Regulations On Opening Your Own Winery

Alcohol Control Boards are found in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and in every Canadian province. These Boards are responsible for issuing the permits you will require to produce any type of alcohol. Your business must adhere to their regulations. You'll need to contact both the federal and state alcohol control offices for your permits.

In the United States, you can visit www.ttb.gov/forms/5000.shtml
Some individuals hire a representative to get through the process. Call the local Alcohol Control Board in your state or province in which your winery is based to begin filing the permit application.

Green-er Small Biz in 2009

Energy Star is run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency but the program actually does help small business save $$$$ on energy costs and can provide technical help. Sign up and you receive a How-To guide for analyzing and upgrading your facility, lists of energy equipment & service contractors, access to free workshops & public relations materials to promote your efforts. They have an ad to help you promote your GO GREEN efforts that permits you to drop in your logo. The main site is: www.energystar.gov/smallbiz.

The site also has a link for Canadian businesses. We like that!!!!!

Obama Support for Loophole Will Hurt Small Biz

Considering the dire state of our nation's economy, President-elect Barack Obama was expected to support existing federal small business programs and propose new policies that would stimulate the middle class economy and create jobs for our nation's 30 million small businesses. But, it looks like his appointment of Karen Mills, Venture Capitalist, to head the U.S. Small Business Administration, indicates he will support H.R. 3567, a loophole that will hurt small business.

Mills is president of MMP Group, a private equity investor and adviser since 1993. From 1999 to 2007 she was founding partner and managing director of Solera Capital, a New York based venture capital firm. She is lead director of Scotts Miracle-Gro. Her husband is president of Bowdoin College.

There appears to be a significant disconnect between President-elect Obama's campaign promises to American small businesses and the actual policies he is proposing.

In February, Obama released the following statement, "Over half of all Americans work for a small business. Small businesses are the backbone of our nation's economy and we must protect this great resource. It is time to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants." (http://www.barackobama.com/2008/02/26/the_american_small_business_le.php)

Any mention of President-elect Obama's February statement, or specific plans to stop the flow of federal small business contracts to "corporate giants" are conspicuously absent from the Obama-Biden Transition Team website, www.change.gov.

Change.gov and the Obama-Biden campaign website, www.barackobama.com, significantly minimize the importance of our nation's small businesses, which employ more than 50 percent of all Americans.

Less important topics such as "Rural" and "Service" received major headings under the issues section of the Obama-Biden campaign website while issues relating to America's small businesses, which create over 80 percent of all new jobs were relegated to the site's lower priority people section between "Seniors" and "Sportsmen." (http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/sbhome/)

The American Small Business League (ASBL) is predicting the Obama Administration may be preparing to roll out policies and legislation that could have a severe negative impact on the small businesses he acknowledged were the "backbone of our nation's economy."

From January 2001 to October 2008, Obama received more than $1 million in campaign contributions from the venture capital industry, according to Maplight.org. The site also indicates that the venture capital industry contributed heavily to senior Democratic leadership. (http://www.maplight.org/map/us/interest/F2500)

The ASBL predicts President-elect Obama will support H.R. 3567, the Small Business Investment Expansion Act of 2007, which will create a new loophole in federal contracting law that will allow our nation's wealthiest investors to receive billions of dollars in federal small business contracts. The venture capital industry has spent millions of dollars lobbying Democratic leaders, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, to have the legislation passed.

"I predict President-elect Obama will not restore the Small Business Administration's budget and staffing as he promised during the campaign. I don't think he will do anything to stop Fortune 500 firms from receiving federal small business contracts," ASBL President Lloyd Chapman said. "I believe he will sign legislation to create another colossal loophole that will divert billions more in federal small business contracts to billionaire venture capitalists. People need to start noticing the dramatic difference between what Obama said during the campaign and what he is actually doing."

