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Retired Community Manager

Want to take your business to the next level? Ask a Business Coach!

Welcome to the AARP Online Community! Now through September 15th, we are joined by Business Coach Keith Hall. Please ask your questions by reply post below--all are encouraged to participate!

Ask yourself, is now the time to advance your business? Are you ready to hire employees, secure more funding, or perhaps in need of a new marketing and sales plan but not sure to do it all? Business Coach Keith Hall is here to help.  Ask him how to grow your business!

 

1140x655px-Keith Hall_Staff Photo_1.jpg

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Newbie

 Thank you for taking my questions.  I opened a juice, smoothie and create your own salad bar in December 2018. I exhausted my pension in the start up kid the business. Now, I find that I can't keep up with the expenses eventhough the business is doing well. 

My question is Howe do I begin to grow my business when I can't get caught up?

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Newbie

Yes! Looking for best options to secure start up costs for mostly advertising. Thank you.

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Newbie

We are in a cutting edge business.  We produce Hemp Cigarettes.  Since the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, Hemp is legal but the credit card companies have been inconsistant about working with us.  Several time they have keep our funds.  Any advice on how we can have an online store and people pay us?

Smokes, original, menthol and now with Kratom Smokes, original, menthol and now with Kratom

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Contributor

Hello! Keith Hall,

 

My Husband, Has a failing business again.

We did have 3 brick and mortar locations. I had gotten sick and now of course it is my fault. But we are losing everything. We are down to 1 location and sales are falling off greatly. Which I can not understand because we have a lot of warranty service for a multitude of companies. There does not seem to be a reason for the slumps. Please! Send help!

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Newbie

 Thank you so much Coach Keith Hall for joining and offering great sound advice.  So I do not have a business as of yet but I have some really phenomoenal business ideas or inventions.  I don't have a clue on how to get started.  I would like to either get them trademark or a patent on the idea.  I don't necessarily want to develop the idea but want to get paid of the royalties of the idea, etc.  I just don't how to get started.  Is there any way you can tell me how I should get started and is there any reward for just the idea?? If not then what do suggest I do to get it promoted or investors to invest to create it and make it happen?  A lot of questions I do apologize but need to now how to get started.

 

Thank you for your advice and suggestions.

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Hi Keith, 

I make dessert spring rolls. My dilemma is finding a co-packer that can manufacture them for me. I have potential clients, but I currently cannot meet the demand, as I make them myself. I have contacted all listed co-packers (lists from various states), no success. How can I get over this hurdle?

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I just entered the contest.  I am an independent distributor for a great company called Reliv International.  It is a food science company with amazing supplements and recently started selling CBD products a few weeks ago.  I believe our company will shine when people choose to use CBD as we have a great reputation for using the highest quality ingredients and we also do a lot of research.  Once the CBD is regulated, many of the other companies will be shut down.  I have been with the company for 16 years and at one tme, I was making $12000 profit a month.  The economy took a dive and many people dropped off and I have not been able to build my business back up to what my potential is.  My goal is to make $50,000 a month within 2-3 years. I want to do advertising, but I do not have a lot of funds to do that at this time.  I do attend networking meetings weekly and pick up new customers weekly.  I just read the article written by Daymond John and found it very informative.  I would like advice on how I can recruit business builders.  Most of the time, my happiest customers become the best distributors, but I was thinking with the announcement of the new CBD products, this would be a great opportunity for a lot of people to make some really good money working from home. I just earned my 50th all expense paid trip and I am going to Maui in October.   

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I am a small business woman who wears too many hats.  I don't have a large budget, what's the best way to gain staff?  I have hired my part-time nephew to help with the instagram, facebook, marketing.

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  1. Who's-done-it software driven stage play where the conclusion, being driven by the software, is always different. Audience plug their guesses, and their bets, into their iPhones before the final act. I have no luck finding a playwright who'd work with me on this stage play.
  2. http://GuitarInstructorPro.com
    Guitar players teach the guitar robot how to play their songs, and users - students - learn how to play them. They can select regions of their choice to loop them and to slow them down for better learning experience. How do I find someone who'd go with marketing that idea and handling financial its aspects.

Thank you,

Eugene

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Hi Keith,

 

Although I've been selling real estate in California since 1999 and was a top producer, I formed my own company in 2008 (s corp) but never hired anyone as I was happy being a small independent.

I want to begin expanding, working with the next generation and need to know how to strategically and financially utilize being a corporation.  I plan to operate brokerages out of California and Hawaii (last year obtained my Hawaii broker's license).

 

Thanks!

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Hi Keith,

Thanks for your response!

1. If I wanted to amend my articles of incorporation to converting to a 501 (c) (3), what are the advantages, disadvantages?  (My intent is to help fund ministries, specifically churches and YWAM-Kingdom Builders).  I'm trying to figure out if it's better to file as a 501 (3) (c), or simply donate.

2. What do I do with the stock shares?

3. If becoming a charitable corporation, would there be allowable expenses as a non 501 (c) (3)?

4. If we wanted to host a poker tournament once or twice a year and winnings were under $5K, would cash or trips be a better prize in terms of a write off or would it be the same?

5. If medical, dental and vision benefits were offered to the agents, is that a write off? 100%

 

Thanks again,

Annette

 

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Newbie

How do I seek funding for my small nonprofit

 

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I have a unique invention that must be used with every prescription bottle and over the counter medicine. It saves thousands of lives and billions of dollars every year. If is easy to manufacture, deploy and use. It is ideal for all types of medicines such as pills, liquid, drops, injections or enhalers - no more lists or pillboxes. Want assistance in introducing it to key people for business ventures. 

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Retired Community Manager

Enter the Make Your Move Career & Entrepreneur Contest for your chance to win a Power Meeting with Shark Tank’s Daymond John.

 

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Contest ends 9/15/19. To enter and for Official Rules, visit https://sweeps.aarp.org/enterdaymond2019.

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Retired Community Manager

Keith Hall is the President and CEO for the National Association for the Self-Employed.  He previously served as the National Tax Advisor for NASE where he offered tax advice to persons self-employed and micro-business owners. He is a certified public accountant and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post and Good Housekeeping.

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Contributor

How do I ask a question for Keith?

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