Growth & Operations

Running the thing once it exists — people, process, premises.

63 articles

lady working on laptop at modern kitchen table

Growth & OperationsJuly 27, 20267 min read

Hiring Your First Employee: How to Know You’re Really Ready

You started your business to be your own boss. So why does it feel like you now work for the busiest, most demanding person you know — yourself? If you’re reading this at 10 p.m. with a stack of invoices on one side and a to-do list you haven’t touched on the other, you already…

Tiffany Anton

Person using a laptop with stock market charts on screen while reviewing printed graphs on a white desk

Growth & OperationsMay 25, 20269 min read

How To Know If Your Side Hustle Could Be A Real Business

A side hustle becomes a real business when eight things are in place: consistent income across multiple months, a separate business account, a one-sentence offer with a specific price, a conversation with a tax professional, a way for strangers to find and buy from you, a registered business entity, at least one sale to someone…

Tiffany Anton

gavel and hammer, building and scale with homes on it.

Growth & OperationsMarch 10, 20264 min read

How to Choose the Right Business Structure in Tennessee

Why business structure matters March was about planting the seeds of your business. Branding. Messaging. Talking to customers. Figuring out if the idea actually works. April is where we start protecting what you’re building, and one of the first steps in that process is choosing the right business structure. Now I know the moment someone…

Luke Ramey

Growth & OperationsFebruary 27, 20263 min read

Competitors Are Teachers: Learning From the Market You Enter

At some point in this journey, a new entrepreneur will proudly say to me, “No one else is doing this.” They usually expect applause. Instead, I give them the blank stare of a man who has seen too many businesses die from a total lack of competition. If nobody is doing what you are doing,…

Luke Ramey

Growth & OperationsFebruary 20, 20263 min read

Finding Your Early Adopters in a Small-Town Market

Customer discovery is not just about talking to people. It is about talking to the right people. Because not everyone is ready for your idea. Some people will need five years and 14 friends convincing them before they even consider trying something new. Those are not your first customers. Your first customers are the people…

Luke Ramey

Growth & OperationsFebruary 13, 20264 min read

How to Interview Your Target Market (and What to Ask)

So you have accepted the fact that you are not your customer. That is a solid first step. Now we are moving into the part where you talk to real humans and learn what they actually care about. This is called customer discovery. Not customer guessing. Not customer assuming. Real conversations with people who might…

Luke Ramey

Growth & OperationsFebruary 6, 20263 min read

If You’re Not Talking to Customers, You’re Just Guessing

There is a universal truth in entrepreneurship that nobody wants to hear. You are not your customer. You might think you are. You might feel spiritually connected to them. You might even believethat everyone in the world thinks exactly like you. But unless you are planning to buy everysingle product you make… we need a…

Luke Ramey

Growth & OperationsJanuary 23, 20264 min read

Is Your Business Model Profitable?

Business Models Explained: How to Know if Yours Can Make Money I love enthusiasm. I love when someone sits down with me at The Biz Foundry and starts explaining their business idea like it is the next big thing. The energy is contagious. But, right after the excitement fades and we both stop imagining you…

Luke Ramey

Growth & OperationsJanuary 16, 20264 min read

Validate Your Idea Without Spending a Dime.

The Real First Step: Validate Your Idea Before You Spend a Dime You have a business idea. Maybe it hit you in the shower. Maybe it came to you while you were stuck behind a tractor on Highway 70. Either way, the excitement kicks in fast. You start imagining logos, storefronts, viral TikToks, FOX Business…

Luke Ramey

how to fix a struggling business the biz foundry

Growth & OperationsDecember 3, 20257 min read

Strengthen Your Business Foundation

Find Your Best Next Step with The Biz Foundry Answer a few quick questions and we’ll match you with the program or event that fits you best. Start Quiz Where are you in your business journey? Just have an idea or I’m pre-launch. I’ve launched within the last 2 years. I’ve been in business 2+…

