9/6/2008

Bring peanuts and your business plan.

The National Organization of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) is collaborating with the nation's zoos on a novel series of events for women business owners and their kids.

It's all part of the "Birthing the Elephant" tour, inspired by the book of the same name.

The tour kicks off Oct. 2 at the Louisville zoo in Louisville, Ky., which is celebrating the recent birth of a baby elephant. While their mothers learn about launching a business from Bruce Freeman, co-author of Birthing the Elephant, kids will enjoy supervised fun and educational activities. Co-author Karin Abarbanel is facilitating partnerships between NAWBO chapters and local zoos.

Birthing the Elephant is designed to guide women through the emotional challenges faced when launching a business. The title is drawn from the fact that the book covers the first 22 months of a launch--the gestation period for a baby elephant.

8/19/2008

The U.S. Senate may derail a proposed new SBA rule affecting set-asides for women-owned businesses, according to Federal Computer Week.

The rule, intended to help federal agencies reach a goal of awarding 5 percent of federal contracts to female owners, has raised a storm of protest from women's groups and congressional leaders. That's because it would only allow set-asides to four industry areas in which the SBA says women-owned small firms don't get their fair share of federal contract dollars.

Those areas are national security and international affairs; coating, engraving, heat treating and allied activities; household and institutional furniture and kitchen cabinet manufacturing; and motor vehicle dealers. Read the proposed rule.

A provision in the Senate's version of the fiscal 2009 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act (S. 3260) would block the SBA from implementing the rule. It states, "None of the funds made available under this Act may be used by the Small Business Administration to implement the proposed rule relating to women-owned small business Federal contract assistance procedures published in the Federal Register on December 27, 2007."

FCW reports that the Senate bill's language would allow for a women-owned business set-aside program, but not the proposal the SBA published in the Federal Register on December 27.

8/13/2008

If you want to expand your business internationally, CUDA Consortium International's upcoming conference and tradeshow might be of interest. The Entrepreneurial Women’s International Tradeshow is designed by and created for entrepreneurial women. It will take place Sept. 5 through 7 at the Columbia Tower Club in Seattle, Washington.

In addition to the Sept. 6 tradeshow, the three-day event will feature seminars and workshops focusing on business structure, operations and marketing, as well as legal issues. There will also be formal and informal opportunities for idea exchanges and networking.

For information, click here.

8/13/2008

The Business and Professional Women's Foundation released a brief examining today's multigenerational workplace. The paper reveals challenges young "careerists"--defined by BPW Foundation as individuals between the ages of 21 and 35--are facing in today's workplace.

The report states that because Millennials were "raised in an environment where they were told to pursue their passions . . . [they] tend to be more confident and willing to take risks." Many college campuses have noticed this trend and are offering entrepreneurship courses that hone the skills needed for success.

The report also points out young careerists' frustration and disillusionment with their careers. It suggests that many find workplace environments boring, antiquated or restrictive. In contrast, baby boomers came from a different social and business climate and have different experiences, skills, values and ways of communicating than their younger colleagues.

Understanding the generational differences in lifestyles and attitudes is key to maintaining a successful workplace. For example, while a young careerist might be focused on personal work-life effectiveness and establishing a firm grounding for his or her career, a baby boomer manager might have additional responsibilities, such as caregiving for both children and elderly parents.

The report recommends that more research be conducted to help employers meet the needs of their multigenerational work force. For a copy of the brief, visit the BPW Foundation website.

8/5/2008

SCORE has created a new women's website to help women entrepreneurs achieve their business dreams. The site includes interactive tools, mentoring, workshops and articles. A blog offers advice from SCORE experts. Comments and questions from blog visitors are welcome.

In addition, SCORE is offering a Promote Your Small Business giveaway to encourage visitors to sign up. Winners will receive a free PR Newswire news release, which will be sent to local media editors and reporters who write about business issues. Winners will be selected daily August 4 through 8.

Since 1964, SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business" has helped more than 8 million aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners through counseling and business workshops.

For more information about starting or operating a small business, call 1-800-634-0245 for the SCORE chapter nearest you or visit SCORE on the web at score.org or score.org/women.

7/31/2008

Among women entrepreneurs, baby boomers and their Generation X counterparts have different goals for their companies, according to a survey of 1,127 participants in the Make Mine a Million $ Business program.

Among baby boomers, 52 percent want their enterprise to have an impact on their community (21 percent) or the world (31 percent).

Conversely, 55 percent of Gen X entrepreneurs seek an impact closer to home: Twelve percent want to grow their business primarily for its effect on them; 38 percent want growth for its impact on their families and 5 percent want growth to affect employees or shareholders.

The purpose of the Make Mine a Million $ Business survey is to explore attitudes on business and personal issues and uncover data on the changing dynamic of running a successful business during the various stages of motherhood.

Here are some of the most noteworthy findings:

• Gen Xers are more likely to say they were exposed to entrepreneurial influences during childhood.

• Gen Xers are more likely to describe themselves in competitive terms.

