Micro small businesses especially in North Carolina often have a hole in their organization that needs to be fixed for …
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What is a Local Owned Micro Business?
January 5, 2012 by
What is a Local-Owned Micro Business?
I was talking to Pat Howlett about his definition of Local-Owned Micro Business and liked his comment.
To paraphrase his definition: It is a business with 0 (the owner) to 20 employees where at the end of the day the money gets deposited in a local bank account of a person who lives in the area.
So that could be a business that was a franchise but has a local owner, or one just created from “scratch”.
Why should we make an effort to support them?
Imagine America with only large company-owned businesses; it is not hard to picture this since so many locally owned businesses have gone out of business. To me a local-owned business is one of the core factors of what makes America great.
They also spend more with other businesses in the area and that truly helps the local economy more than a company-owned store that ships the cash out of the area. It can respond faster to our local needs better and can have a real face representing the business who is someone we can meet. It shows our kids that they can have the dream of owning their own business as well.
What do we need to do?
Don’t stop shopping at Walmart if you gain value from them, but do ask yourself if you can spend some of your money at a real local-owned business. Ask a store you think is locally owned if they are indeed local, and let them know that is important to you. Post on social media when you use a local-owned business, for example FourSquare or use the hash tag #localowned .
Inside919 is all about Local-Owned.
Make the most of your Insider privileges and make sure you use a real face for your business, not a logo. Founder Pat Howlett knows from experience that it is faster to build a relationship with a person then a logo or brand. Now that I have been teaching around the state since 2006, and seeing more and more local businesses going out of business, I am concerned that Local-Owned American businesses are becoming an endangered species.
Thanks to all that are supporting Local-Owned.
Starting today, let’s start sharing more stories about buying from local-owned so we see less signs like the picture in this blog. Ask your politicians what they are doing to support micro-business and if they are giving support, thank them. I want a future with more micro-businesses.
Thanks Pat for all you have done to bring more awareness to micro-business!
Martin Brossman’s Posts – 919 Business Networking – Local Business Owners & Professionals
7 Simple, Tools, Resources, Ideas, to give your Micro Business a BIG business Image
January 22, 2010 by
Technology and the internet has done alot of good (and some bad I imagine) in image building for micro and small business. And it’s certain that creating the best image for your business is important to compete. Now more than ever technology and the web 2.0 is beginning to level the playing field between big start-ups and micro, solo businesses. The NFIB published in the January/February Issue of MyBusiness Magazinethat many home-based and micro businesses are finding creative ways to give off a big business image in ways that are paying off! There are many ways a micro business can easily compete with larger more established businesses with a little creativity, cloud-computing and use of SaaS programs. Here is a short list of 7 such tools you can use NOW to improve your business image.
1. Outright.com – This simple cost effective tool is perfect for the Micro Business Owner (self-employed, sole proprietorship) who simply needs a step up from managing your bookkeeping in excel spreadsheets. You simply (and very easily) import your bank account, paypal, ebay, Freshbooks, information in and VIOLA! Your books are created! Another awesome feature is the Schedule C and Estimated Taxes tracking. Hands down the single most awesome and low cost accounting software for the solo-preneur who isn’t ready for Quickbooks. Why the big business image? Easily tracking your money means more time to focus on developing your business.
2. Webs.com – Now for all you wordpress fans, I’m not knocking wordpress AT ALL, in fact our current website is being redesigned on a wordpress platform because it simply rocks. BUT, for those who are just starting out, and need a simple, drop and drag type of website, webs.com is a great solution. Our entire current website was created on Webs and didn’t hurt business one bit! There are tons of fast and quick plug-ins, and some cool templates that fit almost any business.
3. ZohoCRM – I know many wouldn’t argue with me at all on this. Zoho is one of the best solutions for Micro businesses to help manage your CRM. The free version is just enough for most micro businesses and there is even a Googleapps integration. Meaning you can easily add leads, notes and follow-up tasks directly from your gmail.
4. 48hourslogo.com – Your image is everything! Logos are oftentimes the first thing potential clients see and to be honest judge their decision to buy. There are many crowdsourcing options out there with various price points. When on the hunt for a new logo 48hourslogo.com was a great alternative for some pretty cool logos (check out my photos to see what I got from them) starting at $ 79.
5. ZohoProject – Wouldn’t it be nice to show off to your clients how organized you are by nicely organizing and track your current projects in a neat and tidy little system? ZohoProjects offers a free and paid version but is a great way to collaborate with contractors, vendors, and clients on projects. Get more done!
6. Googleapps – Love this first because it’s FREE. Email, docs, and up to 50 email addresses and more. There’s so much you can do with GoogleApps that doesn’t cost you a penny it’s a shame if you’re not using it! 
7. Godaddy.com – By now I hope you aren’t still using a yahoo.com, or gmail.com etc email for your business? Domain names are NOT expensive these days. The typical cost is $ 9.99 on godaddy (sometimes less sometimes more depending, yet still a small investment). Most potential clients won’t even attempt to do business with you if you don’t have your own email address. What’s awesome is that you can assign your domain dns to Googleapps!
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Katrina M. Harrell is CEO & Founder of Your Simple Bookkeeper and Founder of the Micro Business Resource Center. For more than 60+ Tips, Tools, Resources to help you create a BIG Business image for your Micro Business, email us at microresourses@yoursimplebookkeeper.com to receive our newsletter and mailing list to be the first to receive our “The Secret Micro Business Bootstrapping Survival Kit™” When published in March 2011.
For more examples by Katrina of how your Micro Business can have a BIG Business image, check out the “Home Office, Home Run” article in the January/February issue of MyBusiness Magazine (NFIB).
Katrina M Harrell-Biz Strategist’s Posts – 919 Business Networking – Local Business Owners & Professionals
Micro Business Tax Tips : 6 Things Your Business Must Do By January 31
January 15, 2010 by
If you are a self-employed individual or running a small business, check out 6 quick things you need to do BEFORE or by January 31, 2011 to stay in good graces with the IRS!
1. ISSUE 1099s – If you hired an independent contractor in 2010 or worked with a non incorporated business, you must issue 1099 by January 31, 2011. You still have until February 28 to actually report to the IRS giving time for any corrections, however you should ensure your contractors and vendors have received their 1099 by the 31st.
2. ISSUE W-2s – Did you hire any employees in 2010? Even part-time? Seasonal? Aside from ensuring you did apply for employer tax numbers, you should also ensure you submit your employees (even terminated ones) W-2s by the 31st. If you use a payroll service, check with them to ensure your payroll records are accurate and complete before issuing W-2s.
Check here for the remaining tips!
Katrina M Harrell-Biz Strategist’s Posts – 919 Business Networking – Local Business Owners & Professionals
