10 Tips to Help You Build and Grow a Stand-Out Small Business Brand

According to a study conducted by the Pew Foundation, “71% of Americans view small businesses more favorably than any other institutions”. Why is this? Some say that it is due to their positive influence on the community, “unique position” to create better customer service and satisfaction, and niche for producing products and services that tailor to specific consumers. In this article community moderator,Caron Beesley, discusses 10 ways to utilize these features and gain a more appealing business brand with low costs.

http://www.sba.gov/community/blogs/10-tips-help-you-build-and-grow-stand-out-small-business-brand

SBA Expands Pilot Lending Program Statewide

In 2011 the U.S. Small Business Administration launched Community Advantage, which is their pilot loan program. This program is targeted towards underserved small businesses. Recent news has stated that this pilot is being expanded and is now available statewide thanks to Appalachian Development Corp. The ADC is an economic development nonprofit lender located in the Upstate area that just received the Community advantage certification earlier this year. This organization has offered loans to qualified small businesses ranging from $25,000 to $250,000 through the Community Advantage program. According to this article the pilot program is “allowing qualified small businesses to access financing through nonprofit financial intermediaries”. Since its certification the ADC has made two Community Advantage loans this year and four pending SBA approval.  

https://www.gsabusiness.com/news/48506-sba-expands-pilot-lending-program-statewide

Big Questions Every Business Plan Should Answer

The business plan is a major component to success for starting a business or expanding an existing business. It is the document that will convey the viability and potential of your idea (or existing business) to other people. These are usually people you want to convince to invest their hard-earned money in your company. So it is important that you prepare a business plan that answers the right questions to draw in investors. The link below gives the top questions that every business plan should answer.

http://smallbiztrends.com/2013/07/business-plan-questions.html?inf_contact_key=f72b43a9422d0d8aa1cd220013e90ecf62ca8736c73aa45ce8864e765f03e38a

Residents of City of Union, SC Are Invited ......

Live in Union, SC? Want to learn more about your credit score ... How to find it? What it means? How you can improve it? Sign up for this free noon-time workshop (bring your lunch -- no food will be served) ..... and get the answers you need to help you plan your future.