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Congratulations to Albuquerque small businesses! According to a recent study conducted by e-commerce company Square, Albuquerque's Main Street businesses ranked Number 1 in increased rate of e-commerce adoption following the COVID-19 outbreak. The ranking signals Albuquerque businesses' agility and grit. "We’re inspired every day by the ingenuity of small businesses in the face of a rapidly evolving environment," writes Square. "They’re pivoting business models, building online operations in days, and even selling completely new products to...

By: Elena Stewart If you run a small business, chances are you’ve been put in a very uncertain position since COVID-19 reared its ugly head. But despite the obvious and many challenges that the current situation has put forth, the fact is, there’s still more than one way to keep your business going and even thriving during this dark time and whatever will come after. Let’s take a closer look at the measures you can take. Take...

Can you make money and follow your dreams? Yes! A recent article at Entrepreneur posits a framework for deciding if you might be able to turn your hobby into a business. The piece (very reasonably) revolves around the potential for monetization. "Even if you’re pursuing this mostly because of your passion," writes SEO.co CRO Timothy Carter, "you’ll still need a stream of income to offset your costs and keep the business running." Uncontroversial! Carter suggests the following...

When you are buying or selling a business, you might very well end up making a deal with someone from another generation.  Therefore, it only makes sense to take the time to understand that individual’s background and how that might cause behavioral differences.  It is important to understand and reflect upon where many of them are coming from and the collective experiences and trends that shaped their identities and perspectives.  At the same time, you...

The most up-to-date economic information for the State of New Mexico, including all 33 counties, is now available on the Economic Development Department website. The County Reports project is an initiative by the EDD to offer more comprehensive data about spending, unemployment, and wages to local communities, Cabinet Secretary Alicia J. Keyes said. The most recent data covers the last three months of fiscal year 2020 – April, May, and June. The reports are available here. “We know this...

When you are selling a business, your business broker or M&A Advisor will likely create a Comprehensive Business Review, or CBR.  This comprehensive document can then be presented to prospective buyers once they have signed all necessary confidentiality documentation.  It is essential that this document builds trust between both parties, as this will go a long way towards achieving a successful deal.  Be Honest The bottom line is that your CBR will be 95% positive.  The majority...

As businesses re-open offices and welcome employees back from working from home, office safety is a huge concern for many business owners and HR leaders. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce suggests these 10 practical and actionable ideas on how offices can adapt to the coronavirus era. Capacity signage Social distancing can be challenging in offices that previously packed in workers. Custom-made capacity signs can help control how many people are in various spaces. Offices may have had...

"With the idea that essential businesses can be recession-proof and even boom during a public crisis, buying one is becoming a more attractive prospect," says franchise expert Chris Buitron in a recent Milwaukee Community Journal article. The thought piece, “4 Factors To Consider Before Buying An Essential Business In COVID Times,” discusses a rising interest among buyers in essential businesses. The COVID-19 pandemic has many buyers rethinking what type of business they might want to own, often...

Do you like dogs? Do you like happiness? Then, boy oh good boi, do we have a business opportunity for you! This  state-of-the-art Doggie Daycare has a delightful mission: to increase the amount of joy in the world by helping dogs stay healthy and happy—and ­­better able to support us. For many animal-lovers, the idea of spending their days interacting with dogs and the people who love them can seem like the stuff of fantasy. This business...

A recent white paper by Deloitte explores strengths intrinsic to family business that may give these enterprises a relative advantage during this unusual year. Interestingly, the subject of business culture is once again comes into focus. "Alongside the millions of healthcare professionals and volunteers, some family businesses are being branded as 'heroes' by their local and national communities in the current crisis," the paper states. "This often comes down to the family values that have...

There is a potentially lucrative group of buyers that many sellers don’t initially think about.  We are talking about foreign buyers.  While there are some hurdles to working with these types of buyers, it is important to note that there are many huge advantages as well.  Let’s take a closer look. How Are Foreign Buyers Different?  At the top of the list of ways in which foreign buyers are different is that they are often seeking a...

Vendor relations are important, and this is probably even more true in a year with supply chain disruptions and budget adjustments. As many businesses are looking for ways to save money, many vendors are hoping to hold on to clients. It might be a good time to talk about wiggle room. "Suppliers and service providers are often open to negotiating their 'standard' prices if you ask, and doing so can help your business get the...

The Innovation Group at University of New Mexico's Anderson School of Management offers a program this Fall to "help New Mexico’s businesses respond to the management challenges of the new COVID-19 low-touch economy," according to a recent UNM post.  Teams of students can be tagged in to assist with a variety of challenges, including: Analyzing firms’ financial performance and plans Commercializing technology products and services Improving project management processes and plans Managing technology-related operations Writing...

A popular article on LinkedIn this week addresses career change. Personal growth sometimes requires new challenges. "There often comes a point in your career where it’s time to re-evaluate. Things change. You change," writes  business podcaster Jessi Hempel.  "How do you screw up the courage to leave the safety and security of the subject you’ve mastered and start something new?" To examine this question, Hempel interviews Robin Arzon. Arzon left a secure career as a...

[caption id="attachment_978513" align="alignleft" width="300"] Santa Fe Business Incubator public kick-off event via Zoom for Runway Program[/caption] New Grant Awards Announced Supporting 11 Economic Development Projects & 3 Solo-Entrepreneur Programs The New Mexico Economic Development Department has announced the recipients of this year’s LEADS grants, as well as three organizations that will split $75,000 for their programs supporting entrepreneurs working from home, Cabinet Secretary Alicia J. Keyes announced today. The Local Economic Assistance & Development Support Program (LEADS) supports...