Laura Joyce-Miss Laura to her customers-loves to throw parties. So it's only logical that her business, Once Upon A Time, is devoted to children's dress-up and birthday parties. To find strategies to increase profits, she recently met with small business consultant Steve Marr.

Martha Retallick grew up in Pennsylvania. She attended college at the University of Michigan, earning a bachelor's degree in economics in 1979. After college, she started an editorial job with a nonprofit organization but was laid off within a year.

Sally Huss products are created and sold from the home gallery in California. The company does not accept returns, offer marketing assistance or provide a business model for stores to implement, says [Steve Marr]. Some successful Sally Huss Galleries carry a mix of 30 to 40 percent Sally Huss products. The Russos have started diversifying their products, and Marr suggests calling other galleries to identify complementary merchandise that sells well.

Dane Nealon believes he is great window cleaner. He has a window cleaning system that is fast and effective. He wants to know what it would take to franchise or otherwise expand his successful Green Valley business, Mr. Windo. To gain some perspective, he recently met with Steve Marr, small business consultant and owner of Business Proverbs.