After registering, small business owners can post threads in a number of topic categories, ranging from business regulations to government contracting. Members have already asked about the legalities of affiliate marketing and whether one can make a business out of a hobby.

This being the first government-sponsored online community discussing small businesses, the moderators are consultants from the Business Gateway, a group of 22 federal agencies which include the U.S. Small Business Administration. The Community is the end result of efforts to utilize both Web 2.0 technology and expert advice, as stated in a press release.

While taking individual questions, the moderators may also post links to detailed how-to guides that they have written themselves. Not only do they cite specific government regulations, but they may also bring to attention Business Week articles, The Global Small Business Blog, or the Kauffman Foundation.

Plus, since outside financial experts and business advisors are also joining the forum, registered small business owners can look forward to receiving quite a bit of information and advice. Such members are marked under their username as “VIP.”

Bottom line: while members can expect additional features and resources over the next few months, the Business.gov Community is already doing well in making resources and advice both abundant and accessible.

For more information, e-mail the Business.gov team or visit the Community forums.

But in 2008, Wal-Mart emerged as the sole big-name retail winner against a number of contenders. While its competitors slashed prices out of necessity, Wal-Mart discounted to make profits. The company’s net sales totaled $374.5 billion, an 8.6 percent increase from last year.

Still, small businesses have no reason to fear, Joseph says, when they can adapt to economic conditions quicker than any bureaucratic big-name retailer. In an e-mail interview, he shared with goWholesale how they can beat Wal-Mart in 2009:

While Wal-Mart can buy in very large quantities, and therefore, get the benefit of substantial volume discounts, they cannot buy in small quantities. They can never benefit from purchasing broken lots, or small amounts left over in a manufacturer’s warehouse after a huge discounter’s buying spree ends, or – as in the case of the last three months – cancellations of orders, because there is no room to put them onto the retail selling shelf.

There are many, many products the discounters cannot sell because they cannot buy them in sufficient quantity to fill all their stores. The supply is simply too limited. Often, small manufacturers cannot even get an appointment to see a Wal-Mart buyer – so small retailers are still their bread and butter.

Small retailers can beat the giants [with] another price-related factor: their overheads may be considerably lower. Instead of a whole management superstructure – teams of buyers, batteries of lawyers, cadres of store designers, layers of accountants, passels of marketers and public-relations spokespeople, as well as all the store clerks, supervisors, merchandisers, managers, vice presidents, executive vice presidents, and who knows what – as an independent retailer, you may get by with a fraction of these expenses by outsourcing only when you need accounting or public relations, etc.

Don’t lose sight of the basics we all need to do during a recession.

Manage your inventory. Everyone today carries too much inventory, which ties up cash flow and open to buy. Be smart going into 2009, and don’t over-commit to goods. Find vendors who can ship you in small quantities and as a frequently as you need product. … Have products flow into your warehouse all month long, rather than all at once.

Be careful of your operating costs. Can your employees wear several hats and do many different functions rather than have one person doing one thing? Do you really need to spend for half a page in the newspaper when you can get your message across in a third of a page?

If you are located near a Wal-Mart or any other bigger chain, they will continue to spend huge sums to bring customers to their doorsteps. And if you play it right, the bleed-over will come to your doorstep. Once there, they are yours for the taking.

Offer them: unique merchandise they cannot get at the giants, lower prices – if necessary, even loss leaders – on a few limited-supply closeouts, and impeccable customer service . If you establish yourself now during these hard times with these customers, then once this country breaks out of these poor economic times, these very same customers will make your business stronger than ever.

For more information about Joseph and Dollar Days, call 1-877-837-9569 or visit www.dollardays.com.

When Google and other search engines index your site for inclusion in their search results, one of the key factors in deciding whether you should have a high rank or a low one is how popular your site is. This is determined by the number of incoming links to your site (as well as the quality of the links), and the best way to get incoming links is through link building.

However, unless you have lots of spare time to seek out companies willing to link into yours, you probably won’t have too many links coming your way. This is where the IBP’s (previously ARELIS) link building software comes in. Costing just $299.95 for the Business Edition, it’s an excellent automated method for bringing in effective and worthwhile links.

Easy to use, IBP will let you set up numerous projects depending on the types of links that you want. After all, if you’re a fruit and vegetable wholesaler, you’re probably not going to need a link in from a specialist IT firm. However, if there are suppliers who sell storage or transportation units for fruit, or businesses that buy direct from you, you can use them to increase your web presence.

Because it’s a reciprocal link, you’ll then link to their website from yours, increasing traffic yet again. And because the software allows you to email the Webmaster directly for each site, you can cut down the amount of time you need to spend getting your links set up.

Some of the other key features of IBP include:

* Automated link finder shows companies happy to allow your link
* Email filter warning if your email will be intercepted
* Quick and easy access to Alexa, the industry standard ranking website
* Outgoing link checker to make sure they’re relevant
* Incoming link checker to make sure your link is still active on partner site

Perhaps one of the most useful features of the IBP link building tool is the ability to find out what sites link directly to your competitors. This is an excellent tool that will allow you to keep up with your competition – after all, there’s a strong chance that if a website is linking to your competition, they’ll also link to you. With the option to demo the product, now is an ideal time to see what IBP can do for your business.

Okay…maybe that’s an exaggeration. But it’s certainly one of the best I’ve come across. It’s called SCORE "Counselors to America’s Small Business." Their About page describes them as follows:

"SCORE "Counselors to America’s Small Business" is America’s premier source of free and confidential small business advice for entrepreneurs."

Sounds pretty good to me! And from navigating a bit through the site myself, there are many great links to advice, articles, suggestions and answers to pretty much anything you can think of if you are just starting out.

Oh yeah, and did I mention, it’s FREE ?!

Here’s the link: SCORE "Counselors to America’ Small Business"

Go get ‘em tiger!

Then all you need is your equipment. Think of the items you would use in an office at a company, and transfer that to your set-up. So, the most important things would be a computer, a separate business telephone line, an all-in-one printer that can scan, photocopy and fax as well, and ideally a broadband or high-speed Internet connection. There are other items as well, such as a filing cabinet or cabinets, and a calendar or organizer for appointments, etc.

One thing worth pointing out is that you should buy the best equipment you can afford. Since you’re going to be using it quite a bit, it needs to be reliable – so spend the extra money when getting it; it’ll be worth it in the long run.

Expanding Your Virtual Office
Now that you’re set up, you can decide how you want to run your office. For example, is your business a small, entrepreneur-type one where you sell a product online, and then dropship direct from a supplier? Or is it more a consultancy approach, where you offer specialized services? Whichever it is, you can run all your back-up from your virtual office.

Dropshipping is an excellent way to eliminate the overhead of having to keep a physical inventory. If you have your own website, for instance, your customer can buy from you, and the sale will then be directed to your suppliers, who will then send it out on your behalf. You then pay your supplier at the end of the month. Your customer doesn’t know that your office is your 2nd bedroom – as far as they’re aware, they’re dealing with an international company.

Even if you need to meet customers, clients or suppliers , and you’re working from a virtual office, this isn’t a problem. Simply arrange to meet for lunch – this keeps everything informal, while still offering the image of a professional and expansive business. If clients or suppliers are not close enough to meet in person, you can hold teleconferences or even video conferences.

With technology continuing to improve, it’s no surprise that so many small businesses are starting up, and using a virtual office to build their brand. See what this type of office can do for your business.