General Business and Finance Blog

Trade shows show promise as a “golden” marketing opportunity. Many business owners are stepping outside of the traditional box and investing in portable signage. Talking one-on-one with potential buyers provides an immediate gratification that is empowering. The trade shows makes highlighting business services or products easier. Plan AheadWorking trade shows requires some planning. If possible, visit the facility prior to selecting your booth. Walk through the facility looking for potential problems that would inhibit your success, such as:Food court: Although being located next to the food court could be beneficial, it creates a distraction. It’s difficult enough to interest a potential buyer in 3-minutes; you don’t need the sweet smell of cotton candy interrupting.Competition: Don’t be suckered into renting a booth that is right next to a competitor. Some people believe its quality that counts and are eager to take the challenge of competition. Accessibility: Ideally, your booth should be near the entrance or exit of the building, or the restrooms, or the main isle. Wherever there is an adequate flow of traffic.The location of your booth and the signage you use will have a direct result of your trade show success. Stay focus on the appearance of your site. Use a banner to display your company logo, web address, and phone number. It’s important you capture the attention of potential buyers with signage and color.Keep it short and simple, K. I. S. S. Use a secondary color to present information of importance. The two-tone color method adds depth and retains the attention of the reader and that’s a big advantage.Most booths are no more than a 9` by 5` area. So it is equally important that you make valuable use of the area. Eliminate any unnecessary clutter and keep things organized. It’s important that your potential buyer doesn’t become distracted.Offering a special is also a good way to bring more people to your booth. Use a tripod and display board to feature your special offer. Write clear and in large lettering. Be prepared to answer questions.Working a Business Trade ShowBusiness trade shows go hand in hand with network marketing. The primary purpose of this type of trade show is to draw the interest of other businesses. Your objective is to provide enough information for the other participants to promote your services or products by word of mouth or through passing literature.It’s common practice for business groups to exchange business cards and brochures at a business trade show. Each booth gives a 2 minute presentation to visitors, a free gift (ink pen, magnet, sticky notes, or eraser), and ask for the visitors literature. Professionals shake hands and begin asking questions.• How can I assist you?• What are the benefits of using your services or products?• Who is your target market?• How can potential buyers reach you?• Do you work outside of your area?Business trade shows are not limited to business owners. Most vendors will invite others that may profit from using the services or products of the network group. Finding a good booth, using the proper signage, and displaying a sample of your services or products are all-important elements of trade show marketing.Some believe network trade shows are more profitable. While others, think a trade show that deals directly with the consumer has more advantages. The secret to successfully marketing your business at a trade show lies in the tools you use. If you have a dynamic personality, make your next marketing strategy a trade show.

For most small business owners, the idea of firing their banker has probably never occurred to them. Most of us would like to view our banker as one of the family. In the world of SBA loans and working capital financing, the average business owner is happy to have one less decision to make, so thoughts of “when to fire your banker” rarely become a high priority.

Banks are just not what they used to be (as most of us have by now realized). In a manner similar to many automobile manufacturers that are now a tarnished and shriveled version of what they once were, it seems like almost overnight most banks have lost our confidence. In this shifting reality, business owners are now forced to adapt quickly to a changing environment for small business loans. Candidly speaking, even if their commercial banker is their best friend, small business owners are increasingly realizing that they must look out for their own best interests because it is unlikely that their business banker is up to the task anymore.

While this assessment might seem cold and harsh, it is nevertheless a candid and practical evaluation of current circumstances. Unwinding a long-term relationship with a particular bank or banker is likely to produce some of the same trauma that occurs when any positive relationship suddenly goes sour. In such circumstances, we should try to move forward after doing the best that we can. As in any change-related decision, the decision-maker (in this case, the business owner agonizing over the firing of their banker) should openly evaluate the probable consequences of not changing at all. If they are being truthful to themselves, most business owners will conclude that they should seek a new banker if keeping the old banker is holding the business back, either by bad advice or inadequate small business loans.

This discussion is in no way meant to suggest that all banks are now bad or that all bankers are now bad. In today’s complex economy, there are still good banks as well as bad banks. Of course there are similarly both bad bankers and good bankers. When their current banking relationship involves a bad banker working for a bad bank, this is probably the worst-case scenario to confront for most commercial borrowers.

