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Yesterday’s practice of companies simply giving money away to good causes has been superseded by today’s strategic corporate philanthropy, which ties donations of time, money, and in-kind gifts to defined business goals and desired benefits.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 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 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
Posted by Aaron Kowalski on July 15, 2010 under Small Biz Marketing, Small Biz News, Small Biz and Entrepreneurship |
Marketing is defined as the process by which companies determine what products or services may be of interest to customers and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It is an integrated process through which companies create value for customers and build strong customer relationships in order to capture value from customers in return.
Marketing incorporates or impacts heavily upon all of the following activities:
- Business Development
- Product Development
- Market Development
- Market Research
- Competitor Analysis
- Pricing Strategy
- Public Relations
- Customer Service
- Promotions
- Brand Development
- Company/Corporate Identity
Marketing Mix: the four P’s of marketing…
Product is what you are selling. Not just the physical product or the actual service, but all the customer benefits and values that the product represents. It is usually not important to have the best possible product. Cutting edge and feature-packed products cost more. The key is to have the most valuable product in its price range. The term “product” refers to tangible, physical products as well as services. Here are some examples of the product decisions to be made:
- Brand name
- Functionality
- Styling
- Quality
- Safety
- Packaging
- Repairs and Support
- Warranty
- Accessories and services
Price is the amount that the customer must pay. This is the acid test of whether the features you added to the product were really valuable, or whether you might have been better to cut a few low-value features out. Some examples of pricing decisions to be made include:
- Pricing strategy (skim, penetration, etc.)
- Suggested retail price
- Volume discounts and wholesale pricing
- Cash and early payment discounts
- Seasonal pricing
- Bundling
- Price flexibility
- Price discrimination
Place (distribution) is your physical location. Place is still important for online businesses because of shipping costs and for online customers that look for local and regional suppliers. Distribution is about getting the products to the customer. Some examples of distribution decisions include:
- Distribution channels
- Market coverage (inclusive, selective, or exclusive distribution)
- Specific channel members
- Inventory management
- Warehousing
- Distribution centers
- Order processing
- Transportation
- Reverse logistics
Promotion is not only advertising and promotions, but also sponsorships, public relations, special offers, viral marketing, and so much more. In the context of the marketing mix, promotion represents the various aspects of marketing communication. That is, the communication of information about the product with the goal of generating a positive customer response. Marketing communication decisions include:
- Promotional strategy (push, pull, etc.)
- Advertising
- Personal selling & sales force
- Sales promotions
- Public relations & publicity
- Marketing communications budget
Hopefully this article provided you with a better understanding of what marketing is, the marketing mix and how you can utilize all of the aspects of marketing to help you grow your small business.
Posted by Nicole Rivera on June 11, 2010 under Small Biz Marketing, Small Biz Webinars, Small Biz and Entrepreneurship |
Getting Your Small Business Started with Social Media!
Whether you are selling products/services or just publishing content for ad revenue, social media is a potent marketing method that will make your small business profitable over time.
From social networking and blogging to bookmarking and video streaming, there are dozens of ways to implement social media into your marketing mix, but that means nothing if they are not implemented effectively. In order for your efforts to provide you with a significant return, you must figure out what methods work best for you and know how to execute them!
We invite you to spend a valuable hour with BizCentral USA and learn how to get started utilizing social media to grow your small business by building content online that will get people talking!
Topics of Interest:
- The New Realm of Social Media
- 5 Social Media Methods
- How to get People Talking
- Integrating your Social Media Campaigns
Don’t get left in the dust! Get social and start reaching millions through this new medium!
RSVP Today! http://bit.ly/aulL97
Posted by Nina Lopez on May 21, 2010 under Small Biz News, Small Biz and Entrepreneurship |
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, (ARRA) often referred to as the Stimulus or The Recovery Act, is an economic stimulus package enacted by Congress in February 2009. The Act followed other economic recovery legislation passed in the last year of the Bush administration.
The ARRA was intended to promote investment and consumer spending during the recession and create jobs. The reasoning for the stimulus comes out of the Keynesian economic thought that argues that government spending should be used to cover the output gap created by the drop in consumer spending during a recession. While many economists agreed a stimulus was needed under these conditions, others maintained that fiscal policy would not work because government debt would use up savings that would otherwise go to investments, what economists call crowding out.
The Act includes federal tax cuts, expansion of unemployment benefits and other social welfare provisions, and domestic spending in education, health care, and infrastructure, including the energy sector. At the end of August 2009, 19 percent of the stimulus had been outlaid or gone to American taxpayers or small businesses to provide small business help in the form of tax reductions.
