by Larry Slusser on February 28th, 2008
You’re tired of working for someone else, telling you what to do and when. You’re an entrepreneur by heart and want to work for yourself, rather than padding the pockets of your boss. But how do you avoid the scams that are out there, which will only lead you back to padding the pockets of a boss?
Some of these “too good to be true” money-making ideas are plain and simple-scams. One way to verify if this business idea you are interested in is in fact a legitimate business with quality money-making opportunities, is to visit the Better Business Bureau’s... Read more »
by Danny Brown on February 11th, 2008
For any small business in the US today, one of the unsung heroes is the US Small Business Administration, or SBA. Offering advice and financial aid to thousands of small businesses across the country, the SBA works alongside local authorities and city councils to provide grants and reduced loans to the companies that need it the most. Now the SBA is offering a specialized package purely for ex-military service personnel who have gone into business.
Known as the SBA Patriot Express Loan Program , its aim is to help start and grow the business of people whose military service is... Read more »
by Rebecca Button on January 11th, 2008
What began as an effort to benefit businesses owned by women has turned into yet another headache for lawmakers. The Small Business Administration invested in extensive research to find out which types of women-owned businesses were being underrepresented when it comes to landing government contracts. They narrowed it down to four:
Nationally security and international affairs;
Coating, engraving, heat treating and allied activities;
Household and institutional furniture and kitchen cabinet manufacturing;
Motor vehicle dealers.
Essentially, the proposal would allow contractors to give preference to women-owned businesses in those four categories with the idea being that they would be giving preference... Read more »
by Rebecca Button on October 18th, 2007
Small business is the backbone of the economy, and the government has a vested interest in helping small business owners to get their ventures off the ground. There are many ways in which the government can help finance your business; the problem is that most people don’t really know much about these programs, or how to find and apply for them. Here are some of the programs the US Government offer that are designed to help small businesses grow and prosper.
Government Grants
You can get a government grant for your business if you meet the criteria. Often, women and... Read more »
by Veronica Stone on October 12th, 2007
Of every one hundred businesses started in America each year, only a handful survive the first year and only one or two are thriving after three years. One of the major causes of this failure rate is lack of a business plan. People who start a complex business and people who need to raise capital to get their business off the ground know (or soon learn) that they need a good business plan. People who plan a small business often imagine they can get by without a business plan. But every business needs one.
A business plan is simply a... Read more »