We will leave the discussion of good banks and bad banks to another report. The remarks below are intended to highlight a few characteristics which business owners should take under consideration when determining if it might be time to find a new banker.

Overall we would conclude that if the current situation involves a bad bank and a not so bad banker, the most prudent outcome for a business owner is likely to be firing both the bank and the banker. Simply by working for a bad bank, a good banker can often be transformed into a bad banker. Many banks have suddenly stopped making normal business loans and working capital loans, often without even explaining why. This can force an otherwise good banker to rationalize the actions of the bank in a way meant to keep the business owner as a customer while at the same time asking them to accept sub-par business financing. Just say no.

One of the most predictive signs of a bad banker is an increasing frequency of situations in which they are unable to achieve the results which were promised or suggested. This could include lowering a business line of credit after suggesting that it would either be increased or held at the same level. Another common illustration is based on circumstances in which the banker reports that they recommended a commercial loan for approval but the bank loan committee turned it down. Business owners should not be reluctant to hold their banker accountable for producing inadequate results, since results are what count for any business. For prudent commercial borrowers, firing your banker and your bank has become both a more acceptable and necessary solution when your business is not able to obtain sufficient business finance and working capital help.

Traditional working capital financing is currently available from a shrinking group of commercial lenders. Small business owners should determine which commercial banks are still actually providing this specialized commercial finance funding. As described in The Working Capital Journal, the most active business lenders are generally not among the small number of larger banks which have received bailout financing from the federal government.
In most cases the active commercial lenders for this specialized form of commercial funding are limiting working capital loans to businesses which are current in their debt payments and are showing a net profit (based on recent financial statements). New commercial loans can often be finalized to refinance lines of credit and term loans which have been cancelled or recalled by many lenders if these two requirements are met. There are alternative funding possibilities such as business cash advance programs for businesses not qualified for commercial financing using these two standards.
Many small business owners also rely on personal lines of credit to finance some of their business operations. There have been many reports of widespread cancellations and reductions of these lending programs as well, especially those involving lenders which have received a multi-billion dollar cash infusion from U.S. taxpayer money that was intended to facilitate the lending of money to businesses and consumers.
Personal and business lines of credit have been eliminated in many cases by lenders due to a reduced ability to pay by borrowers and deteriorating business conditions. However, as described in The Working Capital Journal, many borrowers had an excellent payment history for a high percentage of recent credit line cancellations or reductions.
In spite of the challenging lending climate, there are banks which have been very effective in making working capital loans. The best examples are banks which have not received federal bailout assistance. These business lenders have continued to provide working capital financing, both refinancing lines of credit and term loans which have been recalled or cancelled by other lenders as well as new business financing.
Because it basically indicates that bailout funds have been given (so far) to lenders who primarily have a history of making bad loans (virtually all lenders receiving bailout funds to date), the lending activities described above are a serious concern to many observers. At this point, little attention has been given to lenders with a healthy balance sheet in federal attempts to get more funds into the hands of consumers and businesses.
Based on recent commercial lending activity, there are several notable conclusions. (1) Businesses need to increasingly prepare for life without relying on a traditional bank line of credit and instead consider other viable sources of commercial financing such as business cash advances (which provide working capital based upon future credit card processing activity). (2) The recent unwillingness by most lenders receiving bailout funds to report in any meaningful way how and where these funds have been used would certainly seem to be a loud and clear signal that these particular lenders are probably in worse shape than they are reporting to anyone. (3) Commercial lenders that have a history of making good loans rather than bad loans should be the focus of further government funding programs. (4) When business owners encounter difficulties obtaining commercial loans and working capital loans from normally dependable lenders, commercial borrowers should seek out commercial finance funding sources beyond their previous banking relationships.

Selling on eBay has proven highly profitable for many, many people and lots of them make a tidy little income as Trading Assistants. Those are people who makes money by selling one of a kind things for individuals. You may have seen their flyers posted at the supermarket or drugstore or seen an ad in your local paper. Word-of-mouth is another great way they find clients. Those who want to work from home but only have limited hours to commit to their business find this a more than acceptable option, especially if they are looking to make what our grandmothers might have called “pin” money.

