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

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Entry bubble Owning a Small Business

By: Nicole | June 27, 2008 | Category: Money

I firmly believe that one of the most rewarding pleasures in life is a terrific story. I recently finished reading a new book by one of my favorite writers. His latest novel is set in a small town in upstate New York, where a struggling, painfully optimistic family man purchases a small corner grocery. With much help from his savvy, less optimistic wife, he makes a successful business of it. As I was reading the story, I have to admit that I was inspired by the powerfully American idea of a small business venture.

Business OwnerIf you have ever imagined owning your own business, check out the Small Business Administration’s website, where there are tons of resources to help an entrepreneurial spirit. There, you can find detailed instructions for writing a business plan or information about finance options. Did you know that there are laws governing what you can name your business? You can find that and much more on the site.

There are also free online courses offered through the site. For example, you can take courses about starting a business, managing a business, financing a business, or marketing and advertising. The courses are interactive, engaging, and accessible. If you’re interested in a small business but feel intimidated by the process, these courses will definitely help.

In addition to the resources above, you can get help at the Small Business Administration’s district offices or at a Small Business Development Center in your area. You might also benefit from the Federal Citizen Information Center's related publications.

And for businesses of any size, USA.gov's Business Gateway provides all the government information you need.

Have you ever been inspired by a terrific business idea?

| View Comments [8] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: business   capital   enterprise   entrepreneur   finance   manage   money   nicole   opportunity   own   start up  

 

Entry bubble Shopping For A New Hot Rod

By: Sam | November 07, 2007 | Category: Home and Family

Breaking up is hard to do.  And after 10 years, I’m about to call it quits with Charlie, my car.  Though we’ve had some good times and unforgettable road trips, it’s time that we go our separate ways.

But deciding on my new ride has been harder than I thought it would be.  Do I want a coupe or sedan? Or how about a hybrid?  Should it be automatic or manual?  And what about the engine size?  The choices are endless.  To help me narrow my search, I checked out Consumer Reports and Edmunds.com.

These two sites gave me a wealth of information from price and owner satisfaction to ratings and reviews for both new and used cars.  They also helped me prioritize what features were important to me:  reliability, safety, and fuel economy.

I’ve also started to compile a “wish list” of other features that I would like.  These include trunk space, leather interior, moonroof, alloy wheels, and of course, an MP3 player plug-in.  A girl must be able to jam out to her entire John Mayer discography while driving.

After all this shopping around, I think I have finally found a couple of different cars that meet my needs.  And so now I’m ready for the fun part…test driving.  The Better Business Bureau has put together this great test drive checklist that will help me be a little less clueless at the dealership.

I’ll have another post (hopefully soon) about my car buying and financing experience.  Meanwhile, I’ll be reading up on how to maintain control over the sales process starting with this post from The Consumerist.  And I’ll be also be deciding whether Charlie gets donated or traded-in.  Does anyone have some helpful advice they would like to share?

 

| View Comments [7] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: better   bureau   business   car   cars   consumer   edmunds.com   john   mayer   reports   shopping