Know and review your policies. If you don’t know what you can cover, it can extend the process quite a bit when you must make a claim on your insurance. If something should happen, you want to know where your own hard-earned money has gone. Also, see about “business interruption” insurance. It can come in handy in such cases as a hurricane or gulf oil spill where your business is interrupted for extended periods of time.

Think about working in a different environment. Sometimes your usual “work site” isn’t going to be enough and when that happens, being mobile can be a huge advantage. There is a reason that clouds and tablets and other devices are so widely used. A laptop or desktop will only get you so far during crunch time.

Back, back, back it up. I’m serious. Back up your files. Now! It’s so crucial to your survival in some respects. In an emergency, you want to be mobile, but your files must be also. Also, be smart about your security; know what is going on with your devices. The more you research and know about your own equipment the smarter you can be when you need to be.

Be current. Know the current phone numbers and e-mails that are most important to your business. Although this should be covered in backing it up, many people don’t bother with newer technology. This is one aspect, if that’s the case, where you are truly at a disadvantage.

You may never be prepared enough because disasters are always difficult to expect and even harder to overcome. The point is to make the recovery easier on yourself and that means on your business. Stay focused on your goals for your business after you assess the damage to your personal life. Everyone I know has experienced a disaster that affected their entire lives, personal and professional. If you know it’s going to be an uphill battle, you’re already ahead of the game.

1. Package Tracker Pro ($4.99) An app that helps track all of your packages with a user-friendly interface? Yes, please.

2. Splashtop Remote Desktop ($4.99) Access and browse the files on your computer from your mobile phone… Definitely one of those preventive measures to avoid embarrassment around clients.

3. PdaNet 3.02 (free app plus $15.95 license) A commonly used application that connects your laptop to your phone’s Bluetooth, no rooting required. Also allows you to view your data usage so you don’t have any surprise charges on your phone bill!

4. PrinterShare Premium ($12.95) Yes, it’s a tad expensive but for a wireless printing app that is user-friendly, we would pay just about anything.

5. ezPDF Reader ($2.99) Not only can you view PDFs but you can edit and put your signature on them too.

6. SeekDroid ($5) Find your lost phone using GPS capabilities and turn your ringer up even if it’s on silent. Genius!

7. Evernote (pictured) (free; $5 Premium monthly subscription) I mention the premium version because that is the real ticket. It allows you to share notebooks and gives you more data storage.

8. Intuit GoPayment (free plus transaction fees) After installing the GoPayment app (an Intuit offering) and receiving a free card reader, you’ll be able to process credit-card orders anywhere. The software and hardware are free; you pay a small transaction fee per order… Simple and easy!

There are millions of mobile or PC applications out there that can change the way you do business, I am just here to show you a few. There is an app for everything and usually a free or cheap way to use it! Please don’t be left behind when simplicity and productivity is so readily at your fingertips. Now for some fun; these apps may not be geared to making your small business better. These apps may be for fun but they are definitely useful in a day-to-day way.

9. CompareCarriers(on sale for $1.99, IPhone only) This brand new application will not make your carrier happy but can climb out of all of the bull that your carriers sell to you. This application does three things; it tests and compares carriers’ speed, response and signal. This app is designed to be used in higher populated areas but can be fun just to see where your carrier ranks.

10. Sanity (free) A FREE application that allows you to record your phone conversations and covert them to mp3s and also utilizes text to speech by saying the caller’s name or reading a text message to you.

11. Shush! (free) This application is a Ringer controller that will allow you to silence your phone and then set a time for the ringer to be restored! Since I don’t have an “alarm only” setting on my phone, I believe this one to be the bee’s knees.

12. Call Log Calendar ($2.99) Allows you to track you call log and SMS by location, great for billing clients!! There are also many other utilities such as saving calls and SMS messages to your calendar.

13. TweetDeck (free) Update all of your social activity (Twitter, Facebook) from one spot. This is very important for businesses and is so efficient and user-friendly!

