Find advice on everything from building a strong customer base and enhancing your reputation, to mastering marketing, managing growth, and navigating the challenges of running a small business.
Strong communities start with strong local businesses.
Behind every thriving community is a network of hardworking local businesses. Whether you're laying the foundation for a new venture or looking to strengthen your presence in the marketplace, having the right support and tools makes all the difference. From choosing the best structure for your business to enhancing your online visibility and making meaningful local connections, this guide offers practical tips to help you grow with confidence. Explore resources designed to streamline your operations, build trust with customers, and give your business the competitive edge it deserves.
Tips for laying the foundation for a successful business
Every strong business starts with a solid foundation. From choosing the right structure to mapping out your business plan and understanding start-up costs, these resources are designed to help you build with confidence. Whether you're just starting out or refining your plans, laying the groundwork thoughtfully can set the stage for long-term success.
Featured: How to write a business plan
If you’ve got a great business idea, it’s wise to lay the foundation with a solid business plan.
A well-developed plan acts as a guide to starting, managing, and growing your new business. In some cases, they can even help you get funding for your startup.
So, how do you write a business plan? And what components will help ensure your business is successful?
Getting customers and establishing trust
Attracting customers is one thing—earning their trust is another. This section offers strategies to boost your visibility, build your brand reputation, and connect authentically with your audience. Learn how to make the most of BBB Accreditation, craft compelling marketing, harness new tech like AI, and turn every interaction into a lasting relationship.
Featured: Optimize your BBB Profile to maximize your digital presence
Your BBB Business Profile is where potential clients see your BBB letter grade, BBB Accreditation status, customer reviews, pictures of your work, videos for your business, brands you sell, and so on.
Not only does your BBB Business Profile help your company showcase your brand as being reputable and trustworthy, but for Accredited Businesses, potential clients and customers can contact you directly from your page to request a quote for products or services.
Showing up in the first few pages of search engine results is great. But showing up in multiple places of search engine results? Even better.
See BBB Business Tip: Optimize your BBB Business Profile to maximize your digital presence
The power of BBB Accreditation and customer trust
Effective marketing strategies for small businesses
Featured: Streamline your marketing with AI technology
As a business owner, one of the easiest ways to get started with artificial intelligence (AI) is in your company’s marketing.
AI programs can help collect information about your customers, suggest products and services for their needs, and find the best messaging to make a sale.
A recent Deloitte survey found that of businesses adopting AI, three of their top five objectives were marketing-related.
If you’re thinking about implementing AI in your business’s marketing strategy, consider a few common uses for AI. Then, take advantage of BBB’s tips for getting started with this technology in your business.
See BBB Business Tip: Streamline your marketing with AI technology
Relationships that fuel business growth
Managing and scaling the business
As your business grows, so do your responsibilities—and opportunities. From managing your finances and hiring a winning team to protecting what you’ve built and exploring new revenue streams, this section provides insights to help you scale smartly. Discover how staying local can give you a competitive edge while setting your sights on long-term growth.
Featured: How the local factor gives your business a competitive edge
For small, local businesses, especially those competing with larger companies operating on a national scale, there’s always an advantage: the local factor.
Where larger corporations can compete with scaled-up processes, heightened brand awareness, and even increased savings, it’s the nimbler, community-oriented small businesses that resonate with local consumers. (The familiar term “mom-and-pop shop” often captures this spirit.)
As consumers trend toward local options, the time is ripe to lean into this advantage. This begs the question: As a small business owner, are you playing the local card?
See BBB Business Tip: How the local factor gives your business a competitive edge
