Business BLOG

Howard Brodsky set out to conquer the carpet world. Dan Bleier just wanted to save his family-owned business. But both cherished their independent status in a retail chain, “big box” business world. Now, each realizes success through a purchasing cooperative.   The pair spent almost eight months reviewing different business models, disqualifying one after another. Then they looked at cooperatives. Brodsky and Bleier are founders of two of the estimated 300 purchasing cooperatives in the United States—a sector which serves roughly 50,000 independent business owner-members.   “The co-op was the ultimate choice to bring (buying) scale to local ownership while honoring their differences and valuing their independence. It also allowed us to leverage our efforts to serve their best interests,” says Brodsky, chairman and co-CEO of CCA Global Partners. “By comparison, other business structures didn’t endure. ”   Entrepreneurs across the American business landscape—from furniture dealers to funeral service providers—are using co-op power to level the playing field between family-owned enterprises and mega-retailers.   Purchasing co-op owner-members are joining together to increase the competitiveness of their independently owned businesses. By pooling their buying power to acquire inventory and services, they lower operating costs, better respond to competition, and improve their businesses’ overall performance.   Conquering the world   By virtually every business standard, CCA has more than endured. It has exploded. Starting with 13 members, the cooperative has grown to 650 owners who operate 3,600 independent stores around the world. The company reported sales exceeding $10 billion last year and has never experienced an unprofitable quarter in its 24 years of existence.  Sales have jumped 325 percent in the past eight years.   “If you give a smart entrepreneur the best tools, he can outplay the big guys. He needs to buy better, brand better, have the best training, best hiring and best marketing,” he adds. Today’s CCA members engage in the flooring, mortgage banking, lighting and bicycling industries. Considered together, CCA’s flooring affiliates represent the largest group of retailers in the world.   Competing effectively   Reading about the success of co-ops like CCA inspired Bleier, who needed to find a way for his family-owned Able Distributors to effectively compete with “the big boys like Home Depot. ” He reversed the negative trend by becoming a founding member of Blue Hawk Cooperative in 2005, a Phoenix, Ariz. -based co-op with 200 members—mostly family-owned companies—that own 871 distribution locations in 50 states.   Like typical purchasing co-ops, Blue Hawk offers its members centralized, cost-saving buying plus warehousing, marketing, merchandising and financial reporting—services that give members like Bleier the ability to compete in the marketplace. But competing is not enough, says Lance Rantala, the co-op’s chief executive officer.   “Our plan is to have each Blue Hawk member-owner grow their combined market share by 10 percent,” he says, explaining how partnerships with manufacturers and contractors help build a healthy and profitable business environment for all participants.   Blue Hawk members like the control they enjoy as owners. The co-op business model provides a welcome contrast to buying groups—a common inventory procurement option for independent HVACR distributors—which the members neither own nor govern.   Furniture First’s membership is by invitation only. Prospective members of the Harrisburg, Pa. headquartered co-op undergo an intense evaluation process, complete a 16-page application that includes a detailed credit history. Hartman believes the rigorous process is necessary to determine which retailers will make the best members.   Beyond Buying   Though collective buying of goods and services is at the core of every Purchasing cooperative, today’s member-owners want— and need—more to succeed. Their co-ops are obliging by offering industry-specific support to enhance almost every facet of business management.   From the beginning, CCA has provided its member-owners with “a better level” of services, marketing, training and merchandising. The co-op offers an extensive selection of online training courses for the employees of member stores. To date, employees have completed almost 300,000 courses.   Blue Hawk members benefit from “extras” such as improved marketing channels, public relations, lobbying efforts, educational and training programs, networking opportunities, sharing business best practices and technology support.   Across the purchasing co-op universe, many consider peer-to-peer networking a bonus of membership. Most co-ops hold membership conferences annually, giving members opportunities for face-to-face discussions, and provide online networking tools to help members share ideas and information.   Surviving Tough Times   Small business is risky business these days. A distressed national economy is not favorable for smaller enterprises, which account for about 99 percent of the country’s business. “It’s the worst I’ve ever seen it,” Furniture First’s Hartman says about the rising costs and shrinking profits for independent businesses.   Though they can’t deliver miracles, purchasing cooperatives can provide relief to beleaguered small businesses—sometimes in unexpected ways. For instance, a new movement that brings together retailers by common location rather than business sector is gaining steam.   