On the other hand, you may not want to find yourself constantly looking for new clients with only one or two items to sell at a time. Plus Trading Assistants often go through periods of drought and need to be willing to go at least a month or so without bringing in any money.

If your goal is to build an ongoing at home business on eBay you’ll want to work with a real business, real people and real products. Luckily, there is a huge untapped market basically at your fingertips. It is so exciting and so underserved that the possibilities are endless!

This big opportunity lies in becoming a BUSINESS TRADING ASSISTANT who makes a living working with local businesses. that basically have an unending supply of inventory to offer. Many small and mid-size companies near you actually have excess product be they boutiques, antique shops or multi-location stores working with more high tech goods. Even those few who might have already considered using the internet to lower levels of stock don’t have the time or staff to even look into the opportunity.

That’s where you come in!

By approaching these businesses to see if you can sell their inventory for a percentage, you have immediate access to profiting through their buying power and their vendor sources. So, whether you decide to serve on a consultant basis or buy product outright there is a tremendous opportunity awaiting you. As a point of fact, you only need a few clients to make a full time income on a part time basis.

Plus, perhaps the most exciting thing about this money-making opportunity is that once word gets out among the businesses in your community – i.e., that you came in and started generating an extra stream of revenue for them (or maybe even an entire new division of revenue) — it will spread quickly.

You will have more business than you know what to do with!

Credit card processing is often one of the most overlooked working capital business loan issues for a business owner. An effective credit card processing program can eliminate many credit card factoring difficulties by implementing appropriate business finance and business cash advance cost-reduction alternatives.
Credit card processing improvements can achieve dual working capital management benefits by both eliminating credit card financing difficulties and providing improved cash flow by enhanced management of business finance and merchant cash advance programs. The total management benefits of integrating credit card receivable factoring and credit card processing services can be first-rate and significant for working capital business loan programs.Business Finance Working Capital Loan: Cost Reduction
As I mentioned in a previous working capital business loan report, for any merchant that accepts credit cards as a payment method, a merchant cash advance (obtained through credit card factoring and credit card processing) is an important business finance tool that is frequently overlooked. Even the most successful businesses frequently need more cash than they can obtain from a commercial bank. However, what is typically overlooked by many merchants is the chance to lessen their credit card management and credit card processing costs at the same time that they obtain a merchant cash advance via credit card receivables financing and a working capital business loan.Working Capital Business Finance Management: Avoid Credit Card Processing Problems
Credit card factoring is an important business finance option to consider when a business is seeking a short-term commercial loan, an unsecured business loan and improved approaches to credit card processing services. Unfortunately there are a number of problems to be avoided with credit card processing and credit card factoring programs. As with any successful business financing strategy, there will usually be only a small number of commercial lenders who are effective at implementing the joint tasks of credit card processing and credit card factoring strategies properly.
Because of such business finance problems, the choice of a provider of credit card receivable financing and credit card processing is extremely important to any business that accepts credit cards. To demonstrate which providers of credit card receivable factoring and credit card processing should be avoided, I have written a working capital business loan article which lists ten critical difficulties to avoid with credit card processing and credit card receivables management.Business Cash Advance: Best and Lowest-Cost Credit Card Processing
For businesses either dissatisfied with their current credit card processing and business finance management services or simply wondering if any cost improvements are possible, a credit card receivable factoring program which eliminates all ten specific working capital business loan obstacles mentioned above should be evaluated. One of the major working capital management reasons for evaluating credit card receivables financing, credit card processing and credit card receivable factoring in this combined fashion is that the low-cost producers of the best merchant cash advance programs are likely to be utilizing the best and lowest-cost credit card processing and management producers.
In many situations, the best and lowest-cost producers of credit card management and credit card processing services are not likely to be available to the typical merchant without being a part of a working capital business loan plan covering credit card receivable financing, credit card processing and credit card receivables management. The overall business finance improvements realized from the coordination of these two key working capital strategies is likely to be worth the management efforts.Business Loan and Working Capital Management: Improving Cash Flow
Business owners should not lose sight of the substantial total business finance benefits which might accrue to their business by prudently combining credit card processing and credit card receivables management services. As mentioned above, cost reduction and improved cash flow are primary goals of successful working capital management strategies, and the proper coordination of credit card factoring and credit card processing should accomplish both of these difficult goals simultaneously.
Copyright 1995-2007 AEX Commercial Financing Group and Stephen Bush. All Rights Reserved.

