Author:

Mike Kappel

Mike Kappel is a serial entrepreneur of 5 small businesses, and president and CEO of Patriot Software. After a rough startup, Mike understands that small business owners need to keep their time and money. He enjoys sharing his small business expertise with other small business owners.

computer with image of a butterfly emerging from a cocoon and evolving over time

I Hate Raising Prices!

After 30+ years in business, my companies have developed a reputation for having low prices. We may not be the rock-bottom lowest-priced vendor, but the price that we charge our customers for the value we provide them is always unmatched by our competitors. Here’s why we deliberately keep our prices low and avoid price increases […]

Learn the personal characteristics needed to become a great leader in your business.

8 Essential Personal Characteristics for Leading Your Business to Success

This column was originally published on Entrepreneur.com on 6/30/2017. People always want to know what makes a good leader. It’s normally because they’re trying to become a leader, or they’re trying to find a leader to work for their company.

Cast Your Vision With a Vision Statement

You’re the leader of your business. The visionary. The person in charge. The “Big Cheese.” Your business (and employees) will go in whatever direction you point it. So, it’s your job to cast the vision you have for your company. When it comes down to it, your business’s success depends on the vision you set […]

Learn where to find your business mentor.

5 Types of People Who Can Help With Small Business Mentoring

This column was originally published on Entrepreneur.com on 7/3/2017. Before you fulfill your dream of being a small business owner, you’ll need some help getting started. For small business mentoring, seek personal and professional expertise. When I first started a business, I didn’t always know who to turn to for guidance when I had questions. […]

Learn how to build customer relationships

5 Ways to Build Killer Relationships With Customers

This column was originally published on Entrepreneur.com on 1/13/2017. As a serial entrepreneur, I know firsthand how important it is to connect with customers. Building relationships is key to learning your customers’ needs. And, you may gain more returning customers, referrals and net income in the process. As a small business owner, you have an advantage when it comes to building […]

Why Your Small Business Must Start a Blog

This column was originally published on Entrepreneur.com on 4/18/2016. For those of you who have never visited a farm before, many of them have a large brick of salt for their animals, called a “salt lick.” A salt lick is exactly what the name implies. It’s a salt deposit that animals keep coming back to—and licking […]

Dance With the One Who Brung Ya!

This phrase sounds like something you’d hear in a movie with farmers in it. But, there’s an enormous business lesson here. A lesson that has turned many people into millionaires. Picture this: An average-looking guy takes a good-looking girl to a dance. She could easily leave him for the better-looking guys who ask her to […]

5 Ways Your Small Business Will Benefit From Hiring Interns

This column was originally published on Entrepreneur.com on 1/18/2017. A lot of college students are on the lookout for work experience. Many of them will seek out internships and skill-building opportunities, and chances are, at least one potential intern is likely contact your business. You might be interested in hiring interns but aren’t sure if […]

Teamwork Lessons I Learned the Hard Way…So You Don’t Have To

This column was originally published on Entrepreneur.com on 4/18/2016. Early in my career, before I became my own boss and the CEO of Patriot Software, I was a hard charging mover and shaker. I did whatever was necessary to get the job done. I took no prisoners, offered no quarter to failure, and if my […]

Launch your startup no matter how the economy is doing.

The Only 5 Things You Need to Launch a Startup in Any Economy

This column was originally published on Entrepreneur.com on 6/1/2016. In 2008, one of my startups, Career Marketplace, was sinking fast. The market had tanked, new business was hard to come by and jobs were drying up. Career Marketplace, an online intermediary for job seekers and job creators, was getting hit particularly hard. After a few rough […]