• Outside advisers can put an entrepreneur on the right track
Entrepreneurs with major projects should consider outside advisers when entering uncharted territory.

• Video game developer invested in tools, not people - My Biggest Mistake
Adrian Wright, president of Max Gaming Technologies LLC., shows off games currently in production at the seven-year-old gaming development company in Macedonia. He's come a long way since he wasted $50,000 on a prototype.

• Family-run businesses' personnel decisions can be difficult
It's not unusual for owners of family-run companies to have difficulties making tough decisions that affect relatives, said Roger Warrum, a longtime family business consultant. Finances are no exception.

• Not ending partnership sooner put growth at risk
During August, Marcia Pledger is talking to small-business owners about the challenges of keeping a company's finances on track.

• EXPERT ADVICE
It's common. Restaurant start-ups tend to be undercapitalized, and chefs tend to be overly optimistic with revenue projections, according to Tim McCoy, education director for the International Culinary Arts and Science Institute.

• Overwhelming overhead burns chef Donna Chriszt
By Donna Chriszt, as told to Plain Dealer reporter Marcia Pledger

• Accountant needs to be hired sooner, not later
By Judy Mileti, as told to Plain Dealer reporter Marcia Pledger

• Small-business owners must take the lead in controlling costs
Michael O'Donnell understands why new business owners feel overwhelmed with day-to-day operations, but if a friend of his were starting a business he'd offer some advice: Take advantage of a group-rate program.

• Small-business owner finds ways to cut costs
During August, Marcia Pledger will be talking to small-business owners about the challenges of keeping a company's finances on track.

• Salon owner refocuses on original businesses - Biggest Mistake
Kim Thomas decided to focus on her main business, Dimensional Hair in Cleveland Heights and Maple Heights, after taking a stab at selling a line of cosmetics.

• Mr. Chicken strives to stay familiar

• My Biggest Mistake: Using too many partners to start dance business
By Lisa Vegas, as told to Plain Dealer reporter Marcia Pledger

• CPA Joan Saks needed to network to build the business -- My Biggest Mistake
Joan Saks, co-owner of Goodman & Saks, a certified public accounting firm in Beachwood, learned to network to build the firm.

• Customer-service training didn't match Hotcards.com's fast growth - My Biggest Mistake
I was a teenager when I discovered a simple and effective concept: Meet a demand, offer a quality product and find a way to sell it for less than competitors.

• . . . AND HOW I FIXED IT
Company: Hotcards.com

• . . . AND HOW I FIXED IT

• Decision to relocate 2nd Ida Joy Shoppe ignored location principle -- My Biggest Mistake
I bought a 15-year-old business more than 20 years ago because the founder's grandson was seeking a buyer who believed in Ida Slavin's mission -- providing fashions and products for breast cancer patients.

• Managing family members can be a challenge - My Biggest Mistake
Just because you love and need your family doesn't mean you should hire them.

• Software firm Urbancode waited too long to improve its product - My Biggest Mistake
We started our software development business as four idealistic developers who wanted to write software for online games for kids and adults. College degrees and talent are one thing. Getting opportunities is another.

• . . . AND HOW I FIXED IT
Company: Urbancode

• Don't take business online without road map -- My Biggest Mistake
When you're a small-business owner, it's difficult to stay in front of all the challenges in marketing a business.

• . . . AND HOW I FIXED IT
Company: Art of Cloth

• Aircraft tools business takes off in wake of marketing launch -- My Biggest Mistake
When you find success serving a niche in a small market, it's easy to get comfortable.

• . . . AND HOW I FIXED IT
Company: J.R. Potter & Associates

• Don't take best clients for granted - Our Biggest Mistake
Sometimes you get an epiphany. If you act on it, it can change the way you run your business.

• . . . AND HOW I FIXED IT
Company: Financial Network of America Ltd.

• . . . AND HOW I FIXED IT
Company: Mutsko Insurance Services

• Too much networking can hurt: My Biggest Mistake, by Laura Mutsko of Mutsko Insurance Services
You hear it all the time: You need to network. I agree. But you can get caught up in it, especially when you're new in business.

• Franchising was not the right way to try to expand our business
I toyed with the idea of starting a new business teaching Spanish with my business partner, Veronica Pineda. Between us we had just $400 in start-up capital, but we decided to go for it.

• . . .AND HOW I FIXED IT
Company: Amigos & More

• Widow's inexperience with running restaurant creates problems - My Biggest Mistake
My husband died of a heart attack 10 years ago, and I was left with a 6,000-square-foot Japanese restaurant. I didn't even know where the light switch was.

• . . . AND HOW I FIXED IT
Company: Otani Japanese Restaurant

• My biggest mistake - Overinvesting in people with time, money as bad underinvesting
Vox Mobile offers mobile man aged services. We work for a lot of small and major corporations indirectly, handling technology purchases, invoice management and technology support.

• . . .AND HOW I FIXED IT

• Owner of limousine service found that 1-hour bookings didn't pay -- Big Mistake
It takes a lot of hard work to please customers. It's the only way you will stay in business. But you have to pay attention to your bottom line.

• Long-distance partnership didn't work for Jacquie Sopko-Crolius
The Balloon Crew inflated and released 3,000 balloons at the Indians' home opener last week. We're in the celebration business.

• Technology purchase wasn't what customers really wanted -- My Biggest Mistake
My entire career has involved filling jobs, from working in campus recruitment, human resources and executive recruitment to becoming a partner in Staffing Soluntions Enterprises, where we founded Careerboard.com, Cleveland's first online job site, 13 years ago.

• . . AND HOW I FIXED IT

• . . .AND HOW I FIXED IT
Company: National Embroidery

• Starting out without a business plan led to painful adjustments -- My Biggest Mistake
I was facing retirement with nothing to do. I needed a new hobby. Just hanging out with grandkids alone didn't appeal to me. I've raised my kids.

• Perfectionist learned hard way respect extends to employees too
Be on time. Get the job done and get out.

• . . .AND HOW I FIXED IT
Company: Bradford's Beautiful Hardwood Floors

• Hiring part-time assistant paid off - My Biggest Mistake
How do you know when it's better to hire someone part time rather than run yourself ragged?

• . . . AND HOW I FIXED IT
Company: Absi Legal Technology