Small Business

Bee all you can bee

Young entrepreneurs ditch the cubicle for a whole new take on office space

Entrepreneurial Lifestyle, Small Business, Start-Up

Do your homework before applying for federal business loan

The federal government continues to free up millions of dollars for small business. But businesses that want to take advantage of the bounty need to do their homework and come prepared when they apply for a federal loan.
The government’s SBA program introduced the America’s Recovery Capital, or ARC, loan designed to give small businesses suffering [...]

Finance, Government and Legality, Small Business

Sewing businesses finding niche in midst of recession

McLeod, a seamstress by trade, trims, cuts and tucks old clothes into a better fit at the Rip Club Sewing Center, which she opened last month at 2238 W. First St. in Loveland.
“I call it Rip Club, because you just rip it,” McLeod said. “In times of economic hardship, people don’t want to buy new [...]

Niche, Small Business, Women

Twitter-powered truck sells ice-cream sandwiches

There’s a new truck roaming the streets of LA—just in time for summer—and it’s being followed by legions of devotees who track its whereabouts via Twitter. It’s not Korean barbecue tacos on the menu this time, however—rather, it’s gourmet ice cream sandwiches.
Coolhaus sells handmade ice cream sandwiches from a pink and chrome converted postal jeep. [...]

Humor, Marketing & Sale, Small Business

SBA Offers Aid to Cash-Strapped

The emergency loan program launched in the past week by the Small Business Administration is designed to give established businesses some breathing room to pay principal and interest payments on existing debt.
Borrowers, however, may find it difficult to find a bank that is providing the “America’s Recovery Capital” interest-free loans.
Some big lenders including Bank of [...]

Finance, Small Business

Survival Advice for Auto Parts Suppliers

With GM and Chrysler in bankruptcy, thousands of small auto parts suppliers are at risk. Partnerships and diversification will be vital.
It is adapt-or-die time for many of the 10,730 small businesses that are lower-tier suppliers to the auto industry, and close to 400,000 jobs may be on the line. But while the situation is daunting, [...]

Small Business, Strategies & Execution

25 Ways to Get Noticed

Sponsor a contest.
Create your own contest.
Host someone’s event.
Host your own event.
Write a book.
Get interviewed.
Get reviewed.
Get “stepping stone” referrals.
Be a newsmaker.
Get behind a cause.
Create a referral program.
Start a blog.
Interview others.
Write a guest post.
Feature a guest post.
Participate on blogs and forums.
[...]

Small Business