About Us
A business is a commercial activity engaged in as a means of livelihood.
There are over 31 million businesses in the United States. They post over $25 trillion in revenue each year. However, over 86% of us earn less than $250,000/year.
What is a small business? Definitions vary with the most common distinctions being that they
- operate independently,
- employ 1-10 people (these are micro businesses) or
- employ 1-100 people (these are small businesses)
The US Small Business Administration administers loans to small businesses. Small businesses (under their definitions) are eligible for loans so there is intense lobbying to include as many businesses as possible. Car dealers, for example, can earn $25 million each year and still be a small business. $25 million! (sigh)
OK, we operate independently. So what?
Many groups slice and dice business data to describe us. Operationally, the largest small business grouping includes independent operators, home-based businesses, mom & pop stores and consultants. Conslutants and other independent operators limit their income because they operate alone. Business increase in complexity as they hire employees, add locations and build revenue. So there's more to running a business than operating independently.
Owning a small business is also very different than working for wages. The good news is that we operate independently. The bad news is that we operate independently. Few, if any, of us have all the skills we need and scramble for the rest. Business is really a team sport!
Somehow, some way, we employ 20% of the work force!
Businesses fail for two reasons: too little cash and poor management. A well-run business
- delivers goods and services it promises,
- delivers them consistently and
- delivers them profitably.
The key to consistency is developing internal processes and the structures that support them. Biz 4 the Rest of Us® simplifies business and financial processes to meet the needs of small businesses where they are. We don't build boats in basements because small business owners can't waste time or money on work that doesn't advance their businesses.
Financial record keeping is a key internal process. It's critical because most changes are incremental (and, of course, there's all those taxes!). We have also found that financial literacy is a problem for small business owners. Our newsletters and downloads focus on financial literacy because business is about making money.
Our mission
We keep small businesses in businesses by providing small business education and appropriate services that improve your finances and operations. We can help you
- say where you want to go and then reach your goal,
- build a business that makes a difference and provides a good income,
- be prepared for changes and new opportunities
- or take a vacation.
We are Biz 4 the Rest of Us®.
Small businesses do not have the luxury of maintaining an administrative staff to evaluate their operations, to make improvements and to manage and control normal business activities. We provide low-cost, value-added services to help business owners keep in business through the inevitable disruptions and changes in business life. We keep small business in business by
- aligning business goals and operations.
- simplifying running and growing a business
- helping owners understand how money works in the business so it can sustain the business and increase its sale value
- and integrating new tools and techniques to turn business as usual into better business.
Principal
Sharon McNeal started her consulting business in 2004 after over 20 years experience in the architecture and systems integration of life-critical systems and infrastructures. Biz 4 the Rest of Us® helps keep your small business alive with a combination of goal setting and the plans to meet the goals; improving and monitoring your work flow; protecting your information with backup services and software to look for the bad guys; organizing your financial information and budgeting; and skill-building through seminars and newsletters on key business topics.
Sharon holds a BS in mathematics from New Mexico State University and has done graduate work in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of New Mexico. She holds a Microsoft MCP certification in Windows 2000 Server and is a QuickBooks ProAdvisor. She was also awarded several patents for her work in process control systems and infrastructures.