Table of Contents Before Starting Your Business, Ask Yourself:
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Where to Start, How to Grow, Where to Turn?
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Do You Have the Right Insurance Coverage?
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SCORE Client Testimonials
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Blind Marketing and Phantom Support—Two Business Killers
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3 Steps to Finding a Free Business Mentor to Help Start or Grow Your Business
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Meet Your Orange County SCORE Volunteers
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Crowd Funding for Your Business
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Align These 3 Areas of Your Life for Business Success
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Promoting Your Business On the Internet
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Local Chambers of Commerce
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Local SCORE Chapters
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County Clerk Offices
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Orange County Libraries
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Business Resources
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SCORE Business Advice www.ScoreBusinessAdvice.com Published 1 time per year.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, translated or converted into machine-readable form or language without the written consent of the publisher. Articles express the opinions of the authors and are not necessarily those of the publisher.
Subscription inquires: www.ScoreBusinessAdvice.com Publisher: A&E Advertising and Web Design Editor: Edison R. Guzman Advertising: Edison R. Guzman Published: September 2015 ScoreBusinessAdvice.com
Please note: The information contained within this magazine is for educational purposes only. Every attempt has been made to provide accurate, up to date and reliable complete information. No warranties of any kind are expressed or implied. Readers acknowledge that the author is not engaging in rendering legal, financial or professional advice. By reading this magazine, the reader agrees that under no circumstances we are responsible for any losses, direct or indirect, that are incurred as a result of use of the information contained within this publication, including - but not limited to errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.
SCORE Business Advice 1
Before Starting Your Business, Ask Yourself:
Hello. My name is Edison Guzman, and I am the current Chapter Chair of Orange County SCORE Chapter #465. This publication was created to help you either start your own business, or help grow your existing business. The Orange County NY Chapter is one of over 320 nation-wide chapters. We are all here to help you realize your dream of starting and growing your business. You are welcomed to schedule a oneon-one confidential, no-cost mentoring session, so that we can answer any of your business questions and guide you on your road to business success. I am happy to announce that you can access the online scheduling system on our web site, 24/7 and schedule your appointment at three different locations. Free mentoring is offered in Montgomery, Goshen and Monroe. We also host workshops throughout the year, so ensure to visit our web site, www.ScoreBusinessAdvice.com for the most up-to-date events and to schedule your appointments. Take Care, Edison R. Guzman Chapter Chair SCORE #465 2 SCORE Business Advice
1) What are you best at? What is your past experience? Do you have natural talents? What do you like to do? Are you a fast learner? 2) Is your idea a good idea? Check the trends. Google.com/trends, ThinkWithGoogle.com 3) Is there a big enough market? Infousa.com, google.com/publicdata, City-Data.com 4) Is there a need? Does your idea get rid of pain, gives pleasure or none? 5) Who else is doing it? Google.com, Bing.com, YP.com 6) What is the profit potential? How many products must you sell or service hours must you deliver in order to meet expenses and thrive? Is it scalable? 7) How do I fund it? Savings, friends, family, banks, investors, credit cards, etc. 8) Do I need to protect my idea? USPTO.gov 9) Build or buy? Do I build a business from scratch, buy an existing business, or invest in a franchise? 10) Partnership or alone? Do you thrive with others, need their expertise, or their money?
Answering these questions is just the start. In order to really see if your business is truly a good idea, you will need to create a business plan. You can do it yourself, with the help of SCORE counselors, or hire someone to create the plan for you. Once you’ve gone through the business plan process, there are 7 steps to starting your own business: 1) Choose your company name. 2) Research and register the domain name for your company . aeDomain.com, GoDaddy.com, NameCheap.com 3) Choose company legal entity (Sole Proprietor, Partnership, C Corp, S Corp, LLC, LLP, PLLP) and file. dos.state.ny.us/corps/bus_entity_search.html 4) Apply for EIN (TIN) number. IRS.gov 5) Open company bank account. 6) Acquire required permits, licenses, and file retail tax collection forms if necessary. nys-opal.com 7) Implement marketing plan. ScoreBusinessAdvice.com
Where to Start, How to Grow, Where to Turn? Charlene Maurer Finerty One person, one class, one connection can make a difference in your life and the future success of your business idea. Think Score, a National volunteer organization, broken down into districts and local chapters to assist start-ups and small businesses. Entrepreneurs may request a face-to-face meeting, some chapters do telephone consults, web sites have dozens and dozens of prerecorded classes available 24/7, some offer live stand-alone workshops and Orange County NY Score offers a strong proven 20-night series.
comments Score counselors receive is, “I don’t know where to start.” Other comments include, “I’ve been in a business a long time, but I could do better, but I’m not sure how.” “I don’t know what to do next.” “My business is having a hard time financially.” “I want to buy (or sell) a business.”
