L2B Connect

Knowing how to articulate your business can be difficult. While you know what your business does and the value it brings to others, explaining that in a way others will resonate with isn't always the easiest. That's why solid branding and effective marketing are key to the growth of a business and reach to the right customers. Marketing has become increasingly more complicated with the need for multiple online presences, but that also comes with unlimited opportunities to find and serve customers. How to do that is up to each individual business based on what is most effective with its target audience. With the infinite possibilities of branding and marketing, there are infinite questions. Ask your own, or use the following list to get some ideas going: • What’s the best way to design a logo for my business? • How do I create a strong brand identity? • How can I build an effective online presence for my business? • How do I create a content marketing strategy? • How should I use social media to market my business? • How can I use SEO to grow my online presence? • What are the most effective digital marketing strategies for startups? • Do I really need to be on every platform? While every business and business need is unique, there are some universally held staples that apply across the board, such as a well optimized website for search engines to find and voice consistency in all your messaging. Ask a broad question or ask a very specific question. Either way, we're here to help you!

You have money. Great! Now what? Business isn't just about making money, but knowing how to effectively and efficiently manage the money you do have. Not every penny that comes in the door is automatic profit (though it is revenue). Bills must be paid, employees must get their earned salaries, and products or goods must always be in stock. With so many things to keep track on the money side of things, there are bound to be questions, often questions that thousands of other business owners also have. It's perfectly ok to have many questions surrounding your money; without knowing how to accurately allocate the funds you do have, it's difficult to know where your business actually stands. This is arguably one of the most important aspects of business, so understanding every part of finance and accounting is vital. Ask any and every question you can think of. Here's a list to get you started: • How do I set up a business bank account? • What’s the best accounting software for startups? • What's the difference between accounting and finance? • How should I manage cash flow? • What’s the difference between revenue, cash flow, and profit? • How do I set up a budget for my business? • What tax obligations do I have as a business owner? • Do I need a bookkeeper to track all the ins and outs of my cash flow? • What counts as a business expense? Remember, there's no such thing as a stupid question, because someone else is bound to have the same question as you (you're just the first to ask). Truly understanding the financial side of business is what separates the successful and growing businesses from the consistently struggling businesses. Let's help you thrive!

Help! I have this great idea but no money to start. What do I do? Aside from the business formation, understanding how much capital you need to begin and where to find it is the first major roadblock in any new venture. Whether you're bootstrapping (paying for the costs yourself) or looking for investors to get you off the ground, knowing how to start is imperative to the early success of your business. With that comes a lot of pressure and questions. Do you have any of these questions or ones completely your own: • How much capital do I need to start a business? • What are the different types of startup capital I should consider? • How can I raise funds for my startup (angel investors, venture capital, loans, grants)? • What are the best ways to bootstrap a startup? • What are the benefits and drawbacks of crowdfunding? • How do I approach investors and pitch my business idea? • Will the Sharks on Shark Tank invest in my idea? Money can be tricky at first, but knowing how to effectively find, manage, and utilize the finances you do have will set you up for success down the road when you have more money than you can shake a stick at!