HELPFUL ARTICLES FOR CONNECTICUT BUSINESSES,
HELPFUL ARTICLES FOR SMALL BUSINESS
Fairfield County SCORE BLOG
This is a collection of articles related to small businesses and their mulit-faceted operational challenges There is also a section for Non-profits and a section for eCommerce.
NOTE: Some of the Support Documents for the QuickSTART Workshop Series are at the bottom of this section.
Selling Skills Summary
All of us are selling something all the time often just ourselves. Yet "selling" can strike fear into the hearts of most people. However, selling is a learned skill, and not all that difficult when you see what it really is. Compiled by SCORE Counselor, Austin Pryor
Time Management Skills
Busy, and not so busy, people often never seem to have enough time. Learn how to get more of it and get better control of your life. These tips are a 12 page compilation of three excellent articles.
Importing and Exporting Information
In today's global economy some of the best growth opportunities come from importing or exporting your products. This is a complete manual on the subject.
Ten Rules of Pricing
Strategic pricing can be one of the biggest challenges for small businesses. Here are some "thinking" guidelines for pricing.
Human Resources Employee Guide
When a small business gets large enough it (has enough employees) it can be helpful to have human resource operating policies in writing to guide the actions of employees and supervisors alike. This is a MS Word document which can be easily edited to suit individual situations.
Step 1 in Setting Up an LLC in CT
First, file the application form to reserve a name for your LLC. Click to download.
Step 2 in setting up a CT LLC is to file the Application for Articles of Organization
Click to download this CT form.
Exporting a key for business success
Connecticut firms exported a total of $15.3 billion in 2008, an increase of 11 percent over 2007 numbers. At a time when multiple industries are shedding jobs around the state, this is great news! Many small businesses have export opportunities and just don't realize it.
Developing a Positioning Statement
Proper positioning of your product or service is key to targeting your best markets. This article summarizes a logical thinking approach about as well as any available today.
Getting Health Insurance
Getting Health Insurance when you are a sole proprietorship or similar small business can be very tough. This article gives you some practical options.
Restaurant Start Up Presentation
Starting up a new restaurant is usually a daunting venture. This PowerPoint presentation will give you the tools to systematically plan and avoid the more obvious pitfalls.
Marketing Research on a Shoestring
Marketing research can sound tough but it need not be. The author, SCORE counselor, Tom Greenbaum, is an expert on the topic and has come up with some simple tools that anyone can afford and do.
Marketing Inventions
To patent or not to patent? What if you have a patented idea or a provisional patent on file? How to commercialize? LIcensing the patent? Getting someone to make the product? It's a tough call and probably 95% of the patents awarded and sitting in US Patent Office are not earning their owners a nickel. There are also lots of scams out there. This compilation of SCORE advice and honest sources could be invaluable.
Becoming an Independent Consultant
Some people have skills needed by businesses, large and small, that can be "packaged" into a consulting business. This manual offers a great deal of information on how to this might be done.
Buying a Business
This is a collection of three articles on buying a business. It will be an invaluable guide to those pondering buying a business.
The Business Organization: Choosing an Entity
This report gives start-ups the pros and cons of all the organizational and incorporation options. For example when a Sole Proprietorship is okay and when an LLC is advisable.
How to Use FACEBOOK for Business
Using FaceBook for business can seem like a daunting project. This article by Social Media vendor www.HubSpot.com shows you how, step by step.
Business Plan Long Form
A detailed business plan checklist--very thorough but option to pick and choose what applies to your business or business concept.
Business Plan Simple and Short
A basic outline of a business plan to help guide your thinking.
Buy-Sell agreements
Buying a business takes care not only in evaluation but also in the relationship you have with the seller on an ongoing basis. Cliff Ennico, well known small business attorney, reviews the pitfalls in the key legal agreement.
QuickSTART Business Plan Outline
Short form Business Plan
This outline is used in the QuickSTART Workshop program for new aspiring entrepreneurs. However, it will be useful for any small business.
QuickSTART Case History - Feasibility Plan
"Ann's Nursery" Case Study
Demonstrates a typical small business idea entered into the Business Plan outline.
QuickSTART Excel Financial Spreadsheet blank
Financial Projections Template
QuickSTART Excel Financial Spreadsheet with sample numbers
Financial Projections using "Ann's Nursery" as an example
Need for Entrepreneurial Persistence
An interesting point of view by Cliff Ennico along with some entrepreneurial behavior models.
However much persistence is a key to succeeding (per Ennico’s article) inevitably many new business ideas are fatally flawed from the beginning. But the model process at the end of this document should discover such flaws relatively fast and inexpensively.
HELPFUL ARTICLES FOR NON PROFITS
Resources for Non Profits
A list of websites that can be helpful to non profits
Starting a Non Profit
How to set up a non profit on your own.
Fund Raising Guide
A complete guide to fund raising for non profits developed by SCORE Counselor, Austin Pryor
Legal Issues for Non Profits
Checklist of legal issues for non profits
Guide for Non Profit Boards
Non profit boards can be confused as to their roles. This describes the issues and how to deal with them. Abstracted by SCORE Counselor, Austin Pryor, from the book, The Carver Guide to Board Governance.
Local websites for non-profits
Another list of websites that can be helpful to non profits
Other Non Profit Websites & Info
A great compilation and legal and accounting info for non-profits and websites listed to get details
New IRS tax form for small Non Profits
In 2010 the IRS came up with a new e postcard tax filing. While it is simple to do, small non profits do NOT want to forget to file this annually. This article describes how to do this.
GETTING STARTED IN ECOMMERCE
Introduction to eCommerce
An introduction to the increasingly large topic of eCommerce written by SCORE Counselors, Austin Pryor and Alan Zell.
eCommerce Boot Camp
A presentation by an expert on eCommerce, SCORE Counselor, Mark Krosse.
Changing World of eBay
Cliff Ennico is an expert on eCommerce and using eBay to get started.
The Importance of Naming an eBay Store
Another article by eCommerce expert, Cliff Ennico
Building an eCommerce Octopus
Still another article on increasing eCommerce success by expert, Cliff Ennico.
Social Networks as a Marketing Tool
It can be confusing to navigate and utilize the increasing number of social networks such as YouTube and FaceBook. Cliff Ennico helps.
Website Design Tips
Linda Kuppersmith ofers some "Right on Target" key points for good website design.
Preparing for Computer Disasters
Linda Kuppersmith describes the options for preventing and recovering critical business data in the event of computer crashes and disasters.
Small Business Social Media Marketing
Social media platforms build buzz, boost business and serve small businesses as low-cost/no-cost marketing tools. Small business owners need to understand how these tools strategically serve and support small business first so they best implement social media strategies to sell products and/or services
Best Ways to Use Linkedin
Linkedin is a huge,multicultural business community with over 70 million participants. SCORE Counselor Marc Halpert shows you how best to use it to grow your business and dramatically increase the size and relevance of your personal network.
Selling on eBay
A wealth of tips on using eBay for a selling eCommerc business. Cliff Ennico is a true expert and has gathered 30 "best tips" from a conference of eBay entrepreneurs.
About Blogging for Business
Hubspot is a great general resource for social media and Search Engine Optimization (SEO). In this little manual are tips on using blogs for business marketing.
CAN THIS eCOMMERCE MERCHANT BE TRUSTED?
By Cliff Ennico
“Over the weekend I was looking for a specific item which I could not find locally. I found a source on the Internet, but I’m a little nervous about doing business with these folks. It is a company that I have never heard of, I don't know where its "office" is, etc. How do I know it is a valid, safe place to give my credit card number to for a purchase and that I'll get timely delivery?”
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