One of the things I appreciated, only after graduating college graduation, was that my school employed professors, who had real world experience. I cannot tell you how many times we heard a professor say, Okay, thats what the textbook tells you. Now, let me tell you how it works in the real world.

Textbooks only give students a foundation on which to build later in a real job. Often times, the real world does not follow the procedures set forth in or lookact anything like those models in the textbooks, making it difficult to adjust. You expect one thing in a new job but discover another, feeling lost as to how to proceed.

The Florida Schools in partnership with the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) are introducing some of the real world into the Florida schools. Beginning with the 2007-2008 school year, high school students in the Florida schools will be able to sign up for a major course in entrepreneurship at participating schools.

In June 2006, then governor Jeb Bush signed the A++ Education Act, which offers 442 additional major coursework in the Florida schools. The entrepreneurship course is one of these offerings.

The importance of teaching such a course to secondary Florida schools students is not lost on businesses that complain across the nation that high school graduates are not prepared to enter todays workforce upon graduation. The Florida schools entrepreneurship course will teach students vital business skills that will benefit the entire community and economy. With business being primarily knowledge-based, knowing how to use technology and employ critical thinking skills are essential for Florida schools graduates. As well as providing this training, the new Florida schools entrepreneurship course will create a new awareness for the students.

The NFTE was instrumental in the development of the entrepreneurship program for the Florida schools. The group is committed to providing entrepreneurship education to low-income and minority youth. They believe that introducing entrepreneurship to high school students gives them greater motivation to stay in school in order to do more with their life after graduation. Entrepreneurship offers hope and an opportunity for many students, who feel that there is nothing for them after high school except minimum wage jobs. It gives them the knowledge and confidence that they can do more.

The nationwide program of the NFTE has shown that entrepreneurship coursework at the high school level decreases the drop out rate and increases the number of students who go on to college. Their claim has been documented by Harvard Graduate School of Education in a multi-year study on the influence of NFTE coursework on school engagement. The NFTE currently has high school coursework programs in 47 states and 16 countries with over 150,000 courses worldwide, and there are 23 Florida schools within the Miami-Dade County Public School District that already successfully use the entrepreneurship program.

With the signing of the Act in 2006, the Florida schools have become the model for school boards across the nation. Florida schools officials have been receiving telephone calls from as far away as Arizona and California. Other states wish to emulate the Florida schools and their new entrepreneurship program to bring the real world to their high school students, as well.

Opening your own business can be a real big gamble. If you do not do your research well, you will wind up like most small businesses, and that is out of business in less then 6 months.

The most important thing to remember when opening up new business is the location. When doing your research for your new business you want to make sure you are the only business of your time in the area. If you are opening a video store you do not want to open near another video store. Remember if you are exclusive to the area, you will automatically get the business of those living in that area.

The next most important thing about opening a small business is you supplier. Do not have just one place to get supplies from, you should have several. By having more then one you can assure yourself that you are getting the lowest prices from them. And if they know about each other they will try to outdo each other to get your business.

Make sure that the products or services that you will be offering are desired, do not just decide to open up a store with out doing any market research is like playing craps, dangerous unless you really know what you are doing.

Advertising is important. Remember just like a casino you are trying to make money and not lose it. By spending some money on advertising you will increase your sales from your opening day. It is best to have a professional help you with your advertising rather then dong it yourself, there is no point in spending money on advertising if no one in your target demographic is going to see it. An example of this would be like using facial expressions to bluff in a poker game against blind players.

When picking your stock it is sometime better to have a better selection of items and maybe not so many of each item, this way you can see which items sell best and order more of those more popular items, and less of the less desired ones.

In business you should not try to open a business unless you already have experience running a related business. You may think you know how to, but to do it correctly you really need experience, after all if you were in a casino and looking to play poker you would not want a roulette dealer who is trying to figure out the rules as he goes would you? Chances are you would want an experienced poker dealer.

Depending on the type of business you are opening try keep your staff as small as possible, and if it is possible try to get friends and family to help you out. This will allow you to keep your costs low until you can really get a good idea of if you are making money or not. Once you are making money you can go out and hire people.

