|
SCOREBOARD
September/October, 2010 - Volume 4, Issue 4
A business resource provided by the Greater Knoxville Chapter of SCORE, "Counselors to America's Small Business," providing business owners and managers with tips, ideas, and news to help your business grow and become more successful.
|
| WHAT'S IN THIS ISSUE | |
Ask most small businesses owners what they need to make it through this rough economy, and their reply probably will be "Access to credit or loans," or "More customers." Some might even give both answers. So those are the two topics we're covering in this issue.
As you probably know by now, the Small Business Act was recently passed and signed into law. One of the primary sections of the act made 30 billion dollars available to small and medium sized banks, with incentives to increase their lending to small businesses. We encourage you to check with your bank to find out if they will be participating in this program. We've included a couple of articles that will give you more information on this important legislation.
Getting more customers to do business with you involves selling. But many entrepreneurs and business owners may not be familiar, or feel comfortable, with this task. We've included some tips to help you improve and master these skills.
On a local note, we want to encourage you those of you in the Greater Knoxville area to attend a free Cyber and Computer Security workshop on October 21 presented by the National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) . Complete information and details are in the "Upcoming Workshops" section of this newsletter. |
| Small Business Act Provisions You Need To Know About |
While the most publicized portion of this bill provides funding to banks for loans to small businesses, there are many other components you may not be aware of but need to know. For example, self-employed business owners can now deduct all of their health insurance costs from their 2010 self-employment taxes instead of only 50 percent. To learn more, read "Small Business Act Signed Into Law." PS - this is NOT the entire official bill, just the highlights, so it won't take long to read. |
| Had Trouble Getting a Loan? You May Want To Try Again | |
Many small businesses may not have been able to secure credit or loans in this economy due to higher lending criteria or lack of funding capital from their banks. The new Small Business Act may change this, but some banks have already implemented plans to re-examine rejected loan applications. The moves are a throwback to traditional roll-up-the-sleeves loan underwriting, emphasizing a potential borrower's track record and relationship with a bank over credit scores and other data that powered the industry's loan machine when credit was fast and cheap. "Second Look - First Aid For Borrowers" provides some insight to these programs, and can help you plan a strategy to ask for a review of your application. |
| Are You the Owner, Customer Service Rep, and Director of Sales? | |
Entrepreneurs wear many hats, and being director of sales is very often one of them. In fact, if you're the owner and your company's sole salesperson, then welcome to the club - many small companies operate this way. But just because a practice is commonplace does not mean it's easy. How To Manage a One Owner Sales Force provides ideas and tips from ten small business owners that can help you improve your sales skills. |
| A Way To Get More Sales That Many Businesses May Overlook | | Every business needs new customers, but don't forget that your easiest and most predictable source of new revenue is right under your nose: It comes from the loyal customers who already know your company. Learn how to increase sales while reducing customer acquisition costs in "Get More Sales From Existing Customers." |
| Sales Are Built On Marketing |
"Plan your work and work your plan" is a old-school axiom that is still important in today's business climate, perhaps even more so. And this is the time of year that you should be making your marketing plans to increase your sales in 2011. But with so many channels available to communicate your products and services to your potential customers, where do you start? "How To Build Your Marketing Plan" gives some guidelines to help answer this question. |
| Upcoming Workshops | |
"So You Want To Be An Entrepreneur?"
Saturday October 16 and Saturday November 20 from 10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon
Sessions will be conducted at the Knoxville Campus of Roane State Community College, 132 Hayfield Road, Knoxville (Off Parkside Drive)
Contact the Knoxville SCORE office (865-692-0716) to register.
Space is limited, so call early!
_____________________________
Roane County Chamber of Commerce
Lunch and Learn Series
"Internet Marketing Today"
The Latest Cost-Effective Tools for Increasing Your Sales
Tuesday, October 26 from Noon to 2 PM
Roane County Chamber Office, 1209 N. Kentucky Street, Kingston TN
Call 865-376-5572 to Reserve Your spot
_____________________________
Loudon County Chamber of Commerce
"Should I Go Into Business By Myself?"
A 6 hour workshop conducted in 2 three hour sessions purposely designed for couples to determine whether their idea is doable, and discover what and how much effort is required for success.
October 19th and 28th, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM Loudon County Visitors Bureau
1075 Highway 321
For additional information and to register, contact
Loudon County Chamber of Commerce
Cost for both sessions is $30 per couple
___________________________
Jefferson and Hamblen County
"Business Basics 101"
Co-Presented by SCORE and Knoxville Area Urban League
Tennessee Career Center at Talbot
6057 West Andrew Johnson Highway, Suite 6a
Talbot TN
To Register call 423-317-1060
____________________________
Cyber Security Workshop
Thursday, October 21, 8:00 am to 12:30 pm
Fountainhead College of Technology
3203 Tazewell Pike, Knoxville
The interactive discussion will focus on information security risks facing all small organizations and how those risks can be identified and managed. Topics include:
· How your data is vulnerable
· What you can lose through an information security breach
· Practical steps to protect your operations
· How to use information security vendors and consultants
· How to evaluate tools and techniques based on your needs
This workshop is free but advance registration is required. For additional details and to register go to www.tinyurl.com/nistknoxville or call 865-688-9422. |
| Visit And Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce | |
Blount County Chamber of Commerce www.blountchamber.org
Claiborne County Chamber of Commerce www.claibornecounty.com
Cocke County Partnership Chamber of Commerce www.cockecounty.org
Farragut/West Knox Chamber of Commerce www.farragutchamber.com
Loudon County Chamber of Commerce www.loudoncountychamber.com
Monroe County Chamber of Commerce www.monroecountychamber.org
Roane County Chamber of Commerce www.roanealliance.org
_________________________________________
We want to thank our sponsors. Click on their logos to visit their web sites.
 
To send this newsletter to associates and other businesses, click the 'forward email' link in the bottom section.
To contact us to schedule a counseling session, please click here.
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, click here.
If you have an idea you'd like to share with us or a suggestion for future issues, click here.
Did you miss an earlier issue of SCOREBOARD? Click here to view our archived issues. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
865-692-0716 Suite 450, 412 N. Cedar Bluff Road, Knoxville TN 37923 |
|
|
|
|
