thing entrepreneurs can never have too much of. As you work to build or grow your business, taking on some side work can help keep you flush. Giving rides with Lyft, renting out your extra room with AirBnB or running errands with TaskRabbit are just a few of the many low-barrier ways folks are generating extra cash in today’s gig economy.   So, we’re curious to know:   Have you participated in the gig economy? Was it your sole means of income or a side job to generate cash while you worked out your business plans?   We hope you’ll tell us about your experiences! Was it worth your time and effort? Did you enjoy working in a “peer-to-peer” environment? Was your overall experience good, bad or something else entirely? We can’t wait to find out ...  

Hello fellow Community members! Right now I am sitting on a Jet Blue flight headed to New York for the Accounting and Finance Show being held at the Javits Center, and wanted to see if anyone else will be going and would like to meet up? This event marks my first opportunity to promote my QuickBooks Desktop application Vendorsync so I am really excited.  I want to give a big shout out to Analytix for allowing me to utilize their booth to  talk with my fellow accountants. I would love to do a live streaming interview with anyone from the community so come find me in booth 158 ( Analytix Solutions) Hope everyone has a successful week!

  Sometimes great businesses start with a revelation: “Why work for someone else when I can do this exact same job - but on my own terms!” The bold entrepreneurs we’ll meet in Going Indie have all done just that -- quit their salaried positions to declare independence, starting up their own ventures in the same field.   Name: Johnny Zone Business: Howlin’ Ray’s Hot Chicken Founded: 2015 Location: Los Angeles, CA   The Revelation: Johnny recalls, “I made a name for myself cooking on TV, so when it came to setting up a business, we were lucky enough to have some big investment offers. One guy offered us $1 million to start out, but we turned him down. My wife Amanda and I decided to open the food truck with only our personal savings — we’d spent enough time working for others and making them richer, so decided to do this all on our own. There were risks, but we had no doubts. It was just a matter of building the right structures.”   The New Venture: Fortunate enough

  When helping others is the inspiration for starting a business, the motivation to succeed is huge. Not only are these entrepreneurs in business for themselves, they're also In It for Good. In this series we'll meet social entrepreneurs, non-profit leaders and global thinkers who are working to make the world a better place.  Names: Emily Núñez Cavness and Betsy Núñez Business: Sword & Plough, a for-profit social enterprise Launched: January 2012 Location: Denver, CO What they do: Sword & Plough is a veteran-owned, social impact fashion brand that works with American manufacturers that are veteran-owned or employ veterans. They incorporate repurposed military surplus into bag and jewelry designs, and they donate 10% of profits to veteran organizations. The impact they’re making: Since 2012, Sword & Plough has helped support more than 65 veteran jobs. They are also reducing waste and minimizing their carbon footprint by reusing tens of thousands of po

    What is the best part of working for yourself? And what’s the hardest part? Identifying the challenges and the wins of owning your own business keeps it real and allows you to find a reasonable balance of ups and downs. Entrepreneurs in the QB Community UK share their favorite and least favorite aspects of going solo. Name: Michael Gratz QB Community member name: @mgratz Business: Prairie Fire BBQ    Location: London, UK Launched: 2013   Originally from Kansas City, USA, Michael Gratz found himself disenchanted with his job as a banker. When he and his wife moved to London in 2012, Michael found the city lacking in American-style barbecue. Add that to Michael’s love of cooking, and a delicious idea was born. Today he and business partner, Eric Rosenberg, operate pop-up restaurants, trade at street food markets and create a retail line of sauces and rubs - all in the traditional Kansas City-style.   Worst Part: “It’s very challenging shouldering all

Name: Meaghan Brophy QB Community name: @meaghanbrophy Business: Editorial director of Independent Retailer magazine Located: Bethel, CT with nationwide readership Year founded: 1988 As we join the celebration of July’s National Independent Retailers Month, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to speak with Meaghan Brophy, the editor of Independent Retailer (IR) magazine. Meaghan keeps indie retailers in the know about current market and demographic trends. She understands what matters to them because she’s often out and about on Main Street, U.S.A. talking to small store owners about their struggles and their wins. Today, Meaghan was the interviewee, not the interviewer, and we chatted about the current outlook for indie retailers (spoiler alert: it’s pretty good!) and why it’s important to support your local businesses. Hi Meaghan! What is the Independent Retailer and what do you do there? Hi! We’re a monthly magazine and a resource for independent retailers of all kinds. We c

