Blogs are communications tools, they offer an effective way to setting yourself up as an expert in a particular field. A blog is a useful addition to any business person's personal brand because it allows you to have a portal through which people could experience your expertise without it costing them anything. Another good reason for having a blog is that more often than not people are looking for information or solutions when they are on the internet. Consumers are less trusting of adverts than they are of information, if they read your blog and see that it makes sense they are more likely to give you their business. Give people useful tips and hints, this will make you look like an expect. One of the best things about blogs is that they are free. Market your blog by publishing links to it in all your communications such as invoices, quotes, directories and social media sites such a twitter, facebook and MySpace.
Get similar articles at brandtoweb.com
Seed funding and support
Each year, Echoing Green awards 12-15 two-year fellowships to social entrepreneurs. Fellows receive up to $90,000 in seed funding and technical support to turn their innovative ideas into sustainable social change organizations.
Who can apply?
Echoing Green seeks individuals or partnerships (organizations led by two people) with:
Innovative solutions to significant social problems.
Strategies to create high-impact, sustainable change in people’s lives.
The ability to grow and lead a new organization
The application process is open to citizens of all nationalities, working in any country.
How do I apply?
After September 21, 2009 you may click here to begin the application for the 2010 fellowship. Our application deadline is December 2, 2009.
visit http://www.echoinggreen.org/
Who can apply?
Echoing Green seeks individuals or partnerships (organizations led by two people) with:
Innovative solutions to significant social problems.
Strategies to create high-impact, sustainable change in people’s lives.
The ability to grow and lead a new organization
The application process is open to citizens of all nationalities, working in any country.
How do I apply?
After September 21, 2009 you may click here to begin the application for the 2010 fellowship. Our application deadline is December 2, 2009.
visit http://www.echoinggreen.org/
Starting a Cleaning Service
A cleaning service is a good business proposition for a person who is not turned off by the idea of cleaning apartments, homes and commercial establishments. Housekeeping is an art and people are typically deterred by the prospect of getting grease, tough stains and odors out of carpets, keeping their bathroom clean and eliminating odors from their refrigerator. Hence, a cleaning service can be a steady source of income assuming that there are no immediate competitors. Otherwise, one would have to spend money on advertising and this may eat into one's profits. Cleaning services can operate round the clock since residential apartments are generally cleaned during the day while commercial buildings are cleaned after office-hours. Considering that cleaning services earn popularity and goodwill through word of mouth, a job that is well done will rarely go unnoticed.
Low cost Business opportunity: Starting A Painting Business
If you're looking for a low cost business opportunity, starting a painting business might be the right answer for you.
A house painting business is a great locally based venture that requires little equipment yet yields a variety of possibilities.
For starting a painting business, your first equipment will be brushes, rollers, a ladder, drop clothes, tape and measuring tape.
You will also need a truck, or some type of transportation for hauling all of your gear or you can start by providing labour services in the beginning with your clients providing all material needed for a lower fee.
Depending on your specific project, you may need additional equipment. To minimize costs, check with your local hardware store to see if items can be rented.
What Type Of Painter Are You?
You may be an interior painter, bringing life and color to living rooms still stuck in the olive tones of the 1970's. Or you might be an outdoor painter, helping to restore the glamour of a weathered Victorian. Or, you might have a talent for both.
Determining your focus will be essential as you target your marketing and customers. As you plan, think of what kinds of jobs you can do year round, particularly if you mainly paint exteriors.
Focusing Your Business
Here's the good news: painting interiors and exteriors is a low cost business, requiring minimum cash to get started. Here's the bad news: it's easy for your competition to get started too.
So your most important job is to determine what makes your painting business better than all the others out there, and then sell that idea to your prospects.
If you're an interior painter, do you have a unique way to combine colors in a way others might not think of, and looks absolutely amazing? Have you perfected a certain technique like faux painting? Or maybe you specialize in painting whimsical murals on children's bedrooms.
