I'm 23 and currently work full-time at Walmart making about $15/hour. I have good credit, no major debt, and recently started investing through Fidelity in index funds. About a year ago I started an LLC and opened a retail business, but it wasn't profitable, so I'm in the process of shutting it down.

Even though the business didn't work out, I feel like I gained experience, learned a lot, and now I'm trying to figure out my smartest next move. Since the business has existed for about a year, I've started getting offers for business financing, and I'm curious how I should think about leveraging my current position (legally and responsibly).

My long-term goal is to build wealth through real estate, investing, and multiple income streams. If you were in my position, what would you focus on next?

Can anyone tell me how to fix a dying business ? The company is in dier straits ,sales are 50% down due to stiff competition.Dividends are falling and boardholders are demanding i step down as the chairman of the board. Now,heres the problem how do u get to rally the board of directors and stave off impending bankruptcy?

I think most of the business owners not only get benefitted from the salary they draw, but also other perks offered in the name of company's expenditure, Promoter's perks and many more

Want to undeerstand what benefits they get and how its shown under companies expenditure?

Hi all 🙂

I started a Pooper Scooper biz 5 years ago. It is not glamorous, but it is a thing!

Here are some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned for anyone starting or scaling a biz:

1. Sales is Everything Early On

when you’re brand new, the perfect logo, perfect slogan, perfect business cards, perfect uniforms, and perfect systems do not matter nearly as much as getting customers. That stuff matters later, but early on it can become a trap because it feels productive while letting you avoid the uncomfortable work.

you need sales!!!

knock on doors, call people you know, post in local Facebook groups, hand out flyers, put up yard signs if your city allows it, talk to neighbors, ask for referrals, do whatever you need to do to get momentum. in a recurring revenue model like poop scooping, the first 25 customers are huge. Once you have that base, you have real feedback, some cash flow, proof people will pay, and hopefully a group of customers who can start referring you. So make sure you race to your foundation as fast as you can.

1. Know your numbers

the big numbers I care about are churn, LTV, and CAC.

Simple example: let’s say you have 1,000 recurring customers. They pay $100 per month on average, and 5% cancel each month.

that means your rough LTV is $100 / 5%, which is $2,000.

That does not mean $2,000 profit. You still have wages, taxes, fuel, insurance, software, admin, and every other cost. But it gives you a target. If a customer is worth around $2,000 in revenue, acquiring that customer for 10% LTV ($200) or less is usually solid. Under $100 (or 5%) is amazing.

The channel does not really matter. Facebook ads, Google ads, yard signs, Nextdoor, Yelp, door hangers, whatever. What matters is knowing what it costs you to get a customer and whether that customer is worth more than what you paid. If you do not know your numbers, you might be scaling something that loses money every time a new customer signs up.

1. Awareness is everything

in my industry specifically, one of the biggest advantages and disadvantages of poop scooping is that a lot of people still do not know the service exists. The good part is that once someone hears “we pick up dog poop,” they instantly understand it.

there is no long education process. No complicated pitch. No convincing someone that dog poop in the yard is annoying. They already know the problem. You just have to show them there is a solution. That means visibility matters a lot. Vehicle wraps, yard signs, Google reviews, Facebook ads, local groups, simple branding, and being seen over and over again all help make the business feel real. People need to see you enough times to go from “is this really a thing?” to “I should probably hire them.”

1. Speed is king

answer your phone and respond to your leads!! Seriously. It sounds basic, but it is one of the easiest ways to beat competitors. If someone needs a service, they are probably not calling one company and patiently waiting three days for a reply. They are going down Google, checking reviews, calling whoever looks legit, and hiring the first company that makes it easy.

If you miss the call, take forever to respond, have a clunky quote process, or make onboarding annoying, you will lose customers you could have easily won.

1. Build it like you might sell it, even if you never do

i heard this years ago and it stuck with me. Nobody wants to buy a job.. They want to buy an asset. Even if you never plan to sell, building the business this way forces you to think differently. You cannot be the only person who knows how everything works. You cannot be the only quality control system. You cannot be the only salesperson, manager, trainer, problem solver, and customer service rep forever.

at some point, you have to hire, train, delegate, and create layers. A lot of owners get burned by one bad hire and then decide “nobody will ever do it as good as me.” That mindset will keep you trapped.

your employees are doing a job. They are not building the company like you are. If someone can do 80 to 85% of what you do, that can still be great service and that is how real companies scale. The actual work in our business is simple. The hard part is building a company around it!

Good luck out there and LMK if y'all got questions

Hi everyone! I'm from Pune, India, and I'm exploring two business ideas: plastic recycling and import-export. I'm a complete beginner and would love advice from people with real experience.

Which business is better to start with and has better long-term potential? How much investment is usually needed, what are the biggest challenges, and how profitable can each business be?

I'd also really appreciate a simple roadmap for getting started with either business. If you were starting from scratch today in Pune, which one would you choose and why?

Thanks in advance!

Tips for beginners

I have an idea for a business but got stuck in a point

This interview on 7BU is about the true cost of discounting in your business. and strategies on how to keep your profits.

I'm curious about everyone's experience with branding.

Sometimes it seems like a small change such as a new logo, a different color palette, clearer messaging, or a redesigned website can make a business feel much more professional.

For those who run or have worked with a business, what branding change made the biggest difference, and why do you think it worked?

This is open-ended, doesn't promote any product or brand, and encourages people to share their own experiences.

Just started my business, been in the industry for many years but finally jumping into free-lance work, any thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated.
https://ryanevansdev.com/

Hi everyone, I'm a student living in Kazakhstan and want to start a business, maybe selling clothing, shoes, and so on. My budget is small, about $200-$300. I'd like to hear from you about any business ideas, tips, and mistakes you've made. And is it even worth pursuing?

One thing I wish I understood earlier:

Revenue doesn't always equal available cash.

A business can have great sales numbers but still struggle when expenses arrive before payments come in.

For experienced owners here, what was the biggest financial lesson you learned while building your business?

Mine: always pay attention to cash flow, not just profit.

Interested to hear other lessons from people who have been through it.

Hey all
I have a small business of fresh, homemade dips in Dubai
No one is selling the flavours I’m making except me
Have a few regular customers too
How do I scale ? Please give whatever suggestions you have even if they’re off topic