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A Real Business Coach
I try to write articles that will be of help to the business
owner and I believe this one will, too. It may sound a little
self serving at times because, after all, I am a business coach.
However, I get many questions and there is some confusion...
"How to Develop Multiple Streams of $100,000+ Home Business Income"
Got a home business? Want a six-figure income? The sure route to home business wealth is to think "multiple," as in multiple streams of income. You can easily develop new income streams if you do two things: * find new ways to get customers; *...
SELL A BUSINESS 10 STEPS TO MAXIMIZE SELLING PRICE
You started your company 20 years ago “in your garage”, worked many 80 hour weeks, bootstrapped your growth, view your company with the pride of an entrepreneur, and are now considering your exit. The purpose of this article is to help you evaluate...
Small Business Planning -- Three Myths
Copyright 2005 Denise OBerry Are you -- like 70 percent of small business owners -- working without a plan? Here are three myths that need to be dispelled about strategic planning for small business. 1. It has to be formal -- Not so. The value of...
The Inferno of the Finance Director
Sometimes, I harbour a suspicion that Dante was a Financial Director. His famous work, "The Inferno", is such an accurate description of the job that it cannot be otherwise. He is fervently hated by the workers. He is thoroughly despised by...
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Home Business Grants
Depending on what kind of business you're planning to start, you
might be able to get a home business grant. These grants are
usually government-issued. They are, effectively, 'free money' -
as long as you use the money for what you say you're going to
use it for, you don't ever have to pay it back. Even if you
don't think you would qualify for anything, you might be able to
modify your business plan subtly so that you do.
Why Would They Do That?
The money is designed to encourage specific kinds of businesses
- it will always be given to you for a very specific purpose.
Also, grants almost never cover the full amount of whatever it
is you want to do, leaving you to make up the rest yourself.
Note that not all grants come from the government -- some are
given out by charities trying to further a cause, or by local
community organisations.
Areas commonly covered by grants include businesses that are
exporting (every government wants exports to be more than
imports), businesses that will provide training to their
employees, businesses that are doing useful research and
businesses that are providing services and jobs in places that
are candidates for 'regeneration'. You may also be able to find
extra support for environmentally-friendly businesses, and if
you're a woman or a member of an ethnic minority then that could
qualify you for a grant too.
Training Grants
Grants for training are some of the best ones out there -- if
you're planning to have any staff, you should really look into
them. Basically, you get a grant towards the cost of sending
some of your employees on a training course. This is good for
you, as you can train your employees more cheaply, and they'll
do a better job afterwards. It's good for them, as they learn
new skills or improve the ones they have and improve their
career prospects for the future. Finally, at least in theory,
it's good for the economy, as there will be a greater diversity
of skills available in the job market.
Research Grants
If your business is trying to solve a problem or develop an
invention, you might be eligible for a research grant. This can
be especially helpful for covering the costs of things
like
patent applications. Watch out, though -- application for
research grants is some of the fiercest out there.
Location, Location, Location
Whatever kind of grant you're going for, the biggest factor in
whether you get it will probably be where you're based. Grants
tend to be locally-focused, and especially targeted in areas
that are deemed to have a lacking economy. Since you're a home
business, you might even find it worth researching what is
available in each area, and moving home strategically.
It's Hard to Get a Grant
Beware of anyone who makes grants look easy. There are all sorts
of 'grant agencies' who want to take a fee, and 'guarantee' that
they'll get you a grant. They won't - as with almost all things
like this, never pay up front. However tempting their offer
might seem, you should be applying for the grants yourself. This
will generally involve submitting your business plan plus a
letter of about 1,000 words saying why you should get the grant
in question -- you can't really use the same letter for each
grant. Pick what you apply for carefully, as it's a waste of
time to apply when you don't meet the criteria properly.
If you want to make sure you're applying correctly, the best
thing to do is to phone up the organisation offering the grant
-- they'll usually be eager to offer help and advice. Still,
don't be upset if you don't get chosen, as it might just be that
there were more qualifying candidates than there was money.
Other Benefits
Any grant you get is likely to bring you to the attention of
some kind of agency or organisation who want to help you in
other ways too. They might help you get onto courses if you're
lacking any business skills, or even provide a mentor to guide
you. You might think it all sounds a little silly, but believe
me, when you run a home business you need all the help you can
get.
About the author:
Original Source: Articles-Galore.com
Information supplied and written by Lee Asher of The Home Income Portal
Home of Serious Online Business Options.
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Strategic Planning (in nonprofit or for-profit organizations) |
Adapted from the Field Guide to Nonprofit Strategic Planning and Facilitation. ... First, a Point About For-Profit and Nonprofit Strategic Planning ... |
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Basic Description of Strategic Planning (including key terms to know) |
Adapted from the Field Guide to Nonprofit Strategic Planning and Facilitation. ... Strategic planning often includes use of several key terms. ... |
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Strategic Planning, Strategic Plan, Business Strategy, Strategic ... |
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Strategic Planning |
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Frequently Asked Questions |
Strategic Planning · Fundraising · Financial Management · Risk Management · Credit Card Acceptance. The FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) listed on this ... |
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Strategic planning - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
Strategic planning involves defining objectives and developing ... Strategic planning uses "the big picture" to pursue large scale, long term objectives. ... |
en.wikipedia.org |
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08/26/96 STRATEGIC PLANNING |
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Strategic Planning Society: Strategy Development and Implementation |
Strategic Planning Society: Strategy Development and Implementation. |
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Guide 7 |
Strategic Planning in Smaller Nonprofit Organizations ... In short, as a result of a strategic planning process, an organization will have a clearer idea of ... |
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STRATEGIC PLANNING MANUAL |
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML |
Your browser may not have a PDF reader available. Google recommends visiting our text version of this document. |
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BPubs.com: Strategic Planning & Business Planning Articles |
Business Publications related to Corporate Strategic Planning. |
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Strategic Planning Tools |
Strategic Planning is a method for positioning an organization to take ... A strategic planning process incorporates an in-depth planning model that takes ... |
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Center for Simplified Strategic Planning, Inc. |
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LEADERSHIP: Strategic Planning and Strategic Management |
Introduction: Is strategic planning really worth it? ... The purpose of strategic planning is to encourage thinking about your organization's "big ... |
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The CEO Refresher Archives - Strategic Planning |
When done right, the integrated strategic planning process can take a ... Strategic Planning and Project Management: The Key to Successful Implementation ... |
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HEFCE : Publications : 2000 : 00/24 - Strategic planning in higher ... |
This guide reviews good practice in strategic planning in higher education (HE). It originated in a consultation exercise which we held in 1998 to review ... |
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The Association for Strategic Planning |
The Association for Strategic Planning (ASP), is a non-profit professional society whose mission is to enable people and organizations to succeed through ... |
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Amazon.com: Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations: A ... |
Amazon.com: Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations: A Practical Guide and Workbook: Books: Michael Allison,Jude Kaye by Michael Allison,Jude Kaye. |
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Amazon.com: Simplified Strategic Planning: A No-Nonsense Guide for ... |
Amazon.com: Simplified Strategic Planning: A No-Nonsense Guide for Busy People Who Want Results Fast!: Books: Robert W. Bradford,Robert W. Bradford,J. Peter ... |
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