Mail Order Catalogs Consume 8 Million Tons of Trees A Year

How many duplicate mail order catalogs have you received this season?
Here are some stats on catalog waste:

* Over eight million tons of trees are consumed each year in the production of paper catalogs.
* Nearly half of the planet’s original forest cover is gone today. Forests have effectively disappeared in 25 countries, and another 29 have lost more than 90% of their forest cover.
* Deforestation contributes between 20% and 25% of all carbon pollution, causing global climate change.
* More than one billion people living in extreme poverty around the world depend on forests for their livelihoods.
* There are other significant environmental impacts from the catalog cycle. The production and disposal of direct mail alone consumes more energy than three million cars.

The manufacturing, distribution, collection and disposal of catalogs generates global warming gases as well as air and water pollution. Reducing the number of unwanted catalogs that are mailed will help the environment.

(Small businesses can use a data management system such as ,the SmartMover Web service that ensures mail pieces--like catalogs--reach their intended recipients without duplicates, delays, detours, or flat-out returns – reducing waste and saving valuable time and money. Consumers can request a Junk Mail Reduction Kit from a recycling program in their state. The Bay Area Recycling Outreach Association, for example, has a great package.)

Discounted Franchise Options For Veterans

Vet Fran, short for Veterans Transition Franchise Initiative, was launched 10 years ago by the International Franchise Association to provide financial incentives to assist veterans in acquiring franchised businesses.

Don Dwyer, founder of The Dwyer Group, lobbied for Vet Fran and made it happen. The Gulf War was underway; 100 franchisors stepped up and offered discounts to all veterans of the U.S. Armed Services (who were honorably discharged). Domino's Pizza, for example, charges a franchise fee of $25,000 but the fee for veterans is $5000.

Currently, more than 300 franchise organizations have joined the effort and the programs receive full cooperation from the Department of Veteran's Affairs, the U.S. Small Business Association and the Veterans Corporation. Today, the Vet Fran Task Force is chaired by Don Dwyer's daughter, Dina Dwyer-Owens, CFE, president and CEO of The Dwyer Group.

The most popular franchises among veterans are:
~The UPS Store
~Matco Tools
~Meineke Car Care Centers
~PostNet Int’l Franchise Corp.
~Aire-Serve Heating & Air Cond.
~CruiseOne
~Sport Clips
~Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffees & Smoothies
~Dunkin’ Donuts
~Mr. Electric
~Mr. Rooter

For more info on the program, visit www.franchise.org/Veteran-Franchise.aspx

10 ?'s To Ask Yourself Before Starting Your Small Biz Engine

Before you launch your small business, ask yourself these 10 questions (the questions--and your answers--will also help you put together your business plan):

1. Do I have the stick-to-it-ive-ness to be an entrepreneur?

~you'll need to have the type of detail-oriented personality that doesn't give up when
things don't go your way; you need to be your own advocate & bull-dog in the face of adversity and be able to forge ahead when facing doubt and criticism from friends & family (see posting on Ben & Jerry)

2. Do I have a valid business idea?

~you might have a wonderful idea, but you must do research to make sure you can make it happen; is there competition in your region? can you offer the same product/service but do it
faster? cheaper? better? this is the time to analyze your small business and make these tough decisions before investing any money, time, soul energy.

3. Do I have the skills & talent to pull it off?

~yes, we all want to succeed, but it is important to realize our limitations. If one dreams of opening a catering business, are we able to lead? to pull together & energize a small team? to book weddings, parties, and corporate events? Can we consistently provide great service & products?

4. Am I located in the right market for this type of business?

~ask yourself: Is there an audience to support the business I want to start? If you want to want to start a pet sitting service, do you live in an area of pet owners? If you love cars and want to detail them, do you live in a market (like Los Angeles or Long Island, New York) where people love their automobiles and enjoy driving around in slick rides detailed to perfection, and are who willing to pay top $$ for the look of perfection?

~you might a great idea for a business, that you can execute in a great way, but do you have the audience, customers? This leads us to the next question...

5. Who is my target market?

~who will buy my muffins? who will hire me to landscape their gardens? who will hire me to be the dj at their events? do I live in an area where the client base is broad enough to support my small business?

6. How will I promote, market & advertise my small business?

~do I have the budget to advertise? where will I advertise? how else can I promote this business? will i host a "grand opening"? send out press releases? contact local media in the effort to gain free publicity with an article/interview/editorial feature?