Tiffany Anton

Growth & OperationsOctober 21, 20254 min read

Branding Tips for Local Startups: Lessons from SEO Expert Mordy Oberstein

As an SEO professional and member of The Biz Foundry community, I’m always on the lookout for insights that can help local entrepreneurs and small business owners take their ventures to the next level. That’s why I was so excited to recently sit down with Mordy Oberstein, the head of SEO brand at Wix, on…

Jeremy Rivera

Growth & OperationsJuly 24, 20252 min read

How to Time Block Your Week for Maximum Focus (and Less Burnout)

By Kaylin Campbell, Marketing Coordinator at The Biz Foundry. August feels like a fresh start for many entrepreneurs. Whether you’re recovering from summer chaos or simply craving structure, now’s the perfect time to reset your rhythm and reclaim your focus. One of the simplest, most effective ways to do that? Time blocking. Let’s break it…

Kaylin Campbell

Growth & OperationsMarch 14, 20254 min read

The Perfect Place for Entrepreneurs: The Upper Cumberland Region of Tennessee

By Jeff Brown, CEO and Founder at The Biz Foundry and totally biased writer. I love where I live so I must admit, I am totally biased. With that said, I will try to give as many verifiable facts as possible on why I think every entrepreneur should want to live and grow their business…

Jeff Brown

Growth & OperationsFebruary 25, 20254 min read

Finding Focus: How to Avoid Overwhelm as a Small Business Owner

Luke Ramey, Entrepreneurship Coordinator at The Biz Foundry If you’re a small business owner, you know the feeling. The never-ending to-do list, the emails piling up, the constant pull in a hundred different directions. One moment your focus is on sales, the next you’re fixing a website glitch, and before you know it, you’re deep…

Luke Ramey

Growth & OperationsFebruary 7, 20253 min read

3 Practical SEO Strategies Every Small Business Owner Should Know

As a contributing member of The Biz Foundry and SEO expert, I recently had an enlightening conversation with Mark Williams-Cook, director of Candour SEO agency and creator of Also Asked, a search intent research tool. While our discussion covered advanced technical concepts, I wanted to distill three key actionable insights that small business owners in…

Jeremy Rivera

Growth & OperationsNovember 22, 20243 min read

How Small Businesses Can Win Big on Shop Small Saturday

Shop Small Saturday Success: A Celebration of Community Shop Small Saturday isn’t just about sales—it’s about people. It’s a chance for small businesses to celebrate the heartbeat of their success: customers, team members, and the community. It’s about creating meaningful connections that make your business a beloved part of your town. Here’s how you can…

Kaylin Campbell

Growth & OperationsApril 29, 20242 min read

If You’re Happy and You Know It… Make Sure Your Face Is Showing It: SMILE

If you’re happy and you know it… tell your face! In the bustling world of entrepreneurship and small business ownership, every interaction counts. Most of us are so focused on our work that we often forget how powerful smiling can be. From networking events to client meetings and beyond, the way you engage with others…

Kaylin Campbell

Growth & OperationsMarch 11, 20242 min read

Tips for Time Management

Value of Time Management Time is one of the most precious resources for small business owners. With many tasks to juggle—from managing operations to serving customers—finding ways to manage time effectively is crucial for success. Today, we’ll explore some practical tips and techniques to help you as small business owners enhance your time management skills,…

Kaylin Campbell

Growth & OperationsFebruary 19, 20242 min read

Reputation is Everything for Your Startup’s Success

Introduction: Starting a business isn’t easy. As a small business owner or entrepreneur, you face a lot of challenges. But there’s one thing that can make or break your success: your reputation. In this blog post, we’ll talk about why reputation is so important for your startup and what you can do to make sure…

Kaylin Campbell

Growth & OperationsJanuary 29, 20242 min read

A Guide to Finding Your Target Market

What is a Target Market? As a business owner, one of the most important things you need to do is identify your target market. Your target market is a group of customers with shared demographics whom the company identifies as the most likely to buy the company’s product or service. Once you know who your target market…

Kaylin Campbell

Growth & OperationsJanuary 17, 20242 min read

Join the “Successful People” Club

The Power of Influence “Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future.” Dan Pena If you think about it, it makes sense. So, it would make sense that the people you surround yourself with can determine your future, and if you surround yourself with successful people, you, too, could become successful. Successful People…