Score Counselors can be a sounding board. Sometimes entrepreneurs do not recognize what is influencing our business. Yet, recapping it to a counselor may make it perfectly clear to an outsider. The counselor/s may If you have a business question make suggestions for you to study. And, or nagging problem, Score stands ready how often in life do we answer our own to help you in more than one way. One questions once we have an opportunity to choice is to contact your local chapter and say our problem out loud? Often a Score request a face-to-face meeting with a counselor may not have the magic Score counselor. In Orange County, do answer, but may suggest the Score client this at www.OrangeNYscore.com or www.ScoreBusiness Advice.com. In reach out to other persons or entities. other counties go to their web site, or go to www.Score.org, enter your zip code on Counselors may ask questions the home page, input requested data and a and send the client off to do some local counselor will contact within a few homework and return for another session. days. Or, click Mentoring and the next screen will provide two choices: the In fact, repeat sessions are encouraged. A same local appointment system or a Score counselor may recommend writing a Nation-wide email system matching your business plan, a multi-step process that keywords with suggested counselors. takes time and focus. Score can offer advice, encouragement and make you One of the most common
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realize you are not alone as you effectively and efficiently push through a plan or another process to improve your business. Put entries on your calendar to move your goals forward including make a Score appointment, sign-up for the next 20-night series in Orange County Score, take one pre-recorded webinar/class once a month from www.score.org or your local Score chapter. One initiative can make a difference in any organization. This magazine is example of what one person’s idea can produce. It is designed, coordinated and produced primarily by one person, the Orange County NY Score Chair, with contributors from your local region. This is an example of how one Score volunteer had an idea, set goals, organized priorities and got it done, in addition to weekly face-to-face consults and operating a professional business. If you have questions, untapped potential and need help, a sounding board, knowledge or mentor, contact Score. By Charlene Maurer Finerty, Owner of Plans and Profits, LLC a business plan writing, teaching, critiquing and finishing service for start-ups and existing small businesses. www.PlansAndProfits.com
SCORE Business Advice 3
Do You Have the Right Insurance Coverage? Gregory M. Hogan, CIC, CLU, RHU
During client interviews, my goal is to understand clients’ risks and needs so I can best help them. By asking questions and listening, areas that cry out for coverage are discovered. Many times the business owner never knew coverage was available for a need she didn’t know she had. “I’ve never heard about that before”, they’ll say. “Do I really need that coverage?” The answer is usually, ‘it depends’.
with a fine attached. If you need WC, you most likely also need NY Disability. Did you remember to get it?
during business use of a vehicle. Depending on the vehicle, a business auto policy may provide more coverage at a lower premium.
Property - Do you have a building or business contents that you’d lose, say, in a fire? Does your lender require it to cover their interest in a loan to you? Think about it, you may have thousands of dollars in equipment and inventory that could be gone in a flash. A few premium dollars today, could prevent thousands lost tomorrow.
Errors & Omissions - Do you give advice to clients for a fee? Could someone sue you for breach of contract? Lawsuits for bad advice or improper dealings are not covered in standard liability policies.
Business Income - Will your revenue stop if your business is shut It depends on the business type, down due to a covered loss? Will the business owner’s landlord or your employees suffer with no income lender, even the business owner’s Liability - Do you have customers while the business is not operating? willingness (and ability) to take risks. come see you? Do you go see Sure, you may have property coverage Some coverages are mandated by law, customers? Does your landlord require to rebuild your building and buy new such as Workers Comp and NY it? As a business owner, you have a stock, but will the business survive Disability. Some are required by target on your back and people will this downtime? Business income lenders and landlords (property/ sue you. Are you prepared? If you are coverage can provide the capital liability), and all are designed to an LLC or corporation you may think needed to keep a business afloat. provide payment should you suffer a you are protected from personal Employment Practices Liability covered loss. The paragraphs below lawsuits. Think again. There are Do you have employees or highlight some of these coverage plenty of cases where a business customers? If so, then this coverage is types and identifies why they may be owner was held personally almost mandatory in today’s climate. necessary. responsible, despite being a It will cover employee or customer corporation or LLC. lawsuits for discrimination, among Workers Compensation (WC) Do you have employees, on payroll or Auto - Do you have a vehicle(s) other things. not, and do you want to cover for use in your business? Do your Gregory M. Hogan, CIC, CLU, RHU is yourself? Even if you pay your employees use their cars for your a broker at Hutchings-Curabba workers on a 1099 basis, you may business? Just because the car is insured through a personal policy does Insurance Agency in Middletown NY. have to cover them for WC, but too often employers learn this when it’s not mean you are covered. Some of Call him at (845) 343-2148 or visit his too late...after someone is injured or the largest writers of personal auto the state sends a noncompliance letter insurance will deny claims that occur web site at HutchingsInsurance.com.
