Franchise businesses are engines that keep the U.S. economy churning. For several years now, the franchise sector has outpaced the overall economy, and that strong growth is expected to continue, according to the annual economic outlook of the International Franchise Association. It’s no wonder that prospective business owners look at the franchise sector as a...
We all want a loyal following. We’re constantly looking for that magical marketing plan that will connect us to our audience and make our product an irreplaceable part of their life. What we don’t often realize is that connections are relationships. If you aren’t clear about who you are, no one is going to...
One of my favorite things about talking to seasoned entrepreneurs like Amy Vetter is that you never really know what’s going to come out of your discussions. Take Vetter, for example. She’s a CPA who knows her stuff. In fact, she acquired the accounting bug from her grandfather who was a CPA. But it turns...
The gender gap in startups is well documented, particularly in the area of finance where research shows that female entrepreneurs raise smaller amounts of capital to get their businesses off the ground. Fortunately, the startup environment is starting to change, with more focus on helping women start businesses and scale up quickly. For example, at...
Question: What do you get when you combine serendipity with hard work and dedication? Answer: A booming small business that made $1.4 million in its first year and has been growing strong ever since, for 19 amazing years. More specifically, I’m referring to my latest interview guest, Gina Alexander, an LA-based designer who has created a...
Smart Hustle Magazine is looking for that person who most represents and deserves to be recognized as a Smart Hustler - to be awarded The Smart Hustle Award. The small business owner or the entrepreneur who thrives in challenges, overcomes difficulties, always learns, appreciates feedback, helps others. The Smart Hustle Award is for that individual who...
Many small business owners have dreams of rapid growth; that point when your product or service takes off and your profits soar. Perhaps you fantasize about becoming a millionaire, the next Facebook, or THE name that comes to mind when your industry is mentioned. These are the types of goals that we most often associate...
I watched the new movie Hidden Figures with my family recently. If you haven't seen it, it is a movie about three black American women who overcame segregation and racism in the 1960's to be key figures in helping NASA launch a rocket into space, and more importantly, orbit the Earth in a capsule,...
I recently had the pleasure of speaking with husband and wife business team, Melissa and Philip Niu, founders of Parachüt, “the Netflix of camera gear.” Parachüt offers a monthly membership that allows you to rent a custom selected package of high-end camera gear with the help of a “Parachüt Pro,” for as long as...
Ramon Ray, a self-proclaimed lover of lemonade and small business evangelist, recently spoke with Me & The Bees Lemonade CMO, D’Andra Ulmer, during SXSW 2017 at the Dell Experience. Me & The Bees Lemonade is an Austin, Texas-based sustainable lemonade company, founded by D’Andra’s daughter, Mikaila. Most amazingly, Mikaila was only four years old when...