7. Where will the $$$$ come from to start this small business?

~ask yourself: will I leave my current job or should I keep working 9 to 5 and run this biz on a part-time or weekend basis? can i leave the healthcare benefits on my current job to strike out on my own? have I saved enough money to keep the business going until a dedicated client base kicks in for this business?

8. What will my office operational set-up be?

~will you work at home? at the kitchen table, attic, garage, spare room? or will you need an outside facility--such as a shop? this overhead will greatly increase your expenses.

9. Can I work alone?

~many would-be entrepreneurs love their business idea, but suffer great anxiety from the isolation that ensues; entrepreneurs often miss "the water cooler" conversation they enjoyed at their former workplace--what kind of person are you? will you enjoy the independence, or will you miss your former colleagues? would you pursue your small business with greater zest if you had a partner? you might turn your sole proprietorship into a partnership.

10. What will I name the business?

~what's in a name?....we live in a very quick and visual universe. a book or magazine cover can make or break a sale. the name of your new small business can make or break your new enterprise. think about it carefully and test it out on neighbors and friends. do a google search on the name to make sure it is not being used. pick a name that will make you proud of your business every time you say it, and develop a quick-pitch (15 seconds or less) to describe exactly what your business does--

Now that you have answered these questions, you can begin to work on a business plan.
A business plan is a must if you need to apply for a loan. A business plan is also a good idea because it helps you to research & answer every question you might have about the business before you get started. Good luck with these questions and let us know how you do. send us an email: smallbizstartup@gmail.com.

Licensing

Once you develop your brand, you can begin to think about making money through "licensing."

Licensing now accounts for more than $175 billion in global retail sales . Licensing is a tool used to make money by loaning out your name & logo to another company that will actually manufacture and distribute the goods.

It is a contractual deal to permit use of a brand in association with a defined product, for a defined period of time, in a defined territory.

Licensing is the process by which a brand / property owner extends a trademark or character out of its regular environment of doing business and onto products of a completely different nature.

Ralph Lauren started as a tie company. As the company expanded, they expanded via licensing to extend their brand. The company "licensed" their name, trademark, brand image to companies that sold cosmetics, for example, to create the broad line of Ralph Lauren fragrances.

Watch companies for example make big money deals to create cute novelty watches based on Sponge Bob, Elvis, Betty Boop, Barbie, movie tie-ins, etc.

Licensing can boost your business by expanding your company's market reach, creating new revenue streams, build your global awareness, develop new promotional & retail partnerships.

And Bobble Heads now exist for every type of character ranging from sports figures to cartoon characters and so on. The company signs deals with cartoon companies, etc. to manufacture the items, market and distribute them.
Bobble Heads date back to 1842, but it was the Willie Mays Bobble Head of 1998, that started to generate new excitement for the fun figurines.

Once you develop your brand, you can work to become a viable candidate for these lucrative licensing deals. Work on establishing your branded presence in the marketplace and the licensing deals will follow!

BRAND YOURSELF

You don't have to be a Fortune 500 corporation to have a 'brand'--sure, we associate the branding process with products/services such as "Brillo" , "Subaru" , "Apple" or "H.&R. Block", but we can all create and market ourselves and our small businesses with a Personal Brand.

Your brand is your identity. Build your brand based on who you are, and what you want your company to say, to mean, to represent.

What message do you want your company to convey? This is part of the branding process. You can create a logo that ties-in with the message you want to send to your clients and potential customers.

For example, if you run a small kiosk that sells coffee in a busy office complex, you might want to convey "speedy service" with "quality" coffee. Maybe the coffee cup in your logo is flying quickly through the sky? Or, maybe to suggest that fresh brewed aroma, you create a bag of coffee beans that looks professional, but fun.

Everything you do in your small business should be all about your brand. If someone approaches you and wants to pitch a product to you to sell in your store, make sure it is appropriate to your brand. Your brand--in the case of the coffee kiosk--is all about fresh taste, rich brew in a speedy setting--selling fountain pens or fresh baked bread from your kiosk is not in keeping with your brand. Deliciously prepared fresh sandwiches to go, however, might be.

