Small Business Tax Center
Small Business Ideas, Grants &
Plans to Start & Run a Business:

Small Business Grants
CyberSchmooz
Network in Cyberschmooz Community Ask Questions Questions and Answers Share Tips Small Business Ideas List Your Business Business Advice from Idea Cafe Experts Coffee Talk with Experts Starting A Business Business Plan Biz Planning | Sample Plans Small Business Ideas Idea Name Your Biz Name Plan Your Biz Plan Financing $ Starting a Business Do It! Running your Business Marketing Tips Promotional Merchandise Marketing Tips Marketing | Sales | Customers Human Resources HR | Employees | Contractors Legal Forms & Tax Information Legal | Biz Forms Managing a Business Managing | Operations
Financing Resources Financing Your Business E Commerce & Webhosting eCommerce Take Out Info Trade Publications FREE Trade Publications Business Books Biz Books Your Own Business Small Business News Small Biz News Gen X Biz Gen X Biz Work at Home Work @ Home Business Information The Fridge - Biz Info on Ice Destress Send Awards Send Awards & Greetings Yoga At Your Desk Yoga @ Your Desk Fun Guide Guide to Find FUN Online About Idea Cafe Press Idea Cafe has received Idea Cafe in the News Idea Cafe's Kudos Kudos for Idea Cafe Advertise on Idea Cafe Advertise on Idea Cafe Privacy Policy Privacy Policy Contact Idea Cafe Contact Idea Cafe Link to Idea Cafe Link to/from Idea Cafe Join Idea Cafe
Search Idea Cafe Site Directory Site Map Online directory to business resources Biz Web Guide



Expert Answers to Biz Questions

Listen in! Pick up some expert advice to a reader's question that we selected from CyberSchmooz.

color business bar

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. 

Google      

Small Business Tax CenterIdea Cafe HomeSign UpBiz Grant CenterCyberSchmoozCoffee Talk with ExpertsPeople in Biz ProfilesStarting Your BizBiz PlanningRunning Your BizFREE Trade PublicationsMarketingFinancing Your BizHuman ResourcesLegal & Biz FormsManaging Your BizeCommerceYou and Your BizGen XWork@HomeThe FridgeDe-StressSend an AwardSend an eGreetingYoga @ Your DeskWeb GuideIdea Cafe in the NewsAbout Idea CafeAdvertise on Idea CafeContact UsPrivacy PolicySite MapSmall Biz News

Copyright 1995-2024, 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™.