Kaylin Campbell

Person sitting at a desk with various Pantone color swatches trying to pick branding colors

Growth & OperationsNovember 30, 20232 min read

The Power of Coworking Spaces: Fostering Collaboration and Productivity

In today’s dynamic work environment, traditional office spaces give way to innovative solutions promoting collaboration, creativity, and flexibility. One such solution that has been growing in popularity is the concept of coworking spaces. Embracing Collaboration Coworking spaces provide a vibrant and collaborative atmosphere where individuals from diverse backgrounds and industries come together to work under…

Matt Copeland

Growth & Operations

Growth & OperationsNovember 8, 20233 min read

From Military Service to Local Entrepreneurship: The Journey of Sean Campbell and The Mountain Top Candle Shop

In honor of Veterans Day this week, we are privileged to shine a spotlight on the incredible contributions of our veterans, not only in their service to our country but also in their entrepreneurial pursuits. We had the honor of sitting down with Sean Campbell, a veteran and the founder of Mountain Top Candle Shop,…

Matt Copeland

whiteboard with the words "features, advantages and benefits" written on it

Growth & OperationsAugust 28, 20233 min read

Features vs Benefits: Know the Difference to Sell More

Should you be selling the features or benefits of your product or service? Well, as the old saying goes, “Features tell, benefits sell”. While the features of your product or service are important, benefits are typically what will compel your prospects to make a purchase. So today let’s dive into the why, when and how…

Jess Lewis

desktop with chalkboard on it that has graph about efficiency

Growth & OperationsJuly 24, 20236 min read

Why you need to run an Efficient Business

Many entrepreneurs struggle with running an efficient business and tend to make their lives harder than they need to be. This is typically a result of trying to save money – hesitating to invest in software or people. Look I get it, cash flow is limited, profit margins might be thin and you’re barely paying…

Jess Lewis

Growth & OperationsJuly 17, 20237 min read

Free Entrepreneur Resources and Template Library for Tennessee Business Owners

As a business owner, you’re likely always on the lookout for entrepreneur resources. Why? Because starting a business and growing it comes with a lot of challenges and finding more time in your day so you can get more done is always at the top of the wish list. Arvo, a software company located in…

Alane Boyd

Growth & OperationsJune 26, 20235 min read

Why You Need to Deliver a World Class Customer Experience

Want to know the secret to business success? Giving a world class customer experience. While that probably seems obvious, many businesses drop the ball when it comes to customer experience and pay for it dearly. Spending time, energy and money to acquire a customer is only part of the equation, you must invest in strengthening…

Jess Lewis

Desk with reports scattered around and laptop

Growth & OperationsJune 13, 20234 min read

Why You Need a Business Diary

We humans are notorious for thinking we’ll remember things accurately when we actually completely suck at it. And as you know, when you’re running a business there’s a lot to remember – meetings, financials, tasks, ideas, etc. So today I wanted to share my strategy for remembering important business metrics, historical data, events and more.…

Jess Lewis

Two business people shaking hands over a sellable business.

Growth & OperationsMay 30, 20232 min read

How to Build a Sellable Business

Last week we talked about the importance of starting with the end in mind and why you need to have a business exit plan. Both will guide your business decisions throughout your entrepreneurial journey and ensure you stay on track with your long-term goals. Today, we’re addressing the exit plan of selling your business. Let’s…

Jess Lewis

Man doing a business pitch in front of an audience

Growth & OperationsMay 15, 20234 min read

12 Must Know Tips to Perfect Your Pitch

If you’ve got a business idea or are currently running a business, then you need to know how to pitch. From clearly expressing what you do at networking events to convincing investors your concept is worth funding, pitching is an essential skill to master as an entrepreneur. So let’s dive into the “12 Pitch Tips…

Jess Lewis

Photo of customers walking down the aisle of a grocery store surrounded by consumer packaged goods