Knowing firsthand the power of purchasing cooperatives, CCA’s Brodsky believes these independent business owners are learning one of the most important realities of co-op life: There is strength in numbers. “In troubled times, you don’t want to be alone. That’s the worst,” he says. “Join a co-op because it gives you all the support and tools to compete. ”     Sidebar: How to Start a Purchasing Coop   Whether they sell homebuilding supplies or hamburgers, savvy independent business owners are finding that working cooperatively is the key to surviving and thriving. Rosemary Mahoney, chief executive officer and cooperative developer for Lovingston, Va. -based MainStreet Cooperative Group, offers these start-up tips to entrepreneurs interested in cooperative development:   1. Find friends. Every cooperative begins with a group of like-minded people. Determine if the perceived threat or opportunity you have identified is shared by other independents. Work to form a core of organizers who are respected by other independent business owners as well as vendors. Not getting the right members at the start is a mistake that can lead to failure.   2. Explore the options. Before making plans to organize your own purchasing cooperative, determine whether any other cooperatives are already serving your sector. If so, can you join that cooperative?   3. Crunch the numbers. Estimate the total amount of your sector’s business volume that is handled by independents. Is this amount of volume significant to your suppliers? Do your suppliers need independent businesses in the sector? The ability to convince vendors to support a start-up cooperative is essential to its success. You must be able to prove that your co-op can deliver a significant amount of volume and bring value to the vendor.   4. Do your homework. Find one or two cooperatives in similar industries and talk with their management and some members to learn more about how cooperatives work. You’ll be surprised at how many cooperators are willing to talk to those seeking more information.   5. Lay a strong foundation. If you decide to go forward in establishing a purchasing cooperative, be sure to work with an attorney who understands this business model. Also, raise enough capital to hire a chief executive officer who is both an industry expert and well respected by vendors and potential members. Trying to self-manage a co-op is a mistake. Most entrepreneurs are too busy running their own business to successfully and simultaneously manage the day-to-day operations of a co-op.  

Today’s economy and high unemployment rates are pushing most of us to explore the option of putting up our own small businesses. You will get to handle your own money, there is no risk of lay-offs, and it is a great opportunity to explore your skills on handling your own business and company. However, more banks nowadays are enforcing stricter rules and guidelines for giving out business loans.   A bad credit history may be one of your concerns for getting rejected for a loan, and this makes it difficult for us to get the financial help few need to get started. Like every other bank or lending institution, risk factors have to be taken into consideration before they hand you their money. The credit card services you have availed and how you paid these services are very important information for these companies because it will be their basis on the approval (or disapproval) of your request, and the rate of interest they can give you. All in all, it is a tedious and stressful ordeal to go through. Fortunately, there is now an easier way to get a  small business loan without the fear of your own credit card history. Getting a business cash advance is a faster and less stressful way of getting and paying off a business loan. A business cash advance is a lending service offered to business owners who accept credit cards as payment for their goods or services. It has a shorter processing time and you can even do the transaction online. This is ideal for those time-dependent money problems you naturally experience with your business. It usually only takes a few days to a week to have your request processed and approved, with the money transferred to your own account. All you need to do is fill out their forms (available online) and qualify for their basic requirements. The requirements are quite similar to those of most lending institutions, but your credit history would not be put under too strict reviews. In fact, unlike business loans from the bank, bad credit history is not that big of a deal for cash advance providers. You only need to be of legal age; have a registered business in the US; have a small business that processes credit cards for payment; and have been in business for at least a year. You can use the money to start or franchise your own business, refinance a business debt, buy new equipment or purchase goods, and pay of f debt or taxes. The payment terms for a business cash advance is, of course, different from that of a business loan from the bank. But in general, the payment terms for this lending service will greatly depend on the amount of money you will be borrowing. The higher the amount, the longer the term period. For banks and other big lenders, payment terms for business loans can be paid off in long term or short term. Small business loan payment in banks usually does not exceed five years. Payment terms for business cash advance canbe instant or can be done on a monthly basis, it all depends on your capability to pay, and the amount of money you borrowed. The payment terms will usually require you to pay the cash advance company each month and you will get the payment structure with the amount that they expect you to pay every month. If you can afford to pay it off all at once, then the better. A business cash advance is a great way to fund your small business because it is convenient and easy to apply for. All you need now is to choose a legitimate cash advance lender to get started.

