Small Business Financing Guide

Information and Advice With Gold Investments

photo credit: swanksalot

A Gold Investment is a form of investment that most people as a “good yielding” investment option according to the results it delivered. However, the fruit or the result that this investment plan delivers is not constant or stable all the time. It fluctuates towards a higher range if the determining factors are in favor but at the same time it tends to take a deviating path if the determining factors go out of control. At this juncture, one cannot depend solely on this form of investment to generate profits.

As Gold investment, on the whole, has a mixed identity in the market, it is highly recommended for the investor to take an advice from an expert in this field. However there are several pieces of advice that one can rely upon while investing his money in gold. Read the rest of this entry »

Creative Business Financing For Today’s Economic Environment

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In these uncertain economic times, emerging franchise companies are finding it difficult to fund their franchise expansion strategies. Traditionally, franchise companies fund their startup and expansion in one of two ways:

1. By the Shoe String. Start up and expansion funds come from friends, family, home equity, and credit cards (although many of these traditional funding sources are hard to obtain these days). If all the stars align correctly, this initial capitalization bridges the gap until internally generated cash flow is able to fund future growth.

2. Institutional Capital. There are two sources of institutional capital - (1) loans and (2) venture or angel funding. Loans generally originate with banks. Loans often require significant collateral and personal guarantees. Institutional investors traditionally do not invest in franchise companies because they do not “get franchising”. Although in recent years, this trend is changing as some institutional investors are funding more established franchise companies’ expansion strategies. Angel investors do make investments in franchise companies, but often require a significant amount of control, which some franchise entrepreneurs find objectionable. Read the rest of this entry »

Changes For Business Finance and Working Capital Loan Programs

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As business owners develop their small business loan plans for future financing and refinancing throughout the United States, there is an increasing awareness that there have been significant business finance changes that cannot be ignored. Some of these measures are likely to end up being permanent, and even the temporary commercial mortgage loan and working capital loan changes are expected to be in place for an extended time due to the severity of the current financial climate.

A reduction in commercial lenders as well as stricter standards for acquiring commercial loans and commercial mortgages has been the net result from business finance changes. Unfortunately there has also been no shortage of misinformation about the availability of commercial funding.

A significant reduction in business lending activity overall is perhaps the most dramatic change. This has been due to several events occurring almost simultaneously. Several major commercial lenders have gone out of business altogether. Many banks have stopped commercial finance lending while continuing consumer lending. Numerous business lenders have enacted stricter standards for the commercial financing transactions they are still willing to consider.

It remains to be seen how many changes will be permanent or temporary. Read the rest of this entry »

Small Business Loans - A Convenient Source of Finance With an Extended Repayment Period

photo credit: Bert Heymans

Though resorting to debts from lenders had always been considered to be a negative aspect, yet it becomes very necessary during financial stringency. Unlike earlier days, when people followed money lenders for emergency as well as long term finances, today finance borrowing have become much more legal and organised. Various banks have come up to cater to the financial needs of the people. Other than short term debts, long term borrowings have become very popular among people, in order, to expand their firm or buy special equipments or even for renovation purposes.

One of the most commonly approachable loans for businessmen are small business loans for further development of the organisation. Such borrowings for the sake of your firm comes into play when the borrower is not satisfied with what the bank has to offer. Read the rest of this entry »

Small Business Grant - Where Can I Get Small Business Grants?

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In case you are looking to open a small business, you would be looking for a suitable business grant as well. Well, business grants are not so easily available and cannot be had over the platter. This is when you need to know the legal tricks which can get you what you desire the most. Well, here are 2 points which would aid you in availing a suitable business grant for yourself. If you follow these methods, you are sure to get your choicest grant in no time at all.

Choose To Start A New Technology Based Business

Whenever you are on the lookout for a government grant to start a new business, you need to make sure that you do so only after studying your business with utmost care. In simple words, you need to make sure that you start a business which is bound to involve the usage of a new technology. If you have a new technology in place, you can easily hope to get your choicest grant from the central government. In case you are planning to set up a non profit organization, the chances are that you would be able to receive your grant in no time at all. Read the rest of this entry »

How Small Business Exporter Can Grow

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Small and mid-sized business represents the greatest base of potential exporters in India – business that could export but do not. The challenge for these small enterprises is to recognize the opportunity to expand their participation in international business by moving effectively into the international marketplace.