If you're an exterior painter, are you fearless when it comes to painting tall buildings? Are you like a Minuteman—on call and ready for action as soon as needed? Is your reliability and customer service your advantage?
Defining your niche is vital when starting a painting business. You need to differentiate yourself.
Once you've decided on your niche, start looking at who can use your services. We talk about the home painting business, but this can really mean the office painting business or the apartment painting business.
Real estate agents, apartment landlords and rental companies experiencing frequent turnover will often want a fresh coat of paint to get their properties ready for new tenants or owners.
Starting A Painting Business - Marketing
Once you've spent your money on essential equipment, the next investment is in marketing. Get the word out about your business. If you're painting an exterior, have a yard sign made up with your business name and number, and (ask first) put it in the front yard so all of the neighbors can see who is doing such great work.
Also, have business cards made up and put in the neighbors' mailboxes, so they'll have your information at the ready. Hand out those cards to all of your friends as well.
Take pictures of before-and-after projects to show prospective clients. Make flyers to put up in your community.
Contact local contractors or interior decorators to see if they need painting done.
With a little money, solid painting skills and great marketing, starting a painting business can be a great startup idea
Visit the mysmallbiz.com for more low cost business ideas.
A house painting business is a great locally based venture that requires little equipment yet yields a variety of possibilities.
For starting a painting business, your first equipment will be brushes, rollers, a ladder, drop clothes, tape and measuring tape.
You will also need a truck, or some type of transportation for hauling all of your gear or you can start by providing labour services in the beginning with your clients providing all material needed for a lower fee.
Depending on your specific project, you may need additional equipment. To minimize costs, check with your local hardware store to see if items can be rented.
What Type Of Painter Are You?
You may be an interior painter, bringing life and color to living rooms still stuck in the olive tones of the 1970's. Or you might be an outdoor painter, helping to restore the glamour of a weathered Victorian. Or, you might have a talent for both.
Determining your focus will be essential as you target your marketing and customers. As you plan, think of what kinds of jobs you can do year round, particularly if you mainly paint exteriors.
Focusing Your Business
Here's the good news: painting interiors and exteriors is a low cost business, requiring minimum cash to get started. Here's the bad news: it's easy for your competition to get started too.
So your most important job is to determine what makes your painting business better than all the others out there, and then sell that idea to your prospects.
If you're an interior painter, do you have a unique way to combine colors in a way others might not think of, and looks absolutely amazing? Have you perfected a certain technique like faux painting? Or maybe you specialize in painting whimsical murals on children's bedrooms.
If you're an exterior painter, are you fearless when it comes to painting tall buildings? Are you like a Minuteman—on call and ready for action as soon as needed? Is your reliability and customer service your advantage?
Defining your niche is vital when starting a painting business. You need to differentiate yourself.
Once you've decided on your niche, start looking at who can use your services. We talk about the home painting business, but this can really mean the office painting business or the apartment painting business.
Real estate agents, apartment landlords and rental companies experiencing frequent turnover will often want a fresh coat of paint to get their properties ready for new tenants or owners.
Starting A Painting Business - Marketing
Once you've spent your money on essential equipment, the next investment is in marketing. Get the word out about your business. If you're painting an exterior, have a yard sign made up with your business name and number, and (ask first) put it in the front yard so all of the neighbors can see who is doing such great work.
Also, have business cards made up and put in the neighbors' mailboxes, so they'll have your information at the ready. Hand out those cards to all of your friends as well.
Take pictures of before-and-after projects to show prospective clients. Make flyers to put up in your community.
Contact local contractors or interior decorators to see if they need painting done.
With a little money, solid painting skills and great marketing, starting a painting business can be a great startup idea
Visit the mysmallbiz.com for more low cost business ideas.
Starting Your Own Parties Business
Have you ever thought it would be fun to start your own parties business? I know from personal experience that when it comes to planning a party it can sometimes be overwhelming. More often than not local party supply stores only carry this item or that item, not everything that I need to pull a party off. From a customer standpoint, looking for a party supply business I am looking for that company that offers the one stop shopping trip.
