Eric Poses rolled the dice in 1997, when he founded All Things Equal and took off on a cross-country sales trip in his car. Since then, revenue has grown and he now finds himself in a countercyclical sales boom.

Board games traditionally do well during tough economic times. After all, Monopoly was launched in 1935, during the Great Depression. Last year, as total U.S. toy sales declined, board game sales rose 6 percent to $794 million, according to market research by NPD Group.

Poses said All Things Equal brought in $1.45 million in revenue last year. This year he projects that to grow to more than $2 million. But he will have to wait to find out if that projection is accurate, since about 75 percent of his company sales occur during the fourth-quarter holiday rush.

Board game makers attribute the recent boost in sales to consumers looking for a way to socialize without going out.

“When the economy is bad and people are feeling financially pinched, board games are very attractive,” said Cliff Annicelli, editor-in-chief of Playthings Magazine, a toy industry publication. “You can play them over and over again.”

Everyone — from kids and parents to young adults — has been getting into the game, according to industry leaders.

“It’s growing across all demographics,” said Pat Riso, vice president of global communications at Hasbro Games.

Reyne Rice, a toy trend specialist at the Toy Industry Association, said board games have been selling well even during the spring and summer, a time when sales normally experience a lull.

Poses said his company is having a good year. The company added Kmart as a distributor and sales were bolstered by a deal with retailer TJ Maxx, which bought the entire inventory of four games that had not sold well. Poses said ridding himself of the slow-selling inventory was not just a financial boon, but also an opportunity to start fresh.

Image from All Things Equal, Inc.

From Business Opportunities Weblog.

photo credit: TheAlieness GiselaGiardino²³

So you have made the first step and decided to start your own business, congratulations! Now you need to know what it takes to run your own business, resources, who to hire, how to market, and all of the other avenues that need to be explored. For now, I will give you some basic steps on starting your own business which should get your plan into motion.

1. Know your customer. NYTimes recently stated that your customer is your number one priority, and this I would have to agree. They are your bread and butter, they are what will make your business bring in profits or not. Focus on a specific group in your area, people who may have the most stress or hardship in their lives at the moment, these people will be more willing to bet on new ideas as they don’t really have anything to loose.
2. Know the market. This is very key, you need to drown yourself in the current market and know everything you can about what is going on right now. The newest trends, the trends that are expected to grow and go far in the future, who is investing in what type of market and more.
3. Do research on your start-up costs. Know what your ball park figures are going to be, what you will need to have down, your monthly loan payments, any equipment purchases, hiring employees, utilities, taxes and stock to name a few.

Once you’re satisfied with the business plan, the next step is to test it. This means answering the question: Do customers really want to buy what you intend to sell? It’s a brutal question, but you need to be realistic. One idea is to talk to potential customers, but avoid your friends; instead, identify a list of likely customers and call them.

From Business Opportunities Weblog.

photo credit: Dawn Endico

If you’re thinking about starting your own business, then you really should be thinking about what business books you need to be checking out of the library or buying on amazon.com. Famous business men such as Donald Trump and Warren Buffet have both said that reading business books are key to your future as a business person. Below is a short list of the best business books to read as listed on Young Entrepreneur.

• The Practice Of Management by Peter F. Drucker.
• Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion (Collins Business Essentials) by Robert Cialdini PhD.
• 10 Natural Laws of Successful Time and Life Management by Hyrum Smith.
• How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.

Always keep in mind what you were told in school “knowledge is power”, and one of the best ways to obtain a lot of knowledge in your spare time is by reading everything you can get your hands on.

From Business Opportunities Weblog.

Greenie2Steps is bringing a whole new theme and story to a child’s room near you. With the help of Greenie, the eco-friendly elephant, kids and parents alike are discovering the benefits of a green lifestyle. Of course, the fact that the art can easily be peeled off the wall, leaving no residue, then stuck back on without losing any adhesive is a plus.

If you ever believed the saying that “two heads are better than one”, then you can only imagine what three minds will come up with. There are exactly three women behind the creation of Greenie2Steps, Cynthia Laidlaw, Nancy Serafini, Joanne Coughlin, and each woman has played an important part in creating this innovative company.

Tell us a little about Greenie2Steps.

