How to Maximize Profit in Your Christian Business Ethically

by Jose Anajero

Many Christians tend to go to extremes when it comes to money matters. Some succumb to greed while others shun money like a plague.

One of the performance issues of Christian business is profit.

Sometimes Christians seem to believe that God will bless them miraculously, while they ignore proper management of the business. Making a fair profit, paying bills, and fair wages are musts for a Christian business. The Bible tells us that it is God who directs us to think and plan.

So what does the Bible, your Christian business guide, teach about profit?

Bible parables teach us Kingdom Business principles and a parable which we can apply to the issue of profit maximization is the Parable of Talents.

In Matthew 25:14-30 we learn that God is looking for faithfulness in the little things. A master who entrusted money to his servants expected a return on his investment. Two of the servants managed their money well and were rewarded. The third servant managed the money poorly and was therefore punished.

John Wesley said, “Money is an excellent gift of God if it is used excellently, answering the noblest needs of humanity.” To Wesley is attributed the maxim – “Earn all you can. Save all you can. Give all you can.”

One of the most successful Christian businesses that we know of has it’s mission statement “To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with us.”

Through faithful stewardship, Truett Cathy transformed a tiny Atlanta diner into American’s second largest quick-service chicken restaurant with more than $2.9 billion in sales in 2008 and more than 1,400 locations today.

Here are the secrets of Truett Cathy’s success:

1) Climb with Care and Confidence

Truett Cathy never tried to overextend. He’s satisfied stepping from one plateau to the next, making sure they’re doing everything right before moving on. That way of thinking allowed them to grow steadily while responding to the needs of people around them.

2. Create a “Loyalty Effect”

The company believes that attracting great people helps create an unforgettable experience for their customers. Their people enjoy their work and that results to customer satisfaction.

3. Never Lose a Customer

For Truett Cathy the most effective way of promoting his business doesn’t cost him anything but a little kindness to his customers.

4. Put Principles and People Ahead of Profits

To cite just one example, the company provides college scholarship for their restaurant employees (more than $23 million awarded since 1973).

5. Closed on Sunday

Their decision to close on Sunday is their way of honoring God.

The company is the only major fast-food restaurant chain to be closed on Sundays, one of the busiest days of the week in the restaurant business. Despite that, Truett Cathy has led the company on an unparalleled record of 40 consecutive years of sales increases.

About the Author
Jose Anajero invites Christian business owners and internet entrepreneurs to visit the blog Christian Business in the Internet Age. Find Your Purpose. Fulfill God’s Plan. Achieve Financial Freedom. Article Source