Your Questions About Business Online Services Group
Paul asks…
Are there any govement grants for women who want to start a small business?
I’m thinking of starting my own photographic restoration service and can’t find any information about government help for women venturing into the business world.
Jere answers:
SBA does NOT give out grants. From the SBA website http://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html
“The U.S. Small Business Administration does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses, although it does offer a wide variety of loan programs. (See http://www.sba.gov/financing for more information) While SBA does offer some grant programs, these are generally designed to expand and enhance organizations that provide small business management, technical, or financial assistance. These grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments.”
You stand a greater chance of getting a government-guaranteed loan through the Small Business Administration http://www.sba.gov/financing than a government grant. Read the SBA Financing page to learn about criteria needed for borrowing
It is hard to find grants to start a business. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for a for-profit business. And yes, grants mean PAPERWORK – lots and lots of it, that is why a cottage industry of grant writers was born.
Nonetheless, you can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov – these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support a for-profit venture.
Here is a listing of federal grants for small businesses. See if there is any available for individuals for starting a business — THERE’S NONE.
Http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.BROWSE_BENEF_RPT.show
Most of the federal grants are given to specific target groups with specific requirements (e.g. Minority business owners involved in transportation related contracts emanating from DOT – Grant#20.905 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Short Term Lending Program
Grants are also often given to non profit groups or organizations involved in training or other similar activities (grant 59.043 Women’s Business Ownership Assistance that are given to those who will create women’s business center that will train women entrepreneurs
I suggest you read the following books to get ideas of how to finance your business:
Financing Your Small Business http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1572484500/powerhomebizguid
Small Business Financing: How and Where To Get It http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0808007386/powerhomebizguid
Financing the Small Business: A Complete Guide to Obtaining Bank Loans and All Other Types of Financing http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1580626815/powerhomebizguid
The SBA Loan Book http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/158062202X/powerhomebizguid
Angel Capital : How to Raise Early-Stage Private Equity Financing http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0471690635/powerhomebizguid
Financing Your Small Business (Barron’s Business Library Series) http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764124897/powerhomebizguid
For private grants, you may want to check the Foundation Center’s Foundation Grants for Individuals Online http://gtionline.fdncenter.org . It’s a subscription based website ($9.95 per month) but their opening blurb only says that the database is ideal for “students, artists, academic researchers, libraries and financial aid offices.” Entrepreneurs are apparently not one of them, so I take it they also don’t have listings of private foundations who give grants to would-be entrepreneurs.
Carol asks…
Where can I find a list of local publications based in Leeds ?
I need to compile a list of local publication like magazines, newspapers, etc.
Is there anywhere online where I can find a list of local publications based in/around Leeds?
Thanks .
Jere answers:
To have the complete list you will have to visit more than one of the following sites.
Leeds Metropolitan University
… Events Alumni Profiles Publications Donate. Varsity Day 2008 … Leeds Met design graduate Chris Bromfield has been offered a job with Leeds-based High …
Www.leedsmet.ac.uk – Cached
Leeds Medical Information
LMI Publications. Contact LMI. Free quotation. LUCID. Leeds Medical … Based at the University of Leeds, the information staff at LMI use their search …
Www.leeds.ac.uk/lmi – Cached
J S Matthew – “The Unfinished Email” by J. S. Matthew, published by …
Ravenshead Publications, the home of J S Matthew, author of ‘The … Ravenshead Publications is a new publishing company based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. …
Www.ravensheadpublications.com – Cached
ERBEDU Home
… Centre, based within Leeds Business School, Leeds Metropolitan University, United Kingdom. … Publications List 07/08. ERBEDU Newsletter. MBA European …
Www.leedsmet.ac.uk/lbs/erbedu – Cached
Yorkshire Yeller
… In 1993 as an independent free advertising publication, based in Leeds, it … Re-launched in February 2003, improving quality of the publication and branding …
Www.yeller.co.uk/aboutus.aspx – Cached
Arts and Regeneration
About Leeds. Council publications. FAQs. Contact us. Accessibility. Arts and … Creative activity in the city, with involvement from Leeds-based organisations …
Www.leeds.gov.uk/arts – 64k – Cached
Careers | Warners Group Publications plc
… Group Publications plc > Careers. Current Opportunities. Leeds Office (1) … Based in Leeds this unique opportunity is perfect for a budding designer looking …
Www.warnersgroup.co.uk/careers/filter/Leeds Office – Cached
Leeds QSR Group Publications
You may also wish to search the Leeds School of Computing publications database. … Representing Moving Objects in Computer-Based Expert Systems: The Overtake Event …
Www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/spacenet/publications.html – 80k – Cached
Leeds Mind – Leeds Mind Publications
Whats Going on in Leeds? Leeds Mind Publications. Doorways in the Night … By a group of Leeds-based service users called Local Voices and edited by Terry Simpson. …
Www.leedsmind.org.uk/view.aspx?id=49 – Cached
University of Leeds – New University Publications Database System
University of Leeds News – New University Publications Database System – The … Based on the names under which you publish and a publication date of 2001 to the …
Iss.leeds.ac.uk/news/…/new_university_publications_database_system
John asks…
What are the employment outlook for people majoring in “information system”?