In the midst of the global economic crisis, many small businesses are on the brink of closing down if not enough capital infusion is found. It is now even more difficult to get small business loans from banks, though. Ironically, the exact reasons why small businesses need such small business loans – the fact that business has slowed down and profitability has plummeted – are the same reasons why banks turn them down for loans. Small businesses now have to be more resourceful in finding alternatives to small business loans. Government Grants and Contracts Instead of Small Business LoansThe American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed by President Obama in February 2009 caused the pumping of billions of dollars for the revitalization of the economy. Because of it, there are plenty of government grants and contracts available to small businesses. These can be alternatives to small business loans. But how can small businesses avail of the stimulus program?The Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (APTAC) has the responsibility for helping small businesses obtain and perform federal, state and local government contracts. It has Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC) throughout the country, ready to help small business owners to get registered and find opportunities in the area of government grants and contracts. Counselors assist small businesses in filling out bids, proposals and quotations. The PTAC holds seminars teaching small business owners all the ins and outs of government legalese, including acronyms and registries. A one-day seminar with PTAC covers what small business owners may take months to learn on their own. The PTAC then helps small businesses with Central Contractor Registration (CCR), a requirement for doing business with the federal government. This registration can be so complicated that some companies take two days to do it when the PTAC counselor can help them get through it in 15 minutes. Local PTACs will be of help in acquiring state and municipal contracts. Other resources that small business owners should consult include the Small Business Administration (SBA) which also coordinates with the APTAC; the General Services Administration (GSA) which acts as the government’s purchasing department and provides information on becoming an approved vendor; the Federal Business Opportunities website (fbo. gov) where federal contract opportunities currently available are posted; and the Small Business Innovation Research website (sbir. gov) where grant and funded research opportunities for small businesses are listed. Cash Advances from Credit Card Services Instead of Small Business LoansAnother alternative to small business loans are cash advances from credit card services. This option is much easier than winning government grants and contracts. Most small businesses are already availing of credit card services that enable them to accept payments by credit cards or debit cards. This is practically a requirement to doing business these days, with people hardly paying cash for goods and services. Many small business owners do not know that they could avail of cash advances from these credit card services, though, and that such advances can actually equal small business loans. The amount that a small business can borrow is based on its average monthly income from credit card sales. This is so because the cash advance does not require collateral and future sales receivables from credit cards stand as the collateral. Payment will also be done through automatic deductions from those future credit card sales. There will be no set monthly amortizations. Instead, a certain percentage of the sales will be allotted as payment. The small business owner, therefore, need not worry over where to find cash for loan payments. Cash advances from credit card services are the best bet of small business owners as alternatives to small business loans.

Setting up a home-based business may be a more cost-effective alternative to setting up a major company, but it may still drain the limited resources of a small business owner. To keep the business going, small business loans will definitely be necessary. These can be availed of through credit card services. This article will show you how. First, you need to set up your home based business. Do your research on the type of business you want to establish. Find out what licensing and zoning requirements you need to meet and ensure that you meet them all. Do not attempt to cut corners here. Get the services of an accountant, even if only on a consultancy basis, to help you set up your books and records correctly from the start. Ask for help in determining deductions so that you can plan on your business expenses. Establish a routine for keeping strict records of all income and expenses right from day one. Keep all business related receipts, invoices, client records, bank statements, bank deposit slips and canceled checks. Being home-based, you need to set aside a particular place in your home just for your business. Make sure it can accommodate all the necessary equipment. Check that you have the appropriate electrical outlets and have them installed if needed to avoid overloading your system. Set up rules to keep the area insulated from household noise and disturbances. Have a business phone installed that is separate from your residential line. Avoid having your children answer the business line. Install an answering machine to take calls when you are out or occupied. Get a post office box so that you can use that address in your official stationery and other documents, keeping your business profile professional. Hold client meetings in rented conference rooms or set business meetings in good restaurants. One of the most important steps in setting up your home-based business is to acquire credit card services that will enable you to accept credit card payments and debit card payments. These credit card services provide all the necessary software and hardware for you to be able to process payments in person, online or by phone. This step alone already expands the customer base that you can access. Credit card services will also serve you well once your home-based business begins to feel the need for additional capital. When you need to get small business loans, you will not have to approach banks which are most likely not sympathetic to small home-based businesses. The need for small business loans usually comes when the home-based business is already at least a year old. At such time, your home-based business would have created an average monthly credit card sales record with your credit card services company. You can refer to that when you approach your credit card services company for small business loans, sometimes called cash advances. Credit card services do offer small business loans to their clients based on average monthly credit card sales, without the need for any collateral. The aforementioned average monthly credit card sales guarantee your company’s capability to pay the small business loans. Payments will be automatically deducted as a percentage of future credit card sales. This arrangement frees you from worrying about the amortization for your small business loans, too. As soon as you pay up your small business loans completely, you are automatically eligible for new small business loans for as long as your home-based business is getting a good monthly average in credit card sales. With the help of credit card services, you can continue to expand and grow your home-based business.

