Charge more than it costs. These words changed my life. My mentor Frank Blau taught me that my selling price should be based on my costs of doing business, not on what other companies were charging. That blew my mind. Up until then, I thought you had to charge “what the market [...]
How much is enough? How much property? House? Money? That question got my attention as I was running today. I've managed to expand my possessions over the years. We live on 80 acres, with multiple buildings and vehicles. It's beautiful and I love my life! Still, as I look forward and ask [...]
Years ago, as The Plumber's Wife, I jumped into the family business. I figured that my husband, Hotrod, would turn wrenches, I would answer the phone and pay bills, and we would get rich. Easy peasy, right? Wrong. We dug a deep hole of debt and struggled to make payroll. Of course, [...]
This ONE Page Report Saved My Marriage. When we started in business together, money was tight. Really tight. And the debt piled up like dirty laundry in a large family. When I would say to my husband, Hotrod, "We don't have enough money!" he would hear, "You're not good enough. You're not [...]
The oft reported statistic is that women, on average, make about 79% of what men make for doing equivalent work. (For more details, AAUW is a great resource.) Is that fair? Nope. We can improve this situation, if we are willing to do what we can do. Once upon a time, I left my [...]
My favorite place? Seminarland! I just returned from the Pumper & Cleaner Profit Series with Jeff Bruss in Orlando, Florida. What a lovely group of contractors. We laughed, we cried...and expanded business and personal success. (Thanks, Jeff! You are a super marketer and businessman, and put on a first class event.) I love to hang out with folks after [...]
Are you sold on flat rate pricing? (a.k.a. upfront pricing, straight forward pricing or bid pricing.) I hope so. There are lots of reasons why it’s a good idea. The number one reason? Your customers want to know how much it’s going to cost before they agree to the repairs or replacement. More reasons: [...]
Note: I am blogging on behalf of Visa Business and received compensation for my time from Visa for sharing my views in this post, but the views expressed here are solely mine, not Visa's. Visit http://facebook.com/visasmallbiz to take a look at the reinvented Facebook Page: Well Sourced by Visa Business. The Page serves as [...]
Sometimes you need a hand. Sometimes you can offer one. Be willing to do both. My great friend, Nancy Michaels, posted a Rant on Saturday. Thanks, Nancy, for this reminder: Your best business will be a reflection of YOU, not anyone else. Mentors, consultants, other businesspeople, can all play a powerful part in your business [...]
Me, “I’d like to buy this thing.” You, “Oh, I’m sorry. We don’t take credit cards.” Me, “Why not?” You, “Well, the credit card company adds 3% to every purchase.” Me, “Dang.” Bottom line: If you don’t take a credit card, or debit card, I am not going to buy from you. I haven’t carried [...]
