Business Discussions

Here’s a question you’ll get asked all the time as an entrepreneur: Why did you decide to start your own business? (Thankfully, the other part of the question – what made you crazy enough to think you could start your own business? – is usually just implied!) We’ll help you home in on your answer by sharing some of the top reasons folks in this awesome community have chosen to do their own business thing. Did we omit what motivates you to work for yourself? In the comments below, tell us what inspires you to take the entrepreneurial leap! I want to start a business so I can: Solve a problem: Ben Gucciardi was earning his M.A. in global educational leadership, working in youth development for underserved families and playing a lot of soccer when he had an idea. The California native realized soccer could be a tool to help struggling kids learn to better communicate, connect and collaborate with their peers, parents and teachers. Could he build a program around his favorite sport to he

Who: Erica Liu Williams What: gr8nola When: June 2013 Where: Danville, CA Why: When Erica decided to sell the “clean,” healthful granola she regularly baked for family and friends, she wasn’t planning to turn her side-hustle into a full-fledged business. But just a few months after attending her first farmer’s market, Erica was selected to become an official snack vendor for Google. Suddenly, she needed to make gr8nola on a whole new scale. How did Erica launch her business? Step one: Assess the market, nail the product I had to feel confident that my recipe was exceptional and that it met the needs of not just myself, friends and family but of the market. First and foremost, would people buy it? And more importantly, would they come back and buy again and again? I decided that selling gr8nola at my local farmer’s market would be the quickest way to get this feedback. I also knew my recipe had to be consistent. I had to figure out how to scale up from baking a two-pound batch of gr8

Welcome to Community Conversations! Today I’m sitting down to talk with two amazing women - both of whom happen to be named Julie - about what’s great and what’s tough about working for yourself. You’ll hear loads of ideas, insights and inspiration. Sit back, listen and learn! Here’s what you’ll find in this episode of Community Conversations... Julie Goldman is the founder of the Original Runner Company which sells bespoke, non-skid aisle runners for all of life’s “grand entrances.” Julie shares some of her secrets to building a wildly successful company: Believe in yourself and your product, be persistent and try to provide the best customer service ever.   Julie Gordon White is an award-winning entrepreneur, business coach and host of QB Community’s Momentum to $1 Million group. Julie explains why “high-impact pricing” will help women, in particular, reach new levels of business success and why it’s time to say goodbye to your low-paying clients. Want more from both of th

  There is no better resource for a business owner than another business owner. These are some of the questions your peers are asking about running and growing their businesses. Do you have answers to any of these questions? Great! Do you have questions in need of an answer? Also great! Tell us in the comments below.   GETTING NOTICED & LEVERAGING SOCIAL MEDIA      Stacia Guzzo, owner of The Handcrafted Honeybee, natural skincare products: “A couple of my biggest goals for the business are to grow my social media followers and build my email list. Does anyone here have tips on how to find the right people to target for my products? I’d love to hear them!”     David Minnery, owner of Manzanita Kids, wooden baby toys: “When I have the choice of sitting at a computer or making things in my shop, I always choose the shop. However, this leaves a gap in our marketing. I currently spend roughly 30 minutes a day on social media, but I'm wondering if

You have questions about running a small business, and our QB Community members have answers! Everyone here knows the importance of building meaningful member-to-member relationships, and there’s no better way to learn, discover and get inspired as an entrepreneur. Best of all? When members share what they know, everyone benefits. Check out this recent QB Community conversation, and you’ll see what we mean!     @JTcarpentry  asked: Hello, we are still a newer company but have been in business for 4 years, running as a sole proprietorship. Does anyone have some quick and simple advice as to why maybe an S corp would be beneficial to me?      @Acupuncture4U answered: An S corp or LLC protect you against lawsuits. Your business can be sued but your personal property is protected and untouchable. With a Sole Proprietorship if you are sued your personal property becomes a part of the law suit.   @MorganB answered: I'm glad you turned to us here in th

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You can't buy happiness . But that feeling of confidence and security you get from receiving an all-important delivery on time, every time? Worth every penny. Tell us...  How do you show your appreciation for the people who provide the products and services that make your business possible?

