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Keeping Your Customer Service Sharp

How to provide good customer service.

Customer service can be a tough gig this time of year. These eight rules of good customer service will help you and your staff stay focused on what matters: consistently courteous, helpful customer service.

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Small Business: Canada Spotlight10

4 Sources of Micro Loans for Starting Your Canadian Small Business

Thursday May 23, 2013

Right now the Credit Unions of BC are promoting their Remarkable Micro Loan Program which offers BC residents 18 to 29 years old low interest micro loans of up to $5,000 for starting a Canadian small business.

Loans for starting a small business.

But BC Credit Unions are not the only places offering micro loans. Here are three more micro loan sources you may be able to tap into for starting your Canadian small business:

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Image © Rick Audet

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How to Improve Your Business Networking

Wednesday May 22, 2013

I hate business networking events. Most of my most successful business networking has taken place elsewhere; at charity and social events, through business organizations, through online venues.

Exchanging business cars at a business networking event.

So any tips that make attending business networking events more successful and less of a chore are much appreciated.

Tom Searcy provides some great advice for doing just that in The Schmooze-Hater's Guide to Better Networking (BNET), tips that got me rethinking my business networking moves.

For instance, he points out that when you're meeting new people, you need to ask better questions than the standard "What do you do?" and "Tell me about your company".

Same-old questions get same-old boring answers.

Instead, ask questions that both you and the person you're greeting will find more engaging, such as "What business problem does your company solve?" "What is the best example you have of how you are doing that?" - questions that will make your brief meeting more memorable and maybe even spark a true conversation and a relationship.

Do you have a business networking tip to share? Comment below.

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Should You Franchise Your Business?

Tuesday May 21, 2013

What image springs to mind when you hear the word "franchising"? A pair of golden arches? A fresh sugar-coated doughnut? A bucket of chicken?

Franchise your business in Canada.

Maybe the image you should be focusing on is one of dollar signs. Franchising a business has been an extremely profitable business model for all kinds of businesses, not just fast food chains.

Think of Brian Scudamore of 1-800-GOT-JUNK, for example. Or Canadian Tire.

But while franchising your business can truly be the way to riches, it's not for everybody.

Ask yourself these questions to see if your business is ready to become a franchise.

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About Small Business Canada: Weekly Roundup May 14 to May 20

Monday May 20, 2013

Think you may have missed something? Here's your round-up of the past week at About Small Business Canada so you can catch up with all the new articles and blog posts!

Posts & New Articles

6 Traits You Need to Be Self-Employed

Charging HST & PST on Your Retail Sales

10 Ways to grow Great Word of Mouth

SWOT Analysis: The Swiss Army Knife of Business Planning

12 Facts About Starting a Business in Canada

How to Have a Worry-Free Vacation From Your Small Business

About Small Business Canada: Weekly Roundup May 7 to May 13

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