Greenie2Steps is a company that produces eco-friendly, whimsical wall art for children. The company was started by three Boston women. Nancy Serafini, an interior designer, Joanne Coughlin an artist / animator and Cindy Laidlaw, an advertising executive. Their collective goal is to create high quality children’s wall décor that is beautiful, educational and eco-friendly. The collection uses original art by Joanne and includes oversized prints, giant cut-outs or “Stickups”and wall murals up to 20 feet long. They feature the company’s “spokeselephant” Greenie and her friends, Taj the tiger, Lenny the lion, Geraldine the giraffe and Greenie’s brother Garrett the gray elephant. The art is printed on an eco-friendy fabric canvas, is washable and very easy to install thanks to a non-toxic backing that will not damage walls.

An important part of the Greenie2Steps company mission is to allocate a portion of profits to charities that support children, education and the environment.

What inspired the three of you to get together and form such an interesting business?

Nancy Serafini and Cindy Laidlaw have worked together for the last eight years in an advertising agency/client relationship. Cindy, the owner of The Laidlaw Group, an ad agency in Boston, designed the Web site and marketing materials for Nancy’s interior design business.

Joanne Coughlin met Nancy at the 10-year anniversary of the Art For Kool Kidz program, a charity co-founded by Nancy at Children’s Hospital in Boston. Joanne, a renowned muralist and former animator at Warner Brothers in Los Angeles painted a mural for the hospital that was unveiled at the Anniversary party.

Nancy, Joanne and Cindy met at the right place, at the right time, and Greenie2Steps was born. They have created a company that they consider to be a perfect blend of creativity, imagination, education and fun.

Who is ‘Greenie’? What are some the adventures and stories your characters have to share?

Greenie is a pink elephant from the far away isle of TelleyGreen. This magical island is where Greenie, her brother Garrett and their friends Geraldine the Giraffe, Lenny the Lion and Taj the Tiger thrive in a healthy environment surrounded by clean fresh air, crystal clear water and an abundance of flora and fauna. Greenie’s adventures began when she looked up at the sky and saw a leaf floating in the air. It was an unusual leaf, unlike any that grow on TelleyGreen. She wanted to know where it came from. So began her quest.

She travels the world in her eco-friendly pineapple plane built by her brother Garrett, an inventor. Along the way she meets new friends, discovers new places and learns new lessons about how to make our planet a better place to live.

Your wall art is eco-friendly? What are some of the ingredients used?

We use eco-solvent based inks and water-based coatings in the printing process. Our fabric canvas substrate is made primarily from wood pulp, the naturally occurring primary structural component of green plants that is a renewable resource. The materials we selected to produce our Whimsical Wall Art collection are an eco-friendly solution for consumers that are demanding green products for their families and their homes.

It was mentioned that your art uses a glue that makes it easy to unstick and restick the art on the wall over and over again, without leaving any residue. How does that work?

In fact, there is no glue in the production of our products. The fabric canvas is paste-free, self adhesive/removable and repositionable and can be placed on any flat surface. It has a soft-tack backing that never dries out or becomes permanent. This backing retains its elasticity for hundreds of applications. It will never mar walls, peel off paint or leave residue.

Nancy, Joanne, and Cindy, you’ve each got your own unique background and experiences. Would you mind telling us a little about your background and how it helped you co-found this business?

Nancy:

When I was 8 years old I knew I wanted to be an interior decorator. Today, I have an interior design business with work featured in publications such as House and Garden, House Beautiful and Traditional Home. As a way of giving back, I started the Art for Kool Kidz Program at a hospital for children in Boston which allowed me to see first hand the healing qualities art has on children. I wanted to make art more accessible to children everywhere and help them learn about the importance of taking care of our planet.

As an interior designer, I always liked working on children’s rooms and tried to find wall art that was whimsical, educational and eco-friendly. It didn’t exist, so I decided to make it myself by co-founding Greenie2steps.

Cindy:

As the owner of The Laidlaw Group, a Boston advertising agency and a true entrepreneur, I have worked with many clients who have had ideas and have come to us to help turn those ideas into powerful brands. I have over 20 years experience working with clients that range from small start-ups to Fortune 50 corporations. I have learned to recognize and develop the potential of a great idea. Greenie2Steps is more than a great idea, it’s on its way to becoming a recognized brand.

Joanne:

I learned traditional animation in Los Angeles at Warner Brothers Feature Animation studios. While there , I worked on award winning animation films including Iron Giant, Space Jam and the Tigger Movie. It was an amazing experience . Eventually I returned to Boston and started my own children’s mural painting business. Every year I try to donate one mural to a children’s organization which led to several projects for Children’s Hospital where I met Nancy and began my involvement with Greenie2steps.

Now that we know what makes you so different, what similarities helped bring the three of you together?

