Technology

Martin Garcia opened Gramercy Gift Gallery in 2018, in the bustling city of San Antonio, T.X., with the vision to fill a gap in his community. As a minority-owned business, Gramercy Gift Gallery brings unique gifts, art, decor and novelties to a community that continues to expand, grow and attract retail chains. And while the growth is rapid in the area, small businesses and independent shops are still scarce. 

Technology has transformed the way small companies do business, and while this has helped small businesses and entrepreneurs access more customers and new markets in new ways, it’s essential that we talk about the risks associated with moving business online. The rise of new technology can lead to severe security issues, and unfortunately many small businesses are unaware of measures they can take to help ensure the security of their and their customers’ information. That’s why we’re sharing tips and resources for small businesses during October’s National Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

Elizabeth James has a soft spot for small businesses. 

“I understand that the small businesses of this country are not only a place to work, but are the culmination of someone's dreams and aspirations,” she says. Elizabeth’s family owned businesses and she attended University of California’s School of Business, so starting her own company seemed like a no-brainer. After garnering a unique expertise in tax and controller services, Elizabeth decided to open up her own bookkeeping and tax prep firm, Rincon Controller and Tax Services, Inc., in 2012 in Carpinteria, Calif. 

Elizabeth says, “I realized that small businesses need the services and guidance that are available to larger companies, but often beyond small business' pocket books. Tax and controller services in particular are typically exclusive corporations, and I wanted to change that.” 

Entrepreneur Clifton Broumand has an advanced degree in trial and error, and if you ask him he’ll tell you his studies were not cheap.

“I had a very expensive education – instead of getting an MBA at a university, I got a Ph.D. in making mistakes and learning from them,” said Clifton.

What happens when you put more than 100 small business owners in a room together to discuss the biggest issues facing small businesses today? That’s what we found out during our inaugural Small Business Leadership Summit, a three-day event of education, collaboration and action that took place May 11-13 in our nation’s capitol.

In today’s digital age, it’s nearly unheard of to not have some sort of online presence, especially for businesses that frequently utilize the Internet to market to their customer base and sell their product.  And yet, a vast 52% of small businesses do not have a website.