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New Jersey, Texas Firms Take Top Prize as National Contractors of the Year; Small Businesses, Business Leaders and Government Officials Honored

Sunday, April 24th, 2011

Article by Kari Larson







May 25, 2010 — A small-business contractor from New Jersey and another from Texas were named the National Prime Contractor of the Year and National Subcontractor of the Year, respectively, during a breakfast ceremony held this morning by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The event, sponsored by Raytheon, was part of National Small Business Week 2010, held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington, D.C.

The Small Business Prime Contractor and Small Business Subcontractor of theYear awards honor small businesses that have provided the government and private sector with outstanding goods and services, either as prime contractors or as subcontractors.

This year’s winners are:

* Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year: Anne C. O’Brien, president of Kalimex Inc., of Ocean View, N.J. This woman-owned, 8[a]-certified, small disadvantaged construction company boasts 14 years of successful project experience, plus more than million in annual sales revenues. In one of those projects, Kalimex reopened the stairs to the crown in the Statue of Liberty for the first time since 9/11, ensuring visitors’ safe ascent up the famous double-helix stairway to the observation level in the statue’s crown. The National Park Service described Kalimex’s work on the Statue of Liberty as “sleek, elegant and magnificent.” Another notable project for Kalimex Inc. includes exterior building renovation and masonry repairs on the Edgar Allan Poe House, located in Philadelphia, Penn., for the National Park Service; and

* Small Business Subcontractor of the Year: W.T. Gardner, founder and CEO of Savage Precision Fabrication Inc., of Wylie, Tex. Gardner founded Savage, a veteran-owned and Native American-owned firm, with ,000 worth of tools. The company manufactures precision machine and sheet metal fabrication components — including mechanical assemblies made of aluminum, titanium, copper, stainless steel and plastics — to meet design specifications, and support the aerospace, military, defense and high-tech industries. It develops in-house processes — such as heat treating, aging, Tungsten Inert Gas [TIG] and Metal Inert Gas [MIG] — that are usually outsourced by a small business. The company has 38 employees, .4 million in annual sales in 2008, and is a preferred manufacturer in the aerospace and defense industry.

“Today, we celebrate the contributions of the outstanding business leaders, government officials and small businesses whose inspiring work in the federal contracting arena are creating jobs and helping lead economic recovery,” said SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills [pictured].

“Contracting with small businesses is a win-win for both the government and small businesses,” Mills noted. “The government gets access to the most innovative companies, and small businesses get the oxygen they need to grow and take their businesses to the next level.

“That’s why it’s so important that more than billion in federal contracts have already been awarded to small businesses under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.”

Small-business owners, corporate leaders, government officials and volunteers from across the country are in Washington, D.C., for the three-day conference, to be honored during five major award events for their achievements as America’s top entrepreneurs. The contracting awards recognize businesses and organizations for their commitment to providing contracting and subcontracting opportunities to small, women-owned and small disadvantaged businesses.

Other federal contracting awards included:

Frances Perkins Vanguard Award: Honoring government and industry for excellence in the use of women-owned small businesses as prime contractors and subcontractors.

The recipients are:

* Jim Cuff, senior vice president, Science Applications International Corporation [SAIC], of McLean, Va. [Industry Buying Activity];

* Kevin Boshears, director, Office of Small Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Department of Homeland Security, of Washington, D.C. [Federal Buying Activity]; and

* Bennie Boren, acquisition supervisor/small-business specialist, Public Works Department Gulfport, NAVFAC Southeast, of Gulfport, Miss. [Federal Procurement Official].

Gold Star Award: Recognizing the exemplary performance of federal agencies and their dedicated personnel who carry out the aggressive goals and strategic initiatives that help ensure a role for small business in the federal marketplace.

The recipient is:

* Judith P. Croxton, director of business operations, Shaw Air Force Base-20th Contracting Squadron, of Shaw AFB, S.C.

