Ask Questions 
Share Tips 
List Your Business 
Coffee Talk with Experts 
Biz Planning | Sample Plans 
Idea 
Name 
$ 
Do It! 
Promotional Merchandise
Managing | Operations
Work @ Home 
Yoga @ Your Desk 
|
|
Expert Answers to Biz Questions
Listen in! Pick up some expert advice to a reader's question that we selected from CyberSchmooz.
9 Types of Certifications You Should Get If You Are a Small Business Owner
If you are a small business owner, then you understand how difficult the process of running a small business can be. Owning a small company is no joke. From handling implementation, competition against big businesses, management, regulatory practices and more, there is a lot to juggle at one time.
However, there are certain certifications that you can get to help you develop as a professional service and give you the skills and market advantages needed to oversee a successful company.
1. Marketing
Marketing is an incredibly helpful skill to have for any business, but especially for a small one. Unlike a large company, small businesses might not have the ability to hire an outside marketing company. A small company needs to carefully integrate marketing within a variety of departments.
If interested in learning more, you may want to seek out a graduate certification in marketing. Becoming certified will give you an in depth understanding of how to apply marketing techniques and launch your own campaign. You won’t necessarily have to hire an outside team – you can launch your company’s image yourself!
2. Project Management
Another useful certification that you can obtain is within project management. You can become a Certified Associate in Project Management (or CAPM). It will give you a great foundational understanding of how to manage large projects and analyse risk, cost, efficiency, and quality involved in a project. It can also help you develop stronger leadership skills.
3. Graphic Design
Related in many ways to marketing, graphic design can help you be a more well-rounded business owner that understands how to visually represent what you want to communicate to consumers. You will develop a competency with advanced graphic design software and techniques and be able to create posters, banners, covers, and more.
4. Entrepreneurship
If you own a business, chances are that you already possess an entrepreneurial spirit. But by getting certified in entrepreneurship and building upon your existing knowledge, you may discover new ways of thinking. You can learn how to be inventive, creative, fast acting in difficult situations and how to launch new projects.
5. Certifications for Marginalized Groups
If you are a minority, you may want to look into special certifications for your company that are geared towards helping minority entrepreneurs. Two examples for women include the Women Owned Small Business (WSOB) as well as the Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE). There are also ones designed for small business owners of colour, the disabled, and veterans. By possessing these, you may qualify for helpful government contracts.
6. Business Analysis
If you become a Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP), it can help you better analyse the needs of your company and effectively come up with solutions to those needs. This certification is aimed at managers and business leaders and can help you improve in both those fields.
7. Information Technology
Computer knowledge is an integral part of managing any company. If you obtain a specialized certification in IT (Information Technology), it can help you better care for your business’ technological infrastructure and communication capabilities. If you enjoy working with computers or consider yourself digitally savvy, this might be a good option for you. It will come naturally!
8. Sales Certifications
Even if you only own or manage and are not directly involved in the sales portion of the company, it is important that you have a working knowledge and understanding of the sales process. By obtaining a sales certification, you can better understand how to market you product to your target audience.
9. LEED Accredited Professional
Last but not least, if you are a small business owner, you may want to consider becoming a LEED Accredited Professional. If your business focuses on design and housing, you can learn eco-friendly practices for your business, which will boost your credibility.
|
|
Small Business Tax Center • Idea Cafe Home • Sign Up • Biz Grant Center • CyberSchmooz •Coffee Talk with Experts • People in Biz Profiles • Starting Your Biz • Biz Planning • Running Your Biz • FREE Trade Publications • Marketing • Financing Your Biz • Human Resources • Legal & Biz Forms • Managing Your Biz • eCommerce • You and Your Biz • Gen X • Work@Home • The Fridge • De-Stress • Send an Award • Send an eGreeting • Yoga @ Your Desk • Web Guide • Idea Cafe in the News • About Idea Cafe • Advertise on Idea Cafe • Contact Us • Privacy Policy • Site Map • Small Biz News
Copyright 1995-2023, Idea Cafe Inc. Downloads are for personal use only, not for resale to others, and may not be reprinted in any form without written permission from Idea Cafe Inc.
DISCLAIMER: We hope whatever you find on this site is helpful, but be cautioned that it may not apply to your own situation, or be totally current at any given time. Idea Cafe Inc. and all of its current and past experts, sponsors, advertisers, agents, contractors and advisors disclaim all warranties with regard to anything found anywhere on this family of websites, quoted from, or sent from Idea Cafe. and its related sites, publications and companies. We also take no responsibility for comments published by others on these pages. TRADEMARKS: The following are Registered Trademarks or Servicemarks of DevStart, Inc.: Idea Cafe®, Online Coffee Break®, The Small Business Gathering Place®, Take out Info®, Biz Bar & Grill®, Complaint-O-Meter®, A Fun Approach to Serious Business™, CyberSchmooz™, and BizCafe™.
|
|
|
|