Posted by Nicole Rivera on August 30, 2010 under Small Biz Planning, Small Biz Webinars, Small Biz and Entrepreneurship | 
It has arrived – The BizCentral September line-up of free small business webinar events. Focusing on core planning and financial fundamentals of small businesses, September’s line-up is aimed at aligning small business startups with best practices to sustain healthy business growth.
It has become evident that business plan development and financial management are among some of the top hurdles small businesses face so it really just makes sense to focus on addressing those fundamental topics that are too often overlooked by early-stage and small business startups.
Details About BizCentral USA’s Free Small Business Webinars:
Small business webinars are hosted online at any computer with internet access. All webinars will begin at 3pm EST and typically last 1-hour. Following the presentation, a live question and answer session will give attendees the opportunity to receive in-depth answers to their specific organizational questions.
- 9/14/2010 Getting on the Path to Small Business Success: Development of a Strong Business Plan – Register Now
- 9/28/2010 Basic Financial Management for Small Businesses: Getting your Books in Place – Register Now
Those unable to attend the live small business webinars, no need to worry – Every installment of the small business webinars is recorded and can be viewed on-demand at any computer – any time of day. To learn more or RSVP for any of the September small business webinar events, visit: http://bizcentralusa.com/webinar/september.php
Posted by Grace Dunlap on August 19, 2010 under Small Biz News, Small Biz Webinars |
Join us for a free Small Business Webinar, where we will discuss how No Business is too Small to Become a Good Corporate Citizen!
Yesterday’s practice of companies simply giving money away to good causes has been superseded by today’s strategic corporate philanthropy, which ties donations of time, money, and in-kind gifts to defined business goals and desired benefits. 
Companies that have created corporate foundations have discovered that partnerships between private enterprise and public interest can produce profitable outcomes for all. The numbers indicate clearly: companies large and small do well by doing good.
We invite you to spend some invaluable time with BizCentral USA and learn how to create a foundation for your small business!
Topics of Interest:
• Benefits of Corporate Social Responsibility
• Foundation Case Studies
• Services Available through CSR
Join us for a free Small Business Webinar on Aug. 24th, 2010 from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (EST) & learn how to Establish your own corporate social responsibility and give back to the community.
Posted by Grace Dunlap on August 11, 2010 under Small Biz Marketing, Small Biz News, Small Biz Webinars, Small Biz and Entrepreneurship |
A Free Small Business Webinar on Starting your Business off on the Right Foot with Email Marketing! 
The Pew Internet and American Life Project, says e-mail remains the number-one online activity of Americans and can deliver a higher return on investment than methods such as direct mail and advertising. So as a small business, it’s important to capitalize on this trend! By adopting the right strategies and practices now, you can maximize the inbox to capitalize on acquiring new customers and retaining current ones.
We invite you to spend some valuable time with BizCentral USA and learn step-by-step effective strategies for implementing successful email marketing campaigns.
Topics of Interest:
• Email Marketing Fundamentals
• Design and Layout Best Practices
• What you Don’t see That can Make or Break your Campaign
• Building your Email Lists
• Complying with Regulations & Getting your Emails Delivered
Join us August 17th, 2010 from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (EST) and Learn how to maximize the inbox and start reaching thousands with one click!
Posted by Nina Lopez on August 4, 2010 under Small Biz News, Small Biz and Entrepreneurship |
Everyone has seen the various headlines: “Millions in free government money for your business.” You’ve seen the late-night infomercials and Internet advertisements promise grants to start a business or even to expand your current business. Most individuals even ask themselves, “Is it too good to be true?” It is.
While so many people automatically lose hope when looking for a small business grant the truth is that there are tons of financial assistance programs available to entrepreneurs and business owners in the United States. Eligibility varies, but there are enough opportunities for everyone to pursue. The key to finding these opportunities is to be persistent, creative, consistent in your search, and of course resilient.
Some business grants are available through state and local programs, non-profit organizations and other groups. The federal government does not provide grants for starting and expanding a business. Grants from the federal government are only available to non-commercial organizations. Non-commercial organizations include non-profits and educational institutions. Not only does the federal government provide grants for non-commercial organizations but it tends to focus on areas such as, medicine, education, scientific research and technology development. The federal government also provides grants to state and local governments to assist them with economic development.
If you are interested in a small business grant from the government keep in mind that some states provide grants for expanding child care centers; creating energy efficient technology; and developing marketing campaigns for tourism. These grants are not necessarily free money, and usually require the recipient to match funds or combine the grant with other forms of financing such as a loan. The amount of the grant money available varies with each business and each grantor.