Many small business owners have been disappointed when their applications for small business loans were disapproved by banks under the Small Business Administration’s program for America’s Recovery Capital. According to an article written by Robb Mandelbaum in the August 12, 2009 edition of The New York Times Online, “the program is off to a slow start. ” It seems that most banks are reluctant to approve applications for small business loans. Mandelbaum reports that the Small Business Administration’s program has $255 million to give away, enough to give small businesses 10,000 loans reaching as much as $35,000 each. However, two months after the program was launched, there have only been 1,127 small business loans released, with a total of $36. 8 million. Sources are saying that banks are not very keen on participating in the Small Business Administration’s program because giving the small business loans would not be very profitable for them. Paul Merski,. chief economist of the trade association Independent Community Bankers of America, said, “There’s not a lot of profit motive in a $35,000 loan stretched over six years. ” Bob Seiwert from the Center for Commercial Lending and Business Banking at the American Bankers Association reveals that, because of strict underwriting standards, servicing the small business loans becomes even more expensive. The banks have also found more ways to restrict the approval of small business loans with the Congressional restrictions on loan eligibility. According to Congress, in order to qualify for the Small Business Administration loans, small businesses need to be both struggling and viable. That means the business should have had an “immediate financial hardship” such as a 20 percent decrease in revenue. However, the business must also be at least two years old with proof of positive cash flow in one of the previous two years. It should also submit a two year cash-flow projection proving that it will be able to afford loan payments. Because of the Congressional restrictions, banks are more likely to approve small business loans from their existing clients. Merski said, “From a financial perspective, it really is a loan that makes sense for an existing customer. You’re not going to have to put out a lot of resources to do a very costly underwriting. You know the business. ”Those who are working in support of small businesses are very much disillusioned. An example is Alex Cooper who is a counselor at the Pima Community College Small Business Development Center in Tucson. He said he had assisted almost 30 small business owners with their loan applications but none of them had been approved. “It’s a disappointment. I thought the banks would be more interested in the community and try to help small businesses,” he said. When the applications for small business loans are disapproved by banks under the Small Business Administration’s program for America’s Recovery Capital, small business owners still have another option. They can get the equivalent of small business loans from their credit card services. Credit card services provide their clients with the ability to accept payments through credit cards or debit cards in person, online or through the phone. Clients who have established a certain minimum in average monthly credit card sales are qualified to apply for cash advances that are like small business loans. Payments are automatically deducted from future credit card sales. If you are a small business owner, you do not have to go through the hassles of applying for small business loans with banks who are reluctant to participate in the Small Business Administration program. Get your trouble free small business loans from your credit card services instead.