One of the many difficulties of starting a small business is gaining access to capital during the startup phase. With the large growth in small specialty businesses across the country, credit card companies are beginning to design special programs to help this new breed of business achieve success. For even those small businesses that have access to capital, the perks and benefits associated with small business credit card programs, can still be useful to help you compete more effectively in the marketplace. Below are just six of the many ways in which a small business credit card can help your business to operate more smoothly and improve your bottom line.

Ease Your Cash Crunch
A small business credit card can ease your businesss cash woes. Through the development and implementation of a sound financial plan that utilizes a credit card you can guarantee that your business will always meet payroll, be able to purchase inventory on an as needed basis, and manage both seasonal and business fluctuations without depleting your cash reservoir. Another added advantage is the cash advance feature, which allows you to withdraw cash from an ATM to cover emergencies and other unanticipated expenses.

Unlike a personal credit card, a business credit card also provides a business size credit line, which is substantially higher.

Keep Track of Business Expenses
Through the use of a credit card, you can, with little to no effort, separate your business expenses from your personal expenses. This allows for easy identification of tax deductions and filing of accurate income tax returns.

Secure Multiple Cards
You can also secure more than one card through small business credit card programs. This allows you to give employees the authority to make purchases while freeing up your schedule for more pressing issues. You can also do this with ease since you are also given the ability to set spending limits for different employees, which will further help you to control your expenses.

Access Free Business Resources
Anything free is good! Some credit card companies also provide clients with a wealth of resources to help manage cash flow and develop good record keeping procedures free of charge. Extensive reporting is conducted on both a monthly and bimonthly basis to help you track your expenses down to the penny. Additionally, free business checks and electronic funds transfers are also available.

In addition to that, you can also access reports, data and advice on developing business and marketing plans, conducting market analysis, and pricing products through a companys web site. You can also increase your knowledge of other products and services like software programs that can help your day-to-day operations run more efficiently.

Build Credit to Qualify for Larger Loans
Obtaining a credit card and using it wisely can also be a stepping-stone to help your business qualify and secure a loan with a major bank or venture capitalist firm. By establishing a good relationship and credit history with a company that also offers other products and services, itll just be a matter of time before other cost-saving services are thrown your way.

Perks and Rewards
Perks and Reward Programs designed especially for small businesses are by far one of the best features of a small business credit card program. Small businesses can earn airline points and cash back rewards just like the big boys. Discounts are also available through select merchants like FedEx and Staples, which can result in huge cost savings for supplies and other operational expenses. Some companies also go an extra mile by providing rental car and lodging benefits.

Entrepreneurship and Cash Gifting: Are You an Entrepreneur in Your Heart?

In order to succeed at cash gifting – or any other type of serious program – you need to have or be willing to develop the traits of an entrepreneur. You must already be at least considering the notion – you’re here reading this article right now. A lot of people want to begin reaping the immense benefits of cash gifting, but are a bit hesitant to initiate the process. You see, cash gifting – even though it is one of the most simplistic concepts to promote – still requires regular and effective promotion to keep the wheels in motion.

Some people are very attracted to the concept of cash gifting and want to become a part of a program. They procrastinate because they are fearful of smooth-talking, money-flashing con artists who will promise them the moon and then never deliver. They are right to afraid. There are dishonest and incapable people in all realms of business, unfortunately. So, when you join a gifting program, you need to prepare yourself first by doing thorough research about the program and how it is operated. You need to hook up with a dedicated mentor who truly cares about your capacity to make the program work. You need to learn how to avoid all of the hype that the cons will throw at you when trying to get you sign up.

Another big problem – even if your sponsor really wants to see you succeed – is that they just do not understand the fine art of mentoring. Just because someone has had some luck in a given cash gifting program doesn’t mean that he or she can lead you to prosperity. You have to associate yourself with pros who have been to the place where you are, know how to rise above it, and have loads of resources, experience and knowledge to get you where you want to go. You need a mentor to help you learn the ropes of Internet marketing and supply you with the tool kits to allow you to do so. Many people are disheartened when they sign up for a cash gifting program and then are left “hung out to dry” by their sponsors. You have to protect yourself.

A smart entrepreneur knows that you don’t have to go it alone. There really is power in numbers. When you become part of a like-minded group of individuals who share your passion for developing success, you greatly increase your odds of achieving your goals. That’s what it’s all about! Whether you want to save up money for a new home, send your kids to a good school, travel the world or just live “large”, you have to be dedicated. You have to approach your program from the viewpoint of a diligent professional.

A successful entrepreneur has the mental focus of a laser. Entrepreneurs understand that there is a lot of competition, but most of it can be easily outshined by employing proven techniques of success. If you are ready to enter the entrepreneurial realm of cash gifting, be sure to set your mind for achievement, associate yourself with a solid mentor and be prepared to put in the effort to see it through. That’s how people live their dreams with cash gifting programs!

In last weeks article, we talked about why your small business needs a press kit. Because theyre not just for the press, I prefer to call them small business information package. To recap, you need a small business information package to augment your business card, which has only limited information about you and your company.
Your small business information package is the printed materials to give or send to prospective clients to tell them who you are, where you are, how to contact you, what you do, how to buy, and why to buy from you instead of your competition.

This week, were going to discuss what you should put inside your information package. For all intents and purposes, anything that promotes your company can go inside it. Some of the more common things include:

Business card
Small business brochure
Letter of introduction
Product or service review
Price list
Press releases
White papers
Recent articles written by you or about your company
Biography of key officers
Flyers, coupons or direct mail pieces
Information pamphlets

So, lets talk a bit about each. And lets start with the big oneyour small business brochure. Your small business brochure can stand alone. If you decide not to have a complete small business information package, at the very least, create a tri-fold brochure so you have detailed printed information to give clients.

If your prospective client reads only one thing in your whole information package, it will most likely be your brochure. Why? Because it captures the readers attention better than any other item in your information package. Most of your other items will be letters, articles or reviews. Theyll look good, and theyll all match because theyre on your letterhead, but they wont jump out at your readers like your full color tri-fold brochure will.

So, you want to make sure its the first thing people see when they open the front cover of your information package. If you can capture their interest with your brochure, theyre more likely to read the rest.

The first page of your small business brochure should have your business name and logo, and possibly a photo or some graphics. Make it colorful. Make it interesting. Add a slogan or motto on the front that will make people curious as to whats inside. You dont want them to just look at the front cover and put it aside!

Inside, try to introduce yourself and review your product or service briefly. If you can, keep the introduction and review to the length of the first inside page or so. Adding a few graphics or photos throughout the whole brochure, together with informative text helps keep your readers interest. And, make good use of your headings, remembering that most readers will scan from left to right, stopping at graphics and headings, and sometimes reading the last paragraph.

Now, this part is important, and is possibly the biggest mistake most small businesses make with their brochureat least some of the other two inside pages could be better used to show prospective buyers how your product or service can benefit them, rather than to describe your product or service features.

I cannot stress this enough. Too many times small business brochures are used simply to talk about you, your company or your productservice. Most of your readers simply wont care who you are, what you do or how you do it. What they really care about is how you can benefit them. How you can save them time or resources. How you can make their lives just a little bit easier.

Often, the last outside page of your brochure summarizes the inside pages, or lists products or services in point form. You could even add a price list, if you have one.

The next several items in your small business information package are all written on your letterhead, and the skys the limit as to what you can use.

You could put the letter of introduction just behind your brochure, or you could include it outside the information package cover if youre mailing it. Usually this is just a short, one-page letter introducing yourself and your company, and thanking the recipient for taking the time to look at your information package.

Your product or service review could be long or short, depending on what youre offering. This is not the place to stress benefits, but simply to list and describe your services or products. You can combine a product or service review with your price list very effectively.

Include any press releases about your company, and articles written by you or about your company. If you dont have any, dont worry. You can write some specifically for your information kit. Include announcements of your grand opening, for example, or a new line of products, or your new location. Or write an article about one of your products or services.

White papers are becoming increasingly popular. Are you an expert in a particular area? If you are, you might want to write a white paper to include with your information package. A white paper discusses specific business issues, products, technology or other such topics. It usually summarizes information about the topic, and then suggests a proposal for action, referencing research data to justify the reasons for the action. It explains your topic in terms most people can understand, with the goal of educating consumers and marketing your product or service. White papers help establish the writer as an authority.

The biography of your key officers is basically a resume. Include short one-page biographies of key officers to highlight areas of expertise and level of experience in your industry.

Fliers, coupons and direct mail pieces can also be included in your small business information package. Fliers and coupons emphasize current specials or discounts. Heres a few tips. When youre thinking about specials or discounts, try to create a sense of urgency with them by making them time- or quantity-limited. And, consider the 1010 rule, which theorizes that people are most likely to buy when they see discounts of 10% or 10. Or, better yet, offer something extra free.

Recent direct mail sales letters can also be included. Theres simply too much to say about them to really give justice in this short article, but some things to remember are: to stress benefits, create a sense of urgency, the 1010 rule and a bolded P.S. including a call to action.

Keep direct mail sales letter simple and relevant. Be enthusiastic, know your product, use your imagination and understand your target audience. Establish trust and credibility. Include testimonials. Give free nuggets of information. And, just like in your brochure, write your direct mail sales letter for how people will read it, scanning left to right, and stopping at graphics and headlines, and the P.S.

Now that youve gotten all your information package items written and printed, its time to put them all together. You can buy covers in your company colors and have your logo and business name printed on them. Put your business card in the front slot and your information in the inside pockets, making sure your brochure is the first item theyll see. Then send it out, and sit back and wait for responses youre sure to get!

If youre frustrated by the conflicting and inaccurate information youve found regarding grant money for a small business, then dont worry. This article is your best source for the most accurate and up to date data. Read on and find out why!

Many people today searching for small business grant money to start their own for profit business assume that grants are nothing more than free money. Well, sorry to be the bearer of bad news but small business grant money is hardly free money at all. In fact, these grants are more like contracts with their own set of obligations and restrictions that you must comply with or risk suffering sanctions imposed by your funding resource.

In the case of government grants, the rules are even stricter. One of the first places that people often turn to is the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, which is where all listings of government grants approved by Congress are announced. The problem with this resource is that there are very few programs available for small businesses.

These grants are usually awarded to deserving individuals or nonprofit organizations having some community-based project in mind. Rarely will you find a government grant awarded to help set up a for profit business. That is why when searching for a small business grant you should not turn only to the government for funding resources.

A good source of grant money is the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). The AFP is considered the chief professional association for fundraisers. The association was formerly known as the National Society of Fund Raising Executives (NSFRE). Their website at AFPnet.org offers sections on ethics, public policy, publications (including AFPs online bookstore), professional advancement, local chapters, jobs, and youth in philanthropy (along with a member gatewaydashboard).

Besides that, the AFP also provides a list of organizations (including their websites) that are among the top basic resources of grant money. Foremost on their list is the Foundation Center at FDNCenter.org, which publishes the revered Foundation Directory.

Consider contracts. Government money can sometimes come in the form of contracts. If you can demonstrate that your company can execute a budget line item, if you can shape part of your idea to what the government wants done for a particular project say something educational or construction-oriented if you can fill a need, you can compete, says Francie Ward, CEO of the Business Owners Idea Caf at BusinessOwnersIdeaCafe.com.

Thank you for reading this article. I hope that it has helped you and that you were able to find, through our research, the answers you were seeking.

If you are about to start off in business you will have no doubt heard these comments:
So many businesses fail. Why are you doing this?
I hear that you need a large amount of money to get a business off the ground these days.
Why are you throwing away the security of your job?

These, and more of the same, are typical of the barriers that so called friends and advisors, put in your way if you are thinking of starting a business. These barriers are built on the back of myths about the pitfalls and challenges which surround running your own business.

In this article, well take a look at some of these myths and reveal them to be exactly that just myths! Dont get me wrong, being an entrepreneur can be tough and there are hurdles to cross, but lets bring some common sense into the debate!

You Dont Have a Personal Life

Yes you will! It can be hard juggling the responsibilities of running your own business and spending time with the family, but at the end of the day, you are going to have far more flexibility with your personal life, than any employee will ever have. The real issue is, do you have the time management and planning skills to get things done, thereby allowing you time to spend with your family.

You Have To Be Cunning and Ruthless To Be a Successful Entrepreneur

Ok, it may help you in the short term but this is not a sound, long term strategy. To be a successful entrepreneur you need to build relationships with both customers and suppliers who will stick by you during the rough times. Being ruthless over pricing may get you one or two good deals but you are unlikely to build a lasting and profitable relationship. Your aim should be to strike a balance between what you want and what your customer or supplier wants.

You Wont Have To Work As Hard

Your current job may be stressful and subject you to long hours. The idea of running your own business is appealing because you can slow down and take life at your own pace. To a degree this is true but theres no getting away from the fact that it will be hard work. Most small businesses dont achieve profitability until year 3 and so its a long slog. Remember, if was easy, everyone would be doing it!

What does make the difference though, is that you are finally doing something you love and so the hours and the struggles dont seem like hard work at all. So perhaps this myth may be true after all!

You Have To Have an Original Idea

No you dont. Most businesses are built around a central idea. The difference is usually how its delivered. The core products of all fast food places are the same, as are clothes shops, newsagents etc. You can make a decent living effectively copying someone elses idea but done in a slightly different way. Dont be put off by the doomsayers who will gleefully point out that its been done before. Your response should be, Great! That shows the idea works!

You Will Be Your Own Boss

No way! Theres only one boss in your new business the customer. They are essential to your success. When you were working for that large, faceless Corporation, the loss of the odd client wasnt that big a deal – plenty more where they came from.

In your new world you have to do whatever it takes to keep your customers and keep them happy. The customer is the one who calls the tunes. You have to listen and take note, before someone else does. However, at the end of the day, when all their demands are met, then perhaps you can have some time to yourself and enjoy the pleasures of being your own boss after all!

You Need A lot Of Money To Get a Business Off The Ground

Some businesses do need a fair bit of cash to get moving but there are many areas you can go into without the need to invest in a large amount of stock, machinery or equipment. The low-capital businesses involve the use of three very cheap commodities your brain power, your knowledge and your time.

A business where you sell your expertise, not actual goods, to other people can be cheaply set up and carry high profit margins. All you may need is a PC, a desk and a telephone line. Whats stopping you?

You Only Have To Do What You Want To Do

Unfortunately this myth is wrong. We all have areas or skills in which we excel and its this expertise which usually forms the basis of your business. Your dedication to paperwork, bank statements and the VAT man may not be that high, but branching out on your own doesnt mean you have the choice to avoid these terrible tasks.

Whilst you were able to do this when you were sitting in the big corporate office, you can no longer hide. These tasks have to be done otherwise the deck of cards can start to collapse.

If you do have serious misgivings on certain areas, marketing for example, then consider taking a course to improve your skills. If its something you seriously cant do, then go and find someone to do it for you dont hope it will go away because it wont.

You will have seen that some of the myths not being true is good news and others not so good news! Be sensible in considering the myths which are thrown at you. See it for what they are – comments from people who dont know what they are talking about! In the next issue Ill have some more myth-busting ideas for you.

The problem with selling any small business (500,000 and below) is how can a realistic value be put on the business. If a business is valued too high no one will be interested or worse value it too low prospective buyers will think there is something irregular. Also where it is listed for sale is important, EBay is a tremendous medium for certain things however fraud is common place.

Unfortunately there is no fixed system when it comes to valuing any private business, the IRS, Courts of Law and the Inland Revenue all use there own systems. There are also many wonderful mathematical formulas that can be used; however there is no fixed system. To be honest the whole system is complicated with no fixed rule apart from one. What price is a person is happy to sell a business for and what is the buyer happy to pay?

If you are either buying or selling a small business do not be afraid of negotiation, it is a natural process within business. There are many good negotiation techniques; Maitland Kalton of Kaltons Solicitors London is considered an expert in this field.

The following list is a simple aid to assist people who are interested in finding a value of a business, either for the sale or purchase.

1.Does the business have employees either full time or part time? Prospective buyers should be aware that any business in the UK which employs 5 or more people has specific duties in regards to Health & Safety.
2.Is the business purely an internet business? Be warned it is very easy for an online business to appear to be doing very well, when the truth is completely the opposite. This practice unfortunately is leading to the devaluation of genuine online businesses.
3.Does the business have fixed assets or stock? It is much easier to value a garage where real estate and equipment can easily be valued, where as it is less easy to value a business with no fixed assets i.e. Legal specialists, Solicitors, Health workers etc.
4.Does the business have a full audit trail; it is surprising how many small businesses listed for sale do not.
5.What area is the business in; it goes without saying that businesses located closer to major cities are valued higher than businesses in a rural district.
6.What are the future growth prospects for the business?
7.Will the business require insuranceliability policies?

These are just a few factors that have to be considered, as you can see there is much more to take into account than how much revenue is generated by the business. I hope this short article has been of some assistance to any potential buyer or seller of any small business.

About the author – Peter Arkwright recently retired from the military, he is now the Managing Director of www.bizseller4u.com
A new portal that allows people to list their Business for Sale

This article is free for republishing

If youre frustrated by the conflicting and inaccurate information youve found regarding grant money for a small business, then dont worry. This article is your best source for the most accurate and up to date data. Read on and find out why!

Many people today searching for small business grant money to start their own for profit business assume that grants are nothing more than free money. Well, sorry to be the bearer of bad news but small business grant money is hardly free money at all. In fact, these grants are more like contracts with their own set of obligations and restrictions that you must comply with or risk suffering sanctions imposed by your funding resource.

In the case of government grants, the rules are even stricter. One of the first places that people often turn to is the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, which is where all listings of government grants approved by Congress are announced. The problem with this resource is that there are very few programs available for small businesses.

These grants are usually awarded to deserving individuals or nonprofit organizations having some community-based project in mind. Rarely will you find a government grant awarded to help set up a for profit business. That is why when searching for a small business grant you should not turn only to the government for funding resources.

A good source of grant money is the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). The AFP is considered the chief professional association for fundraisers. The association was formerly known as the National Society of Fund Raising Executives (NSFRE). Their website at AFPnet.org offers sections on ethics, public policy, publications (including AFPs online bookstore), professional advancement, local chapters, jobs, and youth in philanthropy (along with a member gatewaydashboard).

Besides that, the AFP also provides a list of organizations (including their websites) that are among the top basic resources of grant money. Foremost on their list is the Foundation Center at FDNCenter.org, which publishes the revered Foundation Directory.

Consider contracts. Government money can sometimes come in the form of contracts. If you can demonstrate that your company can execute a budget line item, if you can shape part of your idea to what the government wants done for a particular project say something educational or construction-oriented if you can fill a need, you can compete, says Francie Ward, CEO of the Business Owners Idea Caf at BusinessOwnersIdeaCafe.com.

Thank you for reading this article. I hope that it has helped you and that you were able to find, through our research, the answers you were seeking.

If there ever was a living, breathing version of the American Dream, it would be Farrah Gray.

A self-made millionaire by age 14, Gray is now an internationally known and respected entrepreneur and business leader who addresses more than half a million people per year on topics such as leadership, personal development, diversity, business development and financial management.

His newest venture, with First Premier Bank and Diamond Financial Products, is the “goFarr” card, a prepaid MasterCard featuring his likeness. The card is designed to increase financial literacy and freedom for those without a credit history or who are unable to get access to a line of credit.

Because the card is prepaid, there are no interest payments, credit checks or employment requirements, and unlike most prepaid cards, the goFarr card has no monthly fees. It can be used anywhere debit MasterCard is accepted, including ATMs, and cardholders can use the card to pay bills online or get employers to do a direct deposit onto the card.

Cardholders can monitor when, where and how much they spend 24 hours a day through Web and telephone access to account information. They soon will also get financial tips from Gray through live chats, podcasts and e-mail discussions.

“When I look at the fact that one-quarter of 18- to 24-year-olds are ‘un-banked,’ I see that it is also a problem that plagues low-income people of all ages,” Gray said. “This card can be an empowering tool that will instill valuable budgeting habits and responsible money-management skills.”

Gray became an entrepreneur at age 6, selling body lotion door-to-door. At age 7, he carried a business card that read “21st Century CEO.” At 13, he started Farr-Out Foods, a specialty foods company in New York. He became a published author at 19 with his financial self-help book “Reallionaire.”

“Farrah Gray is one of the great business minds and icons of his generation,” said Keith Byrd, chief operating officer of Diamond Financial Products. “At the age of 21, he has achieved more than many achieve in a lifetime. To those who become cardholders and are able to access financial advice from Farrah Gray, you too have the possibility to ‘goFarr.’”