If you are a small business owner that is in search of a business grant start your search by checking with your local government agencies. Many cities, counties, and states give away money to local businesses. Local government agencies award these grants because they want you to create jobs and more tax revenue. Many times these grants are not highly publicized, but it’s in the best interest of the small business owner to give them a call and/or search their web sites.
While many people will try to convince you that federal government agencies give grants to small businesses don’t believe everything you hear. Instead get the right information that will help your small business startup. The federal government doesn’t give business grants directly to businesses, but they do give money to foundations who in turn can give money to small businesses. The federal agency in charge of this is the Grants Program Management Office, and all of their opportunities are listed publicly on their website. www.grants.gov
Another resource that is often times over looked when searching for a small business grant is with large corporations. Nearly every major corporation in this country has a foundation that gives away grants to enhance communities, and many of these are grants to start or expand a business. Start with the companies that are headquartered in your home state, and find out if they offer financial assistance for local businesses. If not, venture out and inquire about companies that are not in your state. Many times, they don’t mind where your business is located or where you live.
If you are unable to find a grant while searching with the major corporations in your state consider broadening your search and take it to the internet. Use Google and Yahoo to conduct a search using the term “business grants“. You can even throw in the name of your city, county, state, etc. Once you have searched, carefully review the results, and look for web sites that other web sites are linked to. By checking for web sites that are linked to other web sites, it will help you to find opportunities that may be casually listed on a blog or directory. You may even come across a recent news article about a new opportunity.
The next question in your search for a small business grant may shock you. Do you have a library card? Contrary to popular belief, libraries are still an excellent resource and store a lot of information that is not accessible in other places. Find your misplaced library card, go to your library as soon possible, and look for grant books and directories. Don’t be afraid to ask specific questions to your librarian, they are a great resource and always willing to assist library patrons as best they can. You’ll be surprised what you can find.
The Internet is full of many misleading opportunities. Be cautious, and make sure that the organization or company has a professionally developed web site. Also, make sure they have a phone number, email address, physical address – and are not requiring you to pay to apply. Some legitimate web sites, however, do sell access to their directory of opportunities for a monthly fee. Other legitimate web sites may sell e-books that list grant opportunities. This is acceptable, as long as you are not paying to submit an actual grant application.
The next step in the grant search process is to be patient. Many entrepreneurs make the mistake of rushing through the process of finding and applying for a business grant. The reality is that looking for and qualifying for the right opportunity can take some time. When applying for small business grants, make sure to dot your “I’s” and cross your “T’s”. In other words, be thorough and complete. Many opportunities will require lengthy applications that can seem endless. Stay the course, and remember that being inaccurate or skipping questions may disqualify you.
Many small business owners allow the process of applying for grants to intimidate them and scare them away. Yes, it can be time consuming and tedious – but in the end it is very well worth it. Remember, grants do not have to be repaid. This is free money. Don’t give up, and stay positive. You’ll be glad you did!
Posted by Grace Dunlap on under Small Biz News, Small Biz and Entrepreneurship |
You’ve probably heard the cliché before, “poor as a college student.” Despite a few exceptions, the rest of the world isn’t always so lucky. College students must start to face the facts: Growing up isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. You must start taking responsibility and yep, you guessed it –become an adult and secure a paying job. Here’s where my advice comes in: it is never too early to start thinking about a possible business opportunity during or after college.
When trying to decide what route to take your life, you should try and consider what your talents are and also, the type of personality you have. When you put a lot of thought and research into your decision, you can hopefully find a good match. At other times, perhaps you should try what is available and see if you can enhance the business opportunity you are handed with your abilities.
There are plenty of college students and recent graduates who decide to apply their skills in a sales job or sales market. It’s nice to know that there are several business opportunities to become a business consultant, but you must have the necessary personality to truly succeed at the job. To thrive at a sales job, typically you must be extremely driven, personable, and informative. In many cases, you are not just making sales, but also acting as a business consultant. As a business consultant, it is up to you to be knowledgeable about your company and its services and to learn how to convince customers why they should choose you. If this doesn’t sound like something you can do, perhaps you should choose another business opportunity.
A great option for those of you who want to be a business consultant but not necessarily on the sales end, perhaps you should consider acting as an affiliate. One of the best affiliate program options is to serve as a referral. In this business opportunity, the real key is not so much what you know but who you know! Simply put, you would be the one to provide people a place to go to for their small business needs and as part of your affiliate contract, you would get a percentage of their sale. This is a great business opportunity for anyone who is a great networker and doesn’t want to deal with the hassle of owning their own small or home business.
Sometimes the best affiliate program is right in front of you. There are plenty of companies and businesses who use the referral system to generate income. The typical grassroots marketing method of word of mouth says it best –people trust other people’s opinions and tend to listen.