Our similarity is a simple one – a shared passion for art, teaching children how to live “green”, and building a successful business. Of course, it helps that we all have strong backgrounds in art and design.

What are some of the lessons you have learned from your business up to this point?

Pick partners with complimentary skill sets. Ours combine business, art and sales and marketing . While we each are strong in our own professions, it is the sum of our combined experience that makes the company work. We’ve also believe that everyone benefits from living on a healthy planet. And we’re learning how much fun it is to hand business cards to two year olds.

As a relatively new business, having just launched at the end of July, I know you haven’t had much time to reach any major milestones yet but what goals do you hope to reach before your first anniversary? What are a few of your long term goals?

Our immediate business goals are to increase brand awareness, expand the product line, establish our affiliate and retail programs, and generate a consistent revenue stream. Our long-term goal is to become a household name by licensing our brand for apparel, home furnishings, accessories and more.

Do the three of you have any advice that you would like to share with any would-be entrepreneurs that might be reading this?

First, love what you do and believe in your ability to succeed. Second, make sure you work well with your partners and have complimentary skill sets. Third, have a professional legal contract. Finally– do your homework.

From Business Opportunities Weblog.

When Leslie Rees’ granddaughter was diagnosed with Raynaud’s Syndrome, he decided to have a look into the condition. When he didn’t like what he had found, Leslie created a solution instead. Heatbands are wrist bands that are made specifically for suffers of Raynaud’s Syndrome, although it can be used by anyone who needs an effective way to keep their hands warm. Instead of using an alternative form of heat, the bands make use of the heat within your own body.

What are HeatBands?

HeatBands™ are an innovative new type of handwarmer originally designed for Raynaud’s sufferers, they are very thin, ultra light and unobtrusive they are worn around the wrist to leave the hands and fingers free and warm.

How does it work?

HeatBands™ work by insulating the blood vessels that lie close to the skins surface at the wrist thus preventing heat loss, and by virtue of the products heat reflective core, heat is directed back to the area which has the effect of promoting a better flow of warm blood into the hands and fingers.

What inspired you to create it?

One of my grandaughters Laura Allen had very cold and painful hands and was diagnosed with Raynaud’s disease, she was told by the Doctor there is no cure, just wear gloves. I had previously designed and produced the Mediwrap range of products for patient thermo regulation for the emergency services and for in hospital use during surgical procedures, so I was very interested to research the condition and the products available. I was surprised to find other then invasive surgery and dangerous drugs, only bulky chemical handwarmers and a range of unsightly cumbersome items most requiring some form of activation or warming procedure. My plan was to design a no drug no chemical no activation product that would bring warmth and relief to users without any risk or side effects, I believe I have achieved that with HeatBands™.

What separates you from the competition?

HeatBands™ is the only product that offers a true natural remedy because it does not introduce heat it better utilises the body’s own heat.

How have your HeatBands evolved since your business was first started in 2005?

We have improved the product and the fastening and have seen HeatBands™ evolve from a medical product into a much wider and more versatile product as it has entered the sports market, the sponsorship and promotional market and the commercial market as HeatBands™ are now used by staff of some major food preperation companies and many outdoor workers.

Do you have any goals that you hope to reach over the next few years?

We plan to create a world-wide distribution network, introduce new products based upon the HeatBands™ technology. Make people more aware of safer more natural remedies for many ailments, and to make those remedies more readily available.

What are some of the lessons that you have learned from creating, launching, and running your business?

We have learnt many lessons, one is that generally a contract cannot be relied upon especially if you are a small company with little resources, the major companies and organisations will take advantage of your weekness. Keep your overheads as low as possible. Use your gut instincts. If it seems to good to be true it usually is.

What has been the hardest part of balancing time for your business and time for your personal life?

Your private and business life seems to role into one when you are very enthusiastic about what you are doing, our business is very rewarding as we know our products are bringing relief to many people and their comments and testimonials encourage us, we involve our family and our friends conversationaly in what we are doing most of the time.

What advice would you give fellow entrepreneurs hoping to launch their own business now?

You are never too young or too old. There is no wrong or right time if you wait until the time is right you will be too late. Don’t trust Banks. Get all the free help you can from central and local government run organisations.

From Business Opportunities Weblog.

Rebecca Winterhalt’s daughter had that problem. Her daughter was still in the potty training stages when she had an accident. Unfortunately Rebecca didn’t have a spare change of clothes on her so she had to borrow a pair of her nephews underwear. As the two children played, she noticed that her daughter wasn’t complaining about her underwear riding up and an idea began to spark within her mind. After much planning, that idea became what is now known as Girl Gotch. Taking advantage of the materials and design that makes boys underwear so great, Girl Gotch has created something that is much “too cute to be boys’”.

