Posts Tagged ‘Small Businesses’
Finding Small Business Grants
Poor financing is the number two reason small businesses fail, falling right behind poor management. Sufficient funding is paramount to the success of small businesses, and small business grants can be the answer to the problem. If business owners have the necessary knowledge about how to find and properly request grants, they have a better shot at creating a successful business that will be open longer and prosper.
There are over 300 different grants and loans available for small businesses that are just starting out. The grants range from $25,000 up to $1,000,000 depending on the size and projected success rate of the business. There are also grants available to help small businesses grow or expand. Grants are not the same as loans because they do not have to be repaid. A grant is considered free money, as well as an investment to promote the success of small businesses and the U.S. economy. Money for grants comes from income taxes. Obtaining a small business grant does not require credit checks or deposits, even if the owners have experienced bankruptcy in the past.
There are a number of helpful websites that send small businesses government grant packages for free, excluding the cost of shipping. These packages include information on how to find grants, how to prepare a grant request, and how to apply for grants pertaining to a specific business. Some of the providers are Government Funding Solutions, Grant Master, and Grant Wizard.
It is important to be familiar with the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) rules for receiving grants before beginning the process of obtaining one. Although the SBA does not provide grants to small businesses, they do provide helpful suggestions and resources on how to find grants.
In order to qualify for a small business grant, individuals must first become familiar with the 13 CFR 143 document that lists all of the requirements to be eligible for a grant. This document includes information on the pre-award and post-award periods and defines all aspects of applying for a grant and states who is eligible. The CFR is the primary source of rules and regulations for small business grants and must be read before starting the grant writing process.
After reviewing the requirements, prospective business owners must write a grant request. There are professionals who will write a grant proposal or the individuals may complete it themselves. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance is a helpful site that links individuals to resources about federal grants for small businesses. Afterschool.gov gives helpful tips on how to write a small business grant and, although it is geared toward grants for after school programs, includes helpful information for grant writing in general.
Additionally, there are many well-established government and private organizations that provide grants to small businesses. The Department of Justice’s Ten Grant document gives access to grant opportunities for those conducting research in support of law enforcement. The Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration has several grant opportunities for small business owners. They offer about $125 million to businesses that are based in a community setting with special attention to training programs. The Department of Transportation is another organization that offers small business grants. They offer grants to any business willing to help resolve the growing problems with the federal-aid highway program. The Department of Education has a program called e-GRANTS that locates electronic grants online. They have a detailed list of grants available and the necessary applications to fill out. There are a variety of grants available for different groups, all of which have detailed descriptions and contact information. Other organizations that provide small business grants include the EPA, the National Cancer Institute, NOAA, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Expanding Your Small Business
If you own a business, chances are you’ve already considered expansion in some respect – whether in terms of product and service offerings, marketing operations, or the number of staff you employ. What’s more, the size of your business has likely had great influence on your ideas of expansion. For instance, small businesses often start with a base set of products or services, limited marketing, and a modest number of staff – ultimately working towards expansion in all of these areas.
There are a number of ways to expand your small business, and countless tools that can help you do it. And interestingly enough, one prominent business expansion tool also happens to be one of the world’s most widely used resources: the Internet. The Internet holds a wealth of information, resources, contacts and more to help you expand your small business in a way that’s right for you.
For example, if you’re looking to expand your business in terms of product or service offerings, you’re likely to need an additional base of suppliers. And what better place to source those suppliers than through the Internet? The Internet can return countless results via a search for specialised suppliers, enabling you to sort through your options and choose the most suitable suppliers based on your business goals.
Alternatively, you might want to expand your small business with regard to product and service promotion – something which can be achieved via online videos, blogs, news articles, or email updates to your clients. The online world happens to be one of the most powerful promotional tools available to business owners, quite simply because it’s so widely used the world over.
However, what if you simply want to increase your number of staff? Once again, the Internet can be one of the most useful resources available for staff recruitment. It’s a fact: countless people search for jobs online, everyday. So if you place job postings online, you’ll get the most exposure – and the highest number of applicants – for your post. The higher the number of applicants, the higher the chances you’ll find the staff you’re looking for.
However, in utilising the Internet for your business expansion operations, it’s worth remembering that certain types of Internet services adhere better to businesses. For instance, you can find specialised business broadband deals which offer higher – and often unlimited – broadband usage, increased speeds, mobile broadband services and more, ultimately giving you better access to the tools you need to help you operate and expand your business.
Therefore, it could prove worthwhile to enquire about business broadband in your area, and discover what this dedicated service can do for your business.
Grow Your Small Business
Most small business owners would agree that they want their businesses to grow. In order to achieve this desired growth, the small business must become recognizable; it must brand itself. There are literally millions of other organizations trying to steal your customers away from you on any given day. One simplistic method for enhancing your recognition is to obtain a toll free 800 number.
Having an 800 number can benefit your business in many ways. Let’s examine a few of them now:
• Perhaps most importantly, having a toll free number helps your business to establish the trust of potential consumers. Research has shown that consumers are 30 times more likely to offer their personal information when calling an 800 number. It makes them feel that they are dealing with a trustworthy organization that will be there for the long run.
• Customer satisfaction makes and breaks small businesses every day. The failure rates for small businesses are staggering. When you show your customers that you care enough to provide them an 800 number to call toll free, they feel appreciated. Studies show that consumers complain heavily of being made to pay long distance charges for customer service. Even in this modern age where phone calls are literally a dime a dozen, they expect a business of quality to provide this service.
• There’s a lot of competition in the world for all businesses – small or large. You need to stand out. A toll-free 800 number helps you to do that. Ask yourself if this is true. Which type of number stands out to you?
• 800 numbers are simply more professional than non-800 numbers. The consumer’s perception of your business’s professionalism means everything. Don’t make them feel like they’re dealing with a newcomer – an organization that is just trying to establish itself. Let them know that your organization is based on professionalism and customer service.
• Assuming your desire to grow your small business, you need to recognize that every single fortune 500 company has a toll free 800 number. Learn from the success of the successful.
• Fact: an 800 number is far easier to remember for people. They may not want to call or be able to call immediately upon hearing or seeing your number. The better that they can remember your number, the more likely they will be to call it. Do not make the mistake of placing too much faith in the memory of the general public. Burn your number into their minds – make it toll-free 800.
• In addition to the 800 prefix, it is good to use a vanity/custom phone number. This will be more easily embedded into their long-term memories. This enhances your branding. Think about 1 800 FLOWERS. Enough said.
• Having a toll free 800 number allows you the ability to communicate with your customers from anywhere. It broadens your reach.
• 800 numbers are not affected by changes in area codes. Besides being free to call, they are not location dependent. You will never have to change your business cards or the information on your other advertising mediums again.
If you are the owner of a small business and desire to increase your profits, recognition, professional image and branding, then you definitely need to obtain a toll free 800 number today. Why wait any longer? The benefits are many. The price is negligible. Take this first step in making your small business become the superstructure that you envision.
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