Surety Bond Award: Honoring the 16 participating surety companies and bond producers for the support they provide to small businesses who need help securing bid, payment and performance bonds.

Two prominent national surety trade associations accepted the awards on their behalf. They are:

* Ms. Lynn Schubert, president, The Surety & Fidelity Association of America; and

* Mr. Mark H. McCallum, CEO, the National Association of Surety Bond Producers.

Dwight D. Eisenhower Award for Excellence: Recognizing large prime contractors that have excelled in their use of small businesses as suppliers and subcontractors.

The recipients are:

* Richard A. Heltzel, president, Healy Tibbitts Builders Inc., of Aiea, Hawaii [Construction Category];

* Amber Janey, small business liaison officer, Rockwell Collins, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa [Manufacturing Category]; and

* Keith Joy, director of small business programs, UT-Battelle LLC/Oak Ridge National Laboratory [ORNL], of Oak Ridge, Tenn. [Research & Development Category].

The 2010 Dwight D. Eisenhower Award for Excellence-Research & Development is one of SBA’s top honors. Administrator Mills praised the Department of Energy’s ORNL’s “hard work, innovative ideas, and dedication to [its] community” while presenting the award to Keith Joy, director of small business programs at ORNL.

Joy tasked his office with “aggressive goals” to meet the requirements of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Award. In 2010, he and his staff encouraged strong performance via an internal awards program, meetings between contractors and small businesses, and extensive outreach programs to maximize the impact of ORNL’s small business programs. Joy noted that he was “very proud, humbled, and appreciative” to receive this honor on behalf of his team at ORNL.

“The President recognizes that small businesses are the building blocks of our economy,” said Bill Valdez, acting director of the Department of Energy’s Office of Economic Impact and Diversity. “Our office’s mission is to support the innovation and growth of small businesses, and we absolutely must continue to honor their hard work.”

Small Business Week featured a series of forums on innovation, exporting and social media, designed to help entrepreneurs with current, real-world issues that impact their businesses. There was also a town hall forum to discuss small-business concerns.

For additional details on Small Business Week 2010 — including a full schedule of events and information on all award winners — visit http://www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com/.

Small Business Week 2010 sponsors and co-sponsors include: Sam’s Club, Visa, Ford, ADP, Raytheon, Cbeyond, UPS, Intuit, Google, eBay, AT&T, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, D&B, Verio, ASBDC, NADCO, NAGGL, NASE, NSBA, WIPP and SCORE.

SOURCE: U.S. Small Business Administration

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TAGS: 2010, 8[a], ARRA, awards, contractors, diversity, economic impact, economic recovery, energy, federal contracting, job creation, jobs, Karen Mills, OSDBU, Recovery Act, SBA, SBLO, SDB, small business, subcontractors, women



About the Author

Kari Larson, editor and publisher of GoodBiz113 [http://goodbiz113.blogspot.com], is committed to showcasing socially responsible small-business policies, partnerships and practices that serve the greatest possible win-win-win good.

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James Tenney Atlanta Lawyer Counsels International Businesses

Friday, April 1st, 2011

Article by Jeffrey Watts







James Tenney Atlanta lawyer has more than three decades of working experience in the field of law and in this time he has provided legal counsel to thousands of clients. He is one of the most experienced attorneys in the Atlanta area and a preferred choice of international business when it comes to expert legal counsel for taxation and legal matters. His area of expertise also includes estate planning, asset protection, tax controversies, structuring business entities, mergers, acquisitions and international business transactions. James Frederick Tenney attorney has advised many businesses to to avoidlegal entanglements and he has helped them in structuring their business transactions in a tax efficient manner. Through his legal advice, clients have been able to better position their businesses by making more informed decisions concerning legal and tax matters.James Tenney Atlanta lawyer has studied from University of Michigan and University of Tennessee, with an undergraduate degree (B.S.) in finance and a law degree (J.D.). He received his Master of Laws in Taxation (L.L.M.) from Emory University. Presently, he is practicing in Atlanta and he also has written for several legal publications and trade journals. His articles are widely read by businessmen, fellow lawyer and law students as he explains difficult legal terms in the simplest manner which is easily understood by all. He has also guided business owners on tax related matters and helped them in reducing their taxes by proper management of their funds through legal measures. James Tenney Atlanta lawyer is a member of several bar associations, some of them being American Bar Association, State Bar of Georgia, Tennessee Bar Association, ABA Section on Taxation, International Bar Association and many more. He lives in Atlanta and his opinion is valued greatly by his peers as well as his clients who want to structure their business operations to avoid risk and minimize taxation.



