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Financing Alternatives for Small Businesses
"Whether starting up a small business or expanding an existing company, you almost certainly will need financing. But which option or combination of financing options: personal savings, friends and family, commercial or government loans, outside...
How to Create Well-Defined Processes
Interested in learning how to reduce development time, save money and stay in control? Business professionals can learn how to create well-defined processes with the easy-to-manage Process Approach of Plan-Do-Check-Act.
Real Tools for Real...
Small Business Q & A: How To Tell If Your Amazing New Product Idea Is Really Worth Gambling On
Q: I have a great idea for an amazing new product. There is nothing like it on the market and no competition that I can find. I think it will be a huge success and so does everyone I tell the idea to. I'm willing to bet the farm on this one. What...
The 10 Worst Mistakes You Can Make When Selling Your Privately Owned Small Business
Thinking about selling your business? You are not alone. CNN Money reports that 35 million baby boomers are expected to retire between 2000 and 2020. If you are approaching retirement or soon will be, chances are you’ve considered putting your...
Writing e-Newsletters – Tricks of the Trade
Follow 10 simple rules of thumb, and you’ll soon be writing great e-newsletters and reaping the rewards. Company e-newsletters can be an amazingly successful marketing technique. Whether you want to up-sell or cross-sell, establish your brand or...
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1 Overlooked Key to Small Business Success
Is this you?
You dreamed of owning your own business, doing what you love and enjoying unlimited earning potential. You researched. You planned. You prepared. Finally, you launched.
Your dream was realized...and then your business started to grow! Could it get any better? Well, yes, but if you're like many others, you may have encountered one unexpected challenge along the way: Are you drowning in the day-to-day administrative tasks necessary to make your business successful?
Managing emails. Bookkeeping. Writing articles or newsletters. Processing invoices. Answering phone calls. Scheduling appointments. Marketing. Customer Service. Travel Planning. They all take time. Unfortunately, time is in short supply when business is booming.
The work needs to be done, but you don't want to do it yourself and you don't want the cost or the hassle of hiring an employee, right?
So what's the key? A virtual assistant.
Virtual assistants provide a wide range of administrative services to small businesses and individuals. They are independent contractors who work from home, use their own equipment, occupy their own space and pay their own taxes and benefits. Best of all, they charge you only for time spent on your particular project(s). They typically have years of administrative experience under their belt and most are amazingly budget-conscious.
As an emerging industry, virtual assistance is quickly
becoming a valuable asset to individual business owners and a must-have in the small business community at large. Handing off administrative tasks to someone with the tools and know-how to complete them quickly and efficiently is saving many businesses untold amounts of time and money. A virtual assistant is undoubtedly a worthwhile investment.
BONUS: 4 Tips for Working with a Virtual Assistant:
* Start small. Don't be afraid to "test the waters" by giving your new virtual assistant a small project without a huge budget. It may take time to find a virtual assistant with whom you work well.
* Be specific. Virtual assistants like to know exactly what's expected of them. Provide as much detail about your project and your needs as possible.
* Forge a relationship. Establishing a strong, lasting connection with a virtual assistant will benefit you enormously in the long run. You will be surprised how much you come to rely on his/her knowledge and expertise.
* Remember, your virtual assistant is not your employee; they are small business owners themselves, partnering with you to achieve success. This is a win-win situation because when you succeed, they succeed.
About the Author
Find a virtual assistant quickly, easily and for free at SimplyComplete.com, owned by Amy Andrews. Search the VA Directory or post your project in minutes. Get your to-dos done!
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United States Small Business Administration |
An electronic gateway of procurement information for and about small businesses. Search engine for contracting officers, marketing tool for small firms, ... |
www.sba.gov |
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SBA |
The Small Business Planner includes information and resources that will help you at any stage of the business lifecycle. ... |
www.sba.gov |
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Main Page - SmallBusiness.com - Small Business Resources |
Find Small Business plans, advice, tutorials about organization, corporations, entrepreneurship, and smallbusiness. |
www.smallbusiness.com |
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Yahoo! Small Business: Domain Names, Web Hosting, E-commerce ... |
Yahoo! Small Business provides products and services that enable you to establish and grow your business on the Internet. Services include domain name ... |
smallbusiness.yahoo.com |
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Small business advice business start up small business finance ... |
business start up small business finance start up advice. |
www.smallbusiness.co.uk |
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Smallbusiness.gov.au redirect to business.gov.au |
Business Entry Point - Helping small business in big ways. An Australian Government initiative. The content from this website has now been consolidated into ... |
www.smallbusiness.gov.au |
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Business & Small Business |
Online and print small business publication. Information to help start, grow or manage a small business. |
www.entrepreneur.com |
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Microsoft Small Business Center |
Your home for information about Microsoft's small-business products and services, tailored business advice, technology tools, and more. |
www.microsoft.com |
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The Small Business Advisor - advice for starting and operating a ... |
Advice and assistance for starting and operating a small or home based business. |
www.isquare.com |
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SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business" |
A nonprofit association dedicated to encouraging the formation, growth, and success of small business nationwide through counseling and mentor programs. |
www.score.org |
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Small Business and Self-Employed One-Stop Resource |
IR-2006-2, January 3, 2006 - Temporary and proposed regulations will significantly reduce tax filing burden for nearly 950000 small business owners. ... |
www.irs.gov |
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Welcome to Small Business BC your business resource in British ... |
BC Business Services offers assistance and resources for those running or starting a business in British Columbia and Vancouver. |
www.smallbusinessbc.ca |
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Small Business Service | Home |
Provides information and advice to help small businesses realise their potential. |
www.sbs.gov.uk |
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NSW Small Business |
A site developed by the NSW Department of State and Regional Development for small businesses. Topics include management, resources, current issues and ... |
www.smallbiz.nsw.gov.au |
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Business Management & Advice: Small Business Resources & Information |
Looking for business management and advice? Our website includes small business resources and information that can help you. Visit the small business ... |
www.businessweek.com |
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Small Business Lawyer, Attorney, Law, Legal Help - FindLaw for ... |
Information and legal sites relevant to small business. |
smallbusiness.findlaw.com |
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Small Business Funding Opportunities (SBIR and STTR) |
Links to Small Business Funding Opportunities and SBIR / STTR Applications. |
grants.nih.gov |
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Microsoft bCentral Small Business Directory |
Directory categorized by industry with company business card feature. |
sbd.bcentral.com |
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Our site has moved! Please update your bookmarks! |
Facilitates the sharing and exchange of information among small business development centers, the small business administration and other business-oriented ... |
sbdcnet.utsa.edu |
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Small Business Development Corporation |
Our business information services provides guidance to improve business skills and knowledge on advice on starting, buying, selling and expanding a small ... |
www.sbdc.com.au |
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