Bad credit is one of the main reasons for bank loan denial. A credit score lower than 580 will most likely ruin your chances for a business loan. Multiple credit checks also lessens your chances for approval. And of course, a recent file for bankruptcy will ensure denial on your request. Fortunately, there is no reason for despair if you belong to this group of people. There are now available alternatives for getting a small business loan, regardless of your bad credit. It is important, however, that you understand your circumstances before jumping into these alternative means for a business loan. You can opt for an unsecured personal loan in such cases. But before you do, consider these factors first. One, how much do you need as a business loan? Factor in the numbers and come to a close estimate of how much you really need. Two, how much can pay each month. You have to note that personal business loans often have higher interest rates per month and if you’re not careful, you might become more in debt than you actually were, before the business loan. And three, will you be making minimum payments? Avoid making minimum payments because it actually costs more in the long run. A business cash advance is also one way of securing the money you need. A small business loan through cash advance is  relatively an easy process to go through as compared to borrowing money from a bank. Most small business, even if they do have good credit, have often little asset and property. This is what makes business cash advances a good alternative for small entrepreneurs in need of immediate money. The only important thing your business should have is access to credit card services (i. e. you accept credit cards for transactions). You just need to have your business’ credit scores established. The best way to do this is to separate your personal credit from your business credit. It is recommended that you control most, if not all, of your business credit needs from only one of two credit card service providers so you have better chances at getting approved quickly. Lastly, your business will need to have gained $2,500 to $4,000 as minimum credit card sales per month. Most cash advance providers base the amount of business loans by average monthly credit card sales, and of course, your actual need for capital. A business cash advance as a business loan is recommendable because the processing time for approval of your business loan can be as short as 3 days. Since newly opened small  businesses encounter a lot of time constraints with suppliers and clients, easy and immediate access to additional funding is always a plus. Furthermore, cash advance as a small business loan now comes easy with the help of the internet. You can apply for a business cash advance online and have it approved the next day. The business loan will be directly deposited into your account once it is approved. Use your small business loan to purchase new equipment, marketing, pay debt or taxes, or pay the payroll. Banks and big lending companies are now not the only way of getting a small business loan for your immediate business needs. Fast, online cash advance is now the new means of making your business grow and compete in whatever market you are thriving on.

To achieve financial independence, experts encourage even currently employed individuals to consider entrepreneurship. Setting up your own business, no matter how small, is touted as one of the best ways toward building the foundation for wealth. Those who are concerned about having a safety net need not take the plunge recklessly. One can start setting up a small business even while employed.  Of crucial use to small businesses are credit card services and small business loans. The entrepreneur needs to know how to avail of these tools and how to effectively wield them for maximum business growth. Credit Card Services A small business would do well to get reputable credit card services in order to prosper in the current business climate. Availing of credit card services will enable it to accept both credit card and debit card payments. This is true either for brick-and-mortar businesses or internet based online businesses. After all, most consumers nowadays routinely use credit cards or debit cards for payment purposes. It only makes good business sense to be well-equipped for the needs of credit card users and debit card users as well as for the needs of customers who pay in cash. Merchant services provide credit card services covering a wide range of solutions for the processing of credit cards and debit cards as payment options. These credit card services include traditional terminal equipment at point of sale, where credit cards or debit cards are swiped. It also includes software and high speed IP solutions for both traditional commerce and e-commerce. Credit card and debit card payments can, therefore, be accepted in person or through the internet, by phone or by fax.      Small Business LoansAny business – whether a small start-up business, a medium-scaled one or a big business company – will be needing an infusion of additional capital sooner or later. Additional capital is always needed for expansion, additional inventory, additional manpower, new systems, new equipment or a new physical layout. Capital is not always easy to come by, though. The original investors’ personal coffers may have been emptied by the earlier outlays. Prospective investors may not be keen on shelling out funds in times of crisis. Businesses, therefore, have no choice but to seek business loans. Getting business loans is a difficult process. Even small business loans are not readily approved. Be prepared to present a lot of documentation and paperwork. For small business loans, the proprietor’s personal credit history is taken into account and related references need to be submitted. Of course, the company’s financial statements are just as important in proving the feasibility of the business and its capacity to repay its business loans. Having a detailed business plan will show your business strategies and projections, demonstrating your business acumen. Unfortunately, even with all the requirements completed, applications for business loans – including small business loans – are, more often than not, disapproved. SolutionsSome merchant services provide a comprehensive solution for the needs of small businesses in relation to credit card services and small business loans. The set up is elegantly simple. A small business need only avail of the company’s credit card services to be eligible for merchant cash advances. These cash advances are actually small business loans, except that there is no need to go through the complicated application process for business loans. Repayment is made very easy and worry-free, too. A certain small percentage is built into the credit card processing rates to take care of the advances. This way, repayment is actually done automatically in a very affordable manner and according to income flow. Small business owners would, indeed, be wise to look into these timely business solutions.