Growth & OperationsMay 8, 20233 min read

Guide to Consumer Packaged Goods Marketing & Growth

If you sell a product that a consumer will need to replenish – think anything from dish soap to hot sauce – your business falls into the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry. Owning a CPG business can be an exciting endeavor because the scalability can often lead to big growth. But it’s important to understand…

Jess Lewis

Photo of woman sitting at a desk with a laptop that says "SEO"

Growth & OperationsApril 28, 202319 min read

First 5 Things Small Biz Owners Should Know About SEO

Are you weary of seeing your rivals rise to the top of search engine rankings while your small business stays invisible to potential customers? Here are the first five things you need to know about SEO to give your business the boost it deserves. You operate a small business and have invested your heart and…

Jeremy Rivera

Image of 2 hands holding a ruler with the words marketing

Growth & OperationsApril 14, 20233 min read

How to Determine Market Size

Business ideas are only viable when there is a market size big enough to generate adequate revenue. So if you have a business idea or are looking to add a new product or service to your already existing business, it’s essential you invest the time to determine your market size. What is market size? According…

Jess Lewis

picture of hundred dollar bills and text that reads pricing strategy

Growth & OperationsApril 7, 20234 min read

Guide To Pricing Methods: How To Price Your Products And Services

You’ve got a killer product or service with a proven product-market fit and now you need to come up with pricing! Many entrepreneurs struggle with this piece of operating a business, so today we’re diving into pricing methods for your products and services. Why is setting your pricing tough? There are many reasons pricing your…

Jess Lewis

Growth & OperationsMarch 30, 20234 min read

5 Simple Ways to Boost Your Business

The primary goal of all businesses is to get more customers! Achieving a consistent flow of new customers isn’t easy, but there are a few simple things you can do to boost your business. Keep Everything Up-to-Date These days your business location, hours and information is in a million places which is great for exposure!…

Jess Lewis

Desktop with a computer screen that reads saas

Growth & OperationsMarch 27, 20235 min read

SaaS Solutions You Need for Your Small Business

Running a business is a juggling act. As an entrepreneur, you’re in charge of decision making, sales, customer service, finances, marketing, employee management and more. It’s tough to productively and effectively do all of those things, that’s where technology comes! Today, we’re exploring our top picks for SaaS (software as a service) solutions and tools…

Jess Lewis

Piece of paper on a desk that has the acronym SWOT on it

Growth & OperationsMarch 6, 20233 min read

Why and How to do a SWOT Analysis

If you’re looking to grow your business, figure out how to stand out from the competition or simply need to analyze the current status of your business, it’s time to do a SWOT analysis. What is a SWOT analysis? A SWOT analysis is a process used to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of…

Jess Lewis

Desktop with coffee cup and piece of paper listing time management tips

Growth & OperationsFebruary 27, 20235 min read

Time Management is Essential to Success

There are only so many hours in the day and for the busy entrepreneur managing those hours often feels like a daunting task. Many founders I talk to feel uncertain about what to prioritize, overwhelmed by the lack of structure in their lives and unsure how to make the most of each day. The truth is…

Jess Lewis

Desk with various project management words on it

Growth & OperationsDecember 21, 20223 min read

Everything is a Project: Why Entrepreneurs Need Project Management

Everything is a project. Yes, everything! From making your breakfast to achieving a goal, things we often think of as tasks are actually projects. So, it’s project management NOT to-do lists that you need. What does this have to do with entrepreneurship? Well, one of the main reasons I see business owners fail to get…

Jess Lewis

Growth & OperationsOctober 3, 20222 min read

New Business Checklist

You’ve got a business idea and ensured viability by completing a Business Model Canvas. Now it’s time to start working towards launch using our New Business Checklist. While each business idea has a slightly unique path on its way to market, all businesses have some fundamental tasks that must be completed before launching. Legal Tasks…

Jess Lewis

Tiffany Anton VP The Biz Foundry networking

Growth & OperationsSeptember 14, 20223 min read

Networking – Why You Need to be the Connector

In last week’s blog, Jess talked about how entrepreneurs can’t afford to NOT network if they want to succeed. The key takeaway was the importance of becoming the one to connect people and start networking groups. As the resident connector at The Biz Foundry, I thought I’d share my story of bringing people together to…