4 SCORE Business Advice
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SCORE Business Advice 5
SCORE Client Testimonials “…and Guzman SCOREs!” If small business had a play-by-play announcer, that would have been his exclamation, commenting on the help SCORE’s Edison Guzman has given me. Edison’s seminars and counseling sessions have provided me the most value I’ve received from my membership in the Orange County Chamber of Commerce, and I have gotten a lot from being a member.
during my four years in the Chamber.
Edison got my attention this April with his day-long seminar, “Social Media Marketing Strategies for Small Business Owners,” although I had already known, liked, and been impressed by him
Not only did the seminar awaken me to useful Facebook strategies, I found I was eligible and welcome to obtain free business counseling through SCORE at the Chamber. Who knew? Sign me up!
The difference between a lecture and an expert’s hands-on mentoring, which is what our SCORE sessions became, is the difference between learning a bit about something and actually knowing how to do it. I knew I wanted to advertise on Facebook as well as use its free features, but I needed help in negotiating the various set-up pages, in choosing my target market, my message, the optimal mode of delivering it, even the best titles for my ads. Edison helped me by a combination of “fishing” for me and “teaching me how to fish,” so I could do it myself soon after. So many options existed, and Edison explained each of them to help me make good decisions. Discouragement can come easily to the small businessman. Actually, I am of medium size, but my business is small, and I don’t always persevere. Without Edison’s guidance, I might have given up on advertising on Facebook, thinking the cost per r esponse my ads wer e getting to be too expensive, but he reassured me that my Facebook ads were doing very well. We tweaked them, and they did even better. Edison, drawing on his advertising expertise, taught me some of the factors that help motivate potential buyers to close the deal rather than procrastinate.
We developed a campaign that reached potential clients with attractive messages about becoming authors [they are authoritative] or memoirists [they preserve memories], emphasizing the limited number of candidates I really needed Edison’s help with advertising, in particular on Social Media, like Facebook, Twitter, and my blog. His first counseling session to be accepted [six] in the limited two-week enrollment period. All along, started with a discussion of my goals: I help people write and publish their we’ve had fun, as I have been learning so many things I had not been taught as a physics major. books---as a coach, editor, even co-author---and I wanted another half-dozen clients this year. I am looking forward to continuing to access Edison’s valuable expertise. The Social Media campaign he helped me with has already brought Next came his exploratory question, “What is your unique value me half my quota of new clients, and the enrollment period has not proposition? What sets you apart? Tell me about yourself and your business.” As we talked, Edison grew even more enthusiastic. He quickly yet begun. nailed it, a theme for me: “Why would a former Harvard professor I’d say, we SCOREd! want to help you write your book for only $25 per week?” That Douglas Winslow Cooper, Ph.D., LLC became the basis of the Social Media campaign: on my blog, on Twitter, douglas@tingandi.com on Facebook. In subsequent sessions, he then showed me in detail how to (845) 778-4204 use these tools successfully to recruit my next set of would-be authors. WriteYourBookWithMe.com The small business owner in today’s economy has many extraordinary challenges to manage. When you are working hard to succeed and find that your efforts are not paying off the way you want them to pay off. That can be very frustrating. As an existing business, I was looking to explore and enhance the business’ marketing methods. Over this last year, I started looking for support to help me to find the necessary strategies that could help me to propel my business to a more successful level. I did the research and I discovered the SCORE program. This was the best discovery for both my business and me. I would actually like to take the time to thank both the SCORE program and most definitely Edison Guzman. From my first visit, the staff at SCORE met me with nothing but warmth, openness, and the utmost professionalism. They were friendly and extremely helpful to me in explaining how the process works. I immediately knew that I was in good hands.
6 SCORE Business Advice
I had my first meeting with my SCORE mentor Edison Guzman. From the first meeting and discussion, I was well on my way to developing a solid marketing plan tailored to my target market. Edison’s skills and expertise helped me to understand marketing and business strategies in a way that allowed me to make decisions that support my business growth. He was able to explain things in terms that I could easily relate to my business plan. These meetings were invaluable to me.