I would like to know how the future is for people who are majoring in: Business Administration emphasis in Information System. I read articles online and on the paper and they all say that people majoring in information system is a bad idea. Mostly because they don’t know what it is. I don’t know what it is or what kind of work they do.
There’s one article that says that people with a bachelor’s in Information System have a 13% unemployment rate and that number will go higher in the future. I want your opinion and honesty of how the outlook for people with that degree is. Is there job security in the near future (2-3 years from now) or should it be recommended that people should major in something else. If people continue to pursue with that degree how would an undergrad or recent graduate get an internship? Please be honest (brutally honest), I might be influenced with what you say.
Jere answers:
I majored in Computer Information Systems (CIS) and there are a variety of directions that you can go with this career. If the 13% unemployment rate number is correct that is not bad considering the actual US employment rate is probably approaching a real number of almost 20%.
If you like Technology then this is a good degree. If you are not sure what the degree is about you need to research that before you pour money and time into getting this degree. I’ve given you a list of jobs that would be possibilities for a CIS (or eqivalent degree) graduate.
Computer Technician – Works on computer hardware at user location or in service center. (entry level IT Job)
Service Center Coordinator – Schedules the repair of user community computers, orders spare parts, schedules staff, establishes priorities, maintains loaner laptops and non-US laptops for travel outside of US.
Help Desk Staff – answer questions and resolve problems for the user community. (entry level IT Job – Tier 1 support)
Storage Administrator – in charge of mass storage servers and devices.
Network Administrator – Works on routers, switches, hubs, cables, load balancers and all the other hardware that handles LAN and WAN network traffic. Also, may be responsible for IP phone service.
Systems Administrator or Systems Engineer- Works with servers, laptops and desktop computers to keep them free of problems and secure the data they contain. Responsible for Security group creation and memberships, server patching, anti-virus protection updates, password changes and any automated mechanisms that make these changes. These positions may be divided into server and desktop teams. Tier 2 support.
Enterprise Administrator – Handles Enterprise support and design issues. Tier 3 support.
Active Directory Administrator – Designs and administers Active Directory infrastructure, AD policies, access permissions, roles, group policies, separation of duties.
Exchange and Messaging Administrator – maintains mail systems servers, other mail related devices and the company messaging infrastructure.
Backup Administrator – Maintains backup devices and determines backup strategies so data that was deleted accidentally or intentionally can be recovered. Design and control how and when data is backed up, where the backups are stored and how long the backups are retained. They will test to be sure backups are valid and usable.
Disaster Recovery Specialist – Plans for disaster events so the company data and infrastructure can be brought back online as quickly as possible after a fire, flood, earthquake, terrorism or other disaster event. Plans for failover of services to alternate locations, if the primary location is not available.
Database Administrator – Maintains the company databases which may include customer and sales records, billing information, inventory and other data.