If you’ve ever considered starting your own business, perhaps you’ve considered the pros and cons and found yourself feeling a bit overwhelmed by the prospect of creating a successful business from scratch. With many business ventures requiring a pretty hefty investment, it can be a tough decision to really go for it and start the small business you’ve always wanted, but many of the cons of a traditional business can be tackled by choosing a small business franchise that suits your taste. With the hard work of market analysis and crafting a strong business plan and the proven success shown by companies that choose to franchise, a small business franchise can offer you the freedom of a small business with much less risk than starting your own business from scratch. If you’re still on the fence, consider the following Top 5 Reasons To Start A Small Business Franchise. Work from Home With many small business franchises conducting business through the internet and through house calls, you’ll be able to work from home in a variety of businesses that would have previously required commercial office space. Being able to work at home not only frees you up to work when and however long you want to, but also saves plenty of money on commuting costs, office space leasing and commercial storefronts. You can take the money you would have spent on setting up a retail space and pour it back into your business every month, giving your business some extra momentum and ensuring much more profit for you and your partners. Unlike many home business opportunities that rely on supplying you with products that you direct-market to consumers, a small business franchise is a real business in fields ranging from computer services to education to travel and everything in between. Be your own boss Most people have had that recurring daydream of being the boss and with a small business franchise you’ll not only be the boss but you’ll also control the direction and momentum of the entire business. franchise opportunities provide you the potential franchisee with a pre-made business that’s ready to go, give you any essential training to prepare you to run the franchise and then set you loose to get your business going and make plenty of money. While there are certain guidelines setup by the franchisor, you’ll experience a lot of freedom in your franchise as you outline your marketing strategy, hire your staff and begin making the important decisions that will help your business succeed. Even if you’ve never run a company before and are a little apprehensive about taking the reigns, the franchisor will give expert training in the specific field and in many cases will offer management training to new franchisees, giving you the training you need to lead your business effectively and efficiently. Do what you love For many people, a job is just a job, but with a small business, you have the opportunity to choose the precise business you want to own and run with it. In the corporate world, it’s easy to get stuck in a job where you have no passion for your work and to find yourself simply coming to work every day for the paycheck. While the pay is an important aspect of a job, doing what you love and having passion for your work is often what takes someone from viewing their work as a job to seeing it as a career. There are hundreds of small business opportunities in nearly every field and niche-market, so if you’re ready to dive in and start your own business, there’s bound to be a small business franchise that fits you to a tee. Set your own schedule Whether you’re a stay at home mom, someone looking for a second job or simply someone who doesn’t want to conform to the 9-5, Mon-Fri work week, you’ll benefit greatly from the flexibility that comes along with owning your own small business. Most small business franchise opportunities are either run from the home or appointment based so you’ll be able to set your schedule week-to-week and also decide which days to work and how may hours in a week you want to put into your new business. The more time you put into your business, the better chance you have to succeed financially, but many small business franchises can also be done on a part time basis as a second job or as a job for a student or primary caregiver, allowing you to work as little or as much as your schedule allows. Meet your financial goals The main reason most for-profit businesses exist is to make money, and with a small business franchise you’ll be in a great position to generate sizeable profits even within the first year. Because all of the hard work of market analysis and testing has been done by the franchisor, when you purchase a franchise business you’ll know that plenty of people have already tried and tested the proposed business model and have had success. Unlike many other business opportunities, a small business franchise can be a stand alone business and many times can be run by just one or two people but with the majority of small business franchises you can expand as your business grows by adding more units or locations and instantly increase your profit potential. Franchise businesses also have been shown to recoup the initial investment and begin to make profit much faster than a small business startup, which will put you in a position to make more money faster and grow your business at an exponentially higher rate.

You find most people set off to work for someone else every day although more and more are finding new careers by starting a small business.
Many with entrepreneurial skills and vision find tremendous satisfaction and success by owning and operating their own small home business.
Running a small business even from home involves a wide range of activities, including developing a business plan, overseeing sales and marketing, dealing with personnel, and innumerable administrative responsibilities.
If you think you’re up to the challenge, owning your own business can be tremendously rewarding, both personally and professionally. Getting a new venture up and running takes particular business skills and personality traits.
If you are considering starting your own busi¬ness, the following questions may help you decide if you’re up to the challenge.
Do You Have the Mindset?
Do you have organizing ability?
Are you prepared to wait several months or more before you make a profit?
Do you like to think ahead and plan for your future, then work to make it happen?
Are you psychologically ready to take some risk?
Do you have personal drive and leadership qualities?
Do you have special expertise in the business you want to start?