Like I said, mobile applications are coming in new every day, so find your own and most importantly share them. There is nothing better than finding something useful for your clients and friends. Also remember that times are difficult financially and there is almost always a “free” version of an app somewhere, you just have to search. If, by chance, there isn’t and you will really use the application, some are worth the bucks just to make your business and life a little easier.

I find it’s best to talk about my background and struggles so that other small business owners might learn from my experience. I find that learning from those who have been where you are going is the best way to direct yourself in a positive situation; so I decided to dedicate an entire blog to telling you about my background and hopefully answering questions that you may have had yourself but didn’t know who to ask! These are things I believe can help anyone owning or working in a small business to reach your own goals and understand that if you make it worth it, you’ll never regret it. It’s all up to you.

I’ve been a hard worker all of my life. I definitely get it from my Mom. I started working in high school and I had to work a full-time job (sometimes two) throughout my undergrad and grad school. I learned early on that if you want something, you have to earn it and can’t wait around for it to fall into your lap. My mother was a school teacher and made it a point to teach me how important goals are in life and to do what needs to be done to reach those goals.

After receiving my undergraduate from LSU, I graduated from the Metropolitan College of New York with my Master in Business. While at MCNY I was also working at Goldman Sachs full-time. Completing a rigorous, accelerated one year Masters program while working at a fast-paced, high volume investment bank taught me how to prioritize and manage my time efficiently as well as how to interact with professionals of all levels in all areas of the world.

There are many reasons why I chose to start a small business from home. I actually live out of the city of New Orleans and enjoy not having to commute every day. But, that is just one reason.  I commuted in the rat race to Wall Street every day for six years when I lived in NYC. When I moved back home I decided that I would rather not fight the weather and traffic each day just to earn a paycheck.

I also liked the idea of mobility. No matter where life takes me, my job can tag along! Also, living in an area prone to hurricanes can make some days unpredictable and I will be able to maintain my clients’ work even if I am temporarily relocated.

I also realized early on that I wanted a family and enjoyed the prospect of being with my children in their early years. Being away from them 40+ hours a week was not a happy option for me.  I knew there had to be better options out there. I put a lot of pride in my work and hated the thought that if myself or my child was sick, then that would postpone me from completing tasks. Working from home, I can work while caring for a sick child or nursing my own cold.

Every business owner struggles; it is a fact of life. I started my business in 2008, which was an economically difficult time for our country. I persevered because as a virtual assistant I believed that I had a service that could help small business owners keep themselves afloat by lowering their overhead, alleviating their workload and allowing them to focus on current and new business relationships. Working diligently and relentlessly to elevate my own business helped me better understand what struggles my clients face as business owners. Thereby, allowing me to not only relate to them personally, but also to locate areas in their business where I can step in and aid in increasing their and my own productivity.

It is not easy to work from home. Having a family, it is hard to be motivated daily and determined to get work done. These are where my mother’s skills have been an invaluable asset. There are many distractions that can block your productivity and discipline is so important in these particular instances. It’s also difficult when friends and family don’t really comprehend the time management it takes to work from home. Many people believe that you are your own boss and you can play all day or talk all day… things they would never assume if you were stranded in an office. It’s also a concentrated effort to not carry work over into personal time. It’s very easy to send “just one more e-mail” and neglect your family. Everything requires balance, as does working from home.

All of my life I have worked for other people and have not had something to call my own. I am passionate about my small business because I have created it and brought it to fruition. I choose who I work with, not for; my clients are fellow business owners and we have a mutual respect for one another. I have no limitations as long as I keep dreaming big and working hard.

Prosper – An innovative way to get financial help to start your small business. You can create a profile stating your idea and what interest rate you can pay. After reading your profile, lenders may make an offer. Seems easy enough, right? But the big downfall is that everyone knows your business. The lenders can be one person or a group of people. The upside is that Prosper will follow through with the loan, charging a small percentage to manage it, say if you already have a lender and need a third party to conduct the loan process. Prosper offers many services, all you need are ideas!