About the Author

Jeffrey Watts is a professional writer and freelancer who love to write about various topics which attract his interest. He mainly spends his time on informative websites and actively participates in various Law and Taxation forums and other communities. Nowadays, he is busy researching and writing on law and taxation.

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Home Businesses Are Booming

Tuesday, February 8th, 2011

Article by Joanne McMahon

Home businesses are booming,and craft and hobby businesses are flourishing as well especially when you launch them online.Home businesses are eligible to claim other expenses,as well so there are many benefits from starting a venture like this.

Home businesses are similar to any other business in that you have to work hard, give wonderful customer service,follow up with your customers,and produce quality services or products. In the past having a business meant that one still needed to conduct their business outside of the home in order to reach their customer base,but now with the combination of the internet and the new wireless technologies,a home business can be solely conducted from your own house and with today’s technologies these businesses are also very portable.

There are many opportunitie for everyone and their are many opportunities that are perfect for stay at home moms and dads.In addition to location, home businesses are usually defined by having a very small number of employees if any and usually all immediate family of the business owner,in which case it is also a family business and lacking a shop frontage, customer parking and street advertising signs makes thismuch less complicated.

Businesses that lend themselves particularly well to working from home are usually internet businesses. Internet-based businesses are very inexpensive to start,since you probably already have access to your own computer. Let’s be honest these type of busnesses are not for everyone, but there are plenty of people it suits.Working from home makes it the simplest thing to set up an e-business which operates entirely online, and small groups of individuals can combine to create a virtual business, each operating from home in different parts of the country and communicating via their computers by email, Skype or chat software.

Understanding online businesses and how they make money can be difficult for a beginner who can’t see the real workings of the best online businesses but if you are sick of your job or just want to make extra income to retire early or make your month to month finances a little easier, every online business program claims to be the answer. People who operate affiliate sales programs as a business are usually paid by direct deposit, check or an online service such as Paypal. This type of business allows the creator to market their creations online,thereby removing many geographic limitations. Selling on eBay, running your own Web site, and providing online tutoring services are just a few of the many ideas you can consider.Don’t miss your opportunity to start a working from home if you can. It is a great way to make extra income.People are turning their skills,hobbies and ideas into profitable ventures. You don’t even need to have a ton of money to invest,since there are several cheap work at home business ideas for you to consider.

WorkingWorking from makes it the simplest thing to set up an e-business which operates entirely online, and small groups of individuals can combine to create a virtual business, each operating from home in different parts of the country and communicating via their computers by email, Skype or chat software. Understanding online businesses and how they make money can be difficult for a beginner who can’t see the real workings of the best online businesses.

About the Author

Joanne McMahon is a writer and consultant in Australia currently working on advising people on how to work from home and find financial freedom http://www.workathome247infohttp://www.richesthrurealestate.com

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Tips For Starting Profitable Home Businesses

Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011

Article by Dave Carson

Starting profitable home businesses means that one needs to put in a considerable amount of effort as well as money into it. Home based businesses sounds to be too easy but it is easier said than done.

The economy is looking really gloomy and there are no chances of improvement in the immediate future. So the best thing that one can do to see his/her savings increasing is to create alternate income source through a profitable home based business.

