Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

One skill every successful business person has to acquire is the ability to say “no.”

Here is one suggestion for making this easier. Every year, establish a budget for how many donations or community projects you can take on. This budget might be in terms of hours or dollars, it doesn’t matter. The point is, having a budget lets you contribute your product or talents, but also gives you a way to say no when you have to. When others approach you, evaluate their request and see if it fits within your budget. If not, tell them so.

Good luck!


-------------------------

Find out what a business plan is all about and get started on your plan with this introduction. FREE!
Business Plan Basics!

You wouldn`t build a house without a blueprint.
Why build a business without a plan?
Build Your Business Plan!

Put together a form letter, then, depending on the volume of requests, either use the form or use an auto-responder of some sort. It`d have to have rules, and I`m not sure if that would work, but otherwise, just copy-and-paste the form letter.

It`d be something along the lines of, "thank you for your interest in House of Jerky products. Being a small company, we`re unable at this time to offer product donations to all the charitable organizations that contact us. As we grow, we would like to continue our existing activities, and perhaps at that time we`ll be able to meet your request."

It`s not perfect, but something along those lines.

Thanks Craig, I appreciate the help.  Sounds good to me..  Your input sure helps a lot around here. :)

Janie  

 

 

You could put into the boilerplate, "....budget constraints...." or something like that too. Then, with an actual budget for donations, you`d be able to both give some product away, and politely reject other requests.