Through this process of meeting with Mr. Guzman, I have gained many new ideas and have a renewed sense of a clear direction for my business plan. I was very pleasantly surprised with the passion and level of detail that Mr. Guzman has for marketing. He has a gift of being able to directly, but discreetly, show what works and what does not work. Again, I thank the SCORE program and Mr. Edison Guzman for their dedicated help in putting my business on the right marketing track. Bruce Johnson, EA Solid Tax Solutions (845) 344-1040 www.SolidTaxSolutions.com
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Blind Marketing and Phantom Support – Two Business Killers Eric Egeland, CPCU, AU Blind marketing is probably an ironic term to use since most people don’t think they are blindly marketing, so let me shed some light on this supposed oxymoron. Marketing is something all the marketing companies tell us we have to do. They tell us we have to “get our brand out there,” “be on social media,” and we have to “be creative.” That is supposedly the magical formula to reach your audience. However, while you DO have to market in someway, shape, or form… “branding,” social media, or some wonderfully creative ad campaign may be the exact WRONG way to do it! If you have spent umpteen dollars on marketing over the years and have no idea if it worked or you KNOW it didn’t so you kept TRYING new things, you are the victim of BLIND MARKETING. What’s the Problem? There are two problems actually: Creativity - Everyone knows, and either likes or dislikes, large companies such as Pepsi and Ford, so all they have to do is simply remind people of their existence. This is where CREATIVITY comes into play. Wendy’s “Where the beef?” campaign, the Geico Gecko, Flo from Progressive Insurance… these are all creative ads to remind you of something you already know about and need/want. The problem is the majority of small and medium businesses can’t afford this creative branding! Everybody doesn’t know them and trying to win market share from another behemoth corporation is nearly impossible when unknown. They need something that actually drives business to them. They ScoreBusinessAdvice.com
need marketing that gives them a return on their investment.
3) Hire a third party consulting firm to do the market research for you AND your marketing firm. This is obviously Research – This should actually be “lack the most professional and objective way of research.” Research is the boring, to truly find out what will increase sales tedious, antithesis of creativity. Creative for your company. people don’t want to research trends, competitors, and psychographics. That’s Marketing sometimes seems like one of no fun! They want to be creative! They those carnival games. You keep want to spit ball ideas, talk things out, spending money trying to win your kid a come up with cool stuff. That’s what stuffed animal, but it’s seemingly they do, they are good at it, and it is impossible to win. Doing the proper necessary at some point. But figuring research is like learning the trick to the out what specific marketing you should carnival game! spend your money on to make MORE Phantom Support MONEY, takes some homework! Phantom support is typically the support What’s the Answer? friends and family give to an There are many ways to improve your entrepreneur regarding their new ROI on marketing. product or service, but it can happen to existing companies as well. 1) The cheapest, and one of the best, is to create a tracking system for every People inherently want to be supportive single lead/customer your business gets. and encouraging. They say, “That’s such Ask them where they heard about you, a great idea! I would so buy that!” But keep track of if they buy, what they buy, when it’s finally for sale, very few and how much and how often. Cross people actually buy. Marketing mirrors reference any marketing activity with this empty supportive and encouraging sales to see if that activity actually had lingo. Everyone spits out creative ideas, an impact on sales. There are numerous but no one wants to say the creative idea customer relations management and is horrible. sales systems out there, or you can just Any advice or support or “likes” should set up a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. be taken with a grain of salt and replaced with objective research. 2) Insist your marketing firm on doing Research will blatantly reveal your objective research. The key here is weakness and strengths. It is not there to “objective”! Asking YOU all sorts of hold your hand or appease your questions about what you like is NOT business’s ego. objective research. There is a time and Eric Egeland is CEO of Capacity place for what you like… but when it Business Consulting, a management comes to figuring out what your consulting firm that specializes in addressable market likes, what strategic marketing plans and research. competitors are doing well and not so well, etc., you are almost never the best source.
SCORE Business Advice 7
3 Steps to Finding a Free Business Mentor to Help Start or Grow Your Business Step 2 - Carve Out Time in Your Busy Schedule to Devote to Meeting with a Business Mentor It’s not easy for entrepreneurs to find time to meet with a mentor when so much is happening with the business that appears to be and maybe is, more pressing. But, in order to get help, you have to commit some of your time and energy to meeting with your mentor. It’s just like exercise—you’ll be glad that you did it and will feel energized when you finished.
In just 3 steps, we’ll show you how to find, develop and nurture a business mentor that will help you through the booms and busts of small business ownership. Whether you’re just getting started, or are a business veteran and looking for answers, the following will help you find the right help for you. Step 1 - Figure Out What You Need Help With — and Yes, Everyone Needs Help from Time to Time Pick out the top three challenges you or your business faces—and prioritize them in order of having the biggest impact on your business success.
Step 3 - Find a Mentor you Click With There are several local SCORE chapters nationwide. Choose the most convenient for you for a face-to-face confidential meeting. If you can’t get to a local chapter, visit www.Score.org for an online, or “virtual,” mentor.
Answer These Questions and Create the Perfect Marketing Plan You must do your research in order to answer some of these questions and create an effective marketing plan.