There are numerous money making ideas and money making methods existing in the market but zeroing in on the best is not an easy task. Even if you find out a lucrative home business opportunity, you would have to take into consideration some of the associated factors that can affect your business. Though home based business calls for a lot of effort, still people take the pain because the rewards from the home based businesses are really high. Yes, a home based businessman can work according to his/her own timings, can make money the way he/she desires and make as much money as they desire. Working at home will take a great amount of time management also.

Often we get to hear about the failure of the home based businesses and the hard truth is that 1 out of every three home based business entrepreneur fails in their endeavor. If you want to be successful then you need to keep the following aspects in your mind:

a) Find out if you want to carry on with your home based business on a full time or part time basis. There are a lot of people who straightway leave their present job and start with home based business. This is a bit too risky and can spell doom for your endeavor if something goes wrong. It is best to start on a part time basis and then when you start to make significant profits then you can easily shift to the full time gear.

b) Is it possible to open up a home based business with a part of your savings or do you require taking some credit from your bank? This is a very important question and every home based business entrepreneur should find out the answer to it. Most of the home based businesses do not require a huge capital but there are even a few that come with a high start-up price. It is better to settle for the former as you have all the chances to not waste your savings on money making ideas that do not work.

c) You also need to find out whether you need to undergo any training or not. Yes, proper training is a must to taste success in a home business, especially if you do not have complete knowledge in a particular domain. Most of the people fail because they do not have the requisite training. This is a real problem and one needs to understand the business they are doing. Get the real training to enjoy a great run in your home based home business.

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About the Author

FREE ebook. Dave Carson has owned several successful small businesses for over 25 years. He is an author/researched. You need small business secrets. Claim your FREE instant downloadable ebook right now. Discover hidden resources for money. Go to: http://www.UndergroundHomeBiz.com Go get it now!

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Earn extra bucks starting the right home businesses

Saturday, January 29th, 2011

Article by Roger Chirstopher

Home businesses can really help you earn great amount of money if you get the basics right and do a proper business planning. In todays world everyone is in look out for making more money and profits and home based businesses can offer you the right opportunity to do so. So, get set and go and sell your goods and services from the comfort of your home itself.

Things you need to know for starting home businesses

There are certain things that you need to remember while starting the right home based business. First things first, you need to have a well organized business planning initiative. In this case, it is important that you try to identify the right target audience. For example, if you are selling a lifestyle product, it is important that you first try to find out the prospective customers who will be really interested in your business. Once you are properly able to identify your would be customers, the task becomes a bit easier and you can promote or market the product accordingly.

Try to opt for promotional tools which have a better reach and reception and at the same time are pretty cost effective. As most home businesses do not have great investment or capital backing, one can opt for promotion channels like newspaper and print advertisements, online advertisement and promotional tools and so on. They do not cost much but at the same time are pretty effective in reaching a wider range of audience.

Advantages of home businesses

If you opt for some home based businesses, you can enjoy a number of advantages. First things first, home business gives you the scope of working from the comfort of your home. That means you can easily adjust your timings as per your requirements and preferences. There is no hectic work schedule involved at all.

Secondly, any one can start a home based business and earn good amount of money. It has been seen that these types of businesses are very popular among students, home makers and aged people who are looking for some type of independent profession to earn money.

Types of home businesses

With the advent of technology today, more and more types of home business are coming up. Globalization and the open market economy are also some factors which have put a positive effect on these types of businesses. Some of the popular home based businesses are:

1. Internet business: The internet has provided a great scope for home businesses. If you have a computer and an internet connection, you can easily start a web based business. You can offer web designing and development services, affiliate marketing services, SEO and SEM based services and other web based applications and business solutions.

2. Starting a handicraft business at home: If you have a creative bent of mind, you can easily start a handicraft business at home. You can sell handicraft items like hand painted apparels, hand made wax candles, hand made embroidered bags and so on. Plenty of home makers have made good profits by starting such businesses.