Think about building your parties business so that you offer your customers the ease of only having to shop from you because you carry everything from wrapping paper, gift bags, cards, party favors, streamers, cards, invitations, right on down to little gag gift items – everything that a party planner would need!
Parties Business Tip #1 - What skills are helpful?
Knowing how to throw a good party is key! Having an eye for detail and a fun personality also helps. Good organizational skills are helpful for any small business or home based business owner. Keeping invoices, orders, customer information and even your inventory organized is a must for your parties business to succeed.
Parties Business Tip #2 - What tools are needed?
First you need to have a source to buy everything you need wholesale. Then you need to develop your rolodex of vendors to work with, like caterers, musicians, etc. Make sure that you have storage space available for your inventory.
Start a book of party plans and fill it with details and photographs as you develop your ideas.
Parties Business Tip #3 - How do you get started?
Starting a parties business takes a little time and research. Some people like to start out with a business plan which can be beneficial but isn’t always necessary. The best way to get a foothold in your area is to offer to plan parties for your friends and just ask them to cover the costs of materials. Gather their glowing testimonials and use them on your website and in your brochures.
Advertise your services in the local paper and in any niche publications that you can find such as bridal circulars that go around in the spring. Sponsor the lunch menu for the local schools, Moms will be reading that every day all school year.
You can have a successful parties business it just takes time to market yourself and to prove your credibility. Be patient and your hard work will eventually pay off.
For more tips on creating a parties business on the internet, please take our free Internet Business Ideas course.
This article appears in homebizwomen.com. Visit this website for more ideas on starting homebsed businesses.
Think about building your parties business so that you offer your customers the ease of only having to shop from you because you carry everything from wrapping paper, gift bags, cards, party favors, streamers, cards, invitations, right on down to little gag gift items – everything that a party planner would need!
Parties Business Tip #1 - What skills are helpful?
Knowing how to throw a good party is key! Having an eye for detail and a fun personality also helps. Good organizational skills are helpful for any small business or home based business owner. Keeping invoices, orders, customer information and even your inventory organized is a must for your parties business to succeed.
Parties Business Tip #2 - What tools are needed?
First you need to have a source to buy everything you need wholesale. Then you need to develop your rolodex of vendors to work with, like caterers, musicians, etc. Make sure that you have storage space available for your inventory.
Start a book of party plans and fill it with details and photographs as you develop your ideas.
Parties Business Tip #3 - How do you get started?
Starting a parties business takes a little time and research. Some people like to start out with a business plan which can be beneficial but isn’t always necessary. The best way to get a foothold in your area is to offer to plan parties for your friends and just ask them to cover the costs of materials. Gather their glowing testimonials and use them on your website and in your brochures.
Advertise your services in the local paper and in any niche publications that you can find such as bridal circulars that go around in the spring. Sponsor the lunch menu for the local schools, Moms will be reading that every day all school year.
You can have a successful parties business it just takes time to market yourself and to prove your credibility. Be patient and your hard work will eventually pay off.
For more tips on creating a parties business on the internet, please take our free Internet Business Ideas course.
This article appears in homebizwomen.com. Visit this website for more ideas on starting homebsed businesses.
Freelancer's - Make sure you get paid!
One of the largest challenges in freelancing is juggling client's and bringing in enough money each month to meet the bottom line.
This becomes a major problem when you have very large projects that don't seem to end, or a client who tells you 'the check is in the mail'.
Remember that self confidence is your key to success. Just as important as charging a good rate for your work is developing standard operating procedures that you must stick too - regardless of how friendly you are with the client.
Always take a down payment for your work. 50% is not unreasonable. It provides a cushion for you while the project is in process and commits the client. Once the proposal is accepted, be sure to include your invoice with the signed contract to the client.
Don't officially start the work until you have both the client's signature and your deposit in hand.
Use the interim time to finish up other projects on your plate!
