The best secrets are the simple solutions!

• Have a Plan:  Understand where you are, why you are here, and where you are going.  If you don't know where you are headed, all roads look the same.
• Know Your Break-Even Point:  How many widgets must you sell to pay your costs and yourself?  How many haircuts must a barber do per day to pay his rent and himself?           Too many entrepreneurs work for less than minimum wage.
• Educate Yourself:  Learn how to market your product and yourself.  Learn to balance your checkbook (your best accounting tool).  Learn basic tax/license and accounting rules.  Learn to be successful and compliant at the same time.  Learn effective management skills.
• Price Correctly:  Charge a fair price ("fair" to both you and your customer) including a sufficient mark-up.  Stay abreast of changing product costs.  True customers don't expect you to work for free.
• Be Wise:  Use resources (especially money) efficiently and wisely.  Use debt only for absolutely necessary items.  Hold some resources for the "bad months".  Moderate debt and reasonable savings will carry your business through the lean times.
• Communicate:   Talk with your partners, employees, advisors, and customers.  Listen to what they tell you.  They often see key problems and solutions that you have overlooked.
• Maintain Honesty and Integrity:  Even in today's world, people recognize good principles.  They will return to do business with those they trust.  Don't you?
• Wrestling with a Pig only gets you dirty.  The pig enjoys it. You can't please everyone.
• Got More?:  E-mail us your keys to success, we will add them here!