Tell us a little about Girl Gotch.

Girl Gotch is a company that designs and manufactures underwear for girls aged 2 thru 6 years of age. They come in 2 different styles; boxer and brief. They were designed after the traditional boy’s brief and boxer, but made ‘too cute to be boys’;)’

What inspired you to create this new type of girl’s underwear?

While I was potty training my oldest daughter, I couldn’t find underwear that would fit her. They would constantly ride up and she was pulling at them and saying how they hurt. One day when she was playing with her cousin, she had an accident and I didn’t have a spare set of clothes, so I borrowed my nephew’s gotch. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but as the day went on I realized that she wasn’t complaining about her underwear. She was running, jumping and climbing and they were staying in place. That’s when I decided that boy’s underwear were fantastic in design and little girls should be able to have them too. That is when Girl Gotch was born.

How many colors/styles do they come in? How much do they cost?

Currently Girl Gotch come in boxes of 3 boxers or briefs. They are available in a tri-colored box containing pink, purple and aqua. They are also available in pure white. I am hoping to have 2 more color lines by Christmas. The underwear retail for $14.99/box of 3. They can be purchased on-line at www.girlgotch.com or at a participating retailer. The retailers are listed on the where to buy section of the Girl Gotch website.

What was the design process like? What went into determining the materials and design that you wanted to use?

The design process was not as difficult as I thought it would be. I bought a bunch of boys underwear and literally took them apart. I worked with a local designer who was really great and she drew up the patterns for me. I sewed the underwear together and shipped them off to potential manufacturers. I had them provide samples in 100% cotton as well as a 95% cotton and 5% spandex blend. From there, I had my daughter play and wear the underwear and then I was able to finalize the style and fabric blend that was perfect for Girl Gotch. I wanted a high quality fabric that didn’t lose it’s shape as they were worn. The small amount of spandex allows for the little bit of stretch for comfort and helps hold the shape of the underwear.

Can we expect to see some new colors or patterns for your underwear in the future?

There are three different color families for Girl Gotch; cool, confident and pretty. The cool line contains the bright vibrant colors where the pretty line features soft pastels. The confident is the white line. There should be an additional cool line and a pretty line by Christmas time.

Do you have any goals that you hope to reach over the next year? Long term?

Over the next year I plan expand the number of retail partners. I also plan on launching into the USA. My long term goals for Girl Gotch is to grow the brand so that it is a ‘lovemark’ for consumers. Girl Gotch will be a household name and if there is a home with a little girl, it will also have Girl Gotch.

What are some of the changes Girl Gotch has seen since it first launched 1 year ago?

Initially, I had planned on partnering with a couple major mass retailers, however I decided that there was a better fit for my brand to partner with many smaller independent retailers. There haven’t been significant changes as I only went to market on May 07, 2009. When I started Girl Gotch, I wrote a detailed business plan and I use it to keep me in line. It is easy to lose sight of your original idea, so I constantly look back at my vision and make sure that all the decisions that I make are true to that.

What are some of the challenges you’ve had to face in business? What has helped you overcome them?

I think that the challenges I have had to face are getting the brand and logo perfect, finalizing manufacturing partners, finding the most cost effective partners in banking, website design to ensure that I can bring my product to market at a competitive price point. Patience, research and the support of my husband have helped me overcome my challenges without giving in to frustration.

What are some of the lessons your business has taught you?

My business has taught me that I can do anything. I have also learned that you can have the best plan and intentions, but there will always be something unexpected that will come up. I have learned that I need to stay positive and not take myself too seriously.

Is there any advice that you would like to share with fellow entrepreneurs that are just getting started?

I would say start with a detailed business plan and do your research. Be sure that there is a need for your product or service in the market before you invest all of your money. I would also recommend that you have the full support of your partner and family because you are going to need their support and help especially in the infancy of your business. Lastly, just go for it. Don’t over think it, just go for it. Someone has to come up with the next ‘it’ thing, so why can’t that someone be you.

From Business Opportunities Weblog.

photo credit: JerrytheSaint

There are so many new trends taking off and sticking that it is a wonder why so many more businesses are not going up as a result of it. One of the best things to do with a popular trend is to turn it into a great business venture. Below are some of the top 5 trends that should be considered for a business, recently located on Idea blob.