• Gen Xers are far more likely to have preschool children and to be experiencing stress related to work-life balance issues.

• By and large, Gen Xers have been in business a shorter period of time than their baby boomer counterparts: 54 percent have been in business fewer than three years, compared with 46 percent of boomers. Among boomers, 30 percent have owned their business for more than five years, compared with 18 percent of Gen Xers.

• Thirty-three percent of Gen X-owned firms have surpassed the $100,000 revenue threshold, compared with 36 percent among boomer-owned enterprises. Since Gen Xers have been in business fewer years than boomers, this indicates that the younger entrepreneurs are growing their businesses more quickly.

7/24/2008

If meeting your tax obligations is--well, taxing--you might be interested in a bi-weekly newsletter the IRS is distributing. IRS' e-News for Small Businesses addresses such topics as upcoming tax dates for small business, reminders and tips to assist with tax compliances, plus links to websites and resources.

To subscribe, click here.

The IRS distributes several other newsletters, including IRS Tax Tips and Retirement News for Employers. For a list of newsletters, click here.

7/10/2008

Whirlpool brand is seeking entries for its 2008 Mother of Invention Grant Program.

The Mother of Invention Grant Program provides seed money and expert guidance to moms to turn their invention, business or service ideas into full-fledged businesses.

This year, the contest includes a "green" category. Ideas are eligible if they minimize the impact on environmental resources, use recycled/natural materials or represent an environmentally friendly product/service.

The grand prize is a $20,000 grant, plus a $3,000 stipend for a home office.

Four runners-up will receive a combined total of $24,000 in grant money. Winners will also receive an invitation to a two-day business boot camp covering areas such as product development, business strategy, innovation and technology, legal, accounting and marketing.

The contest is in its fourth year. In its first three years, Whirlpool brand has recognized and helped more than 15 moms turn their innovative ideas into reality.

More information and entry forms can be found at Whirlpool.com/moms. Entries will be accepted through July 31, 2008.

6/20/2008

Do you think your business idea has what it takes to shake up the business world, but not enough money to make it happen? Then prepare your elevator pitch for PerfectBusiness.com's National Pitch Challenge. The goal of the competition is to find the best business ideas in the U.S., and fund at least 25 businesses across the country. The top 10 pitches will receive consulting services and funding from angel investors and venture capitalists.

The Pitch Challenge is based on the elevator pitch concept, a hypothetical scenario where an entrepreneur explains a business idea during an elevator ride with an investor."We're looking for serious business ideas from capable entrepreneurs," said Dan Bliss, co-founder of PerfectBusiness.com. "Most professional investors are interested in startups or existing businesses that have potential for rapid growth and large returns on investment."

The top ten pitches will be determined by a panel of business experts and investors. You must be at least 18 years old to enter. Submissions will be accepted from September 1 through December 31, 2008. Winners will be announced on February 2, 2009. Check out the official website for more information. Good luck!

Kristin Chessman

6/18/2008

Is traditional desktop software a thing of the past? According to a recent survey conducted by online payroll service SurePayroll, it is--at least for small business. Instead, many small businesses are choosing to use web-based software that better allows them to compete with big businesses. In fact, three out of four entrepreneurs surveyed said they rely on online software, which enables them to work in an online environment in place of purchasing or licensing software.

SurePayroll's survey cited benefits to online software such as convenient access, the fact that they don't need internal support for the software, and fast and easy implementation. 

When looking to the future, 75 percent of survey respondents predicted that in 10 years, desktop software will be eliminated, and all applications will exist on servers that can be accessed remotely.

Kristin Chessman  

5/29/2008

Ladies Who Launch, a national business and lifestyle organization, will celebrate the debut of the Sex and the City movie on Saturday, May 31, with its annual Los Angeles Ladies Who Launch LIVE event.

As a testament to the power of female bonds, represented so well in the TV series and the movie, the Ladies who Launch event will feature entrepreneurs in several industries, sharing their stories of failures, successes and balancing work with their daily lives.

Participants can learn from experts about launching a business, starting from scratch, pitching the press, balancing a busy life, creating rewarding relationships and living the life you want.

Hear the hottest fashion tips from Paige Adams-Geller, founder of Paige Premium Denim. Get beauty tips from Jane Wurwand, founder of Dermologica. Learn how to create an eco-friendly life with Heather Stephenson of idealbite.com, and find out how to balance work with family and friend time from Amy Swift, editor of Ladies Who Launch.

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Dermalogica, 1535 Beachey Place in Carson, California. The pre-registration fee is $165 or $200 at the door.

A percentage of vendors' proceeds will go to Tariro--Hope and Health for Zimbabwe's Orphans.

All participants will receive a complementary face-mapping from Dermalogica.

Click here for more information or to sign up.

5/21/2008

Being the primary breadwinner can complicate marriage for a woman, a poll by BettyConfidential.com reveals. BettyConfidential.com is a social networking community for women ages 25 to 49.

