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Welcome to SCORE!
Greetings!
SCORE, Service Corp Of Retired
(and Working) Executives, Counselors to America's Small Business offers
free counseling to St. Louis area small businesses.
For more
information contact us at 314-539-6600 Ext. 242 or www.stlscore.org to learn more about what SCORE offers.
See Our Website
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St. Louis SCORE
200 North Broadway
Suite 1500
St. Louis,
MO
63102
314-539-6600 x242
http://www.stlscore.org
St. Charles Office
636-447-5000
St. Charles Economic Development Center
5988 Mid Rivers Mall Dr.
St.Charles, MO 63304
Kirkwood Office
314-800-1527
Inside National City Bank
333 S. Kirkwood Rd
Kirkwood, MO 63122
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Small Biz Stats & Trends
From: score.org The small business marketplace changes
rapidly. Small Business Impact on the Economy
The estimated 29.6 million small businesses in the United States:
Employ just over half of the country's private sector workforce
Hire 40 percent of high tech workers, such as scientists, engineers and computer workers
Include 52 percent home-based businesses and two percent franchises
Represent 97.3 percent of all the exporters of goods
Represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms
Generate a majority of the innovations that come from United States companies
Source: U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, September 2009
Small Business Survival Rates
Small Business Openings & Closings in 2008:
There were 627,200 new businesses, 595,600 business closures and 43,546 bankruptcies.
Seven out of 10 new employer firms survive at least two years, and about half survive five years.
Findings do not differ greatly across industry sectors.
Sources: U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, September 2009,Survival
and Longevity in the Business Employment Dynamics Database, Monthly
Labor Review, May 2005. Redefining Business Success: Distinguishing
Between Closure and Failure, Small Business Economics, August 2003.
Trends in the Small Biz Marketplace
General Trends:
The number of self-employed workers in June 2005
fell 3.1 percent or 303,000 from the month before, Labor Department
data showed. Self employment tends to fall as the economy grows. That's
especially true among laid-off workers who start tiny companies after
failing to find work in slow times. (Source: USA Today, July 17, 2005)
During 1979-2003, self-employment increased: 33
percent for women; 37 percent for African Americans, 15 percent for
Latinos, 10 for White Americans and 2.5 percent for men. (Source: SBA, Office of Advocacy)
Where do small business owners go for advice? 52
percent from individual mentors; 51 percent from social networks; 44
percent from trade associations; 36 percent from business advisors; 31
percent from the Internet and 27 percent from Chambers of Commerce (Source: American Express)
To meet a SCORE counselor in St. Louis, come in to one of our three locations or call 314.539.6600 x242 |
Don't get left out! Join the social media revolution. SCORE can help.
Twitter Talk. Why the Twitter phenomenon should not be ignored. Find out how it can boost your business.
Why Do I Tweet? Let Me Count The Ways
If you've been hesitant about joining the Twitter
phenomenon, thinking it's a fad for the young and techy, you'd better
think again. More than 190 million people use Twitter every month. If
you're not one of them, you're missing out on one of the best FREE
marketing and communication tools for your business.
Twitter has opened up a world of opportunities for my business that
in the past wouldn't have been possible, or would have taken months of
travel (and thousands of dollars) to accomplish. Here's what I've
discovered about the advantages of Twitter:
1) Getting new clients. I noticed one of the big
telecommunications companies was redesigning their website. I pitched
them on Twitter, they tweeted back, and-bam--we had a new client.
2) Meeting new people.
When you're really involved in the Twitter community, you collect
followers and make contacts. Many people I've have met on Twitter are
smart, connected and eager to help one another.
3) Uncovering new ideas.
I have learned from many of the folks I've met on Twitter-and they've
sparked new ideas for my business. Twitter helps me stay in the loop
about what's going on-and it's quick and easy.
4) Gaining attention and driving traffic.
Social media is the best way to let the world know what you're working
on, what you've accomplished, and what your colleagues are doing. It's
also a great way to give referrals.
5) You get what you give.
Twitter is a great way to launch information and assistance out into
the world and find like-minded businesspeople who can help your
business grow. But you need to reciprocate. Twitter is a two-way street.
