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Last summer, real estate agent to the stars Bobbi Levenson asked if I would visit her BNI group. I hesitated.  I had been a member of a variety “networking” groups in the past and while socially enjoyable they tended to be a huge time sink with nominal return.

But I like Bobbi and there was food involved, so I agreed.  Unbeknownst to me, this group had just launched and only had a hand full of members.   And my hesitation seemed justified.  A large part of the group was about recruiting –Will you join?  Who do you know? Who can you refer? Ugh.

So, I had to think why I would join this group.  OK, so I like Bobbi but not enough in itself to justify joining.  (Sorry sweetie, love you!)

My reasons –

• Something Different – I have been in business 8 years, my clients come from the same places and I only tend to market when I am done with the current projects.  Typical small business dilemma – we are too busy to network until we are not too busy, they we are scrounging around for the next project.  BNI would ensure at the very least there would be an ongoing networking effort.
• Get Out of the House – Many small business owners work from home and don’t get to interact with any co-workers.  It gets a little stir crazy.  As Coach Sharna Fey  noted – “This allows me to get dressed and talk to adults.”
• Business Karma – BNI calls it the “Giver’s Gain” concept but I like to think of it as Business Karma.  You are helping a group of like-minded business owners grow their business.
• Power Groups – As business owners, we naturally have a referral base within our industries.   Our clients come to us for Web Development and eCommerce solutions.  These same clients need copy, PR, photography, graphic design.  I can go to my Power Team and know I am referring my clients to quality service providers.

I joined and it has been a great experience.  I have gotten new business, developed strategic relationships with other service providers and eaten lots of food!

To learn more about BNI 3.0 check out the BNI 3.0 Fan Page on Facebook.

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No business may effectively sell to customers they do not know. Discovering what your customers want and the best way to give it to them is what market research is all about.

How much do you really know about who your target audience may be? You can get a better look at who you should be targeting by Market research services about your local area.

Do you know the buying habits of your customers? How much do you know about the shopping habits of customers in your local area? Many people today use their Smart phone to buy products, or even a PC. Determining what your customers want, when they are buying it, and how they would like it to be packaged is what a market research company can offer you.

Market research services is imperative to launching or operating a business today. Particularly the small business needs Market research services in order to stay afloat in today’s marketplace.

Very large businesses today are relying on market research. Hiring experts to help them to determine what the marketing trends are in all areas helps them to stay closer to the consumers they are serving. Many businesses which are not corporate or very large in size are neglecting this type of helpful advice, yet it is more important than ever for them to have it.

How Useful is Local Market Research?

Market research services is a very disciplined and targeted investigation of all of the factors that enter into selling your product. They will off you not just information about your target market, but also what may be changing and give you good information about any threats that may lie on the horizon.

This type of market analysis may also help you to determine how an intended sales action might end up so that you can avoid a bad situation, or move forward with your plans.

Market research services has the ability to help any business, small or large, to:

Identify new sales opportunities and plan for ways to approach the sale.

Lower the risks to their business.

Identify and pre-plan for any problems that may be happening in the current marketplace.

With quality Market research services, you will be better able to decide if there is a need for your services, where that need lies, and uncover better ways to market your product or service to the local area. You can not meet the needs of your audience, or even know who they are without some knowledge about them.

At the end of the day, local market research just increases your customer base, and that increases your bottom line.

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If you are taking into consideration financing for a mortgage or small business loans, it is important to know the difference between Recourse and Non-recourse loans. Knowing the difference will not only benefit you in the long run, it can also save you money and a lot of hassle. Based upon what state you live in and what type of financing you need recourse and non-recourse loans can vary.

If you take out a recourse loan and you fail to pay back the loan, the financial institution can come after you for the rest of the payment. The lender is able to claim more than the collateral in the event that you default your loan. This means that recourse loans can generate personal risk because you are subject to pay back the amount of the deficiency. Recourse loans give the financial institutions full power and they are able to bring legal action against you for a default loan.

