Is Microfinancing Dead? 7 Things You Should Know About Small Dollar Financing Before Discounting It

By Karlene Sinclair-Robinson   Microfinancing is a financing method that supports businesses and individuals globally. It is often considered the forgotten option in the world of small business access to capital solutions. Many small business owners go to their banks first, try to access ‘Angel’ or ‘Venture Capital’ first before effectively developing a business those lenders or investors can support. … Read More

Solving The Fundamental Challenges of the Immigrant Business Owner

By Karlene Sinclair-Robinson The immigrant business owner can sometimes be easily recognized, by their outward appearance, language, or their accent. However, there are those whom you would not immediately recognize as being from another country. Whether is easy to ascertain their nationality or not, many of these business owners are often operating in an environment that is not always effective … Read More

The Fundamental Shift Business Owners Must Make to Survive

By Karlene Sinclair-Robinson At the start of 2020, no one in the Western Hemisphere knew the word coronavirus. No one was talking about it. Though the outbreak was heating up in China, no one in the Americas was talking about it publicly, especially the government and businesses, in general. Fast forward to today, this pandemic outbreak is at the top … Read More

Top 3 Things Killing Your Small Business AND How to Deal With Them

By Karlene Sinclair-Robinson Over the past fifteen years, I have had the great opportunity of working with so many wonderful small business owners and I love it! They are all unique in their way! Many of them are creators. Some are inventors! Many create companies to make us feel better, enhance our experiences, or simplify things for us. These small … Read More

3 Time Management Strategies for Business Success

By Karlene Sinclair-Robinson Operating a business takes guts. There is always something to do, and so much that can go wrong. So, whether you’re working to on-board new clients, keeping employees happy, or balancing family and work, there is never enough time to get everything done. Though balancing the demands of being a business owner takes practice, you don’t become … Read More

3 Things Business Owners Should Focus on For 2020

By Karlene Sinclair-Robinson The end of a year always brings with it the ‘New Year’s Resolution’ boom. The process comes with making a long list of things to accomplish. These resolutions are often not realistic. And too often, business owners fail to start on their goals because they are too busy working in their business and not on their business. … Read More

Is It Worth It To Write A Business Plan?

The importance of planning when in business is an essential element to one’s success. However, it is not just in business planning that it is critical. It is vital to use what is laid out in the business plan.

3 Steps to Startup Business Success

By Karlene Sinclair-Robinson Today an individual can get up and decide to start a business. They get an idea, think of ways to fire their boss and find ways to leverage their time.  However, the possibilities of succeeding in a given business or industry can be a daunting and exciting process. Many startups tend to want to get large sums … Read More

3 Important Factors Business Owners Need to Know When Seeking Other People’s Money

3 Important Factors Business Owners Need to Know When Seeking Other People’s Money By Karlene Sinclair-Robinson Too often, start-up business owners have a few preconceived ideas when it comes to using ‘Other People’s Money’ (OPM). These ideas can negatively affect the outcome when they need financing. Getting access to a cash infusion is vital to your business. Your methodology for … Read More

9 Things Business Owners Must Know Before Seeking Capital

By Karlene Sinclair-Robinson Business owners are always seeking ways to improve their business. These improvements can include updating equipment, hiring new staff, developing a better marketing strategy or figuring out how to improve cash flow. When cash is not flowing effectively, a business owner must take all necessary steps that can and will lead to financial growth. When the business … Read More

How Strategic Relationships Create Successful Financing Opportunities For Business Owners

How Strategic Relations Create Successful Financing Opportunities for Business Owners By Karlene Sinclair-Robinson Building strategic relationships, or alliances, is vital to any business and its survival. Defining these relationships and possibilities for future benefits should be in line with your core values, vision, and mission. These strategic alliances should always create win-win opportunities for all involved. The ‘win-win’ concept must be the case … Read More

How Small Business Owners Can Survival a Crisis

How Small Business Owners Can Survival a Crisis By Karlene Sinclair-Robinson The financial meltdown in 2008 sent shock waves throughout the entire world. The impact on small businesses was detrimental. This crisis was just over ten years ago, and many have forgotten the ramifications of that time. Many companies did not survive this economic meltdown. They died a sudden death … Read More

How Startups Can Succeed in 2019

Success is the ultimate reason every business owner started their company. Financial success is, even more, the attainable goal for each of them.

The Opportunity to Rise Above Challenges

Karlene Sinclair-Robinson – 10/2018, Keynote Address – Mount Alvernia High School Classes of 1987-88 30th year reunion – Montego Bay, JamaicaArticle originally posted on LinkedIn.com I recently had the opportunity to return to my high school in sunny Jamaica for our 30th-year reunion. The school is an all-girls high school founded by the Roman Catholic Franciscan Sisters back in 1925. … Read More

Why Small Businesses Are So Important to the Economy

Why Small Businesses Are So Important to the Economy Karlene Sinclair-Robinson The opportunity to start a small business in the United States continues to increase. When an individual decides to start a business, the path to being successful can be very challenging. Depending on the type of company, the owner might elect to operate as a self-employed enterprise without ever … Read More