Our office space and virtual office clients do not always celebrate the same holidays as we do. But rest assured that our office space is always open to them 24/7. Yes, our reception staff and administrative staff are celebrating Christmas (Boxing Bay) and Chanukah (Hanukkah) with their families, but our office tenants still have access to their offices whenever they want. Any day of the year, our office space tenants have access to their offices where they can get work done at their own pace. The holiday  season is often a great time to do some catching up, clean their offices or just come in and relax after a few hectic days of shopping for the Boxing Day (actually more like Boxing Week) bargains. Our staff returns to work on Tuesday, December 27. However, many of our tenants have taken the week week off and will not return until the New […]

Garages, basements, kitchens, living rooms, coffee shops, and co-working spaces are commonplace for a start-up’s so-called headquarters. But are those types of locations the most productive places to get work done? For a small group of entrepreneurs these may work; but for many others utilizing these types of spaces, their creativity is being lost without them knowing it. While the experiences of starting up in alternative work space environments are invaluable and necessary for company growth, working in these unconventional spaces, with their countless distractions, can make it difficult to get real work done. This is why it is important for entrepreneurs to know the best place to work and keep their focus. Home offices can work well for some entrepreneurs and small business owners if they are dedicated spaces relatively free from distractions and home-life interruptions. ‘Non-business’ places outside of the home can also cause a loss on focus, […]

Before beginning your search for a mentor, you need to be able to understand when and where you need help. This will improve your chances of finding the right mentor to help you. You do not want to look for a mentor who is specialized in accounting, when you need help with marketing and distribution. In other words, be sure to seek out individuals with expertise in your weak points, not your strengths. One of the first steps in finding a mentor is to identify people you admire for their expertise and can learn from. Research their backgrounds and then reach out to request a meeting or phone call. It is important that when you reach out to someone, be sure you clarify your intention and respect a potential mentors’ time. The worst thing that can happen when reaching out is that person says “no.” So move on to the […]

Entrepreneurs and small business owners looking to grow their new or existing businesses will sometimes appear on popular TV shows like Dragon’s Den or Shark Tank to pitch their ideas to millionaire investors. While some of the people who appear on the show truly need the financial help and the clout they get by partnering with one of these dragons or sharks, others do not. They may just need a mentor. It is no secret that starting a small business can seem to be quite a lonely endeavour, but it does not have to be. The new challenges and hurdles that even experienced entrepreneurs will face in a new business venture can be just as difficult as the ones they faced in their first business venture. This is why finding a mentor can be the key to getting past the “fake it until you make it” stage. Mentorship is not […]

Everything identifying your small business , including your name, the names of your products and services, your logo, slogan and taglines, create a unique statement for your small business. Your memorable branding is what gives you that edge over your competitor and helps drive brand and customer awareness and loyalty. In order to keep your branding yours, you need to protect it. Protecting your brand and its associated products and services is critical to your future sales and success. Registering your trademark gives you exclusive rights to use it. Without trademark protection, a competitor could use your branded materials or something similar to confuse your customers into thinking that they are buying your branded product or service. It is not just the logo of your small business that you need to trademark, but also your branded slogan, the names of your products or services, and any taglines or sound marks […]