This article appears in freelancemom.com. Visit this website for more top home business ideas and information.
This becomes a major problem when you have very large projects that don't seem to end, or a client who tells you 'the check is in the mail'.
Remember that self confidence is your key to success. Just as important as charging a good rate for your work is developing standard operating procedures that you must stick too - regardless of how friendly you are with the client.
Always take a down payment for your work. 50% is not unreasonable. It provides a cushion for you while the project is in process and commits the client. Once the proposal is accepted, be sure to include your invoice with the signed contract to the client.
Don't officially start the work until you have both the client's signature and your deposit in hand.
Use the interim time to finish up other projects on your plate!
This article appears in freelancemom.com. Visit this website for more top home business ideas and information.
Investment call center launched in Soweto
An innovative investment call centre was launched by Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies in Soweto last week. The Investment Promotion and Facilitation Centre in Moroka, Soweto will be operational by the end of November. more @ http://www.sagoodnews.co.za/
Getting a start-up bank loan.
Start-up enterprise owners will approach banks with high hopes of getting funded after winning contracts to supply goods or services only to be taken aback when the banks demand fifty percent own contribution. The contracts doesn't mean much in the hands of a start-up enterprise because without any track record the bank have no certainty the small enterprise will successfully complete the project, get paid and be able to service the bank loan.
It is open secret the banks don't lend money to start-up enterprises. The banks claim to focus on three things when a small business loan application is under consideration, namely: the applicant, the business concept and the market, but they often refuse to finance viable business concepts in growth markets because the applicant failed to meet the basic criteria: the fice C's of credit test.
Character: The applicant's personal reputation.
Credit: The credit history of the applicant.
Capacity: The applicant's ability to service the debt rather than the strengh of the business's cash flow.
Capital: The size of the applicant's own capital at risk in the venture.
Collateral: Collateral reduces the banks risks as the source of repayment in the worst case scenario and proves the applicant's commitment to the success of the venture becuase of what they stand to lose.
Small business owners who falls in the unlucky category that fails the five C's of credit should consider the tried and tested sources of capital for starp up enterprises. "Your startting capital which lets you give up your day job and start working on the idea, should come from three sources: friends, family and fools." Herman Hauser, Amadeus Capital.
It is open secret the banks don't lend money to start-up enterprises. The banks claim to focus on three things when a small business loan application is under consideration, namely: the applicant, the business concept and the market, but they often refuse to finance viable business concepts in growth markets because the applicant failed to meet the basic criteria: the fice C's of credit test.
Character: The applicant's personal reputation.
Credit: The credit history of the applicant.
Capacity: The applicant's ability to service the debt rather than the strengh of the business's cash flow.
Capital: The size of the applicant's own capital at risk in the venture.
Collateral: Collateral reduces the banks risks as the source of repayment in the worst case scenario and proves the applicant's commitment to the success of the venture becuase of what they stand to lose.
Small business owners who falls in the unlucky category that fails the five C's of credit should consider the tried and tested sources of capital for starp up enterprises. "Your startting capital which lets you give up your day job and start working on the idea, should come from three sources: friends, family and fools." Herman Hauser, Amadeus Capital.
Soweto food festival ekasi
Sowetofoodfestival promisses to be a four day fun-filled adventure of all that is glorious and wonderful about food ekasi.
Key players in the food industry, upcoming chefs and veteran ‘foodies’ will all be on hand to share information and tips about where the world of fine cuisine is headed next.
Earmarked to be one of the social highlights of the year, the festival begins 1 October 2009 and ends 4 October 2009. The entire event will take place at the Hyundai Stadium in Pimville.
Plenty of opportunities for restaurant owners, marketers and advertisers!
Cost: R35 pp for adults, R10 pp for kids and pensioners Tickets available at the gateVisitors will get a goodie bag which has tokens which can be exchanged for food samples and tastings. The tokens should be sufficient to allow one to taste a variety of foods on offer. More tokens will be on sale if one would like more food and/or beverage samples. There will also be a retail area where full portions of preferred and sampled dishes can be bought. The food retail zone will also offer visitors an opportunity to purchase food products used at the festival.
visit http://www.sowetofoodfestival.co.za/ for more!