What Products/ Services Price
Place
Why
What products do What need does it you need? fill?
What price will you sell it for?
Why is that the right price?
How will products Why choose be distributed? these channels?
When
How
How Much
Who
When do you need it?
How will the product fill the need?
Product cost, volume to be sold, etc.
Who is your target market?
How long will that How will the price How much sales price be valid? develop over and margin will be time? created?
Different prices for different segments?
When do customers choose different channels?
How will we create or enter these channels?
What are the cost/benefits of these channels?
How do different segments use different channels?
Promotion
What types of promotion to be used?
Why choose these activities?
Timing: Launch, lifecycle, etc.?
How will the promotions be executed?
Costs/benefits of the promotions.
Target groups for various promotions?
Other
What is the market size of your market?
Why should someone buy from you?
When do you test different strategies?
S.W.O.T. analysis?
How much can you scale/grow your business?
Who is your competition?
8 SCORE Business Advice
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Meet Your Orange County SCORE Volunteers The volunteers of Orange County SCORE, Chapter #465, have rich and varied business backgrounds. Counselors share their business expertise and knowledge in all aspects of small business. In addition, all counselors have specific areas of expertise, which are listed below. Visit ScoreBusinessAdvice.com to schedule a free, confidential face-to-face counseling session. We will evaluate your needs and match you with the perfect counselor that will help you start or grow your business. Volunteer: Peter Artusa Company: All County Window Cleaning Expertise: Business Operations, Business Strategy & Planning, Sales, Marketing & Public Relations
Volunteer: Harvey Horn (Former Chapter Chair) Company: Retired Expertise: Management, Product Development, Plastic Manufacturing and production
Volunteer: Chris Ashman Company: Retired Expertise: Mental health/developmental disabilities/substance abuse field. Commissioner in the Department of Mental Health for 21 years.
Volunteer: Lewis Kornish Company: Retired Expertise: Business Operations, Sales, Marketing & Public Relations, Supply Chain Management, Business Strategy & Planning
Volunteer: Paul Campanella Company: Action Plus Project Management Expertise: Medical Device, Pharmaceutical, Food and Cosmetic Manufacturing and FDA Compliance. Project Management, ISO9000, HACCP, Global Food Safety
Volunteer: Cynthia Marsh-Croll Company: Orange County Chamber of Commerce Expertise: Business Operations, Public and Professional Organizations, MWBE Certifications
Volunteer: Lynn Allen Cione Company: Orange County Chamber of Commerce Expertise: Government & Regulations, Human Resources & Internal Communications, Non-Profit
Volunteer: Michael Mazzuca Company: Riverside Bank Expertise: Business Banking, Commercial Lending and General Banking
Volunteer: Eric Egeland, CPCU, AU Company: Capacity Business Consulting, Inc. Expertise: Feasibility Studies, Funding, Analysis, Business Improvement
Volunteer: Charles Pakula Company: Retired Expertise: Business Operations, Retail/Franchise operation, Retail and Wholesale Trade
Volunteer: Charlene Finerty, Chapter Co-Chair Company: Plans and Profits, LLC Expertise: Business Plan Service, Business Operations, Business Strategy & Planning
Volunteer: Rolland Peacock III Company: TD Bank, N.A. Expertise: Banking, Financial Services and Insurance, Business Finance & Accounting, Business Strategy & Planning
Volunteer: Valerie Gross Company: Orange County Chamber of Commerce Expertise: Chapter Support
Volunteer: Mary Rhode Company: Goshen Chamber of Commerce Expertise: Chapter support
Volunteer: Edison Guzman, Chapter Chair Company: A&E Advertising and Web Design Expertise: Advertising, Marketing, Web Design, Workshops, Internet Marketing, Graphic Arts, Social Media, SEO
Volunteer: John Rosenberger Company: GKG Wealth Advisors, LLC Expertise: CPA, Tax Manager
Volunteer: William Herring Company: Retired Expertise: Sales and Marketing, Manufacturer Representative, Mergers & Acquisitions, Wholesale Operations, Business Services Consulting
Volunteer: Terry Smallin Company: Goshen Chamber of Commerce Expertise: Business growth strategies, Membership growth, Non profit organizations
Volunteer: Gregory M. Hogan, CIC, CLU, RHU Company: Hutchings Insurance, Inc. Expertise: Property, Casualty, Life, Health and Disability Insurance Broker
Volunteer: Arlean Veve Company: Orange County Chamber of Commerce Expertise: Chapter Support
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SCORE Business Advice 9
Crowd Funding for Your Business of mouth of publicity to spread the word and catch the attention of potential investors. Crowdfunding sites offer a powerful platform where entrepreneurs can pitch their business ideas, spread the word about their pitch, and connect with interested investors registered on the site. The Crowd Funding Advantage: The hardest part of starting a business is raising capital. Crowd Funding can make the road smoother. Here are the top advantages: You have a business idea and need financing? What if you could connect with a group of like-minded people with funds to spare? You will have a good chance of getting investors, right?