Wesabe – A financial organization and planning tool that integrates with your bank account. While others offer this same service, Wesabe goes a step further by having a great forum where small business leaders can come together to discuss challenges and give or take financial advice. Wesabe is geared for smaller businesses rather than larger corporations.

YouTube – Yes, you read that right. YouTube has become a great stop for not only business reviews and customer communication, but for informative videos and podcasts too. Social media sites like LinkedIn and Twitter get a lot of attention, but YouTube has been around longer than most sites for a reason, the audience will always be larger and the ideas can only get bigger.

Instapaper – A useful tool that allows you to save webpages to be viewed later. This is great for websites that you would like to view later, but don’t want to bookmark. You can also use instagram offline or on other devices such as mobile phones and tablets and even e-readers or (if you’re in the Stone Age) printed paper.

Small Business News Feed – (CNN – Small Business, PR Newswire, Bloomberg) Keeping up with Small Business news can only improve your knowledge and access to others in your field. Read these sites everyday if possible, because knowledge is power.

Space Monkey – Although there are many different “cloud-based” data storage sites, Space Monkey does more for less. At $10/mo. it is among the cheapest of its competitors and you get 1TB of space to work within.

15Five – Have you ever wanted to be in your employees’ brains just for a few minutes a day to see what’s really going on in your company? 15Five is here to help. 15Five allows managers and owners to receive a 15 minute weekly report from their employees. These reports can give feedback, project updates and generate conversation and ideas throughout a company.

Pinterest – So, you’re advertising your business on Facebook and Twitter and LinkedIn. Now, I give you Pinterest!! Pinterest is different in that it is mostly visually-based. Meaning, you can’t really update a “status” as much as you can “pin” a picture. These are helpful in that millions will your see your categorized picture and decide instantly to “repin” or just keep on moving. It’s new, it’s exciting and its millions of user’s right at your fingertips.

Hireflo -  Hireflo is a great way to organize all of those job applicants. In this economy, one job may get dozens of applicants, if not more. Hireflo allows organization of applicants in the way of prioritization and lack of printed applications and e-mails. It’s all in one place, for your hiring convenience.

While there are dozens of websites or applications out there for use, finding new ones isn’t always an easy task. Keep your eyes open for other’s innovative ideas. They are all made for one reason, to make your life and business easier. I recommend not using every application available to you or even every application that is cheap or free. Choose several in one category and choose first on interface and user-friendly ability. If it doesn’t work out after a “trial run” then move on. Not every application will be suited for your needs.

There are so many out there that you can allow yourself a few minutes a week to try something new and to be judgmental about them. That’s the fun part, isn’t it? So, if some of these applications don’t meet your needs go look for those that do. Or, you can always contact me and give me your own ideas and comments to work from, as constructive feedback is always welcome. Hmm, maybe there is an app for that too!

GET THE IDEAS FLOWING

Your own ideas are what got you here in the first place. But, you aren’t always the smartest person you know. Talk to your family and friends. Perhaps they know someone who can help get your company’s name and services out there, or have innovative ideas themselves.

GET FEEDBACK

Ask your clients about their own experiences and to rate your performance on a particular job. More importantly, ask for recommendations and publish good testimonials. Your website should be a shrine to your accomplishments as many times it is a first impression. Don’t be afraid to show the best of your business, and yourself.

KEEP IN TOUCH

Use birthdays and holidays to reach out and keep your network “up to date.” Don’t let relationships fall to the wayside as you have no idea what kind of bridges you’ll have to cross later.

GIVE BACK

Giving to charities and sponsorships are well-promoting endeavors, but they are also not free. You can volunteer, but may not always have the time. If you do, do it. Another way to give back is to hold free seminars or training courses. This is, of course, also time consuming but if you are experienced enough many people will be willing to learn a thing or two for just a few hours of both of your time. This will be an invaluable asset to promoting yourself and your business and gathering a few more friends along the way.