  For an entrepreneur, the line between work and non-work (also known as “life”) is often quite blurry. Where does work end when you are your own boss? And where does life begin when you and your business are inextricably intertwined? When you work for yourself, finding a work/life balance that protects and preserves your financial health as well as your mental, physical and emotional health can be as tricky as staying upright on a tightrope. Yet, every day, countless people opt to work for themselves. When it comes to getting the most out of both work and life, do the benefits of entrepreneurship outweigh the drawbacks? Intuit decided to find out.   The company recently conducted a survey of 1,000 self-employed people on the topic of work/life balance. Some of those surveyed (56%) were wholly self-employed, while the rest were also working either part- or full-time jobs in addition to being self-employed. Let’s find out what they had to say!   Stop! Before you re

September 13 is National Defy Superstition Day! I’m not totally sure, but I suppose that means today is the day to walk under a ladder or spill salt without expecting any adverse outcomes. Many superstitions are based on the idea that if you do X, a bad thing will happen. But then there’s another kind of superstition: if you do Y, the outcome will be good. Think: MLB players not shaving their beards during playoffs, or performing the sign of the cross before a dive.   It’s not just athletes, business people also have a ton of superstitions! From assuming the power stance before big presentations, to framing the first dollar your business made, to Lucky Cat watching over your store, to wearing the same tie/socks/undies to important meetings -- all with the hope that things will go the right way.   So, QB Community members, what are your superstitions? And, do they work?

We are a used vehicle dealership and I am having the issue of invoicing customers who have a trade.  We put a trade allowance on a vehicle being traded for another vehicle and on the back end we will give it an ACV (actual cash value) which typically results in a loss of profit.  From all the forums I have read, it says I should receive payment against the invoice for the trade allowance and to create a dummy bank account for it to be deposited into and then turn around and pay for the trade in inventory out of that same dummy account.  My question is how and where do you record the loss between trade allowance and the ACV ? 

Who: Sharon Coleman What: Lemon and Honey Gifts When: September 2018 Where: Mill Valley, CA Why: A two-time cancer survivor, I knew all-too-well going through chemo can be grueling and scary and lead to all sorts of unpleasant side-effects like nausea and mouth sores. I wanted to help others as they go through chemo by sharing carefully curated gift boxes lovingly packed with helpful, purposeful products. How did Sharon launch her business? Step one: Check out the competition Once I hit upon the idea, my first step was market research. Was anyone else offering gift boxes for cancer/chemo patients? I discovered a handful of competitors but quickly realized none had my unique business perspective as a cancer survivor. Mindset: “We’ve all been touched by cancer, but I sat in the infusion chair many times myself. I knew that would set my business apart.” Step two: Collect inventory I started collecting products that were meaningful to me because they’d helped me when I was going through c

  Ever look up at the clock after a crazy busy day and immediately wonder, "Where the heck did all those hours go?"    Yeah, it happens to the best of us.   Time is a scarce resource, especially for small business owners and self-employed professionals like us.    Here's what we learned from you!   Productivity Apps Are Your Best Friend     There's a reason for the saying "There's an app for that." You shared with us that, overwhelmingly,  your most useful apps are the ones that make everyday tasks easier and less time consuming.    Anything you can automate = more time for you to spend on the parts of your business that you love.   Rachel Ritlop uses a handful of tools to automate her business. Here are some of her favorites: Calendly: Save time by letting your clients snag slots on your calendar instead of chatting back and forth endlessly about your schedules. Hootsuite: Lots of folks here use Hootsuite, w

Ever feel like you're just running from fire to fire, (hopefully) putting them out one by one? Sounds like you need Eisenhower's Box, a handy how-to for those of us who struggle with what to do when - and what to do never.     Makes sense, right? As 34th U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower once memorably said...   "What is important is seldom urgent, and what is urgent is seldom important."   But how do you decide what's what? The answer can mean the difference between hitch-up-your-pants efficiency and pants-on-fire pandemonium. So.   On a scale of 1 to 10, how do you rate your ability to prioritize tasks on a daily basis without getting derailed by seemingly urgent but not necessarily important things? Any tips to share?