Apart from these, some other types of home businesses include starting a gym at home, starting catering services, starting a cycle or automobile repair shop and so on.

About the Author

The article has been written by Roger Chirstopher who himself has started a number of sucessful home businesses. By getting information and getting handy tips, you can also start your own home based business and enjoy good returns.

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Small Businesses Benefit From Twitter

Monday, December 27th, 2010

Article by Terry Green

Almost one in five small businesses are now tweeting regularly, according to research released recently by O2, the mobile phone provider. (“Small Businesses are Catching Twitter Bug,” Richard Tyler, The Telegraph, 16 March 2009) Although the larger, multinational firms were the first to jump on the Twitter bandwagon, increasing numbers of small to medium sized businesses are catching up. In many ways Twitter is an even more useful tool for the mom-and-pop operators than for the big businesses with deep financial pockets and large advertising budgets. Twitter is free, simple and easy to use and is the newest, most useful tool for small businesses looking to increase sales and profits.

Cost savings

Small businesses that use Twitter save on marketing and recruitment costs. A substantial amount has been saved by firms who use Twitter instead of traditional marketing methods, an impressive cost reduction from the small business perspective. (“UK Small Businesses Flock to Twitter,” News Desk, smallbizpod.co.uk, 17 March 2009) Small businesses often have little, if any, advertising budget. Having a Twitter account is much cheaper than maintaining a web page or an email distribution list. For smaller enterprises, the immediate intimacy of tweets suit their business philosophy and approach better than impersonal, sweeping advertising campaigns.

Spread the word

A Crème Brulee cart operating in San Francisco grew by word of mouth via Twitter and within a few months the proprietor had quit his day job to keep up with demand. (“Mom-and-Pop Operators Turn to Social Media,” Claire Cain Miller, New York Times, 23 July 2009) Such a success story illustrates that direct marketing, especially the word of mouth kind of Twitter, is a powerful tool for small businesses looking to expand their customer base. Business owners can also tweet about discounts or new, just-in products, reeling in new customers and enticing regular ones.

Relationship management

Twitter is useful for small businesses wanting to keep in touch with suppliers. The micro blogging tool allows small businesses to connect to other small companies, promoting a sense of community that goes beyond traditional geographical borders. An antique store in Texas connects with customers in New Jersey and orders supplies from out of town – all transactions were made through Twitter-based relationships. (“Mom-and-Pop Operators Turn to Social Media”) Twitter enables businesses to increase the range of contacts, whether with suppliers, potential customers or support services like accounting and consulting firms.

Feedback loop

Small businesses rarely conduct market surveys as these are too expensive and time consuming for the average small to medium enterprise. But what about grass root surveys? Twitter allows the small business to monitor what people are saying about their business and their products. You can ask for active feedback and criticism, respond to questions and deal with any disgruntled tweets through Twitter. Listening to what’s happening on the ground can also help small businesses decide on a strategic direction.

Keep your enemies closer

Competition is fierce for the small to medium enterprise. Twitter lets small businesses monitor their competition. What new initiatives are on the horizon and what can you do to keep ahead? If your competitors are not on Twitter, you can search for tweets that mention them so you can see what others are saying about them. Competitive intelligence is a good reason for small businesses to use Twitter and stay a step ahead of the crowd.

Differentiation

Being able to build a presence can make or break a small business. How do you differentiate your shop or enterprise from everyone else’s? Twitter allows a dash of creativity, humor and humanity in marketing your business. Tweets are personable and twitter accounts can be as funny or outstanding as you want them to be – the better for your customers to remember you by. A car dealer in Albany, New York, has the attention grabbing twitter profile “iamhuge”, a silly and memorable profile name that fits in with the business’s general marketing pitch and attracts curious customers to his website, Twitter account and dealership. (“Being HUGE on Twitter: A Small Business Case Study,” Rebecca Kelley, website: 10er20.com/blog, 4 August 2009)

Short summary:

Twitter is not just for the big guys. Small businesses are signing up for Twitter accounts in droves. There are a lot of benefits of using Twitter to the small business, including cutting marketing costs and keeping tabs on competitors.