Monday, July 16, is Amazon Prime Day - an annual 24-hour sales event for customers of the world's largest online retailer. Yet many small business owners are rising to the challenge posed by Amazon's brave new free-shipping world by finding new and creative ways to appeal to their customers. What's your secret sauce for wooing shoppers who may choose Amazon for some purchases but keep coming back to your for that special thing you make or sell? How do you ensure that your customer experience stands out from the rest?   Want to weigh in but not yet a QB Community member? Click HERE to sign up in a flash!

Nearly 90% of consumers prefer brands they view as authentic, and just over half say they are more likely to recommend those companies to friends, according to new research. But what exactly does it mean for a business to be authentic? How do you "keep it real" with customers, clients, and potential investors?   Want to weigh in but not yet a QB Community member? Click HERE to sign up in a flash!

  When did you know that working for yourself was going to, well, work? What made you feel legit enough to say, “I own my own business”? Maybe it was your first customer (who wasn’t your mom!), or a check made out to your business name. Or perhaps you’re still wondering if your endeavor will succeed. In this series we’re asking entrepreneurs, “How did you know when your business was Really for Real?”   Entrepreneur: Jessica Quinn Business: Live Love North Launched: 2015 Location: British Columbia   Jessica Quinn didn’t mean to start a clothing business, but the trees, lakes and mountains near her home in British Columbia were too beautiful to not celebrate on a t-shirt. Jessica’s background in marketing helped her business plan come together. She drew some designs, taught herself how to screen print and bravely took her adorable onesies and tees out into the world to test the market. Before she knew it ...   “I saw some of the enthusiastic and supportive comments

  Knowing you’ll face both immense challenges and huge rewards as a business owner can help you stay positive, confident and grounded. That’s why we’re sharing some of your favorite and most dreaded aspects of working for yourself. Welcome to Worst Part/Best Part! Entrepreneur: Monique Greenwood @AkwaabaInns Business: Akwaaba Bed & Breakfast Inns Started: 1995 Locations: Brooklyn, NY; Washington D.C.; Cape May, NJ; The Poconos, PA   You might recognize Monique Greenwood from her reality show Checked Inn on the Oprah Network, or her name might sound familiar because she was the editor-in-chief of Essence once upon time. But once you hear her story of building a bed and breakfast empire from renovated old mansions, you’ll never forget her insights on life, family and legacy. Monique shares with us the struggles and the joys she’s experienced as a successful businesswoman.   The Worst Part: “If you're a business owner, what you really are is a problem solver. My bigge

  As temperatures rise, so do opportunities for creative, summer-themed marketing. There are so many fun ways to celebrate the season while also bringing in the cash. Here are some ideas that can help heat up your summer sales. 1. Celebrate National Independent Retailers Month. July is all about #INDIERETAIL. Team up with other small retailers and cross-promote your businesses, or throw a block party with the other shops on your street. Who doesn’t love a party? 2. Tie your pricing to the temperature. When the mercury hits 90 degrees or above, offer customers 90-cent ice creams or give them 10% off their total purchase. 3. Put your logo in their face. Print your business name and logo on paper fans and hand them out at concerts in the park, farmers markets, the beach or anywhere else the public gathers on a hot day. 4. Host a weenie roast. Set up a grill outside your storefront and let the smell of sizzling hot dogs attract people to your business. 5. Take them out to the bal

  When did you know that working for yourself was going to, well, work? What made you feel legit enough to say, “I own my own business”? Maybe it was your first customer (who wasn’t your mom!) or a check made out to your business name. Or perhaps you’re still wondering if your endeavor will succeed. In this series we’re asking entrepreneurs, “How did you know when your business was Really for Real?” Entrepreneur: Jennifer Creighton Business: Function Pottery Launched: 2014 Location: Ohio   With her functional pottery selling in 28 stores throughout the U.S. and her Etsy sales currently approaching 3000, Jennifer Creighton can safely consider her business to be a success. She fell in love with pottery making while taking a class in college and continued to study the art form after graduating. After deciding to turn her passion into a full-time gig, Jennifer knew it was working when ...    “I got on Etsy and saw that people who didn't know me or hadn't met me chose

