Expanding Your Small Business

If you own a business, chances are you've already considered expansion in some respect - whether in terms of product and service offerings, marketing operations, or the number of staff you employ. What's more, the size of your business has likely had great influence on your ideas of expansion. For instance, small businesses often start with a base set of products or services, limited marketing, and a modest number of staff - ultimately working towards expansion in all of these areas.

There are a number of ways to expand your small business, and countless tools that can help you do it. And interestingly enough, one prominent business expansion tool also happens to be one of the world's most widely used resources: the Internet. The Internet holds a wealth of information, resources, contacts and more to help you expand your small business in a way that's right for you.

For example, if you're looking to expand your business in terms of product or service offerings, you're likely to need an additional base of suppliers. And what better place to source those suppliers than through the Internet? The Internet can return countless results via a search for specialised suppliers, enabling you to sort through your options and choose the most suitable suppliers based on your business goals.

Alternatively, you might want to expand your small business with regard to product and service promotion - something which can be achieved via online videos, blogs, news articles, or email updates to your clients. The online world happens to be one of the most powerful promotional tools available to business owners, quite simply because it's so widely used the world over.

However, what if you simply want to increase your number of staff? Once again, the Internet can be one of the most useful resources available for staff recruitment. It's a fact: countless people search for jobs online, everyday. So if you place job postings online, you'll get the most exposure - and the highest number of applicants - for your post. The higher the number of applicants, the higher the chances you'll find the staff you're looking for.

However, in utilising the Internet for your business expansion operations, it's worth remembering that certain types of Internet services adhere better to businesses. For instance, you can find specialised business broadband deals which offer higher - and often unlimited - broadband usage, increased speeds, mobile broadband services and more, ultimately giving you better access to the tools you need to help you operate and expand your business.

Therefore, it could prove worthwhile to enquire about business broadband in your area, and discover what this dedicated service can do for your business.

Adam Singleton writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Expanding-Your-Small-Business&id=2438337

Owning an Airbrush Tattoo Business in Today's Economy

The Airbrush Tattoo industry is one of the fastest growing new industries right now. Right now, even in developed countries such as the US where airbrush tattoo businesses have been going on for quite a while, only 1 in 10 have heard about it. The information about this business is spreading word of mouth with more and more people hearing about it. As the business gets more and more popular, more and more people are seeing its attractions. One of the advantages of getting into this business is the fact that the initial investment required is pretty small. The equipment does not cost a lot and even high quality ones come at a pretty reasonable price. Another advantage is that the business can be operated from home itself. Therefore, there is no wasting of time on unnecessary travelling. This in turn is good for the community as it reduces pollution while still generating an additional income source. The reaction for this business has been overwhelmingly positive as it allows people from all ages and financial conditions to make use of this opportunity.

Getting into the airbrush tattoo industry is no walk in the park. Some people think that this scheme is really as simple as buying a couple of equipment and then spreading word about it. This business is way more complicated than that. This does not allow the user to make a lot of money immediately but does have a high potential to generate a high income. The business has a high potential and it requires both hard work and commitment. Consumer service is the key to making this business successful. The artist should be willing to understand how to provide the best service he can.

The first step is to buy high quality equipment which is especially important when you plan to run the business for a long time. Some people first buy cheap systems and then expect to upgrade it after they have made some amount of money. But these cheap equipment deliver poor results, making the business a failure. This equipment is the most important part of the business. It is also important to have a good idea of what you want to do and how much you desire to make the money. It is important to turn up on time after booking for an event. Not doing so not only ruins the present deal but also ruins any chance of future contracts with the same clients.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Owning-an-Airbrush-Tattoo-Business-in-Todays-Economy&id=2293575

The Portable Office

With technology getting smaller and more portable, the office is on the go, with people taking their work to coffee shops, restaurants, libraries, and even the occasional bar. Locations such have Starbucks have sprung up based on the business model of providing people with a place to work, outside of the home and the office.

It is not uncommon to see someone walking down the street with an entire office slung over their shoulder. You may not see the desks, office chairs, filing cabinets or copy machines; those are housed in other locations or are provided by the destination, but they do have everything they need to perform a full and productive day's work.

The centerpiece of portable office essentials is the laptop. If your work is computer intensive, then you have to make sure that you have the highest powered machine possible. However if you don't require a super computer there are a number of rather tiny machines out there that can make portable computing extremely easy.