Key players in the food industry, upcoming chefs and veteran ‘foodies’ will all be on hand to share information and tips about where the world of fine cuisine is headed next.
Earmarked to be one of the social highlights of the year, the festival begins 1 October 2009 and ends 4 October 2009. The entire event will take place at the Hyundai Stadium in Pimville.
Plenty of opportunities for restaurant owners, marketers and advertisers!
Cost: R35 pp for adults, R10 pp for kids and pensioners Tickets available at the gateVisitors will get a goodie bag which has tokens which can be exchanged for food samples and tastings. The tokens should be sufficient to allow one to taste a variety of foods on offer. More tokens will be on sale if one would like more food and/or beverage samples. There will also be a retail area where full portions of preferred and sampled dishes can be bought. The food retail zone will also offer visitors an opportunity to purchase food products used at the festival.
visit http://www.sowetofoodfestival.co.za/ for more!
The importance of an advisory board
Whether you are a one person operation or have few thousands workers, having someone in an advisory role can pay huge dividends by offering objective analysis and getting a few doors opened. An advisory board is different from a board of directors in terms of legal requirements, an advisory board serves more of a mentorship role. Its members have no fiduciary responsibility to the company or its stakeholders.
Young, growing companies can benefit most from advisory boards by getting an independent view of their operation, with questions that provides a better perspective that goes beyond profitability. And with business regulations growing more complex due to increasing consumer protection laws, start-up enterprises can reduce their trading enviromental risks by bringing on board an experienced advisor or mentor.
Small enterprise owners must look for the peolple they trust when creating their advisory board, starting with their lawyers and bankers and some respected members of their local industry assocition. A riskier option could include customers and vendors who might have good connections in the industry. Just be careful about who get to know your company's trade secrets or have them sign confidentiality agreements.
The greatest asset an adviser lends to a small enterprise is credibility with both internal stakeholders such as employees and external stakeholders such as investors, suppliers and customers. Smart advisers are good, but you also want a spread of perspectives and skills that complement your own.You might get an expert on sales and marketing, while another might keep you honest about your financial projections or the importance of ethical business practises.
Orginisations such as umsombomvu youth fund offers free mentorship programs to young enterpreneurs. The mentors act as an advisors to the young enterprise for no pay.
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Young, growing companies can benefit most from advisory boards by getting an independent view of their operation, with questions that provides a better perspective that goes beyond profitability. And with business regulations growing more complex due to increasing consumer protection laws, start-up enterprises can reduce their trading enviromental risks by bringing on board an experienced advisor or mentor.
Small enterprise owners must look for the peolple they trust when creating their advisory board, starting with their lawyers and bankers and some respected members of their local industry assocition. A riskier option could include customers and vendors who might have good connections in the industry. Just be careful about who get to know your company's trade secrets or have them sign confidentiality agreements.
The greatest asset an adviser lends to a small enterprise is credibility with both internal stakeholders such as employees and external stakeholders such as investors, suppliers and customers. Smart advisers are good, but you also want a spread of perspectives and skills that complement your own.You might get an expert on sales and marketing, while another might keep you honest about your financial projections or the importance of ethical business practises.
Orginisations such as umsombomvu youth fund offers free mentorship programs to young enterpreneurs. The mentors act as an advisors to the young enterprise for no pay.
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R85 billions in small business finance available.
The current credit risk enviroment have compelled banks and other lending institution to tighten lending criteria leaving many small and medium businesses battling for project funding or capital to fulfill supply contract agreements. If you are a startup enterprise the requirements are even more onerous, leading to fustration and despair for aspirant entrepreneurs. Small business managers do need to panic yet, there is hope from angels investors with R85 billions funding available for small businesses, find out more at investmentnetwork.co.za and submit your funding proposal.
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