Manage a Small Business

consultant drinking coffee

How to Take a Vacation as an Independent Professional

By MBO Partners

Work-life balance is important, but managing a small business is a big responsibility. It’s not uncommon to have to put work before play. Summer can be a challenging time to find a moment to relax—kids are on vacation, family and friends are visiting, or you may be gearing up for a busy fall. Unfortunately, working…

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Consultant at work

Why Self-Care Matters for Remote Workers

By MBO Partners

Putting yourself before your clients, family obligations, or a looming deadline isn’t always an easy choice to make. Self-care is particularly important for independent professionals—especially if you work remotely. Self-care practices will help you to stay happy, healthy, and motivated. And that ultimately benefits both you and everyone around you. Working remotely and running your…

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consultant

4 Ways to Prevent Burnout When You’re Self Employed

By MBO Partners

Burnout: it’s a feeling most working adults have experienced at some point in their lives—the career that was once exciting and invigorating has become a source of exhaustion, apathy, or even dread. While this can happen to anyone, the self-employed can be particularly prone to burnout due to their fast-paced, demanding schedules. Here are our…

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clients

5 Ways to Build Strong Relationships with Existing Clients

By MBO Partners

There are many reasons people choose to start their own business—the chance to bring their dream idea to life, the flexibility to have control over their own work, or to find better work-life balance. But the one thing that rings true for all independents is that clients are the foundation of your business. The equation…

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consultant

How to Set Boundaries at Work When You’re Self Employed

By MBO Partners

Setting healthy boundaries at work can be challenging as an independent professional. Here are three tips for setting your limits.

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consultant with client

6 Things You Should Never Say to a Client

By MBO Partners

As an independent, you are out there on the front lines—especially when it comes to dealing with a client. Often there is no buffer between you and the person offering you the opportunity for a project. No manager, no HR, no accounting department—just two parties hashing out the details. Such close quarters can present many…

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Work-Life Balance When Working from Home

Work-Life Balance When Working from Home

By MBO Partners

Work-life balance when working from home can be hard to put into practice. One of the biggest benefits of working remotely is the flexibility you have, but that flexibility can easily translate into working longer hours rather than dedicating time to other hobbies, friends and family, or self-care. What Does Work-Life Balance Mean for Independent…

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consultants

How to Balance Your Client Roster to Deliver Your Best Work

By MBO Partners

Clients keep your independent business afloat. Without enough work from enough clients, you don’t have much of a business. But what about having too many clients? The truth is, you can have too much work from too many clients. When each client has a reasonable expectation that they are your priority, you may quickly find…

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digital nomad

5 Self Care Tips for Independent Professionals

By MBO Partners

Time and energy are two key components to running your own business. And, because you love what you do, it can be easy to put in hours of work without taking time to think about your own needs. But self-care is worth taking time for. The last thing you want is for motivation to wane…

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Consultation

3 Productivity Tips for Small Business Owners

By MBO Partners

When you run your own business, it is important to maximize your most valuable resource—yourself. And that means squeezing every last drop of productivity from your day. While schedules and to-do lists can help, boosting productivity is not so much a matter of time management as it is producing quality work within the time you have available….

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