Computing Security Specialist – A company’s biggest asset is its data and the Computing Security Specialist will work to try to keep that data protected from loss. They may be dealing with and defending against viruses, hoaxes, malware, keyloggers, phishing attacks, internal attacks and domestic and foreign intrusion. Develops monitoring and interception systems, filters and strategies and works with appropriate government agencies.
Ethical Hacker – performs intrusion and vulnerability testing of systems. Works with Computing Security to insure intrusion prevention systems are working correctly.
Corporate IT Acquisition Specialist – Works with acquired outside companies to establish migration into the corporate computing infrastructure.
Data Center Administrator – Maintains the data center facilities where the company’s servers and other devices reside. They are responsible for physical security and may review badge reader and camera information to be sure that only individuals with proper access are getting close to the company’s servers and other critical devices. Also, maintain backup power devices (UPS or generators).
In a small business the list of jobs above might be performed by one or two people doing all these jobs. In a large Enterprise environment this could be hundreds of people.
Best wishes!
Donald asks…
How can I get paid to advertise on my web site?
I am working with a small group of experts producing a colour encyclopaedia online. We want to keep the website free to access but still want to make some money from it. Each page has been designed to incorporate an advertising banner – are there any agencies that can manage and provide the advertising and pay us for using our site?
Thanks in advance!
Jere answers:
There are several ways you can earn money from advertising:
1. Join an advertising network. Advertising networks are organizations that aggregate Web sites that offer advertising space, and sell banner ads (and other advertising options) across them. Traffic requirement is often a minimum of 5,000 monthly impressions, although many do not accept sites hosted by free page services.
Burst Media http://www.burstmedia.com
Fastclick (ValueClick). Http://www.fastclick.com
Advertising.com. Http://www.advertising.com
Tribal Fusion http://www.tribalfusion.com
Casale Media http://www.casale.com
24/7 Real Media http://www.247realmedia.com/products/site_rep.html
2. Participate in contextual advertising networks. Contextual advertising are text ads delivered based on the content of the web page using an automated system.
Google Adsense https://www.google.com/adsense/…
Yahoo! Publishing Network (currently in beta and available to US publishers only) http://publisher.yahoo.com/
Intellixt http://vibrantmedia.com/site/web_01a5.ht…
Quigo Adsonar http://www.quigo.com/adsonarexchange.htm…
IndustryBrains http://www.industrybrains.com
Commission Junction Evolution http://www.cj.com/solutions/optimized_ad…
3. Sell advertising for your site directly. This is admittedly a more difficult route for a small business site wanting to earn advertising revenues. But hey, as they say: “no pain, no gain!”
Helen asks…
Difference between personal and small business credit?
Do credit bureaus differentiate between personal and small business credit scores? If so, does building up a small business credit score encompass the same practices as building personal credit? If one has a personal card with a particular creditor, then open a small business, would that creditor use any of their payment history/credit lines as some sort of a guide to extend small business credit? TIA.
Jere answers:
A true business credit card is a line of credit that is taken in the name of the business, under the business’ credit. Activity, whether good or bad, is reflected on your business’ credit report through D&B and other financial institutions, and the liability for any debts incurred and bills owed is with the business.
However, some companies out there offer “business” credit cards which they require a person guarantee for. These institutions will often ask for a personal guarantee, and will almost always ask for a social security number from the person applying for the card. If this is the case, the credit card is not a business credit card, but is simply a personal credit card which is used for the business. The business is not liable for bills and debts – you are.
When applying for a credit card for your business, watch out for areas asking for your SSN (and not your TaxID or EIN) and be wary of any credit card that asks for a personal guarantee. By ensuring that your credit card is in the name of your business, you can help to build your business’ credit, while avoiding creating problems with your own.
Many companies offer a list of credit cards that are issued under the business name only. Those lists typically run $300-$900, depending on the quality of the information inquiring. I would suggest starting your search online via google or yahoo. Search for “strong business credit” (just like that in quotes) to find services that sell the information.
Good luck,
Ilya Bodner
Small Business Owner
Initial Underwriting Group
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