Tiffany Anton

Growth & OperationsSeptember 7, 20223 min read

Networking is Essential to Successful Entrepreneurship

Many of us entrepreneurs tend to feel that we don’t need to network, don’t have time to network or simply don’t like networking. And while you might not think you have time for it or simply don’t like it, the reality is all entrepreneurs need to network. We need to build our social capital for…

Jess Lewis

Growth & OperationsAugust 22, 20223 min read

Barter, Interns, DIY: Small Business Cost Savings

Being resourceful and leveraging small business cost savings are necessary skills for successful entrepreneurship. Since most of us start off with little capital that means we have to DIY a lot and learn as we go. Without thousands of dollars to invest in things like logo and branding, website creation, paid marketing, etc. you have…

Jess Lewis

Job candidates waiting to be interviewed

Growth & OperationsJuly 20, 20224 min read

Attracting, Hiring and Retaining Great People

When it comes to attracting, hiring and retaining great people for your company, core values are key. Communicating your core values gets the right people in the right positions to help you achieve your vision. That’s because these values define the characteristics that you want every single person in the company to share so you…

Tim Barrett

Growth & OperationsJune 20, 20223 min read

Standard Operating Procedures – Why & How

Whether you are a company of one or have 100+ employees, you have a specific way you get things done. Many business owners keep all their systems in their heads which is not super efficient especially if you plan to bring on employees or scale. So, today we are talking about how and why you…

Jess Lewis

Growth & OperationsJune 13, 20222 min read

7 Ways to Overcome Overwhelm

Small business owners have their plates full with an endless list of tasks. Everything from the daily operations, to marketing, training employees, and more stack up quickly. Most entrepreneurs I meet with are feeling overwhelmed and not sure the most effective way to move forward. So how can you overcome overwhelm? Well I stumbled onto…

Jess Lewis

Growth & OperationsJune 3, 20222 min read

11 Must Have Business Skills

According to Forbes, there are “11 Crucial Skills That All Business Owners Need From Day On”. Today we are going to dive into what they are so you can assess where you stand with each one. Here’s the quick list of 11 skills: Delegation While it isn’t easy to turn tasks over to others,…

Jess Lewis

Growth & OperationsMay 23, 20223 min read

Community, Coworking and Connections for Mental Health

If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s how incredibly important our mental health is. For the past 2 years, we spent more time alone, isolated, plugged into tech and feeling a reduction in work/life balance. Our mental health and wellbeing suffered as we worked to navigate this new way of life. Now we are in…

Jess Lewis

Growth & OperationsMay 16, 20221 min read

The Importance of Competitor Analysis

No matter how unique your concept is, your business WILL have competitors. In today’s society no business is free of competition and as a result, doing a competitor analysis is crucial to your success. Competitor Analysis is a Must Competitor research gives you insight into your industry, market and competition. With that information you’re in…

Jess Lewis

Image of multiple doors representing decisions

Growth & OperationsApril 27, 20223 min read

Making Authentic Business Decisions

As a business owner, you have to make millions of decisions every day. Before you know it, decision fatigue kicks in and you’re struggling to make authentic designs that align with your goals. Fortunately, there are ways to prioritize making authentic business decisions that will keep your business on track and reduce your mental exhaustion.…

Jess Lewis

Growth & OperationsApril 11, 20222 min read

Relationship Building for Small Business Owners

As a business owner, your livelihood depends on building quality relationships. You can be amazing at what you do, but if you’re lacking in communication and relationship skills your business will suffer. From networking to customer service, relationship building is key to your success. Why Relationship Building is Important “At the end of the day…

Jess Lewis

image of desk with key performance indicator graphic

Growth & OperationsMarch 21, 20223 min read

5 Key Performance Indicators Every Business Should Track

Keeping your business healthy and thriving involves tracking some key metrics to guide your decision making. Often business owners get stuck in the day-to-day operations and neglect making time to review finances, analyze reports and set goals. Plus we all know how fun looking at numbers can be, right?! So today we are covering the…