The right mindset is only the beginning. You’ll need important busi¬ness skills as well. Do you know how to find your particular niche in the market and how to identify your customers?
Do you know how to sell enough of what you have, at a price that will return an adequate profit for you?
Although there are no guarantees, if you answered yes to most of these questions, you may have what it takes to be successful in start¬ing your own business. Just remember, every new business faces difficulties
Getting Started
Running a small business takes sharp business sense and tenacity. Knowing how to take advantage of market conditions and develop strategies to get through the tough times will help turn your great idea into a suc¬cessful business.
First, you’ll need to develop a business plan, the road map you’ll use to establish and guide your business. Consider every aspect of the busi¬ness, give some thought to the idea and ask every question you can think of, and be sure you come up with satisfactory answers.
What type of business do you want to start? Will it be retail, service or manufacturing?
What service or products will your business provide and what need will it fill?
Who are your potential customers going to be for your products or service and why will they purchase it from you?
What about the competition? Is the community large enough to support another similar business? Check out the local chamber of commerce and the yellow pages for details.
Where will you locate your business? Is there a similar business nearby? Get information on the community’s plans for business growth, such as shopping malls and business park expansion.
Will you be able to find enough qualified people to employ? How will you sell to potential customers or clients? Where will you get the financial resources to start your business?
Get a clear and positive image in you mind of the most likely picture of what your business’s future will be by using all available data and then write a business plan.
It’s essential to have written a business plan. As painful as it might be to write, the busi¬ness plan will serve two critical purposes. Firstly to clarify your thoughts and secondly your business plan is your primary tool for securing financing
Starting your own business can be an exciting and rewarding that often brings financial success, along with a sense of accomplishment and contentment. Starting a business takes planning, determination, hard work and, maybe, just a little luck.
Go for it. And. . . good luck!

Many small businesses have been disappointed when their small business loan applications rejected by banks in a program the United States Small Business Administration to rebuild the capital. According to article 12, Robb Mandelbaum August 2009 Edition, The New York Times Online ", the program has been a slow start. "It seems that most banks are reluctant to approve applications for small business loans. Mandelbaum says that the program is the Small Business Administration is a 255 million U.S. dollars to give away, it is sufficient, 10,000 loans to small businesses reach $ 35,000 each. However, two months after the program starts, has had only a 1127 Small Business loans to large, a total of 36 dollars. 8 million. Sources say that the banks are not very interested in participating in the program, the Small Business Administration's, which offers small business loans would not be very profitable for them. Paul Merski,. Association chief economist of Commerce, Independent Community Bankers of America, said: "There are a lot of profit $ 35,000 loan, spread over six years. "Bob Seiwert Center commercial loans at commercial banks and the Bankers Association of America shows that, since the strict underwriting standards, servicing small business loans is even more expensive. Banks have also found new ways to restrict the approval of loans to small businesses Congressional restrictions on the eligibility of the loan. According to the Congress in order to obtain Small Business Administration loans available to small businesses is a viable fighting. This means that the company should have "a direct financial difficulties," such as the decrease of 20 percent of revenue. However, the company also must be at least two years of age, proof positive cash flow together with the previous two years. You must also be given a two-year cash flow of the structural elements that may be able to make loan payments. As the Congressional restrictions, banks are likely to approve loans to small businesses to their current customers. Merski said: "The economic point of view, which is in fact a loan makes sense for existing customer relationships. You do not need to put a lot of resources, so very expensive insurance. You know the business. "Those who strive to support small businesses are very disappointed. An example of Alex Cooper, Advisor to Pima Community College Small Business Development Center Tucson. He said that he had helped the nearly 30 small business owners for loan applications, but none had been approved. "It is disappointing. I thought that the banks would be interested in community and tries to help small businesses, "he said. If a small business loan applications rejected by banks, the Small Business Administration program, the United States to recover the capital, owners of small businesses still have a choice. They can be responsible for small business loans, credit card services. Credit Card Services offers customers the ability to accept payments via credit or debit cards in person, online or by phone. Customers who have been set up at least monthly sales average credit card information are qualified to apply for cash advances, which are small loans. Payments are automatically deducted from the sale of credit cards. If you have a small business, you have to go through the hassle to apply for loans to small businesses that banks refuse to participate in the Small Business Administration program. For the smooth small business loans, their credit card services.