Backing up the computer, many people will have a blackberry, or web enabled phone, which can act as a backup player for the computer. A cell phone can be used to research things on the web, pull up notes, keep records, or as a way of staying productive when your computer is busy "thinking". Oh yeah, you can also make business calls on them.

A kindle is another portable device that can be used to help your portable office. Not only can you store paper documents in a convenient digital form, but you can also use it to download current publications such as newspapers and magazines. The constantly on internet connection also allows you to access blogs, wikipedia, and other online information from almost anywhere in the world.

Aside from technology, a good portable office will also be very organized. This will involve folders, files, and a neat and orderly briefcase, with everything in its proper place. You should always carry pens, a paper pad, business cards, and any reference materials which you frequently require.

With technology getting smaller, lighter, and more powerful, people are doing their work in many different locations. Where someone working out of their home might have been rare 10 years ago, now you will find people working out of coffee shops, books stores, and libraries. This trend will only continue, and will get easier with each leap forward in technology.
http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Portable-Office&id=2193287

Consolidating Your Business Debt and Lowering Your Capital Outflow

During these tough times, almost everyone is struggling to keep their business in shape, productive, worthwhile and most importantly, away from bankruptcy. However, increasingly we hear of business closures, retrenchments and withdrawal of investments.

For some who are able to keep off filing for bankruptcy, their struggle is how to keep their costumers in patronizing their business and keep a steady flow of income. Fortunately, in saving a business there are a handy formulas, one of which is business debt consolidation.

Consolidating your debts entails negotiating with your creditors and working out a viable repayment plan that is agreeable to them. Once they are satisfied, this will loosen up collection efforts and drop plans for any lawsuits. This will allow you to have more time to pay your debts, increase your money flow and best of all, keep your business moving until sales improve with the economy.

If your small business still has money coming in but sales are declining due to the recession, you may need to start looking into consolidating your business debts so you can avoid collection calls from your creditors or worst, join the bandwagon of bankruptcy, layoff your employees and not be able to rebound back to business.

There are several companies that are available to work with small businesses to consolidate their business debts and create a solution to their temporary financial problems. Corporate Turnaround is among the three of the bigger ones that advertise on TV. They have a staff of over a hundred (100+) that develops distinctive solutions for each client they help. You can do a search on Google for their web-site.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Get-Small-Business-Debt-Relief-by-Consolidating-Your-
Business-Debt-and-Lowering-Your-Capital-Outflow&id=2130980

Web Hosting Sales and Promos Roundup

(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- There were many web hosting promotions announced in the last week of February, including Host Department's 20 percent off St.Patrick's Day discount, Easyspace's "Indefinite Reduction" on domain name prices and C I Host giving a website makeover to the construction company responsible for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

Host Department Provides St.Patrick's Day 20 Percent Discount

Web hosting and domain provider Host Department (www.hostdepartment.com) is giving its shared hosting customers a 20 percent discount for premium and no limit web hosting plans with coupon code "SAINTPAT09." Host Department's "Premium Hosting" package provides a robust web hosting environment using IBM XSeries Blade-servers, the Acronis disaster recovery system, and a multi-tiered OC48 network backbone.

Webfusion Offers Website Re-launch Discount

Reportedly the largest web hosting organisation in the UK, Webfusion (www.webfusion.co.uk), has unveiled a new promotion, in which it offers Windows-based dedicated servers for £1 for the first two months of a customer's annual contract. The promotion will be in effect for the next three months. The promotion coincided with the launch of its new corporate website.

Easyspace launch "Indefinite Reduction" on domain names

UK web hosting and domain name provider Easyspace (www.easyspace.com) has launched an "Indefinite Reduction" on the prices of more than 30 extensions, including some of the most popular currently available such as .com for £9.99, .co.uk for £7.50, .net for £9.99, .org for £9.99, .mobi for £14.99 and .eu for £9.99.

C I Host Gives Wall Homes Website Extreme Makeover In Anticipation of ABC Broadcast

Local builder Wall Homes, which provided the nuts and bolts to ABC's house renovation show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, will be relying on Dallas, Texas-based C I Host (www.cihost.com) to construct a website for Wall Homes that will survive the deluge of online visitors following the broadcast. Expecting 300,000 daily website visitors to extreme.wall.com following the show's March 1st broadcast, C I Host has provided two load-balanced servers with a direct connection to the core network.

