SCOREBOARD

from Greater Knoxville

 SCORE Logo April 12 

January/February 2012  Volume 6, Issue 1

A business resource providing business owners and managers

with tips, ideas, and news to help your business grow and become more successful.

IN THIS ISSUE

Small business owners wear many hats - manager, accountant, sales person, marketing, human resources, technology guru, and many others. At some point you may think it's time to delegate some of these tasks to others, but aren't able to hire staff to perform them. Fear not - there may be a way to delegate without hiring by outsourcing. This issue of SCOREBOARD includes information on how you might use outsourcing for some aspects of your business.

 

Does your business provide services like painting, plumbing, electrical, heating/air conditioning, carpentry and roofing? Do you want to grow your business profitably? Do you want to learn how to better manage the financial aspects of your business? Then you need to put February 21 or March 1 on your calendar to attend one of our workshops for independent contractors. Information and details about these workshops are shown in the "WORKSHOPS" section of this newsletter.

 

Do you have relatives, colleagues, or friends who own a small business or are considering beginning their own business? Then we encourage you share SCOREBOARD with them. Just click the "Forward" link at the bottom of this newsletter.

 

We encourage you to read these articles to make your business even more successful, and remember that SCORE is here "For The Life Of Your Business."

Best Buy Jumps Into Small Business IT

Has technology left you behind? Don't have enough time or knowledge to implement new technology? Maybe you should consider outsourcing the maintenance and upgrading of the Information and technology aspects of your business. One source with which you're familiar has recently come to the rescue. Best Buy recently added IT outsourcing to their offerings for small businesses, and you can learn more about it in this article.

Bookkeeping Services For Growing Businesses

Knowing where your revenue comes from and what your expenses are is critical to success. But if you're mathematically challenged or don't have the time to manage and understand your financial records, outsourcing your accounting may be an option.  You can read about one company's service for small business accounting by clicking here.

Market Research

One of the first steps any business owner should take before launching or expanding a new business, product or service offering is to research the market. Success depends on analysis to determine whether there is a viable opportunity. You can choose to outsource this task, but there are many sources available that allow you to do your own research, for free!. Several of these are presented in Free Market-Research Tools -- A Sampler.

 

Another free source you may have overlooked is the US Census Bureau. There are many tables of data you can use, such as the number of businesses and households in your area, or even a single ZIP code. Hacking the U.S. Census for Market Research gives information on how to locate some of this data.

Secrets to Funding Your Business

According to Walter Good of Business Fundability, one reason that over 90 percent of all business loans are rejected is the lack of preparation.  Four Key Secrets to Funding Your Business lists the four main secrets that every business owner should know before applying for a business loan.

Success Stories

Your business and SCORE have a common goal - success. Our website includes a section of success stories (www.scoreknox.org/success.htm) and we'd like to add your story to this section. Send your story about how SCORE helped your business to news@scoreknox.org.

 

Two Greater Knoxville clients have recently been added to SCORE's national Success Story web section. You can read how Tracy Foster of Project Being There and Joe Innes of User Friendly Maps implemented advice and guidance from SCORE counselors to make their businesses successful.  Also, Dr. Gary Bickford of Healthy Life Clinic received SCORE's national "Outstanding Small Business Launched By an Individual 50+" award and you can read about his business's growth by clicking here.

SCORE Is Looking For A Few Good Men And Women

The Greater Knoxville SCORE Chapter is recruiting volunteers to assist the small business community in our coverage area. If you're an experienced business owner or have managed a business and would like to counsel small business owners, we'd like to speak with you. In addition to volunteer counselors, we're also seeking volunteers with experience or talents in making presentations, performing administrative functions, and assisting in fund raising efforts. If you are interested, or know someone who fits these needs, contact SCORE at 865-692-0717 or email us at volunteer@scoreknox.org.  To see what you gain from volunteering, watch this short video.

 

PS - it is not necessary for volunteers to be retired.

Upcoming Workshops

 

 "Should I Go Into Business For Myself?"

This is a two session workshop designed for those considering beginning their own business.

  

9:00 AM til Noon, Sat. Feb. 4 (Session 1) & Sat. Feb.18 (Session 2)

Knoxville Campus of Roane State Community College,

132 Hayfield Road, Knoxville (Off Parkside Drive)

 

Click here to view content, directions, and to register,

 or call the Greater Knoxville SCORE office (865-692-0717)

 

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5:30 - PM til 8:30 PM, Tues. Feb. 14 (Session 1) & Tues. Feb. 28 (Session 2)

Knoxville Area Urban League,

1514 E. Fifth Avenue, Knoxville

 

Click here to view content and registration information

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9:00 am til Noon, Sat. Mar. 3 (Session 1) & Sat. Mar. 17 (Session 2)

Knoxville Campus of Roane State Community College,

132 Hayfield Road, Knoxville (Off Parkside Drive)

 

Click here to view content, directions, and to register,

or call the Greater Knoxville SCORE office (865-692-0717)

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"Independent Contractors Workshop"
 This workshop is designed especially for small "trades" contractors with six or less employees and covers questions like:
  • How do you make more profit?
  • How do you price your services?
  • How do you survive in tough times?
  • How do you determine what your time is worth?
  • How do you develop shortcuts to accurate job pricing?
The cost is $100 and includes lunch and break beverages plus a USB thumbdrive with related computer software and business forms. This workshop has limited seating so all must be pre-registered by calling 524-5511.
  
Tuesday, February 21, 8 AM til 5 PM
Knoxville Area Urban League
1514 East Fifth Avenue
Knoxville TN 37914
Click here to view content and registration information.
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Thursday, March 1, 8 AM til 5 PM
Clarion Inn
3634 Merchants Center Blvd, Knoxville TN 37921

Click here to view content and registration information.
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Visit And Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce

Anderson County Chamber of Commerce   www.andersoncountychamber.org

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

Scott County Chamber of Commerce   www.scottcountychamber.com
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We want to thank our premium sponsor.  Click on their logo to visit their web site.
  

First Tennessee Foundation 

 

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.

 

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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.
Greater Knoxville SCORE Chapter  www.scoreknox.org 
865-692-0716  Suite 450, 412 N. Cedar Bluff Road, Knoxville TN  37923