Mark Kleinschmidt

From the CEO Bookshelf: The Structure of Success

If you are a small business owner you want to do everything possible to achieve success and avoid failure.  As the CEO of your business, you are the chief decision maker and you must make a lot of decisions. The fate of your business is directly influenced by the internal and external structures that you […]

How the Consumer Confidence Index can help your business

As the CEO of your business, you worry about daily operations, but you also need to be forward-looking and keep an eye on future economic conditions. Since most of us are not economists and do not have a crystal ball we have to make a best guess about where the economy is heading. A good […]

Super Bowl Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses

This year’s Super Bowl was a mega-event watched by over 120 million people.  That’s a lot of eyeballs!!  There was some great football with a come from behind win by the Chiefs, a much-anticipated half-time show with Usher and Taylor Swift got  more than a few moments of TV time.  But how about the commercials? […]

From the CEO Bookshelf: Profit First

 Profit First  By: Mike Michalowicz Michalowicz’s book presents an innovative look at the financial management of your business. As the title suggests, he puts profits first. One might assume that prioritizing profit is an obvious business strategy, but most businesses follow the traditional accounting formula of Sales – Expenses = Profit. The author proposes a […]

What’s on the Small Business Radar for 2024?

As the CEO of your business, it’s vital to stay ahead of the competition and maintain a forward-looking mindset. However, with emerging technology and unpredictable economic conditions, what key areas should you be looking at? It is a good idea to check the radar screen for new opportunities and challenges for your business. But are you […]

How are Small Businesses Doing?

We are swimming upstream as we look at all the data that tries to explain the performance and health of small businesses.  Numerous trustworthy surveys exist, each featuring their own methods and objectives aiming to accurately portray the small business environment. Which survey provides the most accurate view? The Small Biz CEO has examined quite […]

CEOs need to decide

CEOs need to decide The “40-70” Rule As the CEO of your business, you must make many critical decisions about the strategic direction of your company. Every decision that you make is determined by a variety of factors such as information, confidence, experience and your willingness to call the shots. When all these pieces come […]

Navigating the Small Business Lifecycle

Navigating the Small Business Lifecycle From Start-up to Exit Strategy Over time, your business will experience different challenges and stages of growth.  Each stage of the “small business life cycle” requires a different set of strategies to succeed  Check out the graph.  Where is your business? There are four distinct stages of business growth : […]

Wendi’s Christmas Cookies

Back in the day before the smart phone when we used to read print newspapers, Clement Moore’s “Twas the Night Before Christmas” was featured on the editorial page every Christmas Eve. Several years ago, when I was working in Annapolis, MD, I came across a deeply moving Christmas Eve editorial that shed light on the […]

When Does the Founder Become CEO

As a small business owner, you’ve built your business from the ground up.  However, as your small business starts to flourish and expand, your role with the business needs to change. The day arrives when you are no longer the business owner but need to become the CEO of your business. This transition comes with […]