The Planet Announces Hosting Reseller Promos

IT hosting provider The Planet (www.theplanet.com) launched a promotion this week to help resellers who purchase five or more select un-metered servers increase hosting revenues by giving them per-server discounts of up to 68 percent. Now until the end of March, reseller customers can use these bulk servers to provide an upgrade path for their larger customers who require a dedicated platform. With five to nine servers, pricing ranges from $69 to $119 per month per server; with 10 to 19 servers, prices are further reduced from $59 to $109 per month; and with 20 or more servers, prices drop to $49 to $99 per month.

Aplus.net Offers Google Webmaster Tools to Boost Search Engine Visibility

Web hosting company and Internet solutions provider Aplus.net (www.aplus.net) has now made direct access to Google Webmaster Tools available of all its web hosting plans, including web crawl, mobile crawl and content analysis capabilities to make sites more Google friendly. Also, detailed reports, indexing tools, search queries and analysis are among the free resources available through the Aplus.net control panel, designed to improve a website's visibility in Google search results.
http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/022709_Web_Hosting_Sales_and_Promos_Roundup

Better Business Bureau Warns of Scammers Posing as Magazine Sales Solicitors

Your Better Business Bureau serving northwest Florida has received reports from local law enforcement of numerous scammers posing as magazine sales solicitors.

To date, three different businesses have been identified operating in northwest Florida : Great Lakes Circulation, Inc., LLS (Lonestar Subscriptions) and Flord Agency. All three of these businesses have an F rating from BBB.

However, BBB warns, the name of the business isn’t as important as the methods employed, which remain relatively consistent from one organization to the next. Most use young solicitors who show up on your doorstep with stories such as how you can help them avoid inner-city troubles by buying their product. They often claim that they were hired so they can “stay off the street and avoid gangs and drugs,” or “earn a college scholarship.”

The cause sounds admirable, they appear to be hard working, so why not help out?

BBB advises you to consider the following: The National Consumers League estimates that 50,000 children nationwide are involved in traveling sales crews selling consumer items door-to-door and on city street corners. Youth groups are transported hundreds of miles from their homes, often across state lines. Unfortunately, many of these young people are victims. The League has consistently ranked “traveling crews” among the worst jobs available for youth and indicates that they can also constitute a dangerous environment.

BBB files reflect that the organizers of these crews may falsely present themselves as charitable and civic-minded groups. In such cases the organizer is the victimizer. Many are for-profit operations that keep your “donation” or “subscription money” and not pass it along to any charity, community group or publisher. The youths are taught to use high-pressure appeals and live out of vans and hotels, often making little or no money.

Certainly, there are legitimate youth fundraisers. And yes, they may come knocking. However, the next time a youth sales crew appears on your doorstep, BBB suggests you ask for the name of the organization and other details. You may also want to inquire about the welfare of the young “worker.”

http://www.wakulla.com/Wakulla_News/Business_News/Better_Business_Bureau_Warns_of_Scammers_Posing_as_Magazine_Sales_Solicitors_200902017076/

Small-business hopes flourish

The economic headlines are all doom and gloom —- bank failures, store closings, bankruptcies, unemployment. Would anyone even think about starting a business today?

Yes. And some people should, said Lydia Jones, director of the Kennesaw State University Small Business Development Center. “We’re seeing markets and industries contract. Many small businesses are hurting. Those that aren’t strong enough won’t survive. Others will make it but won’t grow. In times when the economy is booming or tanking, we are covered up with people seeking our advice and assistance,” Jones said.

Despite the negative news, Jones is a firm believer in small business. “I’ve seen small businesses turn on a dime when big business couldn’t or wouldn’t change. Small-business owners are so open to new ideas and ways of doing things —- they’re like sponges —- and we need them right now.”

For all the belt-tightening and small-business pain, she’s also seeing owners innovating and grabbing for opportunity amid the chaos. “People start businesses in all economies,” Jones said. She’s seeing new enterprises succeed in the bio-tech, green/energy-saving, training and service sectors. So when she sees someone come in “with blinders on,” meaning that the person has such passion for his business idea that he is willing to take huge risks, she encourages him to go forward —- with caution.

“I advise entrepreneurs to plan more thoroughly than ever before, because there are more challenges facing them in this economy,” Jones said. “They can’t leave any questions unanswered when lending communities are still so cautious and customers less willing to spend money. You have to have a very strong package to present to lenders or investors.” You also need more contingency plans than usual.