  When I read recently that the average person is more afraid of speaking in public than of death, I thought, yup, I get it. Technically, I don’t suffer from “glossophobia,” but that doesn’t mean I haven’t experienced the stomach-clenching, palm-sweating, heart-thudding moments when it’s my turn to talk in front of a crowd of any size. Over the years, I’ve noticed this unpleasant somatic experience intensifies when the audience is dominated by men.   I know I’m not the only female entrepreneur who has felt heightened anxiety when presenting to a room full of men (a pretty common scenario, especially during the hunt for financial backing). Yet it’s critically important for women to be able to confidently pitch their business to everyone from customers and clients to potential partners and investors. That’s why I asked business coach and public-speaking pro, Julie Gordon White, to weigh in. What tips does she have for women entrepreneurs when it comes to public speaking – part

  When you’re bringing a brand new business to life, flexibility is crucial. Things don’t always go according to plan, so entrepreneurs have to think on their feet, come up with new strategies and, sometimes, take their venture in an unexpected direction. In this series, The Startup Snag, we’re learning from established business owners who hit a snag early on and figured out how to solve the problem. We also find out how they’re doing today.   Entrepreneur: Elisabeth Young Business: ElisaAnne Calligraphy Started: 2016 Location: Atlanta, GA   The startup snag: A self-described introvert, Elisabeth was excited to quit the corporate job she never liked in the first place and start working from home in the company of her beloved pets. To her great surprise, Elisabeth quickly found herself on an emotional rollercoaster.   “I had a really bad bout with anxiety and depression about halfway through my first year of business because I was shouldering so much responsibility

Name: Monique Greenwood QB Community member name: AkwaabaInns Business: Akwaaba Bed & Breakfast Inns Locations: Brooklyn, NY; Washington D.C.; Cape May, NJ; The Poconos, PA Launched: 1995   Monique Greenwood is a mighty force. The owner of four Bed and Breakfast Inns, book author, former Editor-in-Chief of Essence, and now, reality television star, she is setting a powerful example of what it means to be a successful Black woman in business. We spoke with Monique about why she started her hospitality empire and why seeing Black people in beautiful places is important to her. Monique shares about how she dealt with Hurricane Katrina throwing her for a loop and, with Black-woman owned business up 605% in the last ten years, why she believes sisters are doing it for themselves. Monique, you and your husband, Glenn Pogue, own four gorgeous inns on the East Coast, opened one-by-one over a span of many years. How did you first know that the hospitality world was your calling? It's

Atychiphobia is, clinically speaking, the "irrational and persistent fear of failure." I don't know what the fancy Greek word is for "fear of making a massive, egregious, and unforgivable spelling error that I don't catch for ages," but trust me I am a sufferer.  Irrational? I'd like to think so. Persistent? Don't ask.   We all have some niggling professional fears (public speaking, anyone?) that maybe don't rank up there with "the phobias" but still manage to take up an uncomfortable amount of brainspace. What are yours? No judgment!!

  Not long ago, I needed to give a toast for a friend’s birthday. In preparation, I jotted down a few notes and then tucked the piece of paper into my purse. When toast-time arrived, I realized my purse was on the opposite side of the room. I panicked. As I stood up, my throat constricted, and my palms got cold and clammy. I managed to choke out a few jumbled words, but I could barely hear myself speak over the mighty thump, thump, thump of my racing heart.   Afterward, I was so mad at myself! On this special occasion for a dear friend, I’d been unprepared, nervous, inarticulate and probably inaudible to boot (okay, that might have been a good thing). I swore I’d never again mess up a public speaking moment. To help me avoid future humiliation, I turned to an oratory pro, business coach Julie Gordon White.   Julie, a TEDx Talk presenter who has spoken countless times to audiences as small as one and as terrifying as 800, gave me five key strategies for not bungling thi