About the Author

Terry Green is a Certified Master Virtual Assistant with more than 30 years of combined administrative support experience in both the corporate world and as the owner of a successful Virtual Assistance practice, Fastype. Subscribe to Speak Up and Make Money and receive 13 speaking tips from the “Best of the Best!”

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As Key Senate Health Care Vote Nears, Landrieu Aims to ‘Institute the Right Reforms’ to Aid America’s Small Businesses, Workers, Families

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010

Article by Kari Larson

Nov. 20, 2009 — Today, on the eve of a pivotal U.S. Senate vote to begin the debate on health care reform, Sen. Mary Landrieu [D-La.], chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, pledged her support to do what’s right for small businesses, their workers, and families.

“As you may know, this week, the Senate unveiled its healthcare legislation,” Landrieu wrote in a letter to small-biz stakeholders across the nation. “This bill will create a system of exchanges that will pool small businesses to spread risk, lower costs, and give owners and employees more predictable, quality health care choices.

“To ensure these exchanges work effectively, the bill contains consumer protections and market reforms — including prohibiting insurance companies from denying or rescinding coverage based on health status and an individual mandate to obtain coverage rather than an employer mandate to provide coverage.

“While these reforms are a step in the right direction, there is still more work to do. As we continue negotiations to reform our nation’s health care system, I will persist in working to ensure that the concerns of our nation’s 29 million small businesses remain a central focus. Today, it is more important than ever for Congress to work together to institute the right reforms to aid America’s small businesses and families.”

To help clarify how the Senate health care bill — dubbed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act — affects small businesses, Landrieu’s committee has compiled a fact sheet that highlights the bill’s key points:

Why Small Businesses Need Reform

* Fewer small businesses offer coverage: Over the last ten years, the percentage of small businesses [i.e., with fewer than 200 employees] offering health benefits has dropped from 56 percent to 46 percent.

* Small businesses are not providing insurance because they cannot afford it: America’s small businesses will spend 6 billion on health coverage this year alone.

* Lack of competition causes small firms to pay more: Big companies with more people to spread risk have lower rates because of a lack of competition, causing small firms to pay 18 percent more.

* More jobs will be lost without the right reforms: In 2018 alone, 178,000 small business jobs will be lost due to the high cost of health care.

* Without the right reforms, small businesses will pay more: By 2018, small businesses are expected to spend nearly .4 trillion on health coverage.

How This Bill Helps

* Makes health care more affordable: Improves affordability by instituting exchanges that will provide small businesses with more choices and lower costs.

* Tax credits increase affordability: Provides tax credits to small businesses, to make coverage more affordable and to encourage employees to enter into exchanges.

* Levels the playing field for small businesses: By pooling employees in small firms, the exchange system will make small businesses more equal to their larger competitors.

* Promotes entrepreneurship and creates jobs: Encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to start their own businesses by providing realistic health coverage choices for themselves and employees.

* More quality coverage: Consumer protections and market reforms, like preventing insurers from denying or rescinding coverage based on health status, will ensure that the largest possible pool is participating in the exchanges and help bring down costs.

GoodBiz113′s take: The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will reduce the deficit by 7 billion over the next 10 years, and as much as 0 billion in the decade following — saving hundreds of billions of dollars while extending coverage to 31 million more Americans. We appreciate Sen. Landrieu’s leadership and advocacy on this landmark legislation to reform health care, and hope that she and her colleagues will pass it by year’s end.