BE STYLISH

Offer official receipts and have professional letter heads and cover letters. Business cards are not the only things people see when it comes to your business. You want to make an impression… a good one.

FORUMS

Yes, you read that right. Take at least half an hour every day to join forums and ask/answer questions. Put your company’s information in your signature. This can lead to many new friends and potential clients.

SELL YOURSELF, LITERALLY

Put your business or brand on your car, laptop, bag, key chains or even at the back of your favorite t-shirt. Why not? You are supposed to represent yourself, right? There is nothing wrong with a few shameless plugs and you can also hand these out to friends. No, it’s not free but if you make a few friends in printing, it can be ridiculously cheap and so worth it.

YOU CAN’T KNOW EVERYTHING

There is no way you can stop marketing yourself, because tactics change daily. Research new marketing tools online and offline and ask your employees to remain in-the-know also.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

Did you know there are such things as Online Marketing Groups? And you can join! For example, Understanding Marketing  holds a chat and Q&A session on Twitter that focuses on small business marketing. It’s live each Tuesday from 8 – 9 pm ET. Search #smbiz on Tweetgrid.com

SOCIAL EVENTS ARE KEY

No, this isn’t free either but by now you should have a pretty good network going. If you know several people in your field, get them to participate also. Bring prospective clients and friends. Have a picnic with a softball game or just a little party with cocktails. Any social event will bring people out of their shells. Why do you think there are so many office holiday parties around the world?

BE LOYAL AND REWARD LOYALTY

Reward your current clients and ask them to refer you to new ones. If your relationship is good (and why shouldn’t it be?) you can feel comfortable doing this. If your relationship isn’t good, you have bigger problems than marketing yourself.

Here are just a few ways to market your business as cheaply as possible. Sure there are more expensive outlets that I didn’t get into here but I’m sure you are already well aware how to spend your own money.  When I started this post, I said sell yourself and I meant it! You are always going to be in the spotlight when it comes to your own company and you have to represent yourself as someone you would want to work with, also. Keep in mind you are your company and that should be a good thing! Now, go on, and make some more money!!

Hard times are coming to an end, they say. While gas prices sky rocket, the average American is sweating to make ends meet. This means the small business owner is sweating more. In a frugal economy, details matter and it is imperative to get it right on the first try. In our times, time is most definitely money.

Although encouragement and tidbits are what you will get from me, these are the things that will get you thinking on the right track to change your own fortune.  I believe  the “small things” will save us. Here are a few ideas to getting control over the minute things you may not even be thinking about.

SELL YOURSELF

You may or may not get a lot of opportunities for second impressions, depending on your networking skills. But, when the moment does come, you should always be ready to sell yourself. Be polite and honest. Even if you’re not in sales, there will always be employers or clients who will judge you on the first time.

BE GOOD AT TWO THINGS

When you have a really good idea (for a small business) there are only two things you need to really be good at. That is paperwork and money. If you can be good at these two things, you will succeed. This may not always be the “small things” we were discussing earlier, but on a day-to-day basis you will notice a monumental difference.  (TIP: Take the time to learn QuickBooks. You’re welcome.)

HAVE GREAT POSTURE

And by this of course, I mean support. I mentioned networking earlier because in the small business community, who you know can help you survive. But there is also family and friends and clients and colleagues. Your job won’t always be easy, so surround yourself with people who make your life easier. This is especially important right now, when who can be more important than what. (TIP: Don’t forget about the internet. See what you’re doing right now by reading this blog? Keep doing that. Good research results in results.)

KEEP SELLING YOURSELF

You’ve made it this far, don’t give up now. Network, market, advertise yourself. This is almost as important as paperwork and money.

DON’T CHEAT

Yeah, you’re the boss. We all get it. But when you “clock out” early, you’re only hurting who? You got it; the same person who you’re spending all of that time selling. That being said when you are working, be productive. Eliminating the subtle distractions and really being at work when you’re at work can only increase your business’ chances of survival.

