Blog
September 4, 2012 - 8:35am
If you’re thinking about becoming your own boss, and the business model of franchising sounds attractive, there are several things you need to do before you even look at a franchise business opportunity.
Even though you probably can’t wait to jump in that nice, warm franchise opportunity pool, I want you to force yourself to hold back. Read my tips below first; they’ll help you prepare for your jump.
1. Talk To Your Family
September 4, 2012 - 7:37am
If you’re a freelancer, independent contractor or consultant, scaling your business can be a challenge. After all, it’s just you. Business development and finding new clients takes time and effort, and there’s no guarantee you’ll secure the rate, volume of work or long-term relationship you need to sustain your business.
For many freelancers, success and more income come from nurturing and deepening relationships they already have. Here are some ways you can do this:
1. Make Yourself Indispensable
August 31, 2012 - 12:19pm
The SBA is working hard to make sure small business owners and entrepreneurs have the access to capital they need to start and grow their businesses. This resulted in a record lending year in 2011, where we supported $30 billion in loans to over 60,000 small businesses. And while we’ve made great progress, we know there is more work to be done. One area we are focused on is opening the doors of entrepreneurship to more communities and demographics.
August 31, 2012 - 8:00am
The first observance of Labor Day is believed to have been a parade of 10,000 workers on Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City, organized by Peter J. McGuire, a Carpenters and Joiners Union secretary. By 1893, more than half the states were observing “Labor Day” on one day or another. Congress passed a bill to establish a federal holiday in 1894. President Grover Cleveland signed the bill soon afterward, designating the first Monday in September as Labor Day.The Department of Commerce's U.S.
August 30, 2012 - 7:00pm
Guest blog post by Matt Erskine, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic DevelopmentTraditionally, the effectiveness of an economic development investment has been measured primarily by the number of jobs created and dollars leveraged. While critically important, the U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) has partnered with Portland State University to create an innovative, web-based tool that takes into account a broader array of economic, environmental, and social impacts to more fully evaluate the potential impact of projects.
August 30, 2012 - 3:39pm
If you run a small business, you understand the benefits of “business continuity” and the need to get a plan together to protect your company from being shut down by a disaster. As a business owner, you also depend on the well-being of your employees, clients, customers and neighbors to stay in business. So it makes good business sense to do what you can to help them prepare for any kind of disaster.
August 30, 2012 - 7:02am
Do you know where your company is headed? How do you know when it’s time to grow? How can you manage that growth so it doesn’t run away with you?
In this five-minute video – Strategies for Growth – SBA, in partnership with Dell, talked to Carey Wilson of the Maryland Small Business and Technology Development Center. He offers the following five valuable tips for preparing your small business for growth.
1. When is it time to grow your business?
You can only grow when business indicators show that you are ready for growth – and these vary by industry.
August 29, 2012 - 12:00pm
Guest blog post by Commerce Chief Information Officer Simon Szykman Last summer, President Obama launched the Campaign to Cut Waste, saying, “No amount of waste is acceptable, not when it’s your money. Just as families are living within their means, government should too, so we can invest in the things that we know will create good jobs and grow the economy.” We’re doing just that at the Commerce Department.This campaign is an administration-wide effort to make government more transparent and accountable to the American people.
August 29, 2012 - 6:49am
Do you sell products online or over the phone? Did you know the law requires you to honor any claims you make about your shipping policies and proactively notify customers about delays?
Enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Mail or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule (also known as the “30-Day Rule” by direct marketers) was prompted by the massive increase in online shopping over the past decade and spells out the ground rules for making promises about shipments, notifying consumers about unexpected delays, and refunding consumers' money.
August 28, 2012 - 3:55pm
Guest blog post by Dr. Rebecca Blank, Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of CommerceThis morning, I joined economic development leaders from around the country to discuss ongoing efforts to create jobs and grow the U.S. economy. The Economic Development Forum was hosted by the U.S.