Hi, I don't really want to rehash the numerous problems I've been having with Quickbooks Online. It's really too painful and you all probably have your own stories.  My question is have any of you explored cloud based alternatives. I'm crowdsourcing. Please share with me your recommendations and any drawbacks that you find. Thanks! Liz

Meta and her family in Juneau, Alaska  Name: Meta Mesdag Business: Salty Lady Seafood Co.   Location: Juneau, Alaska Launched:  April 2018 Meta Mesdag is a mom of three in Juneau, Alaska. Wanting to be available to her kids, Meta has opened two successful small businesses out of her home. Although both ventures have kept her super busy, Meta decided earlier this year to start a family “mariculture” business -- an ocean farm where she, her husband and kids will grow (and then sell) oysters, clams, mussels and kelp, all of them working together. Did Meta know anything about mariculture when she dreamt up the idea? No. Did that stop her from starting it up? Absolutely not. Here, at the very beginning of her new business journey, she tells us about the challenge of launching her business and how she persevered despite strict regulations -- and some very heavy concrete anchors. Meta has no doubt that she’ll be successful as a mariculture entrepreneur. After meeting this det

Each and every day, the inspiring self-employed folks in our QuickBooks Community remind us that entrepreneurs find their calling in their own unique way. Some can’t imagine ditching the security of a day job, while others give it up in a flash. We’ve met moms who tailor their career to fit their family life, friends who join forces to bring a business idea to life and sons and daughters who are carrying on family business traditions. If you recognize your own entrepreneurial personality among these eight, let us know. Are you a different type altogether? Tell us more! The Opportunity Grabber You see a niche -- or a gaping hole -- in the market, and you know you’re the one to fill it. You think outside the box and imagine new ways of doing things to appeal to today’s 21st-century customer. You’re outgoing, enthusiastic and you know how to get others excited about your ideas. You’re in good company: Meet Scott Wolfe CEO of zlien, Jennie Nigrosh of The Green Garmento, Leslie Barber of

Welcome to Community Conversations! In this ongoing series, I sit down with small business owners to talk about what’s great and what’s tough about working for yourself. You’ll hear loads of ideas, insights and inspiration. We invite you to sit back, listen and learn! Here’s what you’ll find in this episode of Community Conversations ...  Julie Gordon White is an award-winning entrepreneur, business coach and host of QB Community’s Momentum to $1 Million group. Julie reflects back on her journey as a successful business woman. It all began, she explains, when she decided to spend three days alone -- in complete silence.    Romy Taormina is CEO of Psi Health Solutions, Inc. and inventor of fashionable wristbands proven to relieve nausea. Romy created the bands after experiencing  intense morning sickness during her two pregnancies. As a business owner, she says, she discovered telling her story was a strategic, creative and powerful way to grow her bran

Name: Sharon Coleman Business: Lemon and Honey Gifts Location: Mill Valley, CA Launched: September 2018 (wahoo!) Seven years ago, professional voice actor Sharon Coleman was diagnosed with colon cancer. She underwent extensive treatment, including spending many uncomfortable hours getting chemotherapy at an infusion center. Two years later, the cancer returned, and Sharon once again endured surgery, radiation and chemo. Thankfully, today Sharon is five years cancer-free. She’s also celebrating another significant milestone: This month, she launched an online business that’s directly inspired by her own harrowing experience with cancer. Sharon has founded Lemon and Honey Gifts which offers a carefully curated selection of gift boxes for men, women and kids going through chemo. Sharon thoughtfully and lovingly selects products she knows will help ease the side effects of the difficult treatment. When we caught up with this newly minted entrepreneur, Sharon had been in business for exact

Major life events like having kids, getting laid off or relocating are often the impetus for deciding to work for yourself. Another common motivating factor? Realizing you’re ready to make some serious changes to your lifestyle and your work style. Tell us:   Can you pinpoint the exact reason (or reasons) you “pivoted” and decided to steer your career into the entrepreneurial lane?   We can’t wait to hear your “pivotal” stories!

