Business Discussions

    Last May, we were lucky enough to have Maxie McCoy on hand for a very special live chat where we talked about how to network like a rockstar and find your tribe — a.k.a. the people who understand your passion and who will keep you afloat, no matter where you are in your business.   Maxie is a writer, speaker, community builder, coach and world traveler who specializes in helping individuals tap into their greatest potential so they can grow their brand, their business and their following. She's a master at networking and truly an inspiration. Let's revisit Maxie's three tips for how to maximize your networking mojo.   Here we go!         1. Know that your network wants to help you succeed.   "Every opportunity I've ever had was because someone stuck their neck out for me."   When was the last time you asked your closest friends, parents or buddies: Who do you know that I need to know?   Maxie reminded

  Cricket has had an impressive career, with top jobs at companies like Yahoo! and Edelman on her resumé. But recently, she left her corporate career behind for the world of Pilates.  We had to know more about how she made the switch and what inspired her to open up a community-oriented Pilates studio, so we sat down with her to hear her story.   Name: Cricket Wardein Business: Mighty Pilates Started: 2010 How did the idea for Mighty Pilates come about? The idea for group Pilates sessions came to me when I moved to Sydney, Australia. I worked at Yahoo! from 2006 to 2007 and spent some of my downtime practicing Pilates. When I came back to the US, I realized it was all about individual sessions here, but out there the classes had a different vibe — there was an energy I wanted to bring back to the States. I set up Mighty Pilates in 2010 with my business partner, Victoria. We self-funded the business, which meant I wasn’t able to quit my day job for awhile after we st

  Meghan Benson started her business selling unique necklaces as a way to raise money for the adoption of her son. When it became clear that she was building a fan base, she decided to keep it going. Now, she has two toddlers at home and she's working hard every day to create harmony between family life and entrepreneurship.   We asked Meghan to share with us about her own experiences with finding new customers, how she plans her week when she's balancing kids and family and the difficult lesson she learned from a disgruntled customer.     Name: Meghan Benson   Business: Ellie & James   Started: August 2014   How did you create your awesome job?   I started Ellie & James as a fundraiser for our child’s adoption in 2014. It all started when my sister moved back to Barcelona and I made her a necklace with a map of the city as a going away gift.    I started creating jewelry for other people and

   Robert Armstrong took a family tradition and turned it into a thriving business in his hometown of Selma, Alabama by learning how to bake, sell and distribute his signature G Mommas Cookies, described as "the best cookie you’ll taste comin’ out of the deep south." Robert has been winning over tastebuds and votes recently as a top 10 finalist in Small Business Big Game, so we had to learn more about the story behind starting his business and how he stays inspired day in and day out. Take it away, Robert!   Name: Robert Armstrong Business: G Mommas Cookies Started: July 2009   How did you come up with the name for your business?  G Mommas Cookies is named for my grandmother, Anice Armstrong. We used to call her “Gammy” and the recipes that we use to make G Mommas Cookies are inspired by the chocolate chip pecan cookies she made us in junior high and high school.  Together, she and I came up with our BuddaScotch Oatmeal recip

When creativity and the perfect audience collide, it can be a beautiful thing. Sticker designer Lisa Villafane learned this when she discovered her target market online, then created her colorful line of fun, practical stickers for planners. This mom of two has racked up over 14,000 sales on Etsy in less than a year, so we had to find out what she's learned so far about creating a business from her home.  Read on to find out how Lisa gave up on the world of advertising to pursue a passion closer to her heart.   Name: Lisa Villafane Business: Sticker Designer and Owner of Lisa V Creations Started: December 2014 How did you create your awesome job? I’ve always been super organized. Even as a child, I loved stationery and anything that helped me plan.  Two years ago, while searching for a new planner, I stumbled on a Facebook group for fans of Erin Condren products and decided to join. I reached out to the 30,000-strong community and found a lot of likeminde

  John didn’t mean to start a business — he just wanted to make his son an exciting new bed. But when people started to offer him money for the plans he used to create it, he realized he was on to something big.  Over 1,500 sales later, John can’t believe his good fortune — and we couldn’t wait to find out his secret to success.   Name: John Forck Business: Jeep Beds Etsy Shop Started: December 2013   How did Jeep Beds come to be? I’m an engineering manager at an avionics company and I have a background in electrical and computer engineering. I haven’t worked with wood much in the past, but my Dad used to have a workshop, so I learned from him and eventually inherited his tools. A few years ago, I was looking to buy a bed for my son, but couldn’t find anything fun. I decided to make one myself in the shape of a Jeep. I’d never even owned a Jeep, but I enjoyed working on the bed so much that I bought one as soon as it was finished! I started chatting to other Jeep o

