As a small business owner, I get it. Every dollar we spend has to be calculated. We don’t have a lot of cash to spend so we learn to be as frugal and self-reliant as possible. With that said, I have learned that there is a big difference between being cheap and frugal, a difference that leads to success or failure in any size business.

ou would think that that the signs of a failing business would be obvious: lack of customers, dropping sales, cash flow issues…but these are all symptoms caused by a business that has already been failing for a very long time. What if there was a way to know if your business is failing long before the symptoms start showing up?

The idea behind a mission statement is a noble one. It is supposed to set the guidelines for product quality, customer service, and help cast a vision to build a corporate culture. But let’s be honest: who cares!