Archive for Resources & Publications
Resources For New Entrepreneurs
Posted by: | CommentsIf you have always thought about becoming an entrepreneur, or have recently started your own business, there are many resources you can use to help guide you. I have gathered together some of the sites that I visit and that I think are useful for those interested in taking the entrepreneurial route.
Do I have what it takes?
Some fun online tests to help you determine if you’ve got what it takes to make it as an entrepreneur. There are many more tests online, but here are some to get you started:
http://www.liraz.com/webquiz.htm
I’ve got what it takes – what now?
Sites to help you create your business plan and start your business.
http://www.bdc.ca/en/business_tools/business_plan/default.htm
http://www.rbcroyalbank.com/sme/create-plan/business-plans.html (or your local bank might have their own small business section)
http://www.ontario.ca/en/communities/entrepreneurs/index.htm?openNav=businesses
I’ve started my business – what’s next?
Some useful tips on how to grow your business, how to market your company, etc.
http://www.inc.com/growth-strategies
http://www.growingbusiness.co.uk/growth-strategies
Staying informed
Sites that will help keep you knowledgeable about entrepreneurship and other fun facts.
What are you worth? The cost of branding you.
Posted by: | Comments“The cost of doing business” speaks for itself. You have to put money out to make money; feed the investment so that it grows becoming lucrative and prosperous. A fundamental basic that business leaders process regularly, right? Absolutely!
Why then do many business professionals treat themselves and their own career marketing tools with substandard expectations? As a career strategist and resume writer, pricing of services is one of the top #3 questions asked of clients. Certainly understandable and always welcome!
If you are willing to spend money on high end clothing, hair salon upkeep or high end handbags, perhaps you may want to redistribute where you are investing your hard earned dollars. Are you buying into someone else’s brand or are you taking care of your own?
While most professionals realize the time, complexity and strategic writing that goes into developing a solid and effective marketing tool, there are always a few folks who see their resumes as a typeset piece of paper tracking the basics of their work history asking, “Why does it cost so much”?
Top 5 Reasons Professionally Written Resumes Cost Money
Healthcare and Women
Posted by: | Comments
One of the most well-run and informative meetings I went to last year was the HBA conference in San Francisco. The Healthcare Businesswomen Association is a class act.
What impressed me was the juggling act done to show the strong side of women in a mostly male dominated industry, as well as the feminine side that we, as women, need to maintain for our own sanity.
The women who represented the major pharmaceutical and biotech companies were key players, with long resumes down to the newbies just starting out. There was a sense of “we’re all in it together”, a desire to mentor and an equal desire to learn from the “elders’.
Finding Loans for Women Owned Businesses
Posted by: | CommentsPost by Amy Blais, contributing Women On Business writer
If you live in the New York area, you may have seen the recent commercials about Mike Bloomberg’s Women for Bloomberg coalition campaign. Bloomberg, along with others, is focused on helping women and minority owned businesses with loans to help them grow. During tough economic times, it may feel like banks are struggling and businesses won’t be able to get loans. But now more than ever, there are loan sources specifically targeted toward woman owned businesses.
As a woman business owner, research your financial options that are available. I would suggest starting with the SBA. The SBA is working hard to even the playing field for women, providing financial assistance with loans specifically for minority and women owned businesses as well. These loans are intended to help small businesses start up, grow, sustain and thrive.
Take Steps to Protect Your Credit by Securing Personal Information
Posted by: | CommentsGuest post by Anne Wallace (learn more about Anne at the end of this post)
As a small business owner or entrepreneur, you may not think of yourself as a potential identity theft victim. Small business owners typically are engaged in a lot of transactions that puts their information at risk, and their personal and business finances are often intertwined. And you’re an especially attractive target if you have access to substantial lines of credit.
Take the case of Helen, the owner of a health care services company, who was victimized by a former employee. The employee used Helen’s personal information to obtain multiple accounts in her name and racked up nearly $12,000 in expenses. Fortunately, Helen’s bank detected the bogus accounts and referred her to ITAC, the Identity Theft Assistance Center, before more damage was done.
“I feel foolish in retrospect for having my personal information in an unlocked file for anybody to see,” said Helen.
Most small business owners are busy and fraudulent activities can go unnoticed. The worst case is the process of recovery is so difficult that the business folds.
You can avoid the pain of identity theft by taking some simple steps to protect yourself and your business:
‘Results Only’ work environments
Posted by: | CommentsWork life balance has been a popular catch phrase for ages now, but more and more experts are starting to say it is no longer ‘the thing’. The workplace is changing so rapidly it has seemingly been replaced already. We now need work-life integration, as work and life should be in harmony…. therefore removing the need to ‘balance’ the two. Makes a lot of sense.
Small Business Is Big News – Special Discounts from PR Newswire
Posted by: | CommentsSpecial Offer from Women on Business and PR Newswire
We’re helping business women start up their PR programs!
Women on Business has teamed up with PR Newswire to offer you a 12-month membership at no charge. Just submit your contact information through the Sign Up Now section of the PR Toolkit and someone from PR Newswire will touch base with you to get you signed up. This is a $195 value!! Also, save with PR Newswire by taking advantage more than $2,000 in free and discounted services!
Visit the PR Toolkit for some great free resources to get you going in the right direction in promoting your business:
- Drive traffic to your Web site
- Launch a new product or service
- Increase your visibility
- Announce a new business or storefront
Included with your waived annual membership – more than $2,000 in free and discounted services*:
- Waiver of first year PR Newswire membership fee (value of $195)
- FREE MediaAtlas™ Microlist with first domestic news distribution (value up to $525)
- Discounts on eWatch™ Web Pubs (up to 50% OFF)
- Discounts on ProfNetSM (50% OFF)
- Discount on NewsCom Photo Archival (50% OFF)