A non-recourse loan, on the other hand, does not allow the lender to come after the borrower for further payment owed other than the collateral. You will not have personal liability for a non-recourse loan. So, if you default on a loan the bank can foreclose your property, but cannot go after you for any further money. Non-recourse loans put the lender at the most risk, as the unpaid balance of the loan is the responsibility of the lender. Note that the interest rate is commonly higher on these loans compared to recourse loans.

You should always check with the loan company before signing so you will know if you are signing a recourse or non-recourse loan. This will assist you to know what to expect in the future in case you find yourself in a difficult monetary situation where you are unable to pay back a loan and it goes into default. Remember the laws for these loans very by state, so only inquire about the state in which you at this time live in.

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Small business grants seem to be the trend these days, especially for those who are still exploring their options for funding sources. But while you might have heard of many stories and tips on where you can get grants to get your business funded, it is very important that you realize that such financing instruments are hard to come by. Indeed, there are small business grants available to eligible companies and individuals. However, getting them is one whole different matter and the stringent protocols and requirements will make it look like you are better off with other funding sources instead.

First off, a grant is free money, as opposed to business loans. That means the recipient is not required by law to pay the amount back to the grantor. But because of such setup, there are certain regulations in placed that enables the grantor to make sure that the money is used for its preset purposes. For one, most grantors require the recipients to take part in some sort of product research or experiment in return for the amount. As mentioned earlier, only deserving companies and individuals are considered for any grant. And their merit is usually gauged in standards put in place by the grant-giving bodies.

If you are still willing to find a business grant for your enterprise, the best place to start is your local chamber of commerce. Some business grants are offered by business organizations and your best bet is to check out your local business clubs. Ask around and you might find a gem in the haystack. Another good tip is look for a non-charitable organization that caters to business and minorities. Groups that are centered on women empowerment, people with disabilities, and ethnic affiliations (African-Americans, Asians, and Native Americans to name a few) are usually the ones that offer free financing for a business startup.

Small business grants are also offered by business colleges and universities. You can check out your local business college and see if they have a funding program where your enterprise can qualify for. Now, if there are no grant programs available, you can ask college professors and officials and see if they can point you to the right direction. They should know something.

If you still have no luck in the said areas, then you can try the government. Several government agencies offer small business grants. However, most, if not all, are structured for established enterprises and not business start ups. Also, the process is a lot stricter compared to the protocols of private organizations.

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The meteoric rise of women entrepreneurs is a strong sign that female business owners are slowly getting a hold of the small business sector in the United States. Business experts and sociologists tend to agree that female entrepreneurs can perform in parallel with their male counterparts, if not better. Women, like men, are hardwired to be ambitious and goal-driven individuals. However, there is something about a woman’s touch that makes business for them a tad easier. Good thing us that there are organizations and agencies out there that offer small business loans for women.

Among the best place to look for small business financing for women is your local Small Business Administration (SBA) office. The SBA offers a wide array of small business loans structured for specific profiles and individuals, women included. The good thing about SBA loans is that they are affordable and flexible, which makes it a lot easier for any women entrepreneur to satisfy the loan terms and repay the amount.

Among the popular choices for small business loans for women is the SBA Patriot Express loan. This particular form of lending is designed for members of the US Armed Forces and the National Guard or their legal spouses. Also qualified are legitimate widowed partners too. If you are a woman who meets the said requirements, you might want to check out on how you can avail of the SBA Patriot Express loans program.

If you are woman who is coming from a poor background and you live in a poor neighborhood, but deserving of a shot to become a entrepreneur, then SBA offers the SBA community express loans. This financing instrument is reserved for individuals who hail from distressed communities yet brimming with potential for success. And this particular loan package applies to women and men alike.

There are several organizations from the private sector, as well as banking institutions, that offer small business loans for women. Wells Fargo is one such firm that extend a small business loan option solely dedicated to women business owners. Women-centered organizations are also a great source of information for small business loans, as well as contacts and doors for opportunities, such as the National Association of Professional Women and National Federation of Business and Professional Women.