It’s the most cost effective technique to raise funds for your project. You get feedback on your idea, even before you launch your business and get a feel of what the market response is likely to be.
IndieGoGo. IndieGoGo offer s anyone with an idea — creative, cause-related, entrepreneurial — the tools to build a campaign and raise money. Kickstarter. Kickstar ter claims to be the largest funding platform for creative projects in the world. Kiva. Kiva allows people to lend money via the Internet to people in the U.S. and developing countries. Kiva itself does not collect any interest on the loans it facilitates. It is purely supported by grants, loans, and donations from its users, corporations, and national institutions. MicroVentures. Micr oVentur es tar gets companies that are creating technologies, products and services in core areas, such as business products, consumer products, electronics, online technology, and more.
That’s exactly what crowd funding is. In simple terms, crowd funding means raising capital for any business venture through a ‘crowd’ of small investors.
Crowd Funding can also double-up as a marketing tool! You can create a buzz about your business even before it’s launched.
PeerBackers. Peer backer s is for business owners to raise capital from their peers — in small increments — in exchange for tangible rewards.
Is it Legal? Yes, crowdfunding is legal, Congress passed H.R.3606 on 3/23/2012.
Crowdfunding websites can help you find a community of small investors to fund your business, without the risks of traditional financing. Some sites focus on funding creative projects. Other sites focus on meeting specific needs in the marketplace or community.
ProFounder. Pr oFounder is a crowdfunding platform for entrepreneurs to raise investment capital from their communities.
How does it work? Crowdfunding uses the reach of social media and the Internet to make it easy for entrepreneurs to connect with potential Crowdfunding Websites investors. Add to that, the power of (SCORE does not recommend or endorse microfinance, and you have a capital raising any crowdfunding sites) technique with a huge potential. In simple words, you post a pitch online, use tools like social media, blogs, and word
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GoFundMe. Mostly, a per sonal fundraising website platform.
RocketHub. RocketHub is a community for “Creative and Fuelers” — those with projects and those who contribute. Submit your project to the “Launchpad” for fueling. Do your research and due diligence to see which, if any of these services is right for you.
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Align These Three Areas of Your Life for Business Success... Edison R. Guzman Whether you’ve started a business, or are in the process of starting your business, your chances of business success will increase when you align three areas of your life.
yourself these questions.
Once you’ve dug deep within you and truly answered these questions, you will be able to start a business that will be a Too often, we overlook the obvious when starting a business. natural success for your personality type. If you’d ask yourself what you’re passionate about, what If you feel that you’re not in the right business, or want to drives you and what are your greatest talents, you would start one with the best chance at success, take a few minutes probably be in a totally different business right now. and answer the questions within the spheres in the diagram That’s why it’s very important to take your time and ask below. It will deliver the lifestyle you seek and deserve.
When you run a fun business that you can automate and is scalable, you will be able to grow it to any size you wish. Your imagination is your limitation.
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You must always ensure that your mission is aligned with your vision in life. How do you see yourself or your business 5, 10, 15, 20 years from now?
SCORE Business Advice 11
Promoting Your Business On the Internet Edison R. Guzman The internet is no longer just about having a web site, it’s about being found online when someone needs what you have to offer. Your prospective customers may need you today, in a week, a month, or even a year. This is why when you create your online presence, you must keep this in mind and plan for it. When creating a web site, you can do it yourself, or hire an experienced company to do it for you.
Photo editing software (Photoshop, GIMP)
7. Email marketing
Audio recording and editing software (Audacity – audacity.sourceforge.net)
9. Affiliate marketing
Video Camera or Web Cam
11. Banner advertising
Video ripping, editing and converting software (AVSMedia.com)
12. Article marketing
Screen Capturing Software (Camtasia by Techsmith.com)
Ecommerce capabilities (AutomaticEcommerce.com)
8. Joint ventures 10. Video marketing
13. Solo ads 14. Co-op ads 15. Blog posting 16. Webinars 17. Teleseminars
There are many free web site do18. Local directory listings These tools will allow you to it-yourself services available on line, create an online presence, sell your 19. Product reviews and if that’s where you have to start, products and services, accept credit it’s better than not having a web site. card payments, keep your web site 20. Testimonials Just keep in mind that your web up-to-date, add audio, add video and There are dozens of ways to get make your company look as site represents you, your product traffic to your web site. You simply professional as possible. and/or services and your overall need to start a campaign and test business. If you design it poorly, it You can learn to use all of these your way to success. will reflect badly on you. tools by watching online tutorials If you don’t have the time, but and educational videos. These are the basic tools you you have the budget, then I suggest need when creating your web site: you hire someone that can do this for Once you’ve created your web site, you need to get people to see it. you, so that you don’t waste too Domain name much time and money. You do this by driving traffic with (aeDomain.com)
Hosting account (GVOToolKit.com) Web site (HTML or CMS such as Wordpress)
Email marketing system (YourEmailMarketingSystem.com)
Merchant account (Local bank, PayPal.com, AcceptCreditCardsNow.biz)
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specific internet marketing strategies.