SOURCES: Congressional Budget Office, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship

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TAGS: affordable health care, CBO, entrepreneurship, exchanges, health insurance reform, health reform, legislation, Mary Landrieu, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, small business, U.S. Senate, 111th Congress, choices, Congressional Budget Office, tax credits, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship

About the Author

Kari Larson, editor and publisher of GoodBiz113 [http://goodbiz113.blogspot.com], is committed to showcasing small-biz policies and partnerships that serve the greatest possible win-win-win good.

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How Web Research Rescues Small Businesses from Failing

Sunday, November 7th, 2010

Article by Nate Rodnay

Small businesses play a major role in the economy. According to Small Business Administration (SBA), small businesses represent 99.7% of all the employer firms in U.S. Though small businesses constitute major portion of all the businesses, they always struggle to sustain. SBA says that nearly 70% of small businesses perish within 10 years. There are many reasons for a business to fail and some of the major reasons are lack of proper planning, lack of industry knowledge, inefficient marketing, unable to differentiate between a true opportunity and just a new idea, lack of competitors’ intelligence and poor pricing strategies.

Unlike large corporate executives, small business executives or owners are hands on. They can easily have direct customer feed back and see actual ground reality. However, they also need big picture perspective and this is what it is missing. Earlier to get holistic picture of their industry environment, small business owners had to wait for a magazine or newspaper to do a cover story. Now they can search and find lot of information on Internet. Let us see how web research can help small businesses -

Defines marketing problems and opportunities in local marketsSmall business owners are close to their customers and have a clear sense of their needs. However, there is chance to get carried away in identifying the opportunities and threats in the market. Web research begins with identifying the issues on a broader sense from different angles and defining the problems and opportunities. It captures the vital information on product consumption, the product substitutes and their reputation as well as other data that can trace out the problems and build the case.

Helps in setting objectives and budgetLack of proper planning is one of the major reasons for failure of a business. A survey by Michigan CFO Associates on 500 firms states that 99 percent of small business had no written plan for growth. They are ‘driving without a map’ risking their companies. Web research helps small businesses to predict future trends and helps them to be aware of issues. This makes them prepare for both positive and negative outcomes that may occur in the future. As web research predicts future trends and issues, it helps in planning the budget accordingly to avoid unexpected surprises.

Helps in pricing the productsMost small businesses do improper pricing of their products in order to gain more profits or to sell more products. These kinds of false beliefs will result in loosing out a business opportunity. Statistics state that only 23% of businesses price their products or services properly. Web research provides the crucial information on the pricing of the products. It helps you understand how much consumers are willing to pay, what is the pricing structure of your competitors etc.Provides information on competitorsOne of the important things a small business owner needs to remember is that his company faces local, national as well as international competition. Many small businesses succumb to the intense competition in the globalized business environment. In order to survive and sustain, it is necessary to be aware of the competitors’ business strategies and developments. Web research could provide key information such as strengths, weaknesses, products, pricing, distribution etc. of the major competitors.

Less investment on researchThough some of the small business owners are aware of the advantages of market research, they are not willing to invest in it, as quality market research is expensive. However, the fact is web research that can provide crucial information is inexpensive. Generally, business owners presume that research means only primary research, which is expensive. Though web research is not a complete alternative to primary research, it can satisfy the basic needs of the research. Many of the small businesses owners are running their companies without necessary information needed for sound decision-making. At least, they can be directionally accurate with the help of web research.

Small business owners and executives can use Internet to find information. However, this can be done only for small data requirements. To get reliable information, analysis and expert suggestions to make serious decisions, they need the help of qualified specialists. This is where professional web research helps small businesses to take well-informed decisions.

About the Author

Marvist Consulting is an Internet marketing research firm providing professional seo, pay per click management and web analytic services to help companies to increase online sales and improve their profitability. Marvist Consulting also provides custom Internet market research Services (Professional and affordable)

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The Best Home Businesses You Can Start Today

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010

Article by AJ Harris

Thinking of going into a home business? You’re in luck. There has never been a time when home-based businesses have enjoyed such growth and exposure as they do these days, thanks to new technologies and the success of many home-grown ventures. The Internet has also contributed significantly to this, offering innovative ways to reach a wider market and sell innovative products and services. Learn about some of the best home businesses you might be interested to start on your own:

Hobby-based home business

There are many people who have allowed their hobbies to naturally evolve and become a business. It’s often easier this way, allowing business-minded people to take something they love and earn from it. Those who have made the successful transition say that they often feel as if they aren’t working, since they’re doing what they love best.