So for all you college juniors, seniors and recent graduates –what are you waiting for? Get involved in a business opportunity as soon as possible! Start looking for the best affiliate program in your area! There are several businesses that would allow you to become extremely successful as a business consultant or work your way up through a sales job.
Tags: affiliate, affiliate program, business franchise, business opportunities, business opportunity, franchise, home business, home business opportunity, home-based business, sales, sales job, sales jobs, small business opportunities, small business opportunity
Posted by Grace Dunlap on August 3, 2010 under Small Biz Webinars |
Join us for a Free Small Business Webinar to Discuss the Planning & Preparing of the Startup of your Small Business!
Have you ever dreamed of being your own boss, setting your salary, and designating your work hours? You’re not alone! Many people find themselves interested in owning their own business but are unsure how to get started.
Starting a successful business requires a great deal of preparation. There are many important decisions to make and many rules and procedures that must be addressed. With an informed and educated approach, your business can be fulfilling and profitable, but it is essential to make key financial decisions and complete a series of legal activities.
We invite you to spend some invaluable time with BizCentral USA and listen to critical information that will help you plan, prepare, and manage the startup of your small business.
Topics of Interest:
•Registration & Licensing
•Legal Formation
•Financing
Join us for a free Small Business Webinar on Aug. 10, 2010 from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (EST) and learn how to prepare your small business for success!
Posted by Nicole Rivera on July 27, 2010 under Small Biz Webinars, Small Biz and Entrepreneurship |
New All-Inclusive Online Web Portal, Tools and Options Available
We have some really new and impressive things going on with our Independent Consultant Opportunity! The program still has all the great benefits it had before for individuals or current consultants looking for an opportunity to start or expand their offerings with our small business & nonprofit services. We just topped it off with a few awesome items! Check out some of the highlights with a few excerpts from our press release today!
BizCentral USA unveils its newly restructured Independent Consultant Opportunity…
The main highlight of the restructured Independent Consultant Opportunity is the new all-inclusive online web portal. The online web portal provides Independent Consultants with sales materials for all of our small business and nonprofit services, training slidecasts, lead generation tools, order forms, reference manuals and more – all at the click of a mouse. The primary goal of the Independent Consultant online web portal is to streamline the training, sales and order process, making it easier to maximize the consultant’s ROI and future earning potential.
View our Independent Consultant Intro Packet!
“Through our new web portal section, independent consultants are guaranteed to have the most updated information, available for download at any time and in any quantity,” said Matthew Mitchell, Independent Consultant Coordinator for BizCentral USA.
Additional benefits to the restructured Independent Consultant Program include: more available nonprofit and small business product and service options, added Independent Consultant website features, 5 new sector-specific lead generation tools, and the inclusion of a volume rebate program.
For those interested in learning more about the Independent Consultant Opportunity, BizCentral USA is offering a live online information session, where participants can receive more details and ask questions regarding the program. Details of the upcoming Independent Consultant information session is below:
Who: BizCentral USA
What: Independent Consultant Information Session
Where: Online at any computer with an internet connection
When: Friday, July 30th, 1pm EST
How to Register: Visit the following link- https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/939199082
Check out the full release by clicking here .
Posted by Grace Dunlap on July 26, 2010 under Small Biz News, Small Biz Webinars, Small Biz and Entrepreneurship |
Several times a day I am approached by people who are interested in starting a business, but they don’t want to hassle with the headaches and cost of customer service, production, quality control and shipping. The best advice I can give them is to look into the BizCentral Independent Consultant Opportunity. What is this program? Well, first of all, let me ask you a few questions.
Are you currently working in the B2B arena? Do you have lots of small business, nonprofit or church contacts? Are you looking to start or expand your business with additional products and services for startups, small businesses or nonprofits? If you answered “yes” to any of the above, we have the perfect solution for you!
Why not join the BizCentral Independent Consultant group. The benefits of our program allows us to operate as your “back office,” allowing you to focus on “making money”, building relationships and enjoy residual income without having to do constant cold calls.
So what are a few highlights of the program? Let me give a quick recap:
•Uncapped Income
•Ability to Integrate our Service into a Current Model
•Ongoing Sales and Marketing Support
•New Consultant Web Portal
I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a pretty good opportunity to me! If you are interested in learning more, then be sure to join us for an online interactive info session on July 30th, 2010 from 1 pm – 2 pm EST!