Johnny Zone knows a thing or two about good food. After an impressive 13-year career working for chefs like Gordon Ramsay, the obvious choice might’ve been to open a fine dining restaurant, but Johnny chose to start his own small business instead — a fried chicken food truck in LA.  We couldn’t wait to find out this master chef’s recipe for success! Name: Johnny Zone Business: Howlin’ Ray’s Hot Chicken Started: June 2015 How did you create your awesome job? When I was 16, I ate a burger in New Mexico that blew my mind. From that moment on, all I wanted was to be able to cook food like that, so I took a job in a French Bistro — Figaro Bistrot in Los Feliz — instead of going to school. From there, I continued to work at more refined restaurants. I was part of the original team at Gordon Ramsay at The London Hotel in West Hollywood, where I spent three years in the kitchen and I was the chef de partie when the restaurant was awarded a Michelin star. I’ve appeared on a few TV sh

 Taking inspiration from the Colorado mountains where she lives, Sarah is a full-time artist who specializes in hand-drawn portraits of animals. Her work is a labor of love, but by listing her work on Etsy she’s bought enough freedom to devote her life to her passion. We couldn’t wait to hear more about the person behind the prints and how she's learned to price her artwork.  Read on for more about Sarah and to find out what she's hoping to learn next from you. Name: Sarah Petkus Business: Nest and Burrow Prints and Gifts Started: September 2011 How did you create your awesome job? I’ve been drawing, painting and sculpting since I was a kid and I always knew I needed to lead a creative life. Becoming an artist happened organically over the years. I sold my first piece of art when I was 13 and it seemed like common sense that I should try to sell more. After college, I started to research the business of making art for a living and I looked at how other artists

Bank of America is using a service called ViewPost to send vendor payments. It seems a little like bill.com but less expensive. Has anyone had experience using this feature? I don't want to cause my vendors any headaches as it requires them to create an account and enter their banking information. I checked and this is not listed in the app section of QBO, but they can connect to your QBO and send the information to QBO. 

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  Three years ago, two sisters on a mission to make a difference teamed up to start Sword & Plough — a social enterprise that works with veterans to repurpose military surplus materials that would otherwise be thrown away. Their unique tote bags, handbags and accessories, along with their passion for providing employment for veterans, recently catapulted them into the national spotlight as a top 10 finalist in Small Business Big Game, so we had to find out the story behind starting their business. Take it away, ladies! Names: Emily and Betsy Núñez Business: Sword & Plough Started: January 2012   Why did you both decide to build your business around the idea of giving back to the military? Emily: We were born into the military and it has always been a huge part of our lives. Our dad served for over 30 years, so we grew up on military posts. I'm currently an active duty U.S. Army Officer, stationed with the HUD special forces group. Betsy:&nbsp

Ryan always loved collecting old knick-knacks, but it wasn’t until he started repurposing them into unique lamps that his business was born. Now, he spends every spare hour outside of his 9-to-5 job reconditioning vintage pieces and selling them on Etsy or at local flea markets.  As Ryan gets ready to explore how to turn his successful pop-up shop into a real brick-and-mortar business, what are the key steps he needs to address first? Read on to learn more about Ryan — and add your tips for him below!   Name: Ryan Seagrist Business: Northern Electric Lighting Company Started: September 2013 How did you create your awesome job? I’ve always been interested in antiques and I run Northern Electric Lighting Company alongside my full-time job, partly as a hobby and partly as a business.  Monday through Friday, I work for Whole Foods Market as a Receiving and Maintenance Manager. During my evenings and on weekends, I run my Etsy antiques business. I basically have tw

     In 2011, Mike Brown was struggling to keep his upstate New York coffee shop open when he asked himself a question that would change the course of his business forever: "What is the world's strongest coffee, anyway?" Not long after, Death Wish Coffee was born. Touted as "the world's strongest coffee," Mike told us that it some third party resources even say it's twice the amount of caffeine in your typical cup of joe. Mike and his team of highly caffeinated coffee elves were honored recently to be the big winners in Small Business Big Game so we asked him to spill the beans on what his current challenges are as a small business owner and how he stays inspired day in and day out.   Name: Mike Brown Business: Death Wish Coffee Started: 2011   Why did you decide to start Death Wish Coffee? I've owned a small coffee shop in Saratoga Springs since 2008. Toward the end of 2011, I started  Death Wish Coffee in the basement of that shop with the go

        Brooke was struggling with getting sales in her Etsy shop until, on a whim, she tried selling something a little different — hand-painted dinosaur planters.   Three+ years later, Brooke has learned a ton about supply and demand after a big magazine feature kickstarted her sales and she experienced a rough period of burnout. We chatted with her to find out what her biggest pricing mistake was and how she manages her day-to-day during the busy holiday season. Take it away, Brooke!   Name: Brooke Hoerner   Business: Alyce Paul Crafting Studio   Started: November 2012   Where did you get the idea for creating and selling dinosaur planters on Etsy?   My ex-boyfriend was a dinosaur fanatic. We had dinosaur toys on top of the fridge, in the kitchen — just about everywhere you can imagine. I decided to paint one gold as a gift for him and added an air plant because I had lots of them at the time.   After making that firs

      "How you face your morning is how you face your life."   Sarah Harrison shared this bit of wisdom with us — and it immediately changed the way we start our day!   Through her own experiences dealing with burnout and leaving a full-time job to carve out her own path as a small business owner and consultant, Sarah has learned a ton about how to create systems that help her begin each day on the right foot.   Let's check out Sarah's five key tips for maximizing your morning ritual.   Are you ready?!         1. A successful morning ritual starts the night before   A self-professed "night owl living in an early bird world," Sarah struggled with her New Year's resolution back in 2014: to simply get up earlier every morning. She had recently made the leap from working a 9-to-5 to becoming self-employed and her daily schedule was changing every day. Some days were filled with energizing meetings, other days were empti

I thought I might reach out and ask if anyone has suggestions with regard to reaching / securing (software related) Accelerators and or VCs? We're beginning a funding round and all suggestions are welcome. Note, yes our pre-money valuation is complete, business plans, budgets, etc. and this is a new product we will be releasing. We recently added our company to Gust, but no others just yet.