If you have a hobby that you’re good at, it could be the best home business choice for you. Consider if you have a true market to sell to and determine if this business will be feasible.

Food and catering

If you have excellent cooking skills and know how to throw a great party, consider working from your own home offering food and catering services. It can be labor intensive and you often have to meet with clients. However, if you like meeting with people and being able to offer a good variety of food choices, this could be the perfect business for you.

Personal services

There are numerous services that you can offer working from home. Offer to repair computers, become a personal or mystery shopper, pet sitter or offer your special skills. Anything that you’re good at doing that people are willing to pay for can be a good business for you.

Tutorial and daycare services

If you have the education and skills and like to work with children, this is an excellent business to do at home. Tutorials can be formalized instruction, in which case you will have to obtain certifications or licenses. It can also be informal, where you could offer to tutor students to supplement their learning.

If you wish to offer daycare services, there are several requirements that you might have to obtain. Check with your local government agencies about zoning laws (if you will be building over an area), licenses and other requirements you will have to comply with. You will also have to qualify as an instructor or teacher.

Copywriting and printing services

This is a good home business to go into if you are great at writing copy and have excellent computer graphics skills. Copywriting is the type of home business you can go into regardless of your location, since you could communicate with clients online. Should you decide to offer printing services, you will need the necessary equipment, such as a fast computer, computer design software, a high resolution printer and a scanner.

Consultancy

If you’re an expert who wants to work at home, this is a good home business for you. You can offer your services as a coach, guide, guru or counselor online. What’s great about this is that you get to dispense advice and share your knowledge to clients through the Internet, which means you truly do not need to leave the house just to earn a living.

Multilevel marketing business

MLM is one of the best home businesses you can go into. You can either start your own (if you have the prior knowledge, networking skills and contacts) or join an existing program. As long as the program is solid and the products or services are top quality, you can succeed in an MLM business with a little hard work on your part.

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Is It Necessary for Home Businesses to Be Legitimate?

Wednesday, October 13th, 2010

Article by Success

Basically home business is small home based business that the owner runs it at home or makes his/her office at home, in order to earn and also look after his/her house. Home business is usually referred to housewives, because they are like more convenience to start a home business instead to go out for a job or something else. But it is also not just limited to housewives every family member can contribute or even the head of the family can start a home based business and other family members can be the employees. After making up your mind of doing a business at home but you don’t have any idea how to start; for this you should have to have home business ideas. There are millions of websites to search for a home business but it is not easy to choose between them. So taking in to account the difficulty of choosing a home business one should consider his/her interests, skills, education and talent. Do not hesitate to start more than one closely correlated item because, this will also help to develop an idea which business to go for, and if all could work for you, you can create multiple source of income. Try not to make your decisions only on the potential income, you should enjoy you work or business as well. Keeping skills, education and talent in mind, you should look for work from home jobs, there are thousands of opportunities available for people to start their business; like, writing, research, home tutoring, catering, online business, trainings and etc. Freelancer itself is a business if you have the potential and urge to earn at home, then services can be offered by making a home tuition, catering can be a great stream of income. Besides obtaining ideas of home business and getting opportunities to start your business it is necessary that it should be a home income system, in order to avoid any incontinence and trouble. By setting your business in law; can help you contribute in GDP of the country, and you will be identified as a rightful and trust worthy citizen in that country by paying income tax.

About the Author

Many people have started to make money online, and do work from home jobs become more and more popular, but we hope we have home business all around the world.

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