Thursday, February 26, 2009

The Business Stimulus Package you can give Yourself

By Jay S NaPier

Today's economy has many business owners wondering about what they should do for their business. They're seeing their daily, weekly, and monthly gross income going down because consumers are no longer spending like they used to. People today are afraid of the future. Today's news media has created a fear that people will be laid off and that they will be waiting in bread lines. While this is great, if you're selling advertising on a news network it creates a problem for business owners.

To eliminate this challenge, you should take a look at your gross income over the last 12 to 24 months and compare it to the last six marks. Are people still buying what you're selling? are they buying the same quantity they used to? in today's economy people are no longer buying the things that they used to buy just six months ago. People have cut back in many areas of their personal finances. Things that people used to buy on a weekly or monthly basis have now become luxury items that are no longer buying.

Getting creative in your business today is important. You've got to ask yourself what you should be selling and will you sell enough of it to make it profitable? the most creative business owners are now creating continuity programs also known as subscription services that allow them to better manage their business and more consistently get their cash flow.

Take a look at your personal monthly bills. Where have you consistently spent your money? Is it possible for you to turn those monthly expenses into a profit center for your business? according to the National Retail Federation, we are committed to using today's technology. More than 80% of us wouldn't give up Internet access. Almost 2/3 wouldn't cancel a cell phone, and more than 60% would never drop cable or satellite television.

This says a lot about how people spend their money and how we have raised our expectations over the last few years. Can you remember a time when you didn't have a cell phone? what about cable or satellite? what else do you consistently spend your money on that would allow you to build your business during the recession, and continue to profit?

If you're wondering where some of your regular customers have gone, they still like you and your company but they've had their hours or been laid off altogether and are just no longer spending their money like they used to. Others, have bought into the fear that is taking place daily in the news. Business owners today must be prudent about where they spend their money and how they will continue to have a profitable business in the future. For example: People who used to rent limousines to get to the airport are now asking friends to take them instead.

With the stock market being down, people who have consistently spend their money at high end restaurants are choosing to eat at other establishments. someone who would typically spend $200 on a night out, is now spending $75-$100. People who would typically spend $50-$100 are now spending less and then there are those who simply are no longer going out to eat.

In the end, no matter how long this recession shall last you're still going to get to two years from today. The question is Will you be where you are today?, will you be selling the same things? Will you be working harder? Take the extra time you have now and invest that in education, so two years from today you'll be a better business owner.

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