Small Business Success Blog

Connie Inukai loved to dine out with her friends, but, at age 68, she had trouble reading the small print on menus and bills in dimly lit restaurants. She was not alone in this challenge; people over 55 experience a decline in vision making reading in darker settings difficult. There had to be a better solution, she thought, than passing reading glasses around the table or fumbling with the flashlight app on her smart phone. The idea for Tip ‘n Split was born, and, with no prior experience, Connie got to work in 2013. “[A]fter 40 years as a University instructor, I put away my teaching materials and launched my own product.”

Congratulations to our own Karen Williams who was recently awarded the prestigious SCORE Conductor Field Leadership Award for her many contributions to SCORE. The Conductor Award was created to recognize outstanding volunteer leadership and impact in the field. Past chapter chair, Certified Mentor, SCORE DC Webinar instructor, Chapter Executive Committee member, National Advisory Council member and National Women's Council member: Karen has contributed greatly to SCORE on both the chapter and national levels. Kudos!!!

Nahum Jeannot has spent most of his adult professional life in and around the food service industry, starting as a line cook in 2007. It was during his time as a head chef in 2015, when the idea of GoOats was first conceived. Chef Jeannot was preparing for the hotel’s grand opening celebration and wanted to include a fun, innovative finger food in his breakfast menu. He considered the oatmeal his mother made for him with milk, butter, spices, fresh fruits and more, but realized a bowl of oatmeal was neither fun, innovative nor a finger food. After mulling it over for a few days (and still thinking about his mother’s oatmeal), Nahum seized on the idea of “oatmeal bites.”

To help you best support Black-owned businesses, we asked Black business owners and leaders this question for their best recommendations. From promoting Black-owned businesses on social media to providing Black founders with more access to funding, several recommendations may help you offer the best support to Black-owned businesses as you celebrate National Black Business Month.

To help you develop the best habits for success as an entrepreneur, we asked successful entrepreneurs and business owners this question for their best insights. From learning to make quick decisions to demonstrating moral courage, several habits are considered important in making entrepreneurs successful.

If the past few years have taught small business owners anything, it’s the unpredictability of life. Assuming that your SMB weathered the pandemic, you are understandably concerned about shoring things up ahead of the next crisis. If you’re starting your own company, you’ll want to adopt a few tried-and-true practices to guard against the unexpected.

According to Business Jargons, an online business encyclopedia, it’s often harder to start a business in rural areas, due to several factors, including a lack of technical know-how and training. But the encyclopedia also points out that several businesses are particularly well-suited for those living in rural America.

Data security is a serious and ever-growing issue for businesses big and small (not to mention the affected consumers). Threats such as data breaches, identity theft and fraud, and large-scale credit card leaks are never far from the latest business news.

To ensure rural small business owners have all the facts regarding business structure, here is a quick guide to what entities are available for your rural business and how each can protect you from future legal nightmares.

Reimagine Main Street is currently taking applications, through July 26, 2022, for AAPI grant applicants. The grant is designed to support AAPI entrepreneurs from challenges they may have faced or are still dealing with from the pandemic.

From synergizing with Google Map Pack to using social media, there are several resources to help independent retailers succeed.

From crowdfunding to state trade expansion programs, there are several funding options for rural entrepreneurs