email: mthong@radford.edu or melanie.thong@gmail.com
Business Strategies
I hope to eventually start my own business in the future. Here are some links relating to getting started, marketing a business, managing a business, and financing a business.
Getting Started Marketing a Business Financing a Business Risk Management Starting a Coffee Shop
Seven Essential Steps in Opening a Business - Seven detailed steps for opening a business from research and planning to tracking and revising. Additional resources are also provided.
Opening a Business in Virginia - The Virginia Department of Business Assistance, excellent site about opening a business in Virginia. Provides links about the organization, the Virginia Business Information Center, Small Business Development, Workforce Development, interesting facts, permit information and more.
United States Small Business Administration - A resource for small businesses with links to starting a business, financing a business, managing your own business, business opportunities, and disaster recovery.
Business Plans, Ideas and Helpful Tools for Starting a Business - Includes seven steps you should take if you are planning a start your own business while you still are employed. Great tips on financing your business and sample marketing plans.
Business Startup Checklist - A list of 16 things to do in starting a business. Includes incorporating your business, obtaining business insurance, creating business materials, and checking zone requirements.
Small Business Ideas - An article focusing on generating business ideas. Contains data on what most people buy online and connecting ideas to human needs. Also shows some rules about business ideas including uniqueness and an existing demand.
Small Business Marketing and Opening - Discusses the importance of making a checklist before opening a business. This site also reviews marketing techniques essential in starting a business and common mistakes people often make when creating their own businesses.
Marketing for Woman Owned Businesses - A site for women business owners discussing a variety of marketing aspects including ideas, language, the 4P's of marketing, sales and promotion, multicultural marketing and much more.
Developing a Market Plan and Setting Sales Goals - This contains a useful worksheet that will assist in developing a set marking plan and sales goals. Surveys and questions are available that outline the perfect plan for whatever type of business.
Marketing Your Product - Concepts in marketing your product including analyzing market environment, marketing research, total quality management and more.
Marketing Your Business with Seminars - Seminars are becoming a popular way to target customers. Includes the benefits of seminars and the discusses the importance of location and time to have seminars.
Marketing for Frugal Budgets - Suggestions for marketing on a limited budget. Ideas include coupons, free gifts, giveaways, contests, special offers and the like.
Best Banks for Entrepreneurs - The best banks for small businesses by state.
Opening a Small Business Bank Account - Provides common questions that many business beginners have concerning banking for their small business and helpful answers to them.
Small Business Internet Banking - Most small businesses do not use Internet Banking. This article explains the benefits of internet banking can do people wanting to start their own business.
Financing Your Business - Discusses the concept of "smart money" which is more than just cash, but the importance of choosing the right financer.
Small Business Funding Opportunities - Various opportunities to fund your own business. Including grants and loans.
Budgeting in Small Business - Emphasizes the importance of budgeting in case of emergencies and for future plans.
Manual of Risk Management for Small Businesses - Detailed information and worksheets on commercial and legal relationships, economic circumstances, human behavior, natural and human caused disasters and more.
Risk Management Strategies - An article revealing some strategies for risk management such as insurance, OSHA standards, financial safeguards, security services, backup systems and others.
Reducing Operational Risks - An article about reducing day-to-day risks. Also discusses reducing financial risks.
Implementing a Security Program - Steps in creating a reliable loss prevention system.
Small Business Insurance - The Small Business Insurance Center provides insurance for a number of different types of businesses including computer consulting firms, employment practices liability, machine shops and ocean and air cargo.
Loss Prevention Management - Most small businesses fail within the first three years. This article focuses on the proper way to prevent loss through the proper management.
Coffee Business Consulting - A source for making the right decisions for opening a specialty coffee place regarding location, suppliers, understanding the coffee business and many others.
How to Start a Successful Coffee Shop - Reviews corporate coffee concepts and other strategies in building a successful coffee shop.
Developing a Coffee Shop Marketing Plan - Tips on developing a marketing plan for coffee shops including establishing a target market, defining a marketing objective, selecting media, and determining your advertising budget.
Writing a Coffee Shop Business Plan - Several steps to develop a coffee shop business plan.
Operating a Coffee Shop - Discusses the importance of design and equipment.
Gaining Consumer Loyalty at a Coffee Shop - An article on how to increase your coffee sales and keeping customers satisfied