1. Develop a business plan or strategic plan. You won't get where you're going unless you know where you want to be and let your employees know as well.

2. Constantly Promote Your Business. You can't execute one marketing effort each year and expect your business to grow. Plan marketing efforts quarterly or even monthly and plan time for follow through and tracking of results.

3. Create action plans for each person in your organization. Make sure every employee knows how his or her job relates to company's overall vision, and that each has individual objectives and goals with measurable standards and timetables.

4. Survey your employees. Sometimes biggest employee dissatisfactions are easiest things to fix. Know what changes your employees would like to make in their work lives and do your best to increase their quality of work life (and usually their productivity as well).

5. Survey your customers and suppliers. Maybe way you are doing business is costing you relationships with suppliers and customers. Know what bugs them and make it easy to do business with your company.

You have a head spinning with business ideas but you encounter difficulties in financing? Or you have recently started your great potential business but are not yet turning profit? A fundamental aspect for your business, financing is usually most frequent obstacle in starting a business. You have option of resorting to a business incubator on condition that your business idea seems viable and promising. Now if you wonder how they are going to find out whether your idea is worth investing, answer is a very sensible (and predictable) one: by analyzing your business plan.

What are business incubators? How many types are there?

A business incubator is a system offering support for start-up businesses or recently founded ones. The facilities it offers go from financing, inexpensive office space, various business services (such as secretarial assistance) to management advice and support. Their role is to produce viable, standalone companies at end of program they are included in. Also, selection they perform works like a measurement unit for viability of applicant business and gives entrepreneurs a chance to re-think their business strategy. The success rate of businesses created by incubators is of around 85%.

There are two categories of incubator sponsors: profit and non-profit.

• Non-profit entities are supported by state or a local government directly, through a college or university, or in conjunction with a chamber of commerce. Such incubators have been used to achieve social and economical objectives as decreasing unemployment rate, increasing enterprise formation rate, social assistance for disadvantaged groups - youth, minorities, enhancing regional economy etc.
• Private companies are generally looking to make a profit. Applying for a program of such incubators should be highly questionable and a matter for thorough analysis, as it may involve long-term hindering agreements, or sharing a percentage of 20 to 80 of company ownership and it just may not be worth it.