Understanding and Building
Brand Awareness

What is Brand Identity?

Usually, when people say brand, they are referring to a logo and name. However, your brand is more than just your logo. Your brand is the impression people have about you. Your brand is how you stand out in an already crowded market. And, yes, part of your brand is your visual identity. However, your brand is also what you stand for; your values, your voice, your personality, and your reputation.

How to be an Attractive Borrower

Have you heard of The Five C's of Credit? It is a classic banking industry guideline that lenders use when assessing the merits of a loan application. The Five C’s of Credit are Character, Capacity, Conditions, Capital, and Collateral.

Market Research can give you insight into the needs and interests of your customer base, the market trends in your industry, and how your own business is perceived. It can even help you discover who your clients are and define your target market. For many business owners, market research provides vital information for decision-making. A well-informed decision can mean the difference between making decisions that benefit your business and making poor decisions that may hurt it. Because you need to stay up-to-date with an ever-changing business environment and the constantly evolving needs and interests of your customers, market research should be ongoing. 

If you own a small business, you know how important it is to stand out in the crowd and be noticed by your potential customers. However, one critical question you must ask yourself is "Who ARE my customers?"

It's fundamental to business strategy, yet easy to overlook: defining your target market.

In a sea of businesses, standing out from the crowd is not just an advantage—it's essential for survival and growth. For small business owners, differentiation is a game-changer, offering a pathway to carve a unique space in the market, attract loyal customers, and thrive amidst competition.

The point at which a small business’s sales exactly cover its expenses is called The Breakeven Point. Performing a calculation called a break-even analysis can help business owners determine the amount of product they must sell to generate a profit. Knowing your Breakeven Point is crucial for selecting product and service pricing and adjusting operating costs when necessary. To calculate your Breakeven Point, you must know your fixed costs, variable costs, and the selling price of your product or service.

Being a successful small business owner requires that you understand your company's financial statements. Fortunately, the three key financial statements you’ll be working with are more straightforward than you might think.

Capital assets, dividends, accounts payable, contribution margin, floating liabilities, and working capital; when it comes to owning and running a small business, there are many financial terms involved. It can be overwhelming! Like most small business owners, you probably find it more satisfying to create a great product or service and connect with customers than to worry about finances. You may be tempted to leave it all up to your accountant and bookkeeper. However, entrepreneurs need to know key financial terms.

Running a seasonal business is all about planning. This is especially true when it comes to finances. Businesses with seasonal operations, such as those in the tourism and agriculture industries, may have difficulty meeting financial obligations in slow times. Because fixed costs don't go away in the offseason, seasonal businesses need to pay special attention to how they manage their cash flow. 

There is a lot to consider when thinking of starting your own business. It can be overwhelming and you probably have a lot of questions. Our Business Start-up Guide will walk you through the steps and considerations of building your dream business.