Every entrepreneur's dream is to create the next big name success story like Amazon.com, or Google. While everyone should dream big, the reality is that most startups fail precisely because they're trying to become the next big name success. The real secret to entrepreneurial success lies in Strategic Entrepreneurism where you design a company specifically to be acquired by a larger one. That's why the founder and CEO of several successful high-tech startup companies, multi-millionaire Jon Fisher, has written down his success principles. Strategic Entrepreneurism shows entrepreneurs how to design their companies towards the path of least resistance, maximum payoff, and lowest risk. Starting a small business and managing that company specifically with the end goal of selling to a large company is something many entrepreneurs think about but rarely make a priority. Our interviewee today, Jon Fisher, believes that doing so offers Founders and their investors the greatest chance of success. In this interview, we discuss how to blend the needs of the company with the needs of their customers and ways entrepreneurs can structure their companies to be better acquisition targets. Take a look at his book here.

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Comparing and evaluating small business merchant account providers who will process credit cards for your small business can be a daunting and confusing task. Aside from understanding all of the common fees such as the "discount rate" and transaction costs, you also need to understand how your money is handled and which processors are offering the best deals - without getting ripped off in the process. Here we discuss all the questions you should be asking your credit card processing company, including using a Credit Card Processing Merchant Account Cheat Sheet to ensure you are asking all the right questions and making an well-informed decision. Thanks to CardFellow.com for their help with this information.

Download the Credit Card Processing Merchant Account Cheat Sheet (.pdf file)

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Writing a business plan for your startup is one critical piece that most small business owners fail to take. In this interview, we talk with Bill Bartmann about his thoughts on how to raise startup funds for a new business in a recession, why he doesn't ever recommend friends and family for startup up capital, and some of the things he feels helped him start several profitable companies. Find out more about Bill Bartmann at BillBartmann.com and BillionaireU.com

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Dawn Ellinwood opened her first small business just 7 months ago - a high-end hair studio in Northern San Diego County. In this episode, we talk to Dawn about the challenges of getting started, how she's bootstrapping her way, and the difficulty in starting a small business in a down economy. We also talk about how she is getting business from reviews at Yelp.com and Kudzu.com. Find out more about Dawn and her business at www.UbuntuHairStudio.com.

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Richard Parker has bought and sold several businesses of his own and now assists others with education and consulting on buying a business. Here we discuss the current buying environment and why it is a great time to make a purchase. We also discuss how the lack of traditional financing is affecting the industry. We then discuss how to approach a competitor you may be interested in buying, when to get the seller out the door and when to keep them on board, the importance of confidentiality and when buying a business different than your current business is a smart move. Find out more about Richard Parker at www.diomo.com.

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Calvert Thompson started her spa just nine months ago and is getting a lot of business referrals from her positive reviews on Google Maps. Here we talk about other forms of word-of-mouth marketing, her desire to own a business that provides a life and not just a job, and her plans for the future.

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Customer review sites such as TripAdvisor.com, Yelp.com and Google Maps are a terrific way to market your small business by allowing prospective customers to see how well you treat your current and past customers. But what if you get an unfair negative review or one that looks to be written by your competitor? What's the best way to capitalize on the exposure these sites can give your local business and how do you encourage happy customers to post positive reviews? We discuss this and more with bed and breakfast owner Barry Werner of the Scarborough Bed and Breakfast in Baltimore, Maryland.

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When it comes time to sell your business, what are the first steps you should take to get the highest amount possible for the company? We answer that question today with business valuation expert Matt Donnelly. With 21 years in the business of appraising companies, we ask Matt about selling a business in a down economy, what factors go into a fair appraisal of a business and what you can do to make that figure as high as possible. We also discuss how using an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) is one option for business owners who want to ensure their legacy is carried on by the employees.

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CRM (Customer Relationship Management) for small businesses goes far beyond a simple contact list with notes. Today's software options offer small business owners a way to see track the sales process with incredible detail and also offers an easy way to view the history of purchases and payments. Especially useful in a tough economy, CRM software can help you sell more of your product or service by targeting your most profitable customers. In this episode, the Small Business Podcast talks with Steve Ireland of JobBlogs.cc about what small business owners should look for in a CRM software package and how to use it effectively.

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Tom Gegax founded TiresPlus, a company he built up to a 200 million dollar business with 150 locations. He recently wrote a book called The Big Book of Small Business: You Don't Have To Run Your Business By The Seat Of Your Pants. He has taken his years of experience and put it into a practical textbook for entrepreneurs. Here we talk about his success, why he wrote the book, and what he'd like other small business owners to know about what it takes to reach the same levels he did.

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