6. Use a headset.

Talking on phone for a few hours a day can be draining for even heartiest of entrepreneurs. Headsets allow increased productivity, as they can free up your hands and allow you to think more creatively while roaming around during a telephone conversation.

7. Turn invoices into a marketing communication tool.

On your invoices, add computer-generated messages that promote upcoming events, new products or services, or seasonal specials and announcements. This one act can enable your customers to understand more about your company and how they can effectively do business with you.

8. Do your homework!

Before you can do business with someone, it is crucial to know his or her business inside and out. Turn to internet, library, or call company directly to dig for information about company or industry. You will be much better prepared to meet needs of a prospective client by conducting thorough research in advance.

9. Polish your presentation skills.

Even if you have most sophisticated technology, you cannot make a sale if you have not polished your presentation skills. Tips: Stay loose, stand or sit solidly (not stiff), connect with your audience by using terms they understand, and share your passion. Your enthusiasm, excitement, and energy can make or break a presentation.

10. Be dedicated to learning.

If you are learning, you are growing. Hit books, go back to school, and surround yourself with people who are "in know." You are never too old to learn new things, which can translate into better business, effective management techniques, and innovation.

7. Financial plan - a business can operate without budgets, but it is clearly good business practice to include it. With budgets, you will be more likely to achieve your business objectives, you will make more-reasoned decisions and you will have better control of your cash flow.

For any period, a cash flow statement would include: - The cash and credit sales (or accounts receivable) expected to be received during period. - The anticipated cash payments (for example, expenses for purchases, salaries, utility charges, taxes, office expenses etc.) - A description of other incoming and outgoing cash, with a calculation of overall cash balance.

This will assess how much money is on hand to meet your financial obligations - what cash has been received and what has been paid out. Knowledge of this cash flow cycle will help you predict when you will receive funds and when you will be required to make a payment.

8. Measuring and evaluation - you wrote your business plan and set goals with intent of achieving them. So now break them down into measurable pieces and monitor results regularly. A plan that cannot be measured is almost always destined for failure. Celebrate your wins and recharge yourself to accomplish your next goal.

Decide beforehand what constitutes a real serious loss and what loss will be acceptable.

If you find your goals are unrealistic and unattainable, adjust them, but realize that it takes hard work to achieve them, so don't give up easily.

Conclusion: Now that you have a business plan, make it a part of you by knowing and understanding it clearly. Build upon it continuously and refer to it often, so you remain on track to building a profitable business.

Resources

Small business association - http://www.sba.gov/starting/indexbusplans.html www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/bizplan/bizplan.html

Download a free business plan template: http://www.business-planware.com/freepln7.zip

Sample business plans http://www.mplans.com/spm

Online business planner http://www.planware.org/strategicplanner.htm