Year-End Reflection: What to Review Now to Prepare for a Strong 2026
Reflecting on the past year doesn’t need to be daunting or overly formal. A meaningful review...
Strategy & Operations
Budgeting for Your Local Business: A Simple Guide
If you read our recent Business Financials 101 article, you know what numbers you should be...
Business Financials 101
Understanding the Basics for Sustainable Growth Whether you're launching a startup or leading a...
Finance Tracking & Forecasting Toolkit
Take control of your numbers—so you can take control of your business. If you’ve ever felt...
Marketing & Growth
Holiday Marketing Made Simple: How to Stand Out Without Burning Out
Eight out of 10 small businesses say the holiday season is important for their overall profit...
Success Stories: Marketing Moves that Worked for Us
Throughout the greater Richmond area, local businesses are adopting innovative, strategic and...
What SEO Is & Why It Matters for Local Businesses
We’ve all pulled up our favorite search engine to find something we’re looking for, and your...
Real Stories
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Research & Data
State of Local 2024: Results
Watch State of Local Event Here InUnison develops the State of Local survey as a benchmarking...
3 Ways Small Businesses Can Harness Customer Data
In the competitive landscape of small businesses, understanding your customers is key to success....
State of Local Event Recording
https://youtu.be/OiDefjjgPTc?si=L11mfgDMW5g-26-e Welcome to the recorded inaugural State of Local...
The Latest
The 3 Biggest Innovation Challenges Facing Local Independent Businesses (and What to Do About Them)
Let’s Be Honest About Innovation We all want to innovate. We want to evolve, grow, and get ahead of the curve. But running a local business means juggling a lot—and “innovation” often feels out of reach. Here are the 3 most common roadblocks we hear from local...
Innovation Doesn’t Mean Reinventing the Wheel: 3 Quick Ways to Spot Ideas Already Working Around You
Too often, innovation feels like a big, intimidating word reserved for startups or tech companies. But for local independent businesses, innovation doesn’t have to mean launching a new product or building an app — it can simply mean finding new ways to solve problems,...
4 Things to Do During Small Business Month to Grow Your Company
From the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. May is Small Business Month, a time to support and celebrate the contributions of America’s 33.2 million small businesses and startups. It’s also the perfect time for entrepreneurs to explore new ways to grow their companies. Whether...
Profit vs. Cash Flow
If your business is showing a healthy profit, but your bank account doesn’t reflect it, you’re not alone. Many small business owners feel like they’re doing everything right—generating revenue, keeping expenses in check, and even showing strong net income on their...
How Are Tariffs Affecting Richmond’s Local Businesses?
As trade policy headlines once again make national news, we checked in with local businesses to understand how tariffs are impacting operations, pricing, and financial outlooks across Greater Richmond. The results? A mixed bag—but one with clear signs of strain for...
Why Do I Need a CFO?
Part of the series: Understanding Financial Success with Andrew Farrell, Farrell Financial.
State of Local Event Recap 2025
How to Build a Simple Standard Operating Procedure Library (Without Getting Overwhelmed)
Finally get your business out of your head and into systems—starting today.
Smart Growth Starts with a Strong Why: The Power of Setting a Clear Target
Below, we’ll walk through why defining your business vision – inclusive of your exit plan – is crucial, how to align potential opportunities with your targets, and what it means for your team, your family, and long-term success.
Census Retail Sales Data Shows Consumers Are ‘Apprehensive’ Despite ‘Healthy’ Economic Fundamentals
“Households are apprehensive and carefully navigating lingering inflation and turmoil related to changing economic policies.” – Jack Kleinhenz, NRF Chief Economist