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Entry bubble Starting A Business? Government Can Help

By: Editor | October 23, 2009 | Category: Money

small business ownerOur guest blogger today is Stephen Morris, a Presidential Management Fellow at the U.S. Small Business Administration working to help small business owners and entrepreneurs.  

Every challenge presents an opportunity. In a tough economy, many aspiring entrepreneurs have found their opening to start a business.

The good news is that Federal, state, and local governments offer many resources to help you achieve your dream of owning a business.

Start with a plan. A business plan is a strategic vision for your business and is often required for obtaining loans. There are a number of government resources online to help you get started on your plan.
• Small Business Planner
• Business.gov videos: Business Planning Tutorial
• Gauge your local competition with Census data

 After you’ve researched and developed a plan, you may want to attend training or a counseling session. Several government-sponsored groups provide this service for free or a nominal fee.
• In-person services near you

And of course, you need money to start your business. Federal, state, and local governments each operate loan and financial assistance programs for aspiring entrepreneurs.
• Learn more about financing a business
• Search for business loans and grants

Businesses need to follow all relevant laws, file necessary permits, and pay taxes. For more information about these and other steps to opening your business, check out 10 Steps to Starting a Business.

Wherever you are in the process, whether starting or expanding, the Business.gov Community is a great place to ask questions and share your experiences.

Additional resources
• USA.gov online services for business
• Are you doing business online? Specific information for Internet-based business

| Post a Comment | View Comments [6] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: business   business.gov   editor   guest_blog   money   sba   small_business  

 

Entry bubble The Top 50 Jobs of the Future

By: Joanne | October 13, 2009 | Category: Money

help wanted adsThese days I bet we all know someone who recently lost their job and needs to find work. Last month the unemployment rate in the U.S. reached 9.8%, which is higher than it’s been in over 10 years.

It seems like a lot is changing in our economy and if you’re out of work, or just thinking of changing your job the Department of Labor forecasts the top 50 in demand occupations so you can figure out how you can upgrade your skills to fit into the job market of tomorrow.

Of course, finding a new job is never easy. It’s always good to look in the local paper or check an online source for local job listings, but the government’s got some resources to help too. If you’re looking for a job or an internship with the federal government, you’ll find all openings announced to the public at USAJOBS. Check out your state job bank for even more job opportunities in your area. If you need a helping hand, look up your local Department of Labor office and see what services they offer to job seekers in your area. And if the job sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be aware of job scams.

| Post a Comment | View Comments [3] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: employment   joanne   job   occupation   unemployment  

 

Entry bubble Fuel Economy Estimates for 2010 Vehicles

By: Jake | October 05, 2009 | Category: Money

Gasoline pumpWe have talked a lot about the Car Allowance Rebate System, more popularly known as the "Cash for Clunkers" program but we really haven't talked about fuel economy since Colleen posted about President Obama's proposal for stricter fuel economy standards.

Today, cars must average 27.5 miles per gallon and light trucks must average 23.1 miles per gallon. A couple of weeks ago, the President formally proposed that manufacturers increase fuel economy 5 percent each year, and in 2016 new cars and trucks would have to achieve an average rating of 35.5 miles per gallon. The new national standard aims at both increasing gas mileage and decreasing greenhouse-gas pollution. As Colleen mentioned in her original post, there are many pros and cons to this plan.

Fueleconomy.gov just released the mileage estimates for 2010 vehicles. I thought it would be interesting for us to see if the average gas mileage has gone up for cars since 2009. The best overall vehicle last year was the Toyota Prius with an average of 46 overall miles per gallon. The 2010 Toyota Prius averages 50 overall miles per gallon.

My 2009 Toyota Matrix has the same overall miles per gallon for 2010. Does the 2010 version of your car get more miles per gallon overall than your current model?

| Post a Comment | View Comments [1] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: cars   fuel_economy_guide   greenhouse_gas  

 

Entry bubble Interest Free Credit Card for Everyday Purchases

By: Colleen | September 16, 2009 | Category: Money

Do you have issues with credit card debt?

If you're anything like many of my friends, you're being smothered by debt you started accumulating in college and it has since just snowballed.

Trying to combat this somewhat is a new type of credit card. The new card has a feature called "Blueprint" that allows consumers to avoid paying interest on everyday purchases, such as groceries. Borrowers get to keep an interest-free grace period for everyday items as long as they choose those categories in advance and pay them in full each month. Card holders are still charged interest on the other items charged to the account.

I think it's a great idea, not only for groceries, but gasoline as well.

Would you apply for this kind of credit card? Would it be helpful to you?

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Entry bubble Cash for Appliances

By: Jake | September 14, 2009 | Category: Money

Fridge in KitchenThe Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act of 2009 program has ended, but later this year a similar program for appliances will begin. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funded a $300 million program that will offer rebates to buyers of energy-efficient appliances and other products that carry the Energy Star label.

Consumers can expect between $50 and $200 in rebates towards the purchase of refrigerators, dishwashers, furnaces, air conditioners and other appliances. You won't have to trade in your old appliance like people did with their automobiles. Of course there are some states with separate programs that pick up old appliances and give the owner $25-$50 for it.

Each state will write its own rules for the rebate program and the Department of Energy will start reviewing rules in October. Money from the programs could start flowing to the public in November. Again this will be handled on a state by state basis, so check with your state energy office for details.

What do you think of the cash for appliances program?

| Post a Comment | View Comments [8] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: cash_for_appliances   department_of_energy   energy_star  

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