GET CREATIVE

Sorry, this will never change. You will have to adapt and change and change again. You know you’re in one of the careers that won’t stay the same and if you try too hard, you’ll be just as obsolete. This is also important in all aspects of you’re business. Just be aware of what’s going on right now and you’ll already be ahead of the pack.

DON’T JUDGE ME

I’m putting this one towards the end  because I believe it’s so important. It may sound silly after everything that you’ve just read but I’m going to say it anyway… Have a good idea. And I don’t mean just the one that began this journey for you. That beam of light was important, but so are a lot of the ones after that. All of the above can relate to this. Stay relevant, stay creative, be a minimalist if possible. It can’t hurt.

COOKIES AND MILK, PLEASE

Just another tip for you if you will… Have fun and remember why you decided to do this in the first place. You will have success and failure and that’s a part of life, as I’m sure you’re aware of now. Keeping things in perspective keeps your attitude in check. Sometimes that’s the difference in the details.

Every business has to start out with research. I know, I know. You’re idea is fool-proof, a money making venture that will give your family stability for years to come. Still… some research won’t hurt, right? This plan doesn’t have to be overly difficult and extreme. Simply, is there a market for what you are selling? You must know how much capital you will need to start this business and actually writing out the business plan will be visually stimulating for all of that future profit. It can only help, I promise.

Two: Seek Assistance

If you are an expert at starting a small business, please by all means, skip this step. If you are just starting out like so many of us are, then aquiring a mentor’s brain to pick is a great way to avoid pitfalls. Ask questions and keep the information flowing. The best way to dodge mistakes is to learn from the best! Just don’t choose a competitor in your field, as you may be kept in the dark on some important information.

Three: Choose a Business Location

Office, home, car… Nowadays, technology gives us so many options on where to work that this step is more important now than ever. If you are choosing to work online, what domain name will give you the most amount of traffic? If you are choosing a physical location, are you following all zoning and permit laws? Does your home have enough space for you to make your living comfortably? Again, research is the answer. Remember, this is your livelihood and doing it wrong the first time will cost you a lot.

Four: Aquire Funding

I believe in our current economy, this is the scariest and most brutal part of starting a small business. How do you get a loan without capital? Here are some places from which you can try to gain capital: your family, banks, government. Not necessarily in that order, but usually. If you family and the bank won’t loan you money, perhaps there are grants from the government that will help you. Where there is a will, there is a way. It’s a well-known phrase for a reason… And besides, whoever let money get in their way?

Five: Determine the Legal Structure of Your Business

What type of business will your small business be? Sole proprietor, Partnership, Corporation, S Corporation, Limited Liability Company, Non Profit, Cooperative? All of these have different implications and different meanings. Research and find which best works  for you and the type of business you would like to start.

Six: Register Your Business Name

This is done with your state government. Once you have chosen a name for your business, your registration can be as simple as filling out a form online or as time-taxing as filing with your city clerk. It’s a necessary step though that will progress your business into something tangible. You can feel as if you’ve already accomplished something, although without the profit, it’s hard to see the rainbow.

Seven: Get a Tax Identification Number (EIN)

The type of number you apply for depends on the structure of your business. Think of it as a social security number for you business, you can’t go on without one. But, that is why number 5 is two spots above this step. You have to know, legally, what type of business you have before you can make it official.

Eight: Register for State and Local Taxes

I know what you’re thinking… this is the fun part, right? Everyone loves taxes! Now your small business can love them too. These laws vary from state to state so you must (yep, you got it) research to find what your local government requires from you.

Nine: Obtaining Business Licenses and Permits

Depending on the type of business you wish to start, you may need business permits and licenses. Determine early on what you will need so that all of the proper paperwork is processed by the time your “doors open.” It will make your life easier to know the obstacles rather than to dodge them as they appear.

Ten: Hire Employees

If you need help, there are first things you must consider. First, congratulations on having enough business to have to need extra hands. Second, it’s all about covering your own butt, legally. Some items that need to be in place before your first hire is workman’s compensation, unemployment and any other type of insurance you may need for your employee to protect your assets and your small business. Make sure all of your legal requirements are met so that you can save yourself from further legal issues.

