Business Generation

In another recent post, we talked about the cost of hiring employees. However, some of those costs can be given back to your small business in the form of government grants.

The new healthcare bill that was recently signed into law in 2010 by President Obama contains provisions that provide money to small businesses that promote and operate wellness and prevention programs for their employees. About $200 million in grants will be given out over five years, starting in 2011. These grants will be earmarked for small businesses with 100 or fewer employees and will be administered by the US Health and Human Services Department.

How can your business benefit from these grants?

Read more…

A couple of years ago I was playing music with a band. I got pretty into the music scene, played a few gigs, spent a lot of time playing and listening to music. Being the type of person that I am, I also did a lot of research. I’m not quite sure where I got it from, but I came across an idea that has very subtly changed my life. It is the counter intuitive claim that restrictions, or limitations, will set you free. See, in music, the limitations make the music. If I sit at a keyboard and randomly mash keys, there is no music. Nothing beautiful can happen.

However, if I restrict the amount of time I play the notes, and perhaps limit them to specific times, and if I contain the keys to certain chords, melodies, or certain tunes and rhythms, then we actually have music. T

Read more…

If you are in any type of role that involves marketing, you are doing or exploring how to utilize Social Media in your organization. Most of us have heard the buzzword “Social Media” and have probably seen the icons on websites and in print for places like Facebook and Twitter.

Two primary things a small business needs to look a first before diving into Social Media – first, it is about having a conversation with people and second, you need to have outposts where those people are located. I was

Read more…

Price comparison website moneysupermarket.com today said it had seen signs of recovery after revenues were hit by a credit drought in 2009.

The firm reported evidence of “building momentum” in sales so far during 2010, helped by an advertising campaign fronted by comedian Omid Djalili.

Revenues slid 22% to £136.9m last year, with the damage done mainly by a 44% slump in sales at its money division.

This was caused by a shift in the sales mix away from more lucrative credit products towards savings and the closure of its biggest revenue generator – Barclays’ First Plus loans arm – to new business.

The firm said: “The current level of trading is consistent with the board’s view that the business has stabilised and that the worst is behind us.”

The company, based in Flintshire, north Wales, added underlying earnings were down 26% to £36m for the year as the group shed 80 jobs to cut costs.

Looking for car insurance is one of the least popular activities for car owners because it can be a very long, boring and tedious. Since car insurance is mandatory for almost all licensed drivers in the United States, it is important to shop around for the best deal on the best type of coverage.

Looking for a car insurance quote is the perfect way to compare bids from several insurance companies, and that allows the cost of an insurance policy based on information from the driver. A free car insurance quote can be obtained online or by phone, and the driver is usually required to include information about your driving record, the car is insured. Read more…

Just why the business plan has become such an important part of the business financing process in recent years comes as little surprise. Very seldom do we find that entrepreneurs are all-rounder’s and have skills and experience in all the different functional areas of the business. Most often the potential business owner may have both an interest and experience in a certain area and for that reason that they may have come up with a solution to a current problem or challenge that he/she may have come across.

Most entrepreneurs are in essence advanced problem solvers and due to their strong self-belief and resourcefulness may take their solution further to the point where a new venture is created. T

Read more…