As a major part of the economic adjustment mechanism in the Indian economy, small firms discover new market, create new products, find new markets for old products and find new ways to accomplish old tasks. The same qualities that make small firms succeed in domestic markets can be brought to bear on their ability to export.

The agencies represented on the task force on trade are committed to being full and active partners in efforts at the national, state and local levels to increase small business exports. Read the rest of this entry »

The Benefits of Exporting For a Small Business

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Somehow, people have the perception that a small business does not export. A business that is going international is usually assumed to be a large company, and with this perception in mind a lot of small business owners shy away from trading internationally. It is the problem of scale that frightens them, but is this indeed true?

They likely think this way because of the huge capital outlay that is needed to get into exporting, but in reality, a significant percentage of exporters are small businesses. Take note that the size of the company is not always important. It also does not need to have a huge marketing department just because it is going international. This is particularly true when the company sells in only smaller quantities or sells occasionally. The success of a small business in the exporting industry is dependent on the quality, competitive pricing and continuous availability of products. Despite the risks involved, which are actually part and parcel of any business, exporting brings a number of benefits to small businesses. Read the rest of this entry »

How to Market Your Small Business in a Slow Economy

photo credit: Wesley Fryer

When the economy is slow, the advertising budget is usually first to go. Why oh why oh why? Right when you need to get your name out there the most, you cut and slash so that poor advertising budget is only a shell of its former self. I know that running a small business can be challenging. I know that you have to keep a close eye on expenses at the best of times. It can be tough. And it’s even tougher when you fall for the big business marketing model and try to use image based advertising to grow your small business. It won’t work when times are great, and it definitely won’t work when times aren’t great.

Image Based Advertising Won’t Work

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. Big corporation with millions of dollars to waste on marketing hires huge ad agency to create a series of commercials, print ads, radio spots and billboards. Read the rest of this entry »

Small Business - 5 Steps to Survive, Consolidate and Revive Through Dynamic Recession Marketing

photo credit: Phillie Casablanca

1 Review Your Market Focus
A precise marketing focus is essential for any successful business. In a recession it’s more important than ever. Review your focus. If necessary, narrow it. Review your sales and profit history. Where and how do you make your money? Which products are most successful? What do you specialize in? What do your best clients expect from you? Don’t broaden your focus. A recession isn’t the time to add new products and services. Concentrate on what you already do best and keeping the business you already have.

2 Reinforce Your Relationship With Your Best Customers
If you don’t know who your best customers are, find out quickly. In a recession, it could be difficult to gain new customers. Instead of spending money on new customer acquisition, spend it on sound customer retention. Read the rest of this entry »

Where’s Your Business Plan For 2009? 7 Steps to Long Term Planning

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1. WHERE ARE YOU NOW?
“Before we can find our way, we must first find ourselves.” Adam Broomfield-Strawn.
Before we can set our goals and implement a plan of action we must first look at where we are. Put your business under the microscope and see EXACTLY what kind of shape it’s in. You’d be surprised how many business owners don’t actually know what their monthly outlay is versus their income, what their average bill per client is or even how many clients they need per week to break even. Take a look at the key areas of your business and get it down on paper for the records, this way you’ll have a benchmark to work from. The key areas are:

WEEKLY INCOME: Before and after VAT per week.
WEEKLY OUTLAY: Absolutely everything that goes out for the business per week.
CLIENTS PER WEEK: Everyone who walks through your door must be accounted for.
AVERAGE BILL PER CLIENT: Divide your weekly income by clients per week to get an average bill.
PERCENTAGE OF CLIENTS HAVING COLOUR: Colour is where you make the most profit.
PERCENTAGE OF CLIENTS BUYING RETAIL: Everyone retails BUT everyone could retail more.
You could go into more detail but this is enough to start with. Read the rest of this entry »