There you go, ten steps to being your own boss (and maybe others’ too!) It won’t be easy by any means but the end will justify the hard work and dedication. If you really want something, make it happen. No one ever failed (or succeeded) who didn’t at least try.

Did you know that Microsoft Word is costing you money? Well, not just money but more importantly it’s costing you time. Google Documents, on the other hand can save you both. A few pros; you don’t have to re-name a document after certain changes or hand documents around. Google Docs also has automatic upgrades and web-based auto tracking functions. Believe me, I love Microsoft Office, too but you can’t hold on forever!

Tired of having all of your company’s contacts through your e-mail? This is time-consuming and leads your colleagues and employees on frantic searches. There is a software called Salesforce to save the day! It does cost some per month, but if this is a big problem $5-$25 won’t be an issue. Salesforce keeps all of your data accessible by any employee, from anywhere.

If you’re still logging onto your social media clients separately, you might as well be living in the Middle Ages. You have Tweetdeck and Hootsuite for that, of course. Besides you never know who can access your accounts from a web browser. Security is a risk these days, so be smart!

Tired of keeping receipts and tracking mileage? It’s a hassle and can lead to undesirable headaches if lost. Try the mobile app ProOnGo. This app is relatively cheap and tracks all of your information for your employer, taxes, or personal records.

Do you find yourself in your car, dodging other cars trying to answer phone calls, e-mails and text messages? In these stressful days where it’s hard to make money, but easy to work everywhere your phone is your lifeline, until it isn’t. Automobiles and technology used to not mix. Even Oprah said not to text while driving and this is one thing we can agree upon. Your solution: Got2bWireless the Voice. It’s a weird name but it makes up for it with style and ease on your life. Very user friendly, you can do something as easy as set your Bluetooth to answer phone calls to answering e-mails. You can pretty much control everything on your car or phone from this little, $90 device. Voice recognition is still in beta phases overall so you may need to spend a little time learning how to work that. But, answering and ending a phone call then answering 20 e-mails on your commute? Priceless.

Technology is changing everyday and it’s hard to not be overwhelmed by all of the gadgets and information out there. You have to step up your game and become familiar with the most basic of products to learn the complicated ones. The web is your best source for finding which products will help your small business to strive. The key is to keep informed. Even a few minutes a day searching tech advances will open a world of technology that you didn’t know was out there. In almost all cases someone else has done the work for you, all you need to do is go find it!

In that great search for knowledge, I will help explain what an LLC can help you do for your small business. An LLC is a Limited Liability Company. This means you combine the limited owner liability of a corporation with the tax ease of and help of a partnership. If you own an LLC, you are a Member. That sounds fun, huh? A Member can be an individual or company, depending on who are what owns the small business.

Now that you know what an LLC is, aren’t you wondering how you will get taxed as a Member? Of course you are. Simply enough, your business would not be taxed. You and each Member will get taxed based on incomes individually. Although this seems easy enough, there are many annual forms that need to be filled out correctly. That’s another lesson for you, Mr. or Ms. Small Business Owner; you have to get your paperwork in!

Another benefit is that you do not have personal liability for a debt. Pretty sweet, huh? Also, as an LLC, you will not have to have shareholder meetings, but will have to keep records for annual state reports.  You don’t have to have an operating agreement, so your operation is like a partnership, without federal regulations.

Not everything is an advantage with high taxes and fees in some states and lack of group medical insurance. But there are some things that help, like multiple owners and ability to split loss or profit with the business. If you want to start your business as an LLC, get your paperwork done and keep your inspiration! What you’re going to do is not easy, but after all of the steps you’ve taken in the few minutes to read this shows you’ve got the nerve. Now, all you have to do is keep it. Bonne chance, my friend and remember step number 3. You can never stop learning how to improve your small business and fulfill your dreams!

HOW CES 2012 IS THE KEY