• Children. A minimum of 3.8 million children have been born every year since 1987. That’s a lot of kids that will need new clothes, toy’s, college planning, career advice, and more.
• Seniors. The current 35 million American senior citizens will double in the next 25 years. That’s a lot of people in need of medical supplies, in home care services, taxi services, retirement planning, and help with day to day activities.
• Weddings. There is about to be a huge wedding trend coming up. All the kids born in 1987 will be turning 22, and the general age a woman gets married is 25. People spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on huge elaborate weddings to remember for a lifetime… imagine having a piece of that pie.

Business Services. As businesses large and small lay off staff, more business services are being outsourced–meaning opportunity for entrepreneurs to provide those services. Demand for temporary workers is rising, and niche staffing services specializing in health care, technology and sales will grow.

From Business Opportunities Weblog.

photo credit: makelessnoise

In The Shark Tank has up a recap of Episode 2 of ABC’s The Shark Tank.

You can watch the full episode online, for free.

One highlight from the recap:

The last in front of The Sharks was Marc Furigay and his product Classroom Jams. Classroom Jams is an educational record label and publishing house. He was looking for $250k for 10% equity in his company. Marc is a teacher who was having a hard time relating Shakespeare to his class. He composed songs that helped his class relate to Shakespeare. The song was actually pretty good, a class set with 30 CD’s and a teachers guide would sell for $499. Shakespeare is the most taught playwright in the English language but Marc had plans to expend to different subjects. The Sharks talked about the deal together, and offered $250k and 5% royalties, but he would have to give up 100% of his company. Marc wanted to be one of the partners. Robert then offered $250k for 100% with an option to buy 49% back with the profits from the business, but there would be no royalties. Marc still wanted to have a deal with all five sharks so Robert sweetened the deal for the same price but this time lowered what he wanted to 51%. Marc rejected Roberts deal and wanted the royalties from the first deal increased to 8.5%, The Sharks said no but agreed to let him use his royalties to buy into the company and become a partner with The Sharks. This was one of the best deals of the season, I have no dough this company will be a success.

Links to all of the companies after the jump.

A Perfect Pear
Creators of Extraordinary Gourmet Food Products. Their products help the home cook prepare delicious healthful meals quickly and make them look like a 5 star chef to family & friends.

Crooked Jaw
Crooked Jaw is a up and coming action sport/streetwear brand from Long Island, NY. We have worked with many professionals athletes and bands and are looking to be the next big brand in the clothing industry.

http://www.crookedjaw.net

Attach Noted
AttachNoted is the solution to that irritating problem of loosing those sticky notes while working at your computer. AttachNoted will keep all your sticky notes in place and organized. Also, place your precious pictures or favorite business cards in the 3 slots, that are provided on the front sheet. Now one can securely take all those important sticky notes to their next appointment without having to reposition them.

Lifebelt
LifeBelt is a safety device that prevents the car engine from starting unless the drivers seat belt is buckled. It can also control other seat belts within the vehicle.

Classroom Jams
Classroom Jams is an educational record label & publishing house. We produce popular music that turns kids on to school curriculum. Our concept albums and teacher’s guides are the cutting edge in high-interest, high-minded teaching tools.

From Business Opportunities Weblog.

While it wasn’t the lost luggage itself that inspired Katy Messersmith to create Katydid Collection, she was inspired by its direct result: the need to buy more clothes. Where she was in Ghana, there was no store available to buy new clothing from. Instead she had to go straight to the source, seamstresses. Enlisting their help she was able to have some pieces put together. Inspired by the process and the patterns she started into business by selling fashionable handbags. From there it has expanded to include other accessories and clothing for women, men, and children.

Tell us a little about Katydid Collection.

Katydid began in 2004 as a handbag line and in the past few years has grown considerably and we now have expanded into not only fashion accessories but also apparel for women, men, and children.

What inspires your designs?

Symbols of our culture really inspire me. How I can portray those symbols and magnifying their meaning, but in a trendy way that customers want to be seen in. The most popular ones I have used over the past few years are crosses and fleur-de-lis. You will often see in my designs that I mix a lot of symbols as well such as a crown with angel wings or an iron cross with fleur de lis, etc.

What inspired your business?

The trip to Ghana was inspiring, but in all reality I needed to make more money to pay for student loans from college. So I did what I loved and found pieces I liked and sold them on ebay until I could afford to truly apply my own designs to different products and I grew from there with a lot of late nights and early mornings. I’ve always known that I wanted to work for myself and have always been an entrepreneur at heart, I just so happened to land in the fashion industry.

