Business By The Bay

Want to start a business? Rick Morgin says that so many people have mentioned to him that they wish they had known him when they were planning to begin their business journey. A good business or a franchise consultant can help people navigate through so many options out there, instead of following a hit and trial method. Once you open a business, it is extremely important to hire the right team and ensure marketing never stops. Rick shared his personal experiences and he believes some of the reasons behind his success are -

As a small business owner, have you ever wondered that the competition is tough and there are many people offering similar products or services? Realtor Yun Tong shared her business journey and explained what has made her very successful. Some of the useful tips she gave are -

HR compliance can be tricky and ignorance is not an excuse. Attorney Robert Nuddleman explained some very important things which every employer should be aware of. For example, some of the common mistakes employers make are not addressing any issue when it shows up first or paying a salary when it should be hourly with overtime. Lack of communication and making the employees feel that they are not being treated fairly result in troubles for employers. To avoid problems, employers need to treat employees fairly and should also be aware of the employment laws by being proactive in educating themselves and their employees.

Bill Knowland explained the power of video marketing. A picture paints a thousand words and a video shows thousands of pictures. However, at times when businesses are on a tight budget, it is natural for the return on investment question to come. There are tools and metrics available that provide the impact of videos. He also mentioned the different types of videos an organization can create to reach its target audience - marketing videos, training videos,  customer testimonial videos, how to videos, meet the owner videos, thought leadership videos, inspirational videos, interactive videos, etc.

Peter Niles explained the benefits of owning a franchise and also mentioned some of the disadvantages of owning a franchise. He shared his views on what makes a good franchise owner and also spoke about some of the businesses that have flourished in the last couple of years.

Trustegrity - building relationships, which results in the sharing of ideas, solutions, and opportunities. Laurie Pearce provided an overview of Trustegrity and how its members benefit from this networking and mastermind group. Laurie suggests that never give up because when the going gets tough, you may actually be very close to success.

Choosing a retirement plan can be tricky for a small business owner. Many states have mandated businesses to have a plan in place. Taylor and Parker provided good information regarding the options businesses have. 401K plans provide a lot more flexibility in comparison to a state Roth IRA plan. They believe that some of the reasons Farther has seen a good growth are that they listen to their clients, are able to offer the right solutions and have great communication.

We all know that health is wealth, but still for many people it is difficult to eat right and exercise well. Rebecca Walker said that there are various factors like availability of junk food, marketing and what is going on in our bodies that makes us develop unhealthy eating habits. There is so much advanced testing available today that under the guidance of a professional, one can overcome health challenges and maintain optimal health. She provided great tips regarding proper sleep and recommended getting morning sun and avoiding drinking tea or coffee for at least one hour after waking up. Healthy business people have more energy and it helps them work more effectively. Rebecca hires people who are passionate about their work and she says that having people in the right place results in optimal output.

Grow your network of diverse people to grow your business. Maile says that effective networking is a learnable skill. When we team up with other people, opportunities are exponential compared to trying to do things alone. She explains that when we are interested in others and understand them really well, we become unusually very successful. Maile says that networking with people is not taught in school. So people make basic mistakes like entering a room of business people to sell to the room, rather than through the room. Follow the law of reciprocity - give to others, work together and reap the rewards.

Vivek highlights the importance of getting the accounting under control. He says that when a business owner is looking at the accounting at 2 AM, then it is a clear sign to outsource the accounting function.

Patricia Snowden talks about the role Stay Pleasant Hill plays in promoting visitors to the city and region. The tourism industry was severely affected by the pandemic. Patricia provided some insight on how to look into the available data to update your marketing strategy. She believes that being a good listener and listening to a diverse group of people help a leader to lead successfully.

Mony Nop talks about leadership and what made him succeed against all odds. He explained his love for Livermore, why he is running to be a mayor and what all he plans to do.

Learning is a treasure. When students and industries collaborate, a win-win situation is created, and true development takes place. Dr. Dyrell Foster discusses some of the wonderful things Las Positas College is doing in Livermore, CA.

A small business owner has a lot on his or her plate. Judith Feuer provides an overview of the value a right financial advisor brings. She also talks about what are some of the common things business owners do that make them financially successful.

Plan to succeed as a successful business requires knowing where things stand and what needs to be done to achieve the goals. Joel Smith explains that rather than looking at accounting as a cost, small business owners need to look at outsourced CFO services as the help that can ensure the business is healthy and cash rich.

Kathy talks about how the Tri-Valley Nonprofit Alliance is harnessing the power of collaboration and creating a big impact by bringing in talented and passionate people together to share great ideas.

Candice suggests not to ignore your books, put yourself out there to network with the right people, and keep your business in a healthy state by being proactive.

Deborah Finestone talks about being yourself, creating a plan and creating content to reach more people and stop wasting time on social media.

Lorna Van Ackeren talks about how getting the right help makes it easier for people to go through a very difficult phase. When organizations believe in their mission statements and practice it every day, they are able to provide an excellent quality of service.

Sara Subbiondo talks about how the non-profit organizations she is working with are creating opportunities for the people in the community by teaching them the right skills.

Mony Nop talks about his inspiring life journey and factors that contributed to his success. He found solutions to numerous challenges life threw at him at an early age. Mony is grateful for his achievements and believes in giving back to the community.

Content is king. Priscilla Parra talks about building the brand by storytelling that leads people to action.

Business coach Paul Wildrick suggests business owners to work with a mindset that puts their companies in the best possible position to be sold for maximum cash. He talks about common mistakes business leaders make and things required to be highly successful.

Bookkeeping and accounting services can be tricky for small business owners if they try to do it on their own. CPA Steve Kau explains the approach one can take - do it in-house or outsource it, keeping in mind the budget available for business services.

Efficient organizations try to continuously improve the quality of their offerings, monitor costs, and add more value for their clients. A small percentage reduction in payment processing will result in significant savings for high volume businesses. Jessica Casto provides an excellent overview of the payment processing industry.

Marketing Advertising Specialist Michel Knutzman talks about how she gets referrals by asking her clients the right questions. She helps her clients by understanding their needs and connecting them with other businesses. The relational capital built by connecting professionals creates value for all.

Cold calling is tiring and conversion is poor, in spite of non-stop chasing the leads. Rick Silva suggests there is a superior way - let people chase you to buy your products and services. Listen to find out how.

Any employer with 5 or more employees in California will be required to offer a retirement plan by 30 June, 2022. Mike Schifferle made some valuable suggestions on how to plan it and the options that employers have. CalSavers is not the only option and may not be the best option.

Business has two main functions — marketing and innovation. Steve Koel talks about how to advertise effectively and generate the required demand for small businesses to grow.

Small business insurance coverage gets tricky for owners because they don't want to be underinsured and at the same time, want to keep the insurance costs reasonable. Bill Evans has been in the insurance industry for 21 years and owns his agency in Pleasanton, California. He talked about all things insurance here and gave some excellent suggestions on how to keep the right coverage.

On January 16, 2021, we will be on air at 10:00 a.m. (GMT-8) on 1640 AM KDIA Radio. The first “Business By the Bay" talk show will focus on how to find the money for your business. You don’t want to miss it because you will hear some great actionable pointers. Be sure to tune in.