Cloud-based business applications, also called Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), are leveling the playing field for small companies worldwide. Instead of buying servers and other infrastructure, and hiring an IT team to run it, small business owners can simply subscribe to powerful apps that can help them save time and lower costs on everything from accounting, to customer service, to marketing, and beyond.

Don't position yourself as the old-fashioned self-motivated sales person knocking on doors. You are a consultant there to help fill gaps with your offer to enable prospective buyers to achieve an aspirational version of themselves.

Rejection is not necessarily a symptom of a bad offer. The packaging could be perfect, but where you might be deficient is in your positioning. To really win, you have to think the exact opposite of your potential buyer, and it has to happen first thing in the morning.

I began my small business, Lauren Nevada, like many owners: working a full-time job during the day and developing my business in the evenings and on the weekends.

The Harry Potter series has quite a few insights into running a business and managing inventory, specifically. So let's journey to Hogwarts as we discover five small-business lessons from Harry Potter!

When you offer suggestions in the wrong way, people won't perceive you as helpful. They'll just perceive you as critical.

For young people frustrated by the job market, entrepreneurship remains a tempting opportunity to fashion a career on their own terms. However, for novice entrepreneurs, just starting the business may be the most difficult part.

As a successful small biz owner, you're brilliant at what you do. Yet when it comes to billing your clients and tracking those expenses, it's so much harder to feel the same passion. Add these simple strategies to your billing routine and you'll start feeling the rewards.

Historically, technology choices have been the domain of the CIO, however, with BYOD trending and new consumer-inspired enterprise applications entering the market, the sales force too is pushing the technology agenda with their CMO.

Reactionary customer service won't generate the loyalty you need to survive. When was the last time you took a hard look at your service?

I’ve met some of the most renowned entrepreneurs and business experts of our day. Some were disappointing in person, while others lived up to their ...

Your ability to sell is key. Introspection today should set your expectations for tomorrow. Once you get the hang of power selling, closing a sale will be thrilling and more fun than work.

What is due diligence? What does it really involve? Larger companies typically hire lawyers, bankers and accountants to help with any due diligence. As a small business owner, you may not have this luxury, and may have to do this work yourself or with limited resources.

The founders started discussing the idea in mid-2010, incorporated Babiators LLC in the fall of 2010 and officially launched the product in May 2011. Today, Babiators can found in more than 250 stores and 15 countries worldwide.

As someone who has been busting myths around entrepreneurship for a while now, I am thrilled to have Oprah Winfrey as an ambassador to talk about the challenges of a new endeavor in our current competitive market environment.

Many entrepreneurs turn to small business experts or those who offer small business consulting services. But beware of the small business consultant, for you do not want to be creating a money pit where your dollars disappear into a black hole.