Names: Ashleigh Miller and Sandra Zhao Business: ZURI Location: Online, New York City and San Francisco Launched: December 2017 Sandra Zhao was running a bakery in Kenya when she met her future business partner Ashleigh Miller, a Persian rug dealer in New York City, at a wedding in Nairobi. Sandra was wearing a stunning dress she’d made from colorful handmade fabric. Her sartorial decision was fortuitous, to say the least: The dress became the inspiration behind Sandra and Ashleigh’s joint business venture, Zuri. Inspired by the bold and beautiful textile prints in eastern Africa, they set out to sell a single style of dress in an array of ever-changing patterns. The dresses are made at a sustainable, carbon-neutral factory in Kenya that supports wildlife conservation and provides jobs to the community. The dresses are exported to and sold in the U.S. Ashleigh and Sandra are part of a growing group of apparel entrepreneurs who aim to balance profit with ethical and sustainable p

  When you're coping with the countless stresses of running a business, you have to take your motivation where you can find it. Maybe you visualize your goals, read daily affirmations or find meaning in cat calendars (hey, I don't judge!). Many small business owners have a favorite quote or two that helps them get through a tough day. But some of us out there -- like me, for starters -- suffer from something I like to think of as IQA: Inspirational-Quote Anxiety (IQA). I just ran across an oldish article from Forbes titled "Top 32 Quotes Every Entrepreneur Should Live By." Challenge accepted! Here are a few of those potentially life-changing quotes: "The best way to predict the future is to create it." (Peter Drucker) "To win without risk is to triumph without glory." (Corneille) "When you cease to dream you cease to live." (Malcolm Forbes) These are all great. They also feel about a million percent unrelated to the actual daily grind of working for myself. No

Hello, I am starting my own business, start running this 22 but I am worried about taxes, first should I charge taxes on my business, we are selling food, and them how is gonna be my business taxes, is everything so confusing, ty in advance 

You have questions about running a small business, and our QB Community members have answers! Everyone here knows the importance of building meaningful member-to-member relationships, and there’s no better way to learn, discover and get inspired as an entrepreneur. Best of all? When members share what they know, everyone benefits. Check out this recent QB Community conversation, and you’ll see what we mean!     @AudreyPratt asked: “If you have an online store, do you prefer ebay, Etsy or Amazon? And why?”       @ALexRuf answered: “I used to sell my handmade beauty accessories on Etsy and Vinted. And a good friend of mine suggested that I set up a standalone website using a wordpress beauty accessories store theme. With my own website, my sales tripled and more. The key is to market your website and I use social media platforms for this purpose.”   @Shahji answered: “Many clients of mine have a personal website and they also sell on Amazon o

  There are plenty of listicles floating around highlighting the traits successful entrepreneurs all seem to share. Based on what we’ve seen and heard from the intrepid small business owners and freelancers in our community, we’re sharing your spin on those all-important qualities – and we’re asking a burning question: Which of these qualities do you think help you the most when it comes to starting, running and growing a business?   You’re a natural-born leader. It comes naturally to you to communicate, guide, motivate and encourage others to do their best. You enjoy inspiring people to work together to achieve a common goal. Even when you’re facing a mountain of thankless tasks, you stay positive and keep the end goal –  the freedom of working for yourself! – in sight.   “The key to success for any organization is the leadership and the people. If you get the leadership part right (you) then the people part should be naturally attracted to you.” — Stev

I have a friend named Khaki. When she started mixing an all-natural skin care product in her kitchen a few years ago, she called it Khaki's Bomb Balm. Catchy, right? But when she expanded, she called her new line of products Face/Food Natural Skincare. I don't know how she came up with the particular name (I always thought "Khaki's Bomb Balm" was pretty awesome) but now that I think of it I should probably ask her!   In the meantime, I'd like to ask you: How did you come up with the name for your business? In your opinion, is it most important for a business name to be catchy? Meaningful? Easy to remember?