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Resilience by Design: A Founder’s Framework for Managing Risk and Momentum
Every founder walks a tightrope between ambition and exposure. The smartest founders aren’t just chasing growth—they’re engineering resilience. This guide explores how to identify, manage, and even leverage risk to build a durable business that scales safely. Why Founders Need a Risk Operating System Entrepreneurship thrives on uncertainty, but unmanaged uncertainty quickly turns into chaos. A founder’s risk operating system is the invisible framework that keeps their decision-making agile and
It’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Are You Doing Enough?
It’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Are You Doing Enough? October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which sounds like one of those things you're supposed to care about but don't have time for. We get it. But if you run a small business, this might be the most important 5 minutes you spend this month. Here's the truth: cybersecurity isn't just an IT problem. It's a business survival issue. If you own or manage a small or medium-sized business, now is the perfect time to ask yourself a hard question: "Am
Simple Referral Strategies Every Small Business Owner Should Try
Word-of-mouth is one of the most powerful marketing engines a small business can build. Unlike ads or promotions, referrals come with built-in trust — people listen to their friends, colleagues, and neighbors. But referrals don’t just happen by chance; they require structure, incentives, and relationship-building. Below are practical strategies you can apply to grow your referral pipeline and turn happy customers into your best advocates. 1. Deliver Experiences That Customers Want to Talk About The
Top Tools and Resources Every New Business Owner Should Know
Launching a new venture is exciting, but the transition from idea to operation can be overwhelming. From handling compliance to building a customer base, every decision matters. Fortunately, a wide range of tools and resources can help entrepreneurs manage and grow their businesses more effectively. Financial Management and Accounting Getting the numbers right early on sets the foundation for success. Services likeQuickBooks make bookkeeping accessible, whileWave offers simple, no-cost accounting
Protect Yourself from Email Phishing & Impersonation Scams
Protect Yourself from Email Phishing & Impersonation Scams By Jeff McCorvey, ALLO Business Email phishing scams are becoming more sophisticated, and many target local businesses and customers right here in Northern Colorado. One of the most common types is impersonation scams, where criminals pretend to be someone you know or trust in order to trick you into sharing information or sending money.Common Email Scams to Watch Out For Fake Invoice Scams: You may receive invoices for goods or services you
The Long Climb: Navigating Business Growth from First Sale to Enterprise
Growth in business is rarely linear and never one-size-fits-all. What works in the early days—when survival is the main goal—can become a liability once the company begins to scale. Strategies must evolve, not just to chase higher revenue, but to build something stable, adaptable, and meaningful at every turn. From gritty first wins to the nuanced choices of an established brand, each stage demands its own set of moves, none of which are interchangeable. Planting Roots, Not Just SeedsAt the inception of
The Price of Starting Up: Unseen Costs That Sink New Businesses
Launching a business is often sold as a story of vision, hustle, and relentless optimism. What rarely gets the same airtime is the pile of sneaky, less glamorous expenses that can derail even the most promising ventures. These are the hidden costs—the ones that don’t make it into the elevator pitch or investor deck but creep into budgets like slow leaks. The good news is that awareness and planning can shift the odds dramatically in an entrepreneur’s favor. Formation Fees Catch You Off Guard Setting up
Windsor Businesses: PCI DSS Compliance Changes Are Here – What You Need to Know
Windsor Businesses: PCI DSS Compliance Changes Are Now in Effect – Here’s What You Need to Know Windsor, CO – May 2025 – As of April 1, 2025, version 4.0.1 of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is officially in effect. These changes impact any business that accepts credit card payments—whether in-store, online, or through third-party processors. The update replaces version 3.2.1 and reflects the growing need for stronger, more adaptable security measures in an evolving digital
