General
Get to Know your Target Market(s)
You already know your products and services, but how well do you know your customers and prospects? Marketers have a name for them: your target(s). They’re the people you sell to—or plan to. They’re the people you think about first when designing your offers, your marketing and advertising campaigns, your entire business, really. So it…
Read MoreReopening your business post-pandemic closure
All 50 states have started allowing some businesses to reopen, with limitations, after the coronavirus pandemic. For most businesses, particularly those that serve the public and have a physical presence, reopening will be a slow and careful process. Local and state requirements vary widely, so it’s essential to check in with those authorities for guidance.…
Read MoreBeef up your pitching skills
In today’s economic climate, everybody is trying to drum up business. If you own or run a small business, pitching new business is probably not far from the top of your agenda anyway. So there’s never a bad time to take a good look at your whole relationship with sales. Whether you employ 499 or…
Read MoreSmall Business COVID-19 relief is here – Pango CARES to help
On Friday, March 27, the president signed the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act into law, providing a wide range of urgently needed financial relief across many vulnerable economic sectors. Most notably for small business owners, the package includes low-interest loans (4 percent or less) to help small businesses (those with…
Read MoreProtecting your cash flow: We’ve got your back
Small businesses worldwide are experiencing severe economic and operational disruption as the global COVID-19 pandemic unfolds. It affects your workforce, your supply chain, your bottom line—all in ways you may not have thought about as recently as last month. This is no time for panic. Help is on the way. At Pango Financial, we want…
Read MoreCybersecurity best practices
If you think cybersecurity is a concern for other people, think again. The FBI’s Internet Crime Report estimated the total cost of cyberattacks at $2.7 billion in 2018, the most recent year for which data is available. That represents a lot of damage to a lot of bottom lines. Meanwhile, a recent Small Business Administration…
Read MoreControlling for risk of failure
If you’re uncomfortable with risk, entrepreneurship might not be for you. Building a business from scratch based on nothing but a good idea is inherently risky. Despite extensive planning, there’s so much that can go wrong. You can minimize risks but cannot eliminate them. Whether you’re investing in a brand-name franchise or developing a unique…
Read MoreQualities you’ll need to succeed as an entrepreneur
If you’re looking to do well in a small business venture, three types of qualities can help you. One type is beyond your control, including your age and level of experience in the relevant fields. Another type takes years, maybe decades, to acquire. An education or a support network would fall into this category. But…
Read MoreHow conscientious are you?
Of all the values entrepreneurs like to project, conscientiousness might not top everyone’s list. Sure it’s a nice trait to have, but maybe you’d rather be known for your laser-like focus, your never-ending enthusiasm, your can-do spirit or creative problem-solving skills. There’s nothing wrong with those descriptors. But to be perceived as conscientious is to…
Read MoreLearn to delegate effectively
As a small business owner, you can’t do it all yourself. There are times when you need to delegate to someone who has more knowledge about a complex task or process, or someone who has more bandwidth to get the job done. But assigning separate tasks—or bundles of them—can impede your progress if you do…
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