FOUNDERVILLE BUSINESS CENTER
Operations
Running a business day-to-day is different from starting one. This section covers the systems, tools, and habits that keep a physical business running consistently — from your first sale to your hundredth market booth. Most of what goes wrong in a small business isn't a bad idea. It's a missing system.
82%
of small business failures trace back to poor cash and operations management
Consistent systems
A business that runs the same way every day is more reliable, less stressful, and easier to hand off to staff or grow.
$0
cost for most of the systems in this section — they require time, not software
1–3%
of revenue is lost to payment processing errors and cash handling mistakes annually
Three foundations
Knowing your numbers
Operations and money are tightly linked. How you accept payments, track inventory, and manage vendors all affect your bottom line.
40%
of customers won't return after one poor service experience
The customer experience
Every operational decision — hours, checkout speed, how you handle a complaint — shapes whether a customer comes back.
Module 01
Point of sale systems
Choosing a POS, hardware vs. software, payment processing fees, inventory integration, and end-of-day reporting
Module 05
Customer service standards
Greeting customers, handling complaints, returns and exchanges, and service recovery for in-person businesses
Module 08
Operating at markets and pop-ups
Load-in logistics, booth setup systems, inventory packing, mobile payment setup, and weather contingency planning
Module 04
Scheduling and hours
Setting hours strategically, seasonal adjustments, staff scheduling, holiday planning, and communicating hours across platforms
Module 07
Opening and closing procedures
Daily checklists, cash drawer management, security, cleaning standards, and handoff between shifts
Module 02
Accepting payments
Cash handling, card processing rates, mobile payment options for market vendors, chargebacks, and tipping
Module 03
Inventory management basics
Receiving, counting, tracking, and reordering — manual and software-based systems for small physical retailers
Module 06
Vendor and supplier relationships
Finding vendors, negotiating terms, minimum orders, exclusivity, and managing multiple suppliers
Module 09
Technology tools
POS, scheduling, inventory, booking, and loyalty — tools specific to physical businesses, not generic SaaS
Suggested Learning Paths
I'm opening a retail storefront
Start with your POS and payment setup, then build inventory and daily procedures before you open the doors.
Modules 01 → 02 → 03 → 07 → 09
I sell at farmers markets and pop-ups
Your operation is mobile and time-compressed. Focus on payments, packing systems, and booth-day logistics.
Modules 02 → 03 → 08 → 05
I run a service or trades business
Your "operations" is a job pipeline, not a storefront. Focus on scheduling, payments in the field, and supplier relationships.
Modules 04 → 02 → 06 → 05 → 09
Where operations connects to other sections
Your POS choice affects your bookkeeping (Money & Finance). Your scheduling affects your staffing (People & HR). Your vendor relationships require contracts (Legal & Compliance). Operations doesn't live in a silo — changes here ripple across the business.