Almost everyone it seems thinks that working from home is a great goal. This is very true, if you have the discipline to stay focused without constant supervision. There are literally thousands of small business ideas with many that would allow you to work from home. Here are a few things to consider before you quit your job and follow your dream

FIND WHAT YOU LOVE TO DO

The key to any successful small business is to understand the market and your own personal talents. It doesn’t matter that some businesses may offer more money. If you don’t love the work, you won’t be willing to make the effort necessary to be successful in any small business. Unlike corporate America, and small business is a lot like a small child. Both will depend on you and your decisions to help them grow and stay healthy

DECIDE WHAT IS SUCCESS

The definition of success is different, for many of us. For some it’s loads of money in the bank. While for others it’s having more time to spend with family and friends. Only you can decide how much money is enough.

For some, a successful small business might generate enough money to let a spouse stay home or go to school. It may be a way to save more money so you can retire at a much earlier age.

FIND A NICHE AND FILL IT

You’ve probably heard many people suggest that you find a niche. A niche is simply a small part of the market that isn’t being serviced now. Realize that the growth of the Web itself has been a phenomenon driven by entrepreneurs like yourself who want their own small business. We’re not just talking Web businesses however is there are many home-based business opportunities that will allow you to work from home and make a full-time income.

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX:

while many people dreaming of their own small business will look to standard small-business opportunities. The trick is to find a unique way to develop that business idea.

Consider a hairdresser.

If your talent is cutting and styling hair, most hairdressers looking for a small business opportunity may rent their own styling chair in an established salon. Thinking outside the box, that same hairdresser could offer in-home haircare to senior citizens who may have a difficult time driving themselves to a typical brick-and-mortar business.

Spend some time developing these four points, and you will find that there are hundreds of small business ideas that fit perfectly with your talents and abilities. Everyone has a set of skills.

All you need to do is:

1. Find out what you love to do

2. Understand your definition of success

3. Figure out how you can put your skills to use in the marketplace

4. Offer your services were skills to the market in a unique way

The result will be a strong desire to leave your job to follow your dream of your very own small business idea.

Select your top priority vendors prior to your arrival. All trade shows have websites listing the exhibitors. Research the product offerings of all, and have list of must visit booth numbers. Arrive with your trade show plan in hand. As an attendee on a mission, you will come away with a better understanding of the market.
Trade shows are a great way to meet manufacturers, touch and feel their products first hand, and place orders on the spot. Traveling to trade shows is a significant investment, but you can deduct the cost of your trip from the business. Trade shows are excellent for networking and learning from others in your industry.
Most business owners only visit trade shows within the U.S. If you are interested in placing large orders, look into trade shows overseas. China has become the factory of the world in the past few decades. Trade shows in various parts of China are becoming larger and more popular every year. The Canton Fair is one of the largest trade shows in mainland China with hundreds of thousands of attendees and tens of thousands of exhibitors. It is such a huge show that it has two phases, each one week long.
Manufacturers at Chinese trade shows expect larger orders than exhibitors at U.S. based trade shows. A huge international trade show is an exhilarating experience. It may be your best option to find an inexpensive manufacturer for your products. Be careful about protecting your product. Patent it before you take it to China for manufacturing. Make sure the factory understands that you have a protected product, and they are not permitted to make the same product for any other company. Taking the manufacturing of your product to an inexpensive overseas factory is risky business, so consider it carefully.
Every significant industry has some trade publications targeted manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers. They are packed with sales advice, industry trends, business profiles, and advertisements. Many offer business directories that list suppliers and other key players. You’ll find information about industry events such as trade shows and conferences. You can even call the publication and ask for advice over the phone.

As business owners develop their small business loan plans for future financing and refinancing throughout the United States, there is an increasing awareness that there have been significant business finance changes that cannot be ignored. Some of these measures are likely to end up being permanent, and even the temporary commercial mortgage loan and working capital loan changes are expected to be in place for an extended time due to the severity of the current financial climate.

The net result from business finance changes has been a reduction in commercial lenders as well as stricter standards for acquiring commercial loans and commercial mortgages. Unfortunately there has also been no shortage of misinformation about the availability of commercial funding.