Currently, the U.S. Small Business Administration continues to waive loan fees and offer higher guarantee levels on its popular small business loans under an extension of a program launched last year under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
The 7(a) Loan Program is the SBA’s primary program to help start-up businesses and existing small businesses obtain financing when they might not be eligible for business loans through normal lending channels. The name comes from section 7(a) of the Small Business Act, which authorizes the SBA to provide small business loans to Americans. The SBA itself does not make loans, but rather guarantees a portion of loans made and administered by commercial lending institutions.
Under the act, the SBA received $730 million to provide small business help including $375 million to boost the guarantee on its 7(a) loans to 90 percent, and to waive fees charged to borrowers.
Funding for the program has repeatedly been exhausted, and then extended. The SBA said the incentives have led to an increase in lending to start-up businesses. The new $40 million extension runs through April, or until the funds are spent. While this does not guarantee that all small business companies who apply for a 7 (a) loan will receive it, the SBA is extending funding to make more financing available to businesses that qualify for the program.
For more information on the 7 (a) loan eligibility requirements please follow the link below:
http://www.sba.gov/financialassistance/borrowers/guaranteed/7alp/FINANCIAL_GLP_7A_ELIGIBILITY.html
Posted by Nicole Rivera on May 11, 2010 under Small Biz News, Small Biz and Entrepreneurship |
BizCentral USA, a one-stop small business resource center, is proud to unveil their new redesigned website intricately tailored to meet the revolving needs of small business owners and entrepreneurs. The new small business website, http://www.bizcentralusa.com, acts as a “one-stop” online portal with new interactive tools and free small business resources for entrepreneurs nationwide.
The new small business website provides a wide variety of information for those seeking to start a business or grow their existing one. A few of the highlighted small business resources include:
- A Free Business Development Review: Current business owners can benefit from the one-on-one small business review that identifies business strengths and weaknesses and positions them for future growth.
- Competitor Price Comparisons: Potential clients can compare BizCentral small business service pricing against competitors, allowing for product research all in one place.
- Live Site Chat: Site visitors in a hurry will benefit from live chat functionality, allowing for immediate assistance or consultation.
- Business Startup Section: Registered users will have access to exclusive articles, how-to’s, free magazine subscriptions and special email promotions.
- Small Business Webinars and Videos: Entrepreneurs can join in live, online for one or several installments of the Small Business Webinar Series.
The small business website also includes added services with more clear process and service descriptions. Themes include: business plan writing, small business certification, incorporation, marketing, web design, small business HR, graphic design, accounting and bookkeeping.
Additionally, web visitors can share their business startup experiences and find more answers to their questions by visiting the Small Biz Blog, regularly updated with entries about all aspects of business startup and growth.
“The launch of our new website ties in with our constant effort to aid small business owners and entrepreneurs, by providing easy access to the services and small business resources critical to their success,” said Efrain Rodriguez, CEO and Founder of BizCentral USA.
About BizCentral USA
Founded in 2004, BizCentral USA is a “one-stop” service and resource center for small business owners and entrepreneurs nationwide. Their mission is to provide affordable services and solutions to small business owners and entrepreneurs, enabling them to successfully start and grow their business. For more information visit: http://www.bizcentralusa.com/.
Posted by Jennifer Nelson on May 3, 2010 under Small Biz and Entrepreneurship |
A recent survey by Combined Insurance, an Illinois consulting and insurance firm that works with small businesses, found that 71 percent of workers said benefits were a factor in signing on with their current employer.
As a start-up business many individuals are uncertain about, “What benefits package to offer employees?” Many employers wonder if they can afford to purchase benefits for employees at all. Perhaps the most common form of benefits employers offer is health insurance. Here are some important questions a start-up business employer needs to ask before selecting an insurance plan:
What is the mix of employees working at my organization? It is important to know how many employees are single, married with kids, or head of household. The type of insurance purchased will often be affected by the mix of individuals using it.
What type of work do my employees do? If employees work mostly outdoors or do manual labor the types of insurance they will need maybe different than if they primarily work in an office. Be sure that the policy covers the injuries that are most common in the type of work performed by your employees.
Once an employer has a firm grasp on the health needs of the employees it is time to select the right insurance carrier. The first step is to establish the creditworthiness of the insurance provider. Make sure it’s rated A or better by A.M. Best, an insurance industry rating service whose rankings are available online. Insurance companies with lower rating are more likely to fold-up shop rather than comply with increasing demands imposed by new state laws.
When debating between two insurance carriers that have the same insurance score it is always recommended to speak with an existing client. Often times, clients can indicate important issues such as ease of filing claims, or difficulty of scheduling payments. This allows you to make a decision based on more than the companies marketing materials and sales pitch.
Being knowledgeable about the cost and rating of your potential insurance carrier will allow you to see if insurance is right for your start-up business. The cost of not knowing might simply be an inability to find employees who can afford to work very long at your company, leading to high turn-over and training costs.
Are you thinking about hiring employees for your start-up business? If so, share some of your hiring concerns and solutions.
