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"How to Really Start Your Own Business."

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(of the newsletter.) CHAPTER SPEAKERS

View Oct 3 Presentation by Lynn Manternach, Ph.D. of Mind Fire: "Taking Your Brand Online"

Speaker for Nov 7 Chapter Meeting is Bob Loyd, Plant Manager of the Clipper Windpower plant in Cedar Rapids

October 1

November 1, 2007

Welcome to the e-newsletter for the Cedar Rapids chapter of SCORE. This communication shares news and information of interest to our counselors and clients.

You may view this newsletter on the web: e-News on Web

Kids & Company

in the Sylvia Street Studio

"Kids are fun!" according to Marie Welton, owner of Kids & Company in the Sylvia Street Studio, a beauty salon for both kids and adults, located at 2010 Sylvia Avenue NE in Cedar Rapids. Marie opened the salon in March of 2002. She believes that kids deserve a larger and better place to get their hair styled and cut so she made a special room just for them. There are windows on three sides of the room so parents can watch their child get a Sylvia Street Studio haircut without interfering. Marie insists, "Children generally do better if the parent does not hover, but makes an excuse to leave the room, telling the child he or she will return in a minute. Sometimes they cry for a minute; then they focus on the fun things in the room and they are fine."

Marie was first licensed as a hair stylist in 1974. She worked at many other salons including a management position. When the salon where she was working was sold, she decided to open her own salon. She designed it and hired a contractor. The salon was an immediate success, but in December 2003, Marie was having cash flow problems. She assumed the reason was not enough customers. The most obvious fix for lack of customers would be to increase marketing. Marie had observed a billboard about SCORE so she called them to help her improve her marketing efforts.

Full Article

Committee Updates

Fundraising * Speakers* Marketing * Training * Seminar (next class starts Nov 13)

Full Article

Ask SCORE

Choose Accounting Services Carefully

As you launch or expand a business, keeping track of the money, preparing tax returns and performing other financial tasks can quickly become a burden. If you need more time to do other things, it might make sense to turn over tax, accounting and other financial chores to outside specialists.

Choosing the right type of tax, accounting, bookkeeping or other financial help is an important decision. An outside accountant can be one of your most trusted business advisors and a key to your success. Although many business owners work with big national firms, most prefer to work with small independent firms or solo accounting professionals.

Full Article

SIFE Partnership

SCORE Partnering with Local College Organization

SCORE’s marketing committee is teaming with Mount Mercy’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) to work on creating new marketing initiatives for the organization. SIFE students have been working with advisor Anne King to evaluate SCORE’s needs within the organization and out in the wider community. They plan to present their marketing plan to the organization near the end of October.

Full Article

SCORE

A Household Name

chairman picture My personal goal for the next two years is to make SCORE a recognized household name. I want SCORE to be the logical first choice for assistance in starting a new business and for solving problems of existing businesses. I want business men and women to identify SCORE membership as a rewarding volunteer activity.

This newsletter is an important component of the Marketing Committee’s vision of communicating with our membership and the wider community. Communicating with various organizations and businesses is the first step in getting out the word about who we are and what we do. Another important component of our marketing plan is the Speaker’s Bureau; they will provide business organizations with a SCORE speaker for their meetings. The speaker will further our goal of informing the community about what we do and why.

I congratulate our Marketing Committee on their successful implementation of these first two steps in pursuing our goal of increasing the recognition of SCORE’s brand as "Counselors to America’s Small Business." I also congratulate the committee on their partnership with SIFE (see previous article), who are helping the committee to craft an integrated marketing plan and final strategy.

We will also need the assistance of each SCORE member to get our name out as well. Each of you is able to explain the economic importance SCORE provides to the community through the volunteer counseling that we provide for entrepreneurs. Explain to everyone you talk to the satisfaction you receive from helping someone realize their dream of successful business ownership. If each member talks about SCORE, we will reach our goal of recognition—we will no longer hear the phrase, "What is SCORE?" because everyone will know who we are.

Jean Kruse,
SCORE Chairperson

This article on the web

October 1

	You may view this newsletter on the web: e-News on Web

	Brought to you by the Cedar Rapids chapter of SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business," a nonprofit association and resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration. SCORE is dedicated to entrepreneurship and the formation, growth and success of small businesses nationwide. Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 7.5 million entrepreneurs. Copyright 2007. SCORE Chapter 227. All rights reserved. SCORE® Ch. 227 c/o SBA, 2750 First Avenue NE, Ste. 350, Cedar Rapids IA 52402-4831 (319) 362-6405 Ext. 2005