A significant reduction in business lending activity overall is perhaps the most dramatic change. This has been due to several events occurring almost simultaneously. Several major commercial lenders have gone out of business altogether. Even though they have continued consumer lending, many banks have stopped commercial finance lending. Numerous business lenders have enacted stricter standards for the commercial financing transactions they are still willing to consider.

It remains to be seen how many changes will be permanent or temporary. But from a practical perspective, commercial borrowers are left with no choice but to adapt to the changing business finance environment. Business owners must be prepared to operate within a more complicated climate for commercial mortgage loans and small business loans regardless of how long the changes might be kept in place.

What should borrowers do about this? A primary option that business owners should explore involves looking beyond their local market area for help with commercial loans. A commercial financing expert operating throughout the United States should be helpful in improving upon this situation.

In addition to fewer business lenders to choose from, there are two other significant changes which must be anticipated by business owners before seeking new commercial loans. First, commercial lenders are increasingly demanding more collateral for virtually all business finance funding. Second, most lenders have cancelled or are about to eliminate unsecured lines of credit (usually called working capital loans) for many businesses.

Considering a business cash advance program based on future credit card processing transactions is likely to be an effective commercial financing strategy for overcoming the combined obstacles of more collateral, reduced unsecured credit lines and fewer lenders. This is proving to be one of the few sources of business funding that has not been adversely impacted by recent events. It will be productive to discuss the potential with a business finance expert who can provide advice about small business financing solutions including business cash advances and other financial options.

It is increasingly obvious that many banks will continue to modify their business lending programs in response to changing conditions. This means that another key change issue for working capital financing and commercial mortgages is the likelihood that more changes will be forthcoming in the near future.

To adequately prepare for future commercial finance changes that might (or might not) occur is a daunting task for a business owner. A commercial financing expert familiar with Plan B contingency financing for small business loans will prove to be a valuable resource for any borrower wanting to seriously deal with both current and future changes impacting the financial health of their business. By having a candid conversation with a commercial loan expert, business owners should be more capable of implementing an appropriate strategy for the vast changes which have recently occurred or are about to become effective for most business financing and working capital finance funding.

The successful home business owners throughout the world share in a lifestyle often unmatched by company jobs. From a survey done by Home Office Computing Magazine, 98 % are happier working from home. Here are the 5 big benefits of a home run business.1) Money: On average the earnings of a home run business in America is about $60,000/year. The amount of money that can be earned in a home run business can be staggering. There is great potential in home-run businesses to achieve high incomes and profits. The income minus the costs equals the profits, which goes directly to the home business owner. This simple math shows that it’s all about big profits provided the business provides a saleable product or service.2) Personal Satisfaction: This may be the most profound benefit to most home businesses. It is a position of great feeling to own a home business. It is a feeling of achievement, and of service rendered. It is more satisfying according to the level of good the business is doing for people. The more the home business is helping people, the more general good it is doing. This is directly related to how good it makes the owner feel. It is good to give!3) No Daily Commute: Another important factor in the lifestyle of a home business person is the convenience of simply being at home. This point can be emphasized to a low degree, or a very high degree of significance. It depends on the person’s normal daily traveling time from home to the workplace. On average it could be 30 minutes commute to work every day and an equal time on returning home. Home businesses benefit because they save on the travel expenses as well as the time it takes. Home business owners are able to simply wake at their convenient start time and set the hours themselves.4) The Boss: Home businesses have the benefit of having internal control. The home business owner is the boss. As the boss, all the decisions are made, the hours of work are chosen, the rewards are given, the punishments are devised, the business is managed, and there is total control. Calling the shots as it were is a dream for most people out there and there is a real feeling of power.5) Life Security: In today’s climate of economic uncertainty, the most secure of jobs are home based jobs. This is so because, when times get tough, home businesses can work harder and survive. However, some company paying jobs cannot be relied upon to remain secure no matter how hard the person works. There is more security in a home business, and the power is with the home business person. She/he can make it or break it. It’s in their control.To summarise, these 5 big benefits are the rewards that may be reaped from a successful home based business. In fact, the process of building the home business can be as much fun as the mentioned benefits. It is as much about the journey and the person you become, as the tangable benefits and results of working from home.