The survey indicates that women gain a sense of pride along with financial freedom when they earn more than their husbands. However, says Betty Confidential.com editor Nicole Christie, earning more than one's husband is also "a curse, creating a greater pull of work vs. family and a gap between husband and wife that's difficult to bridge."

As of 2005 (when data was last compiled), the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that about one-third of women earned more than their husbands.

One investment banker sees both the advantages and disadvantages of being the primary breadwinner in her marriage. "I have financial independence that my mother never had," she says. "But I do resent my husband because there are so many household chores, community events, and school events that the 'woman of the house' is expected to do."

"I think all women need to at least prepare to be the primary breadwinner," says a Monterey marketing strategist, a primary breadwinner whose marriage didn't work out. "The unhappiest women I know are those who rely on their husbands to completely supply and manage their financial lives. Why chance it?"  

 

5/8/2008



4/2/2008

With plans to create an e-commerce portal that matches loan applicants with commercial lenders, the SBA has released a request for information (RFI) from potential vendors with ideas on how to set up such a site.

Business loan applicants using the portal would describe their financing needs and provide financial and performance information critical to an underwriter’s decision. The website would then facilitate matching interested lenders with prospective borrowers.

You can find the RFI at FedBizOpps.com. All responses to the RFI should be submitted via e-mail to Joanie.Newhart@sba.gov. The deadline is April 28.

3/25/2008

Women business owners are going green, going global and giving back to their communities, according to a survey conducted by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

The study, which surveyed more than 1,200 women business owners, reported these findings:

• 25 percent of women business owners are taking business abroad. Of that total, 65 percent are in Europe, 45 percent are in Asia and 43 percent are in the Middle East. Among those going global, 57 percent are first-tier suppliers to a corporation, 36 percent are second  tier and 7 percent are third-tier suppliers.

• 71 percent of women business owners are trying to make their businesses greener, either by changing company policies and procedures or by greening their products.

• 53 percent of women business owners are giving 1 to 5 percent of their profits to philanthropy.

3/25/2008

The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) has announced its annual listing of America’s Top Corporations for Women’s Business Enterprises. The award's 16 recipients are being honored for implementing programs that help women-led businesses compete for corporate contracts.

Joining the list for the first time this year are Alcatel, J.C. Penney, ExxonMobil, Coca Cola and Verizon. The other 11 companies are multiple winners.

3/13/2008

Do you have a tip that can inspire other women entrepreneurs to succeed? Mary Cantando, creator of the 2008 Woman's Advantage Page-a-Day Calendar, is looking for words of advice for next year's calendar.

The calendar contains a collection of tips by women entrepreneurs, for women entrepreneurs. It's a desktop calendar that also appears daily on the WomenEntrepreneur.com homepage.

Tips can focus on strategy, life balance, marketing, teambuilding or anything else that enhances your business or life. To capitalize on this opportunity, click here to submit your quote. The deadline for submissions is April 15.

3/10/2008

The Center for Media Research reports on a study sizing up the black women's market. The report was prepared by Miriam Muley, CEO of The 85% Niche, who points out that women make 85 percent of American's purchasing decisions.

According to Muley, the black women's market is one of the fastest-growing and most influential segments in business today. Their buying power is expected to grow to $600 billion in 2008.

As of 2004, there were more than 500,000 black-women-owned businesses in the United States, with revenue of more than $21 billion. Muley concludes that "corporations will be increasingly more dependent upon diverse women of color to achieve company sales targets."

Click here to read the complete paper.

3/7/2008

The Center for Women's Business Research has released its 2007 update of Key Facts About Women-Owned Businesses. Among these facts:

• Women own 50 percent or more of 10.4 million firms, employing more than 12.8 million people and generating $1.9 trillion in sales.
• For the past two decades, majority women-owned firms have grown two times the rate of all firms (42 percent versus 24 percent).
• Women of color own 50 percent or more of 2.4 million firms, generating nearly $230 billion in annual sales.
• Between 1997 and 2006 the number of privately held firms owned 51 percent or more by women of color grew five times faster than all privately held firms (120 percent versus 24 percent).
• Asian women-owned firms have the highest survival rate of all women-owned firms, with 77 percent of their businesses from 1997 remaining in 2000.
• Sales revenue for women-owned firms without employees increased 66 percent from 1997 to 2004, compared with 42 percent for all such firms.

Visit CFWBR for more information.

3/7/2008

If you've been wondering how to get in on the $400 billion federal contracts market, the SBA might have the answer: It has launched a free, online course, "Business Opportunities: A Guide to Winning Federal Contracts." The self-paced guide is aimed at small business owners, especially women entrepreneurs and small firms in underserved markets.

The comprehensive course uses both script and audio to provide information about the federal market and the rules governing federal contracts. It also reveals where to find contract opportunities, how to sell to the government and provides more than 40 links to the best contracting resources.

Entrepreneurs who complete the 30-minute tutorial can earn a certificate of completion from the SBA.

On a typical day, 700 to 1,500 customers register for online courses offered by SBA, through its virtual campus at the Small Business Training Network.