Who are you? What do you represent? Make a list of five words or concepts that best tell who you are and/or what your small business is, and you are on your way to creating your own brand.

Subaru is all about creating an automobile for the rebel, the non-conformist, the person who doesn't mind quietly standing out in the crowd. Every car they design and manufacture, their showrooms, their salespeople, speaks to this emphasis on individuality. What do you want your company to convey?

LOVE & MONEY: Turn Your Passion Into A Moneymaking Enterprise

Do What You Love & The Money Will Follow:
Most successful entrepreneurs say they started their business because of the interest & passion they had for the topic, rather than a way to 'get rich quick.'

As you contemplate launching your small business, make two lists:

The first should be a list of your interests and hobbies. Do you love sports, gardening, crafts, cooking, building projects, cars, etc.

The second list should be a rundown of the skills and talents you have.
Are you a good speaker, are you detail oriented, do people tell you that your baked goods are top-notch, are you great with kids or animals, etc.?

Examine your two lists and see where the ideas and concepts intersect.
~For example, if you love cars and you are detail oriented, would you enjoy running a car detailing service, or
~If you love baking bread, and consistently turn out good products, could you bake for a local catering company?
~You have a passion for animals--how about a doggie day care, dog/cat sitting service?
~You have extra rooms in your home and enjoy taking care of people--plus you live in a college town & there are never enough hotel rooms for special events: how about a bed & breakfast?
~You love sports and photography: why not take photos and create DVDs of local teams, golfers, bowlers, etc.?

You can do what you love and the money will follow, so rather than stress how and become obsessed about starting a business that will make you a mint this year, consider taking the time to start a business that you will really love working on and developing; if you love it, you will enjoy it every day and you will love watching it succeed.

You Can Turn Your Passion Into A Moneymaking Enterprise!

3 Ways To Start Your First Small Business

There are 3 ways you can start your first business:
*one, as an independent entrepreneur starting from scratch
*two, purchase a "business opportunity" or "turnkey package"
*three, buy a franchise
Let's examine each option:

1. Launch an independently-owned business from scratch.
You have a business idea about which you are passionate and believe you can deliver your product or service to the marketplace better, cheaper or faster than the competition (if competition does exist for your new business idea.)

You'll be working alone as your own Small Biz Superman/woman. You start at home, part-time or on weekends without leaving your current job, benefits, etc. Once you build up clients or sources of revenue you are ready to expand your biz and possibly leave your 9 to 5 workplace.

Examples of an independently-owned small businesses include:
*making desserts, pastries & breads to sell to caterers & restaurants
*home insurance inventory service run from your laptop and camera
*landscaping service including firewood delivery/snow removal during the winter season
*open a retail store
*run an online auction business

2. You buy a "biz opp" or "turnkey package"
Business opportunity packages run the gamut from gift basket businesses to vending machines to car detailing services to snow cone or popcorn kettle machines. Startup costs run from $100 to more than $5000 to purchase these packages.

Companies sell you a "turnkey package" that usually includes a manual, marketing ideas and tools/inventory to start the business--the idea is that everything is included you just 'turn the key'--to get started. Make sure you investigate the company--see posting of November 21 on "How to Investigate A Biz Opp"--before you send any money to anyone. You are still working on your own but have a company that possibly provides you with basic tools such as accounting software, products, and perhaps a toll-free support line for help.

3. You purchase a franchise.
Franchising is a multi-trillion dollar business and it is estimated that about 66 cents of every dollar in the U.S. is spent at a franchise. Examples include: 7-Eleven, 1-800-GOT-JUNK, McDonald's, Midas, Meineke, and Supercuts.
Advantages: According to the International Franchise Association, a franchise is a way to "be in business for yourself, but not by yourself." You receive everything from help in choosing the location, to signage, uniforms, training, follow-up, products, software, advertising support.
Disadvantages: Can be costly, must pay royalties to company, terms may expire, must be able to follow franchise mode of operation and not deviate from patterns of doing business.
Check out franchise.org to learn about
franchising and get an idea of costs, training.

FREE Nuts & Bolts Small Business How-To Workbook From Small Biz Startup

800,000 Americans have already lost their jobs this year
and the tragic figure is expected to rise to 1 million by
late December.

