September 1, 2008  

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

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WATCH A VIDEO

ESSENTIALS TO STARTING AND GROWING
YOUR OWN BUSINESS

These fundamentals are a wonderful primer for us all. Learn or remind yourself what is most important in your business. This video features some wise and articulate friends in the NYC SCORE® Chapter, courtesy of their business learning center.

SPECIAL REPORT: SBDC

ONE-STOP BUSINESS GUIDANCE, TRAINING
AND INFORMATION

“There is no reason to do it yourself,” says Al Beach, director of the Cedar Rapids Small Business Development Center (SBDC) hosted by Kirkwood Community College.

Al and his staff are available full-time to help small businesses start, grow, and improve. Find out what SBC does, how they operate and how you can "plug-into" this fabulous free local resource. As you may already know, it is located at the Kirkwood Training and Outreach Service Center near Carlos O'Kelley's on First Avenue in Cedar Rapids. CLICK ON THE CARD ABOVE TO LEARN MORE.

ASK SCORE®

CHOOSE ACCOUNTING SERVICES CAREFULLY

What to delegate and why?

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.

Read this short explanation of who, when and how to select accounting help. CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO READ ON...

BUSINESS PARALLELS IN THE OLYMPICS

Did you watch the Olympic Games every chance you got?

The Olympic Games are always interesting and fascinating, but for some reason more so this year than ever before. Try thinking of the Games as a business. There are many parallels.

I have noted a few notable Olympic parallels in marketing, finance and organization--things to think about and possibly learn from. You might consider a similar reflection on the similarities of your business to the ever enjoyable Olympics. Perhaps you can learn as I have. CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO check-out the parallels that I have noticed. Perhaps you have pondered others that are instructive.

Jean Kruse
SCORE® Chairperson and CPA (retired)

NEWS

STATUS OF FLOOD BUSINESS RECOVERY

SBA ISSUES $220M IN LOANS IN IOWA

At a recent district conference for SCORE® counselors, Joe Folsom, District Director for the Small Business Administration (SBA), announced that the SBA has issued over $220M in loans in Iowa to individual and business flood victims. This in response to 3,000 applications for assistance. Disaster applications will continue to be accepted until September 29, 2008.

The SBA's Business Recovery Center located at Westdale Mall in Cedar Rapids has made 2,400 contacts with local businesses and individuals.

THE CEDAR RAPIDS BUSINESS RECOVERY FUND

The Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce oversight team has advised SCORE® that as of the end of August 2008, approximately 110 checks for over $2.5 Million have been awarded to local businesses as part of the local "Job and Business Recovery Fund" program.

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.)

SEE US OR CALL US at the SCORE® Office to chat about how this wonderful GRANT program can help you and how to participate. We also help you understand how and if you qualify. It is not that difficult and we will walk you through it.

CLICK ON THE LEFT BUTTON BELOW FOR CR GRANT DETAILS AND APPLICATION; the RIGHT Button for SCORE'S FLOOD RECOVERY HELP "SPECIAL REPORT."

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"AWARD WINNING" LOCAL BUSINESS NEWSPAPER

As many of you know, the "Cedar Rapids-Iowa City CORRIDOR" is home to a wonderful business periodical. In addition to reading the Wall Street Journal to keep abreast of business news and trends, the local "Corridor Business Journal" is certainly worth your attention. It has won numerous statewide and national business reporting awards.

You may wish to check out its online edition:

CORRIDOR BUSINESS JOURNAL ONLINE

LEARN WHO WE ARE

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