If you are a woman who believes in your own potential in excelling as an entrepreneur, then it is time that you consider getting small business loans for women. You can ask for a more detailed list from your local commerce and business office or from your local SBA District agency.

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Just when you thought business outsourcing is only for big businesses, things have changed. More and more medium and small business owners are following the path of large corporations and exploring the world of business outsourcing and outsourced sales. Many business owners and managers spread their workload in many areas and at times those roles are not within their realm of expertise. As their business grows managers and owners are having a hard time juggling all the pieces. With business outsourcing, business owners and managers can put their efforts on other areas of business developments. Departments like accounting, IT, customer support, even outsourced sales all can be outsourced so that an owner can work develop their area expertise and grow their business.

Get more business outsourcing information.

Although incredibly important to a company, one area of a business that can easily be outsourced is a sales department. An outsourced sales team will affordably bring in more sales for a business. Internal sales teams can be expensive and can only reach so many people while spending more time and energy on cold calls, in meetings and on the phone trying to close a sales, an outsourced sales team will quickly reach more potential customers faster.

See how you could benefit from outsourced sales.

Business development would suffer if owners and managers spent their time on attempting to generate sales. With sales taken care of by a trusted outsourced team, the internal managers can focus on marketing and developing the business further so that the sales team will have an easier time getting the sales numbers required for a business to be successful.

Should your company be using outsourced sales?

Although initially it may seem as if only global corporations have the need for business owners, small and medium sized businesses are seeing big benefits from outsourcing. Business outsourcing is turning out to be an affordable solution where a smaller business gets more for their money, while cutting the costs of hiring an internal staff. Business outsourcing for departments like accounting, IT and outsourced sales will help a small and medium sized businesses gain revenue and grow faster.

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You should ask some important questions to a business consultant at the time of hiring him. By asking those questions, you should judge, whether the business consultant deserves the money, you are going to pay him. You should try to find out the business consultant’s area of expertise. No business consultant can possess expertise in all the domains; so, it is really important. In fact, a business consultant should have understanding about every minute details of a particular business; so that he could give some fertile advice.  You should try to know the actual experience the business consultant possesses in the area of consulting.

The same question is valid even when you are hiring a business consultant company. This is because if you own a small business you need a business consultant company that understands what is good for a small business and what isn’t. Strategies offered by a business consultant might work for larger companies but not for small businesses and vice-versa. Similarly, the availability of resources matters a lot when it comes to using the right strategies and that varies from company to company as well. A business consultant should also know what kind of marketing efforts need to be put by a company in order to dominate the market.

An important question to ask a business consultant company is about its track record and examples from the past, where businesses have benefited with its help. The presentation of business consultant companies might look fine on paper but it has to translate into something substantial. You also need to find out if your business consultant has the data and statistics to infer from the past and what kind of pricing and launching measures should be taken for new products and services. An effective business consultant company will help you determine the right time and the right price to launch a new product. Lastly, a business consultant with sound experience and expertise should be able to understand your business structure and adapt, while correcting the obvious loopholes.

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A small business consulting company offers several benefits. In fact, small businesses have to face so many challenges early on that it is important to hire a small business consulting producer that can not solely supply auditory guidance but also help the modest business enterprise start-up to chart the tricky waters. The a lot essential benefit provided by a little business enterprise talking to manufacturer is naturally related to funding. A modest organization consulting producer can provide the right contacts for funding the projects or enterprise program. A modest organization talking to manufacturer can also toss priceless concepts to elevate the investment which your producer needs. Sometimes modest organizations may be left clueless as to where to obtain the appropriate investments. A small enterprise consulting manufacturer might display to the suitable path based on historical experience.

Yet another crucial take advantage offered by a modest company talking to producer is regarding the marketing strategy that is required. Where there is no appropriate marketing, a producer may locate it very difficult to boost or get the correct credibility. Moreover, a little business talking to company might help in picking the appropriate marketing avenues such as online marketing which is affordable and apt for modest companies. The solutions of a little business consulting producer prove extremely useful in chalking out a delivery plan and period by period development.

A small business enterprise talking to company package viewpoint that is vital for start-ups. In various phrases it is vital to recognize what had worked and what didn’t in former times with the assist of a modest company consulting firm. Evaluation of the business operations for example, is very important and to get the correct foundations in a industry is very critical. Doing so is the place a little company talking to producer can show the ropes to a start-up or a budding business using an enjoyable organization plan. In truth, in most circumstances, anticipating the potential of the company strategy alone is not easy. A modest company consulting company can provide the suitable estimates for products or for a support and also build statistics and figures which will bring the business program potential into perspective. A modest organization consulting producer is for that reason among the pillars for the durable foundation of a business.

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With the today’s global economy, you would be expecting lots of cost cutting, lay-offs and even businesses closing.  This is simply because a company isn’t solid enough or their liabilities may have been quite way too much for their good.  If your company is quick to think in order to survive the business challenge, among the finest strategies they could think of is outsourcing services.

In the event that a company outsources services, they can increase their profit and work productivity because whenever you outsource jobs like accounting work, you can focus on the growth and profitability of your organization and a lot of companies are already seeing that it is effective.

When outsourcing services, employees to employ should really be the best of the best. The following are a few tips and ideas on employing people who will do the outsourced services:

(1)    Employees to be hired should have an understanding of the culture and values of the company
(2)    The outsourced employee should be ready to learn and have an eye for exceeding beyond expectations.
(3)    It is idealto choose the individual who values time and is hardworking
(4)    Hire another person who gives importance to their attendance
(5)    The ideal outsourced employee is a person that knows the impact of his every action.

These tips and ideas can be very easy yet as common as they can be, they could help your business succeed. To have a great income margin, you can outsource the job to another country or another place.  You’ll be amazed with the good quality of work presented to you.  And not just that, you will be amazed on the competence, timeliness, and accurateness of their performance.

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If you hope to own an eBay business, and make a full time living at it, you are able to easily make that dream come true – even when you don’t have a product of your own to sell. eBay provides many individuals who want to quit their corporate nine-to-five jobs with a way to make a good living, without getting to put up a lot of start up capital. The best option to pick the highly profitable items to market is to use eBay market research service like Terapeak or Hammertap and then after locating the product use drop shipping system like Doba in case you prefer turn-key systems or Worldwide Brands and Salehoo if you wish to have full control of the product sourcing process.

This is made possible using the assist of drop shippers. Drop shippers send merchandise to the clients of business owners. When you have an eBay company, you are a business owner. This will allow you to offer a wide variety of stock inside your eBay store, with out getting the require to warehouse all of those goods! All you need to do is set up your auction, and sell the product. You then pass the customer’s info on to the drop shipping business. The drop shipper does the rest, and they will even use your company information, as well as your business logo if you have provided it to them. When the product arrives at your customer’s house, they will have no thought that your business didn’t send it. The drop shipper will package, label, and ship the products that you simply sell, permitting you much more time to set up much more auctions, for higher profits.

You must establish a relationship with several drop shipping businesses in order to become effective. In the beginning, most businesses will need you to pay for the items that your customers order prior to they are shipped. You need to fill orders in a timely manner, so you should pay for the items with a credit card for speedy service. Ultimately, you’ll have the ability to have the drop shipper fill your orders, and then bill you for them later. When you set up your eBay auctions, make sure that your reserve cost is set higher than the price that the drop shipper will probably be charging you for the item. The idea, obviously, is to earn a profit!

Based on the item you’re selling, a markup of about 10% ought to be about correct, but you need to do some analysis to see if the item is selling for a lower cost in another eBay auction, or via other online sources. By starting an eBay business utilizing the drop shipping technique, there’s basically no monetary risk involved. The product will be sold before you pay the drop shipper for the item. This is among the couple of businesses exactly where you are able to actually turn a profit prior to you’ve expenditures!

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