Due to outsourcing and downsizing, real employment options might not exist. For many, there is no real alternative but to start a small business.

Small Biz Startup presents a FREE Fill-in-the-Blank How-To Really Start Your Small Biz Workbook available at our partner blog: www.smallbizstartupworkbook.blogspot.com

The Small Biz Startup Workbook attempts to demystify entrepreneurship for first-time small business owners and includes strategies,
tips, techniques and checklists on finding the perfect business,
choosing a name and logo, organizing the launch, investigating business opportunities and
franchises, setting up an accounting system, and much more.

We offer it to you with the hope that it will be your small business partner as you embark on this exciting Be-Your-Own-Boss journey.

How To Investigate A "Business Opportunity" or "Turnkey" Package

A fast way to start a small business is to purchase a “business opportunity” or “turnkey” package. These “kits” come with a manual, DVD, inventory, promotional products, ads, and marketing & bookkeeping software, too. They often come with a lot less! There are no royalties to pay as with a franchise, but there is often no follow-up support such as an 800-hotline for help, etc.

The theory with a “turnkey biz opp package” is that all you have to do to launch the business is buy the package, read the material, study the manual, "turn the key" and open your business. Some of these start-up business opportunity packages cost $100 or less. Others cost thousands of dollars. But there is one common denominator: the opportunity should be investigated. Remember, let the buyer beware.

I sent for an “envelope stuffing biz opp” to see what it was: $25 and all I got was a letter suggesting I place ads in magazines and online offering “Envelope Stuffing From Home Business Opportunities”!!!!!

There are several ways to investigate a business opportunity. Do this before you send any $$$$ to anyone:

1. Call the Better Business Bureau in the city where the company is based. Ask if they have a "reliability report" filed on the company. This report provides information on the company and will include whether or not complaints have been filed on the company. It will also let you know how the company handled those complaints. Also visit: www.fraud.org for the National Fraud Information Center and phone the Call for Action Hotline at 301-652-HELP.

2. Call the Chamber of Commerce in the town where the company is based. Just because the company might not be a member doesn't mean they aren't reputable. But ask the Chamber of Commerce if they know of any reason why someone shouldn't do business with them. It doesn't hurt to hear what the word of mouth is about a particular enterprise.

3. Call the Attorney General's office in your state--often located in the State Capitol's office. Also check with the Secretary of State's office to see if there are any complaints filed on the company or if there are investigations pending.

4. Where did you hear about the business opportunity? At a local trade show? Through an ad? If it's in an ad, call the magazine who carried the ad and ask to speak to the advertising department. Do they have information on the company? How long have they been in business? Do they pay their bills on time? Has the magazine or trade sponsor received any complaints about the company?

5. Use your judgment. As you study the ad, ask yourself, "can I figure out what the business opportunity is from this ad?" If not, then run in the other direction. They are trying to be evasive. If you can't contact the company and get more information on what it is you are sending money to receive, then don't send a dime. Remember the old line, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Not in every case, but in many.

6. Ask the company offering the business opportunity package if you can get a list of folks who invested in the package during the last two years. If they are legit, and if they are proud of what they are offering, they will be happy to put you in touch with their satisfied customers. If they won't do this, there very likely is something shady going on with that particular business opportunity program. Companies that have a legitimate business opportunity package for you to look over should not be scared or dismayed if you want to receive some free additional information about the company before you invest in the program. This is a perfectly acceptable request.

7. Perform a Google search on the company and see what turns up.

8. The Federal Trade Commission offers a free package of information about the FTC Franchise and Business Opportunity Rule. Write to: Public Reference Branch, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580 or call the FTC at 202-326-2222.

9. Use your instincts. If the opportunity doesn't sound or seem just right to you, stay away. Do some more research before you get involved with the company and follow tips one through 8 to conduct your "due diligence" investigation about the business and the specific opportunity.

10.Don't send money unless you completely understand what you are buying into, and even then, check it out before you send any money.

Helping Small Biz In These Tough Times

The Great American Small Business Challenge is a new, national non-profit event, co-sponsored by over 25 SBA funded Small