You were (and are) truly a lemons-to-lemonade type of gal, especially with the way you replaced your clothing after your luggage was lost on your flight to Ghana. What were those early pieces like? What about them helped ignite the inspiration for what is now Katydid Collection?

The first designs were born of necessity while in Africa and they reflected on the vibrant local fabrics. Even though the experience of loosing my luggage at the time was so devastating I often look back and if that wouldn’t have happened I am not sure I would have ever started my own business in the handbag/clothing industry. I was in such a rural area that you couldn’t just go and buy shirts or clothes in a store, you actually had to go to the local seamstresses on the streets and have them made. I just remember waking up each morning and before I would go volunteer at the clinic in Ghana I couldn’t wait to see what creation I could come up with that day. Many of the designs back then were very basic and simple, yet fun and functional and I feel my line has always reflected just that.

How many different pieces/categories do you currently have?

We currently offer eight different categories selling more than 600 products. We started with just handbags and since have apparel and fashion accessories. We also have branched out from not just women’s apparel but men’s and children’s as well.

Besides through your website, where can your clothing be purchased?

We are only in the domestic US for the moment, but our designs and products are in more than 10,000 stores and boutiques across the nation. It’s always exciting to see our products in places we never expected like mall kiosks, festivals, trade days, and home parties.

How has Katydid Collection changed/grown since its birth in 2004?

Our top line revenue has grown exponentially and we continue to grow through this tough economic downturn. Much of our growth can be attributed to focusing on our customers and to us growing categorically with new innovative products and designs. Two years ago we didn’t offer apparel and now it’s our number one seller. Next year could be jeans.

Do you have any goals that you hope to reach with your company over the next year? Any long term goals?

We would like to begin taking the brand to larger department stores and the over seas market has always fascinated us, but there are many opportunities to expand the brand through more innovative online marketing and social media. It blows our mind that there are so many ways to connect with our customers now and all that must be tracked and measured from an ROI standpoint.

What are some of the lessons you have learned from your business?

Always be aware of the consumer trends and what is going to be hot the next season. We are also very conscious as this business is very competitive. Competitors are always looking to take market share by looking at what has been successful for us and doing the same thing. We must always be one step ahead through innovation of new marketing techniques or product designs. One thing that I’ve learned though is to be successful you have to think positive and never give up. I made a lot of sacrifices to get to where I am today, but it was worth it.

Do you have any pieces of advice that you would like to offer anyone hoping to start a business in the fashion industry?

Sure, we encourage anyone to follow their passion, but understand it going to take many long hours and a few years before real results can be measured. Be prepared to push through the hard times and success will follow. You have to have determination and dedication to your business and for the most believe in yourself. Don’t be shy in asking for advice or opinions or talking to others that have proven to be successful.

* statistics from Popular Mechanics.

From Business Opportunities Weblog.

You don’t have to go it alone. You can find a great deal of help — much of it free — whether you’re transitioning to self-employment (sorry about your layoff!), facing new challenges in your existing business (sorry about the economy!) or hoping to start or expand a company (yes, you can do it!).

Over the years, I’ve noticed one big difference between successful entrepreneurs and those who fail is that successful people seek out good advice and listen to it.

Small Business Development Centers:
I’m listing these first, because I think SBDCs are one of the country’s best-kept secrets and a terrific source of excellent quality help. In fact, I was once a client.

Trade Associations:
If you’re looking for information about your specific industry — and who isn’t? — one of the best sources is your own industry association. No matter what type of business you’re in, I’m betting there’s an association for it, especially since there are nearly 40,000 trade associations. Whether you’re a caterer, consultant, cartoonist, or canine cosmetologist, there’s an association for you.

Local entrepreneurs and business organizations:
In most communities, you’ll find a whole range of business groups with opportunities for you to meet with your fellow entrepreneurs and build your business. I met the contact that eventually led to my first book contract from a local entrepreneurs group!

Community colleges, extension courses:
Want to learn necessary business software programs? Management skills? You’ll find a range of short courses, certification programs, or one-day workshops at your local community colleges and university extension programs. These programs are typically very affordable and instructors are usually practicing professionals in their fields.

SCORE:
Standing for the “Service Corps of Retired Executives,” SCORE is a non-profit organization. SCORE has over 10,000 volunteers who are retired business owners or executives. They offer free counseling and have an extensive website.

Photo by tandemracer.

From Business Opportunities Weblog.