Here are 20 ways to do this: 1. Pay-Per-Click advertising 2. Search engine optimization 3. Search engine marketing 4. Blogging 5. Online Press releases 6. Social Media Marketing
In business, you’re either investing time in growing your business, or investing money. You choose which gives you the best ROI. Edison Guzman is owner of A&E Advertising and Web Design, and founder of hvBiz.com. He can be found at (845) 469-4919. His web site address is aeAdvertising.com.
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SCORE Business Advice 13
Local Chambers of Commerce Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce One Civic Center Plaza Poughkeepsie NY 12601 dcrcoc.org (845) 454-1700
SCORE location
Goshen Chamber of Commerce 223 Main St. P.O. Box 506 Goshen NY 10924 SCORE GoshenNYChamber.com location (845) 294-7741 Greater Monroe Chamber of Commerce 787 Route 17M # 0330 Monroe NY 10949-0330 SCORE gmcoc.com location (845)475-8686 New Paltz Chamber of Commerce 257 Main Street New Paltz NY 12561 NewpaltzChamber.org (845) 255-0243
Orange County Chamber of Commerce 30 Scott's Corners Drive Montgomery NY 12549 SCORE OrangeNY.com location (845) 457-9700
The Business Council of Westchester 800 Westchester Avenue, Suite S-310 Rye Brook, NY 10573 WestchesterNY.org (914) 948-2110
Putnam County Chamber of Commerce 953 South Lake Blvd. Mahopac, NY 10541 PutnamChamberNY.org (845) 228-8595
Tri-State Chamber of Commerce 5 S. Broome St. P.O. Box 121 Port Jervis NY 12771 TriStateChamber.org (845) 856-6694
Rockland Business Association One Blue Hill Plaza, P.O. Box 1567 Pearl River NY 10965 RocklandBusiness.org (845) 735-2100
Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce 214 Fair Street Kingston NY 12401 UlsterChamber.org (845) 338-5100
Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 405 Mongaup Valley NY 12762 Catskills.com (845) 791-4200
Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce South Street Caboose, P.O. Box 202 Warwick NY 10990 WarwickCC.org (845) 986-2720
Local SCORE Chapter Main Offices Dutchess - Chapter: 59 1 Civic Center Plaza Rm. 400 Poughkeepsie, NY 10261 Phone: (845) 454-1700 x1021 Fax: (845) 454-1702 Web: dutchess.score.org Orange - Chapter: 465 30 Scott's Corner Drive Montgomery, NY 12549 Phone: (845) 457-9700 Fax: (845) 457-8799 Web: www.ScoreBusinessAdvice.com Putnam - Chapter: 678 110 Old Route 6 Room 8, Building 3 Carmel, NY 10512 Phone: (845) 225-6030 Fax: (845) 225-0311 Web: www.PutnamScore.org 14 SCORE Business Advice
Rockland - Chapter: 677 Rockland Community College Rm 6102G Brucker Hall 145 College Road Suffern, NY 10901 Phone: (845) 426-1206 Web: www.RocklandScore.org
Westchester - Chapter: 306 120 Bloomingdale Road White Plains, NY 10605 Phone: (914) 948-3907 Fax: (914) 948-4645 Web: www.ScoreWestchester.com
Sullivan - Chapter: 697 c/o Sullivan County Partnership 198 Bridgeville Road Monticello, NY 12701 Phone: 845.343.1515 www.SullivanCounty.Score.org Ulster - Chapter: 533 1 Development Court, Rm. 101 Kingston, NY 12401 Phone: (845) 339-0468 Fax: (845) 339-0780 Web: ulster.score.org ScoreBusinessAdvice.com
County Clerk Offices If you’d like to start your own business as a sole proprietor or partnership, you must file with your local county clerk’s office. Below are seven local county clerk’s offices within the Hudson Valley. You must file a Business Certificate for each county you wish to do business within. Visit each county’s web site in order to download a copy of the blank Business Certificate. Dutchess County Dutchess County Clerk 22 Market Street Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Phone: (845) 486-2120 Fax: (845) 486-2138 Web: www.co.dutchess.ny.us
Sullivan County Sullivan County Clerk 100 North Street Monticello, NY 12701 Phone: (845) 807-0411 Web: www.co.sullivan.ny.us
Orange County Orange County Clerk Parry Building 4 Glenmere Cove Road Goshen, NY 10924 Phone: (845) 291-4000 Web: www.co.orange.ny.us
Ulster County Ulster County Clerk's office. 244 Fair Street Kingston, NY 12402 Phone: (845) 340-3288 Fax: (845) 340-3299 Web: ulstercountyny.gov/countyclerk
Putnam County Putnam County Office Building 40 Gleneida Avenue, Room 100 Carmel, NY 10512 Phone: (845) 808-1142 Web: www.putnamcountyny.com
Westchester County 110 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Room 330 White Plains, NY 10601 Phone: (914) 995-3070 Web: www.westchesterclerk.com