  Finding the right beachwear at the right price was a conundrum that friendsGeorgie Pickering and Sophie Mill had separately encountered, so a chance conversation last spring led to a new business idea that (luckily!) enjoyed instant success. Sister Design’s rapid growth has taught the founders many a lesson in what it takes to design and launch a kaftan collection. Now, they’re curious to discover what next season will bring.   We caught up with Georgie and Sophie to chat about chasing the elusive promise of finding work-life balance, using focus groups to drive new product creation and their favorite tricks of the trade.       Names: Georgie Pickering and Sophie Mill Business: Sister Design Started: 2015   How did you create your awesome company?   Sophie: I have a background in fashion PR and have worked with brands including Versace, Paul Smith and Boden. But I struggled with giving up work after I had my kids. I

I'm curious what others have read about the art of writing a business proposal. Is there a book that you can recommend that does a great job teaching someone like a bookkeeper on how to effectively write a solid proposal?

    When he lost his job as an architect during the recession, stay-at-home dad David found that making and selling wooden toys was an easy way to support his family.  Now he now spends most of his time in his workshop or taking care of his kids. With up to 150 orders a day during the holiday season, we had to know more about his experience wholesaling his products throughout the year and what he's hoping to learn next from all of you!   Name: David Minnery Business: Manzanita Kids Started: November 2010   How did you create your awesome job? I got laid off from my job as a structural architect during the economic crash, just two weeks after my son was born.  It was difficult to come to terms with at first, but it ended up being one of the best things that ever happened to me. I got to spend more time with my son, and it gave me the chance to start fresh. My wife and I both decided that we didn’t want to put our kids in daycare, so we started lookin

I'm running a small business by myself.  I need to hire some help so I have time to expand the business.  I've talked to a few prospects, but it's clear I have no idea what makes a good employee.  In your experience, what should I be looking for in a long term part time employee?  Personality traits?  Experience? I don't have time to get this wrong.

Is it possible to set up a checking account for my business using only the EIN and not my social?

    Cathy Iconis hosted one of our very first live chats in OWN IT just for accountantsback in September. Not only were we impressed by her in-depth knowledge of how to use Twitter to get new clients, we love Cathy's fresh perspective on everything from work/life balance to building a personal brand.   We asked Cathy to share with us the whole story of how she moved from working for a CPA firm to running The Iconis Group, providing accounting, bookkeeping and technology consulting services for a wide range of clients. She's also building a devoted QuickBooks Online Twitter community — and she's doing it all from her home office.       Name: Cathy Iconis   Business: The Iconis Group   Started: 2009   Tell us a little bit about your background. How did you get started?   I was a political science major in college, and everyone kept asking me what I planned to do with that degree. I wasn't into read

  Here in QB Community we highlight real stories from small business owners just like you who are deep in the process of taking a new idea or product to market. We're shining a spotlight on QB Community member Celeste Ruberti to find out what she's learned so far about customer research and bringing a new product to market.   After years of air drying hair as a successful hairstylist, Celeste discovered a niche opportunity for creating quality hair products specifically for air drying. Now, she's determined to create a new line of styling products customized for women on the go — and build a sustainable business along the way.   We invited Celeste to share her story with us so that together we can crowdsource some answers for her — and help each other out along the way!     Name: Celeste Ruberti  Business: Mane Island   Tell us a little bit about this business you're in the process of launching!   I’m a hairstylist

   Chris Turner thinks that most success stories out there about entrepreneurs compare to people’s flawless Facebook façades: they leave you wondering what *really* goes on behind the picture-perfect smiles.   That's why he's sharing his story here with us.    At first, it seemed impossible for Chris to quit his job and launch a business without any tech expertise, so he took matters into his own hands and enrolled in a coding class. With his newfound knowledge, he decided to create Tenrocket and build web and mobile apps for businesses in under 10 days for only $10,000 — a lot less than what his competitors charge.   Chris believes that the sky is the limit for his business, but it hasn’t always been a smooth ride. We talked to him about how he got Tenrocket off the ground and why he's encouraging other small business owners like him to tell the truth about their startup struggles.     Name: Chris Turner   Business: Tenrocket   S

Today, August 1 is the annual startupday. Congresspeople meet startups in their communities to promote small businesses. The twitter tag I used as the subject is trending today. Check out various articles around the net to see how this is celebrated and how it originated. Is there anything going on in your communities? Or is this the first you are hearing of this?joe