Get started by importing your email contacts to Twitter and
exploring the community. Follow your contacts, see who they follow, and
start following those people. Pay close attention to those who could
develop into important relationships. Link your Twitter account to your
website or blog to cross-promote and gain new followers. Put your
Twitter address on your business cards.
BizSuccessTips Editor Rieva
Lesonsky is founder and CEO of GrowBiz Media, a content and consulting
company. Read more of her insights at SmallBizDaily.com.
From www.score.org
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Success Stories: Helping Hand
Roy and Louise van Broekhuize n started a handbag factory and training center to help survivors of the 2006 Tsunami.
"We
started Laga Handbags in 2006 employing 12 women. Today we support over
300 and with a recent spot on 'Oprah,' we are getting closer to our
vision to help 1,200. We were very happy to find a very knowledgeable
SCORE counselor who helped Laga with marketing our products. Tom Patty,
our personal SCORE counselor, suggested we use social media, starting
with Fan Pages on Facebook, as well as individual accounts, to help
drive new friends to the Laga Handbags Fan Page." Find out more.
Roy and Louise van Broekhuizen, Laga Handbags.
Web site: www.laga-handbags.com |
SCORE Offers Disaster Planning and Recovery Resources for
Small Businesses
Washington,
DC - As the
Atlantic hurricane season begins, SCORE reminds entrepreneurs that disaster can strike any business at any
time. Equipment failures, thefts, accidents or natural disasters can impact
operations, employees and customers. SCORE
counselors offer expert mentoring
and workshops that can help a business prepare for and recover from a disaster.
Helpful
links and resources include:
Get Disaster Planning
Advice. SCORE
provides advice by email
24/7. Search by business question or keyword. Get answers to questions
from more than 1,200 online counselors.
Resources to Protect
Your Biz.
Learn how to avert disaster, recover quickly, protect business data, plan
for a crisis, get the right insurance, and prepare for hurricane season.
Government Resources
& Recovery Assistance. Get links to state and federal government resources,
including the SBA, IRS, FEMA and Department of Homeland Security. The U.S.
Chamber also offers assistance.
Stargazer Resources. Check out forms,
checklists and FAQs from The Stargazer Foundation, which provides free
emergency resources.
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Upcoming Events
SCORE Chapter 21
Monthly Seminars
Improve Your Business!
REGISTER NOW !
"How to Start and Manage Your Own Business"
Saturday
July 17, 2010
8:15 A.M. to 3 P.M
Fee - $50.00
St. Louis Community College at Meramec
11333 Big Bend Blvd.
St. Louis, Mo. 63122
Room SO - 105
Register Now!
July 31, 2010
"Writing a Professional Business Plan"
Time: 9 am to 12 noon Cost: $30
St. Charles EDC
SSM Room
5988 Mid Rivers Mall Dr
St. Charles, MO 63304
To learn more about any of these courses and dates, times and how to register -
CLICK HERE
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Visit our SCORE Branch
office inside National City
Bank in Kirkwood
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Resources For You
2010 Speed Coaching Event. Take
your business to the next level with this event from American Express
OPEN and SCORE.
One-on-one coaching, networking opportunities and
resources to grow your business. Coming to St. Louis October 20th. More Information.
 IRS HIRE Act Under the Hiring Incentives
to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act, enacted March 18, 2010, two new tax
benefits are available to employers who hire certain previously unemployed
workers ("qualified employees"). The first provides employers with an exemption
from the employer's 6.2 percent share of social security tax on wages paid to
qualifying employees, effective for wages paid from March 19, 2010 through
December 31, 2010. In addition,
for each qualified employee retained for at least 52 consecutive weeks,
businesses will also be eligible for a general business tax credit. Small
Businesses can learn more about the HIRE Act
here St. Charles Economic Development Center
Let the EDC help you discover why St. Charles County is a great
place to grow your business and your life. Call toll-free
1-877-441-6880 or e-mail: info@edcscc.com
See the website
SCORE Social Media
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Brought to you by SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business," a nonprofit association and resourc e partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration. SCORE is dedicated to entrepreneurship and the formation, growth and success of small businesses nationwide. Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 8 million entrepreneurs.
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© Copyright 2010. SCORE Association. All rights reserved.
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