Rockland County Rockland County Courthouse 1 South Main Street, Suite 100 New City, NY 10956 Phone: (845) 638-5070 Fax: (845) 638-5647 Web: www.rocklandcountyclerk.com
Orange County Libraries ScoreBusinessAdvice.com
Central Valley: woodburylibraryocny.org Chester: rcls.org/chs Cornwall: cornwallpubliclibrary.org Florida: floridapubliclibrary.org Goshen: goshenpubliclibrary.org Greenwood Lake: gwllibrary.org Highland Falls: rcls.org/hfl Highland Mills: woodburylibraryocny.org Middletown: thrall.org
Monroe: monroelibrary.org Montgomery: rcls.org/mng Newburgh: newburghlibrary.org Pine Bush: pinebushlibrary.com Port Jervis: portjervislibrary.org Tuxedo Park: tuxedoparklibrary.org Walden: waldenlibrary.org Warwick: albertwisnerlibrary.org Washingtonville: moffatlibrary.org SCORE Business Advice 15
Business Resources BBB (Better Business Bureau) www.bbb.org BBB is the resource to turn to for objective, unbiased information on businesses. Their network of BBBs allows them to monitor and take action on thousands of business issues affecting consumers at any given time. Business Resources in NYS business.usa.gov Just about anything you want to know about running a business, including a searchable database of available grants and financial resources for your business. Corporation and Business Entity Database Search www.dos.state.ny.us/corps/ bus_entity_search.html See if your company’s name is available before you incorporate. Corporation filing information, fees, and publications www.dos.state.ny.us/corps/ dom_busfile.html NYS filing fees when incorporating your business. Federal Business Opportunities www.fbo.gov Federal agencies are mandated to advertise on this site. You can download the solicitations that you are interested in, and receive emails on types of work that you are interested in. Government Loan Programs www.GovLoans.gov A comprehensive list of all Government loan programs, and how they can financially help you start or grow your business. Grant Programs www.Grants.gov Free listing of all available government grant programs. 16 SCORE Business Advice
Internet Tools and Resources www.MyNetMarketingTools.com Tools needed to get your business on the Internet. Hosting, company email accounts, video conferencing, email marketing, video hosting, domain name and more. Build your own website with these tools. IRS Web Site www.IRS.gov Find all related issues with US Federal taxes. Minority and Women Owned Business Development www.esd.ny.gov/MWBE.html You will find information related to the certification process, resources for technical assistance, access to capital, contract opportunities, MWBE Events, and a vendor registry search tool to help you find New York State certified MWBEs. NYS Department of Labor www.labor.ny.gov Have employee questions? This is the place to answer anything and everything which has to do with labor laws within NYS. NY State Web Site www.dos.ny.gov Everything you need to know about doing business in NYS can be found within this web site including taxation and finance. NYS Online Permit Assistance and Licensing www.nys-opal.com If you want to start a new business or expand your current business, this site will help you find the New York State business permits you may need. Official U.S. Internet Gateway www.usa.gov This is the official home page to all of government.
SCORE “Counselors to America’s Small Business” www.Score.org Main web site which contains many business resources, business templates, examples, and online counseling. Small Business Administration – www.sba.gov The official SBA web site offering programs and services that will help you start, grow and succeed in business. U.S. Disability Programs and Services www.disability.gov The federal government website for comprehensive information about disability-related programs, services, policies, laws and regulations. US Patent and Trademark www.uspto.gov An agency of the department of commerce. Just about everything you need to know about protecting your invention and more, can be found on this site. Veterans www.sba.gov/vets The Office of Veterans Business Development's mission is to maximize the availability, applicability and usability of all administration small business programs for Veterans, ServiceDisabled Veterans, Reserve Component Members, and their Dependents or Survivors. Women Business Owners www.WomenBiz.gov Federal contracting opportunities for women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) .
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