According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the costs of piracy, counterfeiting and the theft of intellectual property “range from $250 billion to 750,000 jobs per year.” It is not clear how much of that is yanked out of the pocket of small businesses,…
When it comes to customer service for your business, extremely helpful and courteous behavior – extremely polite, extremely generous works. But when it comes to product choices, it is possible to overdo. Harvard professor, John Gourville explains how more people often choose at one extreme…
Why on earth would you not subscribe to the weekly newsletter of Harvard Business School’s Working Knowledge website? It’s HARVARD fer cryin’ out loud! Yet, we all know there’s no crying in business. And let’s just say, Harvard has been known to bring it. Like…
For a startup or a small business, marketing is the elephant in the cash register. Among all the other expenses – payroll, rent, utilities, equipment – marketing is the most difficult on the list. You cannot forego the essentials… you have no choice on rent,…
So many media, so little money — the lament of the small business owner. When you are poring over your advertising budget, so often, a larger amount is needed to promote your two or three top selling seasons. This bulge can only come out of…
Can the U.S. government actually help you with your small business? It certainly has no shortage of rules, regulations and hoops for you to jump through. But, it makes up for some of that with actual help for the small business owner. The feds even…
… but what a way to go!! Since I am from Kansas City, Mo., home of the Kauffman Foundation, it’s difficult for me to assess its nationwide (or worldwide!) influence from the hometown. Yes. It’s a Local Big Deal. Here is where the intensely serious…
