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Master Card Visa Merchant Account Options
Are you familiar with the many types of MasterCard / Visa
merchant account options that are available for small business
owners? You may be eligible to apply for a merchant account from
a bank or other lender who will underwrite your account...
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A Financial Case for Leadership Development
In the competitive world of business, companies may decide to
forgo leadership training in order to cut costs. However, a
high-quality Leadership Development course can save six figures
off a company's bottom line each year. Not only does a...
Exploiting The Internet As Money Machine!
The internet is the greatest money machine in these days.
Google, Yahoo, Amazon or Ebay have achieved a higher market
capitalization than many traditional brick and mortar companies.
Google has grown within a few year to a value of more than...
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ARE YOU ABOUT TO GET EATEN?
Successful business people often hate change. The mere thought of making one frightens them. It flat scares some silly. They know what they have, and are unwilling to take even modest risk for greater gain. Their fear is they'll lose some of...
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A Micro-Entrepreneur's Most Valuable Resource
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, there are approximately 25 million small business in the United States. They account for 47% of all sales, 55% of innovations, and 35% of all federal contracts. And the rate of small business bankruptcies are at the lowest point in 19 years!
Taken together, the SBA's research points toward one big conclusion: starting your small business today, including small home-based "micro-enterprises", is a great idea!
Assuming you are in the United States, the SBA, and its affiliated organizations SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) and SBDCs (Small Business Development Centers), are perhaps the most valuable sources of advice and education available to the micro-entrepreneur.
After you've decided what your ideal small business will be, how do you find out what resources are available for you at the SBA?
One of the first steps is to call the SBA (1-800-827-5722, 9am-7pm East Coast time) and request publication OPC-2, "Your Business and the SBA". This publication is a summary of the large array of services available to you from the SBA.
Next, go to you local library, and ask the reference librarian for a copy of the SBA's "How to Start a Business in [your state]". It contains all the state- specific details, such as licensing requirements, for every state.
*------------- TIP --------------* Even better, check you local used-books
store for a copy. I picked up a copy for my state at a used-books store for five dollars! *------------- TIP --------------*
Since you have Internet access, why not take advantage of the SBA's wealth of online information? The main site is located at http://www.sba.gov
While you're there, sign up for one of the SBA newsletters at http://web.sba.gov/list/
Then, go to http://www.sba.gov/starting/indexsteps.html The series of pages starting here will take you step-by-step through the process of starting your business--from "Your First Steps", through "Do Your Research", through creating business plans and finding counseling.
Finally, visit http://www.sba.gov/classroom/ which features a series of online courses ideal for the micro-entrepreneur.
The advice of friends, family, and associates are certainly valuable. But by taking advantage of the Small Business Administration's offerings, you can be sure you are getting researched, accurate, timely, and professional advice. The SBA is designed especially for you, so if you want to do as much as possible to ensure the success of your venture, don't waste this valuable resource.
About the Author
Mike Morgan is the editor of The Moonlighting Parent Newsletter, a free biweekly featuring articles of interest to parents who want "just a little" more money each month. Subscribe now at Bison Creek Desktop Publishing < http://bisoncreek.com >
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