Posted by Aaron Kowalski on July 23, 2010 under Small Biz Certifications, Small Biz News, Small Biz and Entrepreneurship |
There are many certifications that can greatly benefit small businesses, such as: WBE, DBE, MBE, HUBZone and more. Yet, one of the least understood and most often misunderstood certifications is the SBA 8a certification. The SBA’s 8a BD Program, named for a section of the Small Business Act, is a business development program created to help small disadvantaged businesses compete in the American economy and access the federal procurement market.
In order to qualify for the SBA 8a Certification the business must:
- Be a small business
- Be unconditionally owned and controlled by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals who are of good character and citizens of the United States
- Demonstrate potential for success
The SBA defines a small business concern as one that is independently owned and operated, is organized for profit, and is not dominant in its field. Depending on the industry, size standard eligibility is based on the average number of employees for the preceding twelve months or on sales volume averaged over a three-year period. Examples of SBA general size standards include the following:
- Manufacturing: Maximum number of employees may range from 500 to 1500, depending on the type of product manufactured
- Wholesaling: Maximum number of employees may range from 100 to 500 depending on the particular product being provided
- Services: Annual receipts may not exceed $2.5 to $21.5 million, depending on the particular service being provided
- Retailing: Annual receipts may not exceed $5.0 to $21.0 million, depending on the particular product being provided
- General and Heavy Construction: General construction annual receipts may not exceed $13.5 to $17 million, depending on the type of construction
- Special Trade Construction: Annual receipts may not exceed $7 million; and
- Agriculture: Annual receipts may not exceed $0.5 to $9.0 million, depending on the agricultural product
The SBA defines socially disadvantaged individuals as those who have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias because of their identity as members of a group. Social disadvantage must stem from circumstances beyond their control. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, individuals who are members of the following designated groups are presumed to be socially disadvantaged:
- Black Americans
- Hispanic Americans
- Native Americans (American Indians, Eskimos, Aleuts, and Native Hawaiians)
- Asian Pacific Americans (persons with origins from Japan, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Korea, Samoa, Guam, U.S. Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands [Republic of Palau], Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Laos, Cambodia [Kampuchea], Taiwan; Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Macao, Hong Kong, Fiji, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu, or Nauru; Subcontinent Asian Americans (persons with origins from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, the Maldives Islands or Nepal), and ,members of other groups designated by the SBA.
The SBA defines economically disadvantaged as socially disadvantaged individuals whose ability to compete in the free enterprise system has been impaired due to diminished capital and credit opportunities. An economically disadvantaged individual’s net worth, after excluding the individual’s equity in the firm and the equity in the primary residence, may not exceed $250,000. SBA will also consider the individual’s average two-year income, fair market value of all assets, access to credit and capital, and the financial condition of the applicant firm in evaluating economic disadvantage.
In order to be eligible for the 8a certification the SBA requires that at least 51% of the applicant firm is directly and unconditionally owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.
The SBA considers the business’ potential for success requirement based on the following:
- the technical and managerial experience of the applicant firm’s managers
- the firm’s operating history
- ability of the firm to access credit and capital
- the firm’s financial capacity
- the firm’s record of performance
- whether the applicant firm or individuals employed by the firm hold the requisite licenses if the firm is engaged in an industry requiring professional licensing
Also the small business must have been operational for at least two full years as evidenced by business income tax returns for each of the two previous tax years which show operating revenues in the primary industry in which the applicant firm is seeking 8a certification.
By having a better understanding of the 8a certification, its benefits, and requirements you should be able to determine if your small business would qualify for this extremely beneficial certification. If you don not qualify, there are still many options available for small disadvantaged businesses. Some of these include getting a MBE certification, DBE certification or getting certified as a women owned business. Regardless of which certification/s your small business qualifies for, any and each certification will prove to be a valuable asset for years to come.
Posted by Grace Dunlap on July 21, 2010 under Small Biz News, Small Biz Tax Filing, Small Biz Webinars |
Join us for a FREE small business webinar, where we will take A look at City, State & Federal Filings and Deadlines!
There are many forms entrepreneurs will encounter when forming and operating a small business, including federal, state, and internal. Many of these forms vary from state to state so it is important to always check what forms are required for your business, but how do you know what to file and when to file it?
Unfortunately, the government will expect you to know what the forms are for and when they must be filed and neglecting to file or filing inaccurately could mean heavy fines and penalties for your small business!
We invite you to spend some quality time with BizCentral USA and learn how you can help keep your small business on track and avoid hefty fines by staying in compliance!
Topics of Interest:
• Key Terms to Help Understand Forms
• State Filing Forms
• Federal Filing Forms
• Critical Deadlines for Filing
Don’t miss our FREE small business webinar on July 27, 2010 from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (EST)! Rsvp Today: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/327089258
