Are Small Business Owners Salespeople in Disguise?
Small businesses comprise more than 99% of all businesses in the U.S. according to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The success of a small business rests on the owner’s ability to sell. Business owners have about 50 different hats to wear, but sales is the biggest hat an entrepreneur wears. Actually without the sales hat, the other hats are useless. And, when I say sales I’m not just talking, “Hey, please buy my stuff.” Sales is not just selling your product or service. There are meaningful uses of selling skills that permeate every facet of the entrepreneurial process. Here are a few of the sales jobs that fall under the definition of selling that a small business owner must perform: Getting credit from a supplier – Convincing your suppliers that you’re credit worthy is sometimes as good or better than a bank loan. Getting a loan from a banker – A true sales job. You have to convince your banker you deserve the loan and can repay the debt. Getting small favors from employ
