Two months ago, the FDA disclosed that they recently warned 15 companies producing and\or selling CBD that their actions in marketing the products were contrary to Federal Law. We were just gearing up for the holidays, so everyone at OG+S didn’t want to sour the mood, but now that we’re halfway though January, this development … Read more
I joked last time that I was having an existential crisis about my own value by discussing how much I should pay myself when starting a business, but this week’s post kicks it into high gear as we ask: Are you the right person to start this business? Well, now, these questions are not getting … Read more
Right after the holidays, small businesses have a lot on their plate – W-2’s and 1099’s are due soon, and so are final quarter self employment tax payments! Question: Recently, a client asked: “Do I need to send OG+S a 1099 for services?” and because it was such a great question, it naturally became the … Read more
Perhaps one of the most important questions that someone thinking of starting a business (or adding a new line to their existing business) is: Will you make money? Or as Gary put it: Can you compete and still make a reasonable return on your investment? This is an easy, yet hard question. Often, people will … Read more
Last time, we took a look around to see if people are actually buying handmade soap. We found my friend from kindergarten and some other sellers on Etsy. But, does that really answer Gary’s second question? Who else is selling a competing product, and at what price? Not really. It is just saying that some … Read more
We’ve talked about deadlock before, and how to deal with it. While deadlock is never a great thing for Founders to deal with, today there is reason to celebrate. Why? A client chose the “Candy Land” method of breaking deadlock, and among the three of us, that makes a total of about 5 clients over … Read more
Back to our little soap opera. What dilemma is our start-up hero facing today? Last time, we discussed what it is that we want to sell: Handmade soap. The next question is: Does anyone need or want what you are planning to sell? Wow. Harsh reality hits fast and hard. Just because I want to … Read more
We get a ton of questions about “non-competes” at OGS. In legal terms, a “non-compete” is a specific kind of “restraint of trade” that is governed by Wis. Stat. Sec. 103.465. However, the type of “restraint of trade” that is right for you and your business may not be a “non compete” and could be … Read more
Last time in my soap opera, I discussed professionals that I would need to talk to before I started any soap business. I received a nice email from Gary Barber, a committed volunteer at the Madison Chapter of SCORE. He proposed that his first steps are not the professionals, but rather something else: My first … Read more
If you have heard me present lately, you will know that I have started to make soap. I have gone full nerd on it using graduated cylanders and all. It has been fun to build a new knowledge set, bust out my old chemistry and lab skills, and try out a whole bunch of fragrances. … Read more