Small Business Resource

Writen by Dr. Lynella Grant

Buyers want both online and local information about where to buy Most small businesses are local in nature, serving people who live nearby. Their customers found them through traditional methods like the Yellow Pages or newspaper ads. So far, the Internet hasn’t figured prominently in their marketing efforts. That’s about to change, as Local Search methods become more widespread. Even for buyers expecting to spend their money close to home, more and more of them go to the Internet to locate desired products and services. They rely on search engines to find suitable vendors in the fastest, easiest way. Local Search combines the search query word or phrase with specific geographic terms, like city or zip code. That way, search results only include enterprises in that local area. Instead of information about a small enterprise being lost among millions of pages of search results, it shows up in a small pool of local providers. That’s good for them, as well as the person looking for what they provide.

Small operations can easily be located by a whole new group of buyers Consumers don’t simply go to the Yellow Pages when ready to buy – as they once did.

Writen by Angel Brown

Starting a small business can be challenging, but it’s easy to do if you look at the process as an art.

The word art, according to Webster’s Dictionary, is a “skill acquired by experience, study, or observation…a branch of learning…the conscious use of skill and creative imagination esp. in the production of aesthetic objects.”

It is an act of creation–the physical production of a visualized work, or the process of achieving a desired outcome. Like composing a symphony, or painting a portrait, or baking a cake, starting and running your business requires the same combination of Action, Resources, and Timing, or ART.

Similar to the artist who sculpts a statue or writes a novel (action) using chisels or pen and paper (resources) in a specific sequence (timing), you apply certain techniques, using the tools of your own trade, in step-by-step processes, to start or grow your company. Every aspect of business essentially follows the same pattern, from start-up through expansion to retirement.

First things first. To realize any accomplishment in life, whether business or personal, you first have to define your goal. This may sound simplistic, but the reality is: You can’t get there from here if you don’t know where “there” is. You need to be specific.

We’ve happily noticed that many visitors to this blog hail from 60 countries, and we are excited to welcome you. We are peace-loving Americans who are counting the seconds to January 20, when we usher in a new government Administration.

If you are interested in selling your products/services to the United States we have a link to a website that might be helpful to you.

We do apologize in advance for the link’s reference to use of the word “foreign” to describe anyone outside these not-so United States. As the great composer Phoebe Legere (www.phoebelegere.com) wrote in her wonderful song “Amazing Love“–”there’s only one race, and that’s the human race, ok?”

We, at Small Biz Startup, are hopeful that the new Obama administration will usher in a welcoming attitude that does away with the word “foreign” in our country’s vocabulary!

This site contains information on selling products and services to the U.S.:

www.usa.gov/Business/Foreign_Business.shtml

Once again, welcome to our little blog. We look forward to your comments! We are all in this together!

Florida First Capital Finance Corporation (FFCFC) informs us that new SBA 504 public policy goals will benefit businesses that go green.

Bonnie Arnold, Owner, Bonnie’s Floral Designs

Writen by Lance Winslow

Does your company have a community relation strategy? Have you even considered it? It is essential to have policies in place. Having run a small business for years which eventually turned into a multi-state franchise system, I realized early on that a business who is part of the community it serves can survive the ups and downs of the business cycles, making it somewhat recession proof. Nothing turns off the community more than a business which refuses to give back a little and gives some ridiculous excuse of; “It is our corporate policy, sorry!” Many times a volunteer for a club or organization will come in and ask for a hand out. Rather than giving them an excuse, talk with them about what you can do, have a policy which helps them too. Do not just tell them sorry; “No can do” offer them other assistance instead. For instance if they come in a are looking for a donation, you might say. We are not able to give a straight donation, but we are allowed to give you an item or two on the discount rack for a door prize or silent auction.

Your employees and managers of all your stores should have leeway to help you serve the community, which support your business.

Writen by Jo Ann Joy

Zoning laws may be determined by your city or your county, and you should familiarize yourself with these laws so you will be able deal with any issues that may arise. First, you need to determine if your home-based business will have employees or walk-up trade. If not, the zoning questions may never arise. Home-based businesses that deal with the public or have non-family-member employees that work out of their home are more likely to have issues with with zoning laws. Before you start your business, get a copy of your local ordinances from your city or county clerk’s office, the city attorney’s office, or your public library.

Usually the problems arise when neighbors complain, and the zoning boards are required to deal with the complaints. If employees and customers are going in and out of your home, making noise, or parking by the neighbors’ homes, your neighbors will probably bring this to the attention of the zoning commission. Also, your hours of operation may also be an issue if you are open early in the morning or late at night and you disturb your neighbors.