Jess Lewis

Growth & OperationsFebruary 22, 20223 min read

Facts Over Feelings

Running a business isn’t easy. In fact it can be a downright emotional rollercoaster. One day you are feeling like you’re unstoppable and sales are rolling in. The next day you feel like a complete failure, you consider closing up shop and you haven’t had a sale all day. While this rollercoaster gets a bit…

Jess Lewis

Growth & OperationsFebruary 15, 20225 min read

Vetting Professionals 101

Building a team of trusted professionals is essential to running a successful business. From lawyers to graphic designers you’ll want to make sure the people you bring into your circle are the right fit and have the experience you need. Your team fills the gaps in your knowledge and skill set which can make knowing…

Jess Lewis

Growth & OperationsFebruary 9, 20224 min read

Starting a business? Get business support!

I have been working at The Biz Foundry for almost 5 years now and we are about to celebrate our 10th year serving the Upper Cumberland business community. I’ve seen A LOT of people with TONS of ideas come through our doors. And I’ve seen even more people start their businesses without ever stepping foot…

Tiffany Anton

Growth & OperationsJanuary 25, 20223 min read

4 Ways to Avoid the Business Graveyard

When I first moved here I was amazed at how many people have tried their hand at owning small businesses. My neighbors who are now a banker and an educator for a non-profit, used to own Poets. A woman who used to own a athleisure clothing store is also the creator of magazines in town.…

Tiffany Anton

Growth & OperationsJanuary 12, 20224 min read

5 Ways To Know If You Have a Great Business Idea

So you’ve got a business idea – now what? Well it’s time to figure out if your idea is viable and worth pursuing. While all of us business owners and innovators feel like our ideas are valuable, the truth is not all ideas make for good businesses. And sometimes our initial idea needs some tweaking…

Jess Lewis

Growth & OperationsDecember 10, 20213 min read

Year-End Business Review Guide

Most entrepreneurs, myself included, love to look ahead and think about all the exciting opportunities the new year brings, but before we get ourselves too far ahead it’s essential to first evaluate the past year. Doing a year-end business review gives you the opportunity to explore what’s not working, celebrate successes and give you a…

Jess Lewis

Growth & OperationsNovember 12, 20213 min read

4 Ways to Prepare for Small Business Saturday

There is always a ton of hype about Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but Small Business Saturday has been gaining popularity since its launch in 2010 and it’s worth making a fuss about. More and more consumers are putting their dollars into shopping locally so we want to equip you with some tips and tricks…

Jess Lewis

Growth & OperationsOctober 11, 20213 min read

Top 3 Benefits of Coworking

We are now in the era of remote working and with that comes a host of new challenges to overcome. While some my thrive in a home office, many of us need a workspace out of the house to be productive. If you can relate to my story below and are on team “I can’t…

Tiffany Anton

Growth & OperationsSeptember 27, 20211 min read

Coworking Connections | Luke & Kris

If you are an entrepreneur or remote worker, I’m sure you know the feeling of loneliness that can result from the isolation of working from home or at your business location. It feels like you are on an island all by yourself and while you might love the solitude for getting things done, you likely…

Jess Lewis

Growth & OperationsOctober 3, 20194 min read

Coworking at The Biz Foundry Was Essential to Starting Our Business

The coworking space offered us a designated space to work on projects and take care of daily business, and the conferencing rooms were an ideal solution for meetings and presentations with our design clients. We found that having a designated place to work and conduct business out of was a game changer for our productivity and professionalism. Gone were the days of desperately trying to keep our client’s attention over the coffee shop grinder or working on client projects from our sofas with the TV remote at an arms reach.

Haley

Growth & OperationsMay 2, 20194 min read

Human Connection in a Digital Age: The Roles of Collaboration, Connection, and Community in Success

Are you struggling to connect with like-minded people in today’s world? The digital age is perfect for multimedia connection, but many of us are left lacking when it comes to actual in-person connection and communication. Even when we recognize the problem, the solution escapes us. How do we find communities to connect with outside of…

Haley