Please choose the most appropriate category so that you’ll get a response from someone who specializes in that category.

Start-up Advice: Best if you’re new to business or starting a new entity. Ask for resources for start-ups, people who have expertise here, what to do next, identifying your business model, business planning, forming an investment offering (but it is illegal to ask directly for money here), places to go to for investors, etc.

Branding: Best for questions related to the look and feel of your corporate image, identity, forming the message you want to share with your target market, etc.

Product Development:  All questions related to the planning, physical creation, formation, manufacturing and delivery of products and services.

Distribution Channels: All questions related to online and offline sales channels such as retail stores, tradeshows, infomercials, electronic retailing (QVC, HSN), etc.

Sales: All questions related to selling your products and services including methods, resources, hiring a sales person, contracting with sales groups, etc.

Marketing: All questions related to educating the public about your company, products and services including methods, resources, hiring a marketing person, contracting with a marketing firm, etc.

Publicity: All questions related to creating a buzz about your company, products and services including methods, resources, hiring a PR person, contracting with a PR firm, etc.

Creative: All questions related to art and design, product merchandising, new innovation, specific product features, packaging, hiring a creative person, contracting with a creative group, etc.

Customer Acquisition/Retention: Specific questions related to attracting new customers who are eager to buy your products and services, where to find them and how to keep them as loyal customers. Also refer to sales and marketing category.

Management/People: All questions related to managing and leading your people, who needs to be on your team, issues you’re having with employee retention, finding the right people, asking for interim CEO (Chief Executive Officer), CFO (Chief Financial Officer), and COO (Chief Operations Officer) support. Also include Human Resources questions here.

Operations: All questions related to the day to day operations of your company. Includes office issues, insurance, transportation, shipping, factory, storage, administrative support, organization, productivity, etc.

Finance: All questions related to fiscal management of your company. Includes budgeting, projections, making cost analysis, pricing, accounting methods and accounting software. Also includes questions about funding, bank loans, business credit, etc.

Technical: All questions related to computers, software support, best tool to use, resources related to any technical aspect of your business. Also how to hire a technical person, who you may need, contracting with tech groups, etc.  Please don’t ask questions that are TOO technically oriented. Should be related to running your business or about finding the proper resources.

Need a Referral:  May not have a specific question but you would like to have a referral to a specific person, or someone with a specific expertise such as a patent attorney, a group, an educational resource, or feedback on a resource you’re considering.

Self-Improvement: You may not have a specific business question but rather an issue with yourself that is affecting your business. This could include how to find your passion, spiritual development, life-coaching, leadership training resources, how to handle limiting beliefs about money or success, etc.

To your success!

-Maria Simone