Courses (such as the Entrepreneur Success Series) and counseling available through Georgia’s 17 small-business development centers help people strengthen their business plans. Small-business owners can also find help through local chambers of commerce, city and county economic development departments, SCORE: Counselors to America’s Small Business, the Edge Connection, and many Internet sites.

The Terry College of Business entrepreneurship program at the University of Georgia is hosting a monthly series of seminars called “UGA Startups” for would-be business owners in Atlanta. The first seminar, on franchising, will be at the Terry Executive Education Center in Buckhead on Thursday.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by phone calls from people who have been laid off and wonder what to do next, since jobs aren’t plentiful. We wanted to create a safe atmosphere [no solicitations] where people could bring their concerns and fears and receive coaching about how to start a business or purchase a franchise,” said Chris Hanks, Terry College of Business entrepreneurship program director. Hanks’ program plans to offer participants help beyond lectures and panel discussions; including a network of experts and contacts, opportunities for coaching and mentoring, and even practical advice on financing. “If people are really interested in starting a new venture and will do the things they need to do, I won’t quit until that business is launched,” Hanks said.

“The beauty of a business plan is that you start with a blank sheet of paper and you get to choose what types of things you’ll be doing in the future, the kind of life you want to live. The business is simply the vehicle to get you there.”

In a recession, entrepreneurs face more challenges and have less room for error. “They have to be more creative about financing,” Hanks said. “Venture capitalists are still lending, but they are being a lot more careful.” Home equity and bank credit options are contracting as well.

Hanks has seen a tanning-bed facility get started by pre-selling subscriptions, a restaurant launch through selling VIP memberships, and people trade and barter for services. With baby boomers retiring, there are more opportunities to buy an existing business, and franchising is more attractive in a down economy.

“In 2000-01, we had a recession and then 9/11 happened and things got bad,” said Jim Raubolt, a consultant with Axxiom Franchise Advisors, who has owned franchises in the telecom, automotive and medical sectors. “In the next five years, franchising grew by 18 percent. Buying a franchise makes sense for a vertical worker in a declining industry or an older worker who has been laid off,” Raubolt said.

“You could spend a year trying to replace the high-paying job you lost, or you could buy a franchise and start creating a revenue stream.”

Franchises offer people an opportunity to run their own business with backup. “New business owners often wonder where to turn for direction and guidance. Those systems are built into a franchise,” Raubolt said.

“Now is a good time to buy because franchising companies are bending over backward to cut fees, and as the economy rebounds, so will businesses. Now is a good time to get in.”

Raubolt advises people to do as much due diligence as possible, including visiting and talking with existing franchise-holders or volunteering with a similar company. Funding will be more difficult, but there are legal ways to tap into retirement plans for franchising, he said.

“Atlanta is a remarkable market. More franchising companies are headquartered here than any other city,” Raubolt said. “It’s also a phenomenal city for supporting entrepreneurs. There are great opportunities for networking at all levels.”

In 2005, two business members of the Georgia Coach Association, Debby Stone and Michelle Goss, founded GROWE to provide education, mentoring and support to women entrepreneurs and executives.

“For many people, this could be the best time to start a business, especially if they can do it with the lowest overhead possible. It takes awhile to get one off the ground anyway, so why not start now?” said Goss, owner of the Leader’s Edge.

With sales way down in his company, one sales colleague found he had more free time, so he is using his nights and weekends to craft a strategy to start the business he wants to be in.

Goss suggests that clients and GROWE members first define what success means to them before deciding to be an entrepreneur. It’s not for everyone, and anyone coming from a corporate background will find the challenges very different. “One of the biggest challenges is attitude. There is so much negativity out there in the workplace. Be aware of today’s fear factor and what triggers fear in yourself,” Goss said. “One way to combat fear is to surround yourself with positive people or find a supportive environment where you can bounce ideas off others. A support network can help you plan, point out your blind spots and help you access your own creativity to find solutions for your venture.”

GROWE organizes members in small groups so there can be dynamic and in-depth discussion, facilitated by a professional coach. They meet monthly, and the cross-pollination of ideas from new and experienced business owners creates synergy. “The members help each other,” Goss said. “They often find that new ideas and approaches come from the group to make their jobs easier.”

Hanks believes that there may be more businesses launched because people are seeing fewer opportunities in the jobs market. “This is the time to learn from the success of others. We still have a vibrant entrepreneurial community here,” he said.
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2009/01/25/jobssmallbiz0125.html