August 1, 2008  

A BUSINESS NEWSLETTER from SBA's resource partner.Also at e-news.

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WATCH A VIDEO

FINANCING

Proper approaches to financing your business can save you money and keep you out of trouble. Find out about some of the key things to consider as you address this important aspect of building or growing a business.

SUCCESS STORY: CLASSIC TAX

"TAKING THE TIME TO DO IT RIGHT."

 
“I can do better than this,” Carol Sanderson told herself when for years she worked for large firms.

She always thought she could run a business more sensibly and treat customers better. Carol is now the owner of the very successful “Classic Tax and Accounting” in the heart of Marion, Iowa.

It took almost 10 years to build her courage—and her experience. But achieving excellent year-over-year growth requires more.

FIND OUT WHAT IT TAKES AND HOW Carol succeeded where others fail! CLICK ON THE CARD above to find out her approach and the secrets to success. She is a winner.

ASK SCORE® - CEDAR RAPIDS

BUSINESS AS USUAL AFTER A FLOOD?

Not likely.

Depending on your location and the amount of flood damage you suffered, you may not even be able to carry on any business activity now, more than a month after the disaster.

The after-effects of a disaster like this can cause depression. Thinking becomes tougher. Pessimism sets in, even if you used to be an optimist. Your first impulse might be to give up, accept defeat, and go out of business. Now is the time to LEAN ON US.

SCORE® helps in pressure situations.

SCORE® counselors are experienced business people who have the skills to assist with the right decisions when you can't. SCORE® counselors are trained to act as your mentors and provide the sounding board you need to work through the challenges you face. CHECK OUT THE DECISIONS WE CAN HELP YOU WITH. CLICK THE LINK FOR "FULL ARTICLE" BELOW.

VOLUNTEERISM

Volunteerism is the willingness of people to work on behalf of others without being motivated by financial gain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volunteerism).

SCORE® members volunteer year-round, year after year. They are always available to provide free and confidential counseling to both start-up and existing businesses. The need for SCORE®’s services multiplied because of the flood. In addition to their regular counseling at 2750 First Avenue NE, Suite 350, in Cedar Rapids, they are now assisting flood victims at Westdale Mall. Perhaps you are a business executive who would like to help other business people? Let us know if you are.

AND, read more about the satisfaction of and opportunities in volunteering by CLICKING THE LINK BELOW TO MY FULL REMARKS.

Jean Kruse
SCORE® Chairperson and CPA (retired)

NEWS

A DEFINITION--IF YOU ARE PUZZLED

DISASTER ASSISTANCE NEWS:

THE CEDAR RAPIDS BUSINESS RECOVERY FUND

CLICK ON THE BUTTON BELOW FOR DETAILS AND APPLICATION

As first announced in the Cedar Rapids Gazette on FRIDAY, June 27, 2008, a local fund has begun to assist “for-profit” enterprises in recovering from the great flood of 2008. “Chamber President Lee Clancey said the ... fund [is to] be used for either zero percent forgivable loans or grants to help businesses consolidate loans . . . The zero percent loans probably will be for a maximum of $20,000...’ Clancey added.”

SCORE® is pleased to be participating in a small way in the execution of this program. The Cedar Rapids Chamber President puts it this way, "...SCORE has been an absolutely invaluable partner in the evaluation process for the Job & Small Business Recovery Fund, [allowing] us to move quickly."

To date, nearly 400 applications from all sorts of businesses have been received. Even better, the Fund has grown. (You DON'T need to be a member of the Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce to be eligible--indeed many awardees are not members.)

We strongly recommend this as the first action by any business affected physically by the flood and wishing to re-establish itself in the area. It makes good business sense. You must have made the decision to "come back" and gone through the process of submitting an SBA Disaster Loan Application to the SBA. (This is for official purposes; accepting an SBA Loan offer is not required.)

COME AND SEE US at the Westdale SBA Business Recovery Center to chat about how this wonderful GRANT program can help you. We also help you understand how and if you qualify. It is not that difficult and we will walk you through it.

FREE OFFICE SOFTWARE

Small businesses often start with minimal resources. Many cannot afford the commercial and proprietary office software suites distributed by the major software companies. There is good news:

or OPEN OFFICE. ORG

One of the world's most powerful and current Office suites is free. More importantly it is "open" (meaning no restrictive licenses) and can be downloaded by anyone. It includes a powerful word processor, spreadsheet, presentation program, "pdf" export and data base. It is also compatible with the leading commercial equivalent. If you need an Office suite and cannot afford hundreds of dollars for one, check it out.

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

Office hours:  10-12 and 1-3  --NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED