Universities are showing more and more women enrolled in fields such as account, finance and economics. Single women have become a strong and powerful force in the U.S. economy. Women are now starting business ventures of their own, showing just as much if not more vitality and success than their male counterparts. Some lenders even have programs for small business loan for minority women.

The importance small business loan for women are quickly catching the eye of many lenders today. Today, many lenders are establishing special programs to cater to the needs of women. And its no surprise. Women business owners are critically important to the American economy. Americas 9.1 million business owned by women employ 27.5 million people and contribute 3.6 trillion pounds to the economy each year. There are all kinds of specialty programs for women entering the business world todayfrom small business loans for minority women, to special seminars and government grants available to female entrepreneurs of any kind.

Women business owners have unique needs. Their success in the business world has caught the eye of many lenders that have created specialized programs that offer unique opportunities and guidance for female entrepreneurs. The small business loan for a woman has allowed females to gain a strong foothold in the business world today.

A business loan for woman is designed to fit the needs of the modern businesswoman. A variety of lenders today are offering specialized programs. As a woman, whether you are just starting to think about a business idea, or have a fairly developed scheme, your lender will over you key pieces to the success of any stage of your business. When seeking financing, ask your loan representative about special programs for a small business loan for woman.

For a woman, getting a small business loan has historically been a far different process than that for men. Traditionally, is simply hasnt been as easy. But today, women have become a dominant part of our economy and of the business world, and government programs and other lenders have stepped up to assist them in their forward thinking business ventures. Women business owners are critically important to the American economy.

Of course, women have to face the same obstacles in the business world as men. While poor management is cited most frequently as the reason businesses fail, inadequate or ill-timed financing is a close second. Whether you’re starting a business or expanding one, sufficient ready capital is essential. But it is not enough to simply have sufficient financing; knowledge and planning are required to manage it well. These qualities ensure that entrepreneurs avoid common mistakes like securing the wrong type of financing, miscalculating the amount required, or underestimating the cost of borrowing money. Thats why meticulous planning is important before a woman applies for a small business loan.

A womans small business loan can sometimes be easier to obtain today than for a man. The government and lenders have created special programs for female entrapaneurs and business owners. Women are becoming increasingly dominant and successful in the business world. Today, they can find financing products to keep up with them.

Today, many companies have become strong advocates for female entrepreneurs, offering unique services and programs for small business loans for women. They also offer opportunities and guidance to help them women business owners succeed. This trend continues to experience growth as awareness for womens issues and needs are becoming a more important factor in the economy of the nation.

Have you ever considered why SPAM has caused such a public backlash compared to the deafening silence from its unsolicited paper cousins of direct and junk mail? People seem to care a lot more about what enters their Inbox than their letterbox. And for the word care think about logical substitutes of notice, read and respond.

All this translates into campaign results that can surpass other forms of direct communication making it an ideal cost effective option for any small business owner.

And whats more I believe that as a small business owner the odds are stacked in their favour to become budding email marketing superstars.

Let me explain why.

Firstly, its about personality. E-mail messages written in a personal style seem to work the best. Writing this way doesnt seem to faze most small business owners. Usually their business shows more of their personality when dealing with customers than larger competitors so writing this way seems to be a natural option.

Secondly, a small business owner can understand what content that has a good chance of being read. With them working closely with customers they tend to understand what their customers want to know about and can easily translate this into articles and reports that will be read.

Thirdly, the time and cost efficient nature of email marketing ideally suits the busy small business owner. It can take the same amount of effort to create an email newsletter for 500 subscribers as it does 50,000. Plus the costs of an email production are a fraction of the alternative paper option.

For a small business owner a regular e-mail message can have as much personality and content to end up being the next best thing as a phone call from themselves, just more efficient and at a lot less costly to produce.

So there you have it, three reasons why small business owners can make it big in the Inbox. Have fun harnessing this great tool for your company.

The 12 Most Common Mistakes New Entrepreneurs Make & how to avoid them

A large number of people who start their own business do not realize how much work and time will be involved. They fail to carry out any primary research and as a result become quickly overwhelmed.

Perhaps the first question to ask yourself then is whether you are in fact ready to start your own business. Do you have an entrepreneurial mindset? Are you committed to spend all the time you need to succeed? And are you ready to take massive action?

At first, you will have to wear many different hats; you will be the CEO, the general manager, the accountant, the salesperson, the computer technician, the secretary, the receptionist. You must therefore prepare yourself because there will be days when you are disappointed, depressed, or frustrated. You have to realize that success will not happen overnight. And it may take a year or two before you achieve your expected results.

To avoid these disappointments, here are The 12 Most Common Mistakes New Entrepreneurs Make & How to Avoid Them:

Mistake # 1 – Failure to spend enough time researching the business idea to see if it’s viable
Numbers of new entrepreneurs have often failed because they were not truly interested in the business; they were more interested in making money. It is important to start something that you really like, because you will be spending a lot of time on it.
Your assignment Spend all the time you need working on your business plan, which should include: your mission statement, your business strategy, research on your target market (demographics), industry analysis (size, economics, trends, success factors, challenges, etc.), your marketing plan, your financial projections and sales.

Mistake # 2 – Failure to determine whether the business actually adds value
The most sustainable businesses, those that withstand the test of time, provide value by performing a service that people need.
Your assignment Make sure your products or services provide value and benefit to your clients. Be ready to solve any business problems that your clients may have.

Mistake # 3 – Failure to gain a complete and total understanding of the business
Every business has drivers; hot buttons and key levers. What drivers exist in your business?
Many business leaders, executives and management consultants would say that success largely depends on attention to detail.
Your assignment Understand all the aspects of your business, and of particular importance, know how to present them in an easy and simple manner.

Mistake # 4 – Failure to describe the business in only one or two sentences
No doubt youve experienced the entrepreneur whose business is so technical or complex that he cannot explain the concept in plain English. Or, it takes 20 minutes to convey the purpose of the business. What value or benefits does your business offer?
Your assignment Have an efficient 15 to 60 second elevator pitch that introduces you, your business mission, focuses on the benefits you provide and makes you and your business memorable.

Mistake # 5 – Failure to conduct the primary research
There are many great ideas you can latch on to, but the key in business is to make sure the ideathe central theme or mission of your business venturecan attract customers and generate sales and profits. A great idea in and of itself is not enough to start a business.
Your assignment Take the time to gain experience, study the business, understand what makes the business work (how to serve the customers and generate profits) and what leads to losses.

Mistake # 6 – Failure to contact professionals who can help you get started
Numbers of new entrepreneurs ask their friends and family for advice when starting a new business. The problem is that they often ask people who have never started a business; so in reality, these people are not in a position to offer sound advice.
Your assignment Get a mentor or two. Surround yourself with experts who possess skills and expertise that you lack. Team up with professionals who can complement your strengths and cover for your weaknesses.

Mistake # 7 Failure by underestimating financial requirements
Do you know how much capital you need to start your business? Do you know the market, did you calculate your cost, did you project your sales, do you know the number of clients you need? Do you know how long it will take before you get your first benefits or before you will run out of money?
Your assignment Invest the time to work on ALL aspects, especially the major ones, of your business before you start.

Mistake # 8 – Failure to make marketing a priority
Many new entrepreneurs start their business without determining their target, niche and demography first and as a result have failed to attract any clients. Marketing should be one of your top priorities. Devising a marketing plan will help you determine how to promote your products or services and create a system that will generate more clients for your business.
Your assignment Dedicate a good portion of your time and energy to working on and implementing your marketing plan. Set up a meeting with yourself once a week to work on your marketing plan and whatever happens never cancel this meeting; it is essential for your business.

Mistake # 9 Failure by under-budgeting the marketing costs
Today the world is overcrowded with businesses and probably a number of those in your market perform essentially the same functions as you do. This means that you have to differentiate yourself from them by making your business stand out. Publicity is essential to your livelihood; otherwise you will not attract any customers.
Your assignment Make sure you have a strategy that puts the word out there. Provide adequate publicity, business cards and marketing materials that project a professional image. Dont try to save money on these; they are reflecting your business. A cheap business card or flyer will not make a professional impact.

Mistake # 10 – Failure to focus on the business
Many new entrepreneurs are energetic and enthusiastic people (which is essential to success), but they can also be overly optimistic and pursue too many targets and directions at once. This typically results in mediocre results. Define your business mission as succinctly and narrowly as possible. When you move in too many directions at once, especially in the early days of your business, you are likely to fail to execute anything correctly; so you end up working on the business instead of in the business. In other words, you will spend all your time operating each task on your own. You wont have the time to sit back, and decide on the best way to develop your own marketing plan, create new products, or improve your services.
Your assignment Know you goals. Put them in writing. Make sure they are realistic, specific and measurable and that you set yourself a deadline to achieve them.

Mistake # 11 – Failure by over-marketing
Once you have developed your product or service and have perfected your offering, you may think that your offering is the best in your marketplace. But unfortunately, to be efficient you cant sell to everyone. You need to select a specific target market and stick to it. By doing this you will have a more efficient message and will more likely achieve success much sooner.
Your assignment Carefully determine your niche, your demography, your ideal clients, where they go, what they read, what their hobbies are, etc. Once you have a full understanding of your clients profile you will then have a full understanding of how and where to find more of them.

Mistake # 12 – Failure to follow-up with clients
Many new entrepreneurs are often so desperate to constantly find new clients that they neglect the clients they already have and in fact end up losing business. Statistics show that it takes seven more interactions to secure a new client than to sell more to a repeated client. So develop and maintain a useful and organized follow-up system to offer new services to your clients and dont let them slip away.
Your assignment Constantly and consistently communicate with your current clients.
Start a newsletter, offer special sales, create new products to upsell, join affiliate programs if you dont have your own products. People who have already bought from you will appreciate it when you recommend other products. Statistics show that up to one out of three clients will take advantage of this new offer. It is essential to build a very, very special relationship with your clients. They are your best audience.

If you have a business idea, but are unsure how to get started, or already own a business, but have not yet achieved the results or success you were hoping for, check out my book: “Start Your Dream Business Today! The Proven 11 Steps to Start and Grow Your Own Business”, a simple yet informative and easy to follow step-by-step guide to everything a new entrepreneur should know when starting a business.
Get it today by going to www.StartYourDreamBusinessToday.com. Youll also get lot of other ideas and resources to help YOU Start Your Dream Business and I will save you time and lot of money, as I did for my clients.

2006 Biba F. Pdron

Being a small business owner is not easy. Apart from the problems that the small business owners have to face in operating business, the severest of problems is in raising capital. It is not easy to raise capital for business use; particularly in an environment in which small business owners are accorded a status similar to borrowers with bad credit. Self employment is considered a bad credit case because of the unstable income generation through small business. It is said how a small business owner will pay fixed installments on a loan if he has not made much income (profits) in a particular month. Banks and financial institutions are thus not receptive to the demands of the small business owners.

However, a loan can be designed particularly suited to the small business owners. Few lenders, who did not want to lose on the opportunity of lending to the rising group of small business owners, devised such loan. It is known as small business loan. Small business loans are advanced to small entrepreneurs who invest it in a series of purposes like expansion of their facility, buying technology, purchasing new tools and equipments, and also to buy raw materials and pay wages to workers.

Lenders advance small business loans on the principle of moderate risk, which is no different from lending any other loan. The principle of moderate risk implies lending by keeping sufficient cover against risks. Therefore, while designing the terms of the small business loans, lenders are often seen to be using this principle. Take for instance, the rate of interest. The rate of interest charged on small business loans is higher than the normal. Similarly, lenders will only lend a limited sum on small business loans. These are sufficient proof of the manner in which lenders prepare for any risk that may emerge in the future.

What differences can a borrower notice in small business loan, which goes in his favour? Borrowers can get an arrangement designed by which they can repay loan installments with ease. Small business loan with a flexible repayment schedule sufficiently solves the problem of the self employed people. Through a flexible repayment schedule, borrowers do not need to make repayments of a pre-specified amount and a pre-specified period. Depending on the income that they are able to salvage in that period, they can make repayments accordingly. Therefore, in certain months (or any periodicity chosen by borrower to make repayments) there can be underpayments, overpayments, and no payments at all (termed as payment holiday).

However, not all lenders may be ready to accommodate your financial condition thus. If you consider the clause of flexible repayments so necessary in your case, then you must mould your search operations accordingly. With the help of brokers, searching small business loan according to ones desired criteria is not very difficult. Brokers are associated with several loan providers in the UK. When a person applies for small business loan to these brokers, they forward it to all the lenders who they think can appropriately advance loans to the entrepreneurs. The broker conducts the entire search operation. The borrower just has to choose from the large number of deals that the lenders forward. Brokers can also arrange small business loans from lenders who accept flexible repayment. Similarly, other specific requirements of borrowers can be incorporated into any small business loan searched. Brokers charge certain fees for their services. However, the best deal that these help to find will make the issue of fees irrelevant.

Small business loans can be either short term or long term. A short-term small business loan is repayable in a period ranging from certain months to a year. Long-term small business loans on the other hand, advance money for as long as 25 years. Depending upon ones requirement, the small business owners can decide term of repayment and other terms and conditions of the small business loan.

Small Business Loans – Resources and Options
Just as every small business is unique, there are almost as many distinctive options available when it comes to securing small business loans or other funding options for your small business startup expenses or other ventures. Further, amid the various programs offered by the variety of lenders, the programs availability, terms, etc. may different from state to state even in the small business loan provider remains the same.

While the U.S. governments SBA (Small Business Administration) does not offer grants for starting or expanding small businesses, they do still offer a plethora of free help. The SBA has existed since 1953, and in that time it has assisted tens of thousands of Americans form small businesses through their outreach programs, now available in every U.S. state, the territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia (Washington D.C.).

SBA offices are a rich resource of information and options in obtaining small business loans. Although the SBA does not directly loan or grant money, they are an invaluable asset to starting, maintaining and growing your company or determining your small business loan resources with localized options.

No matter where in the process you are in determining the needs for your small business loan, the SBA is a significant source of assistance that can save you time and money. Through extensive collaboration with local organizations, the SBA and its collective networks bring an unprecedented supply of information, tools, and information.

Making the most out of the resources available through the SBA at the federal, state and local levels will actually save you money. Not every small business starts out following a textbook model or formula. The desire or need for growth of your company will likely require funding, and small business loan providers will likely require documents, plans, records and statements youve never created, maintained or considered necessary; thats okay.

The process of obtaining a small business unsecured loan even with bad credit might seem inundated with an avalanche of paperwork, requirements, and obstacles. To top it off, if you dont have all of the traditional paperwork surrounding the textbook business, the process of creating it while applying for a small business loan can make the process overwhelming. One of the most valuable resources available through the SBA and other localized small business resource organizations, is mentorship programs – this firsthand assistance and knowledge directly from fellow local and successful small business owners is unparalleled, and best of all – free!

Getting the best small business loan to finance your companys future will likely take more than filling out an application. Doing your homework first, dedicated to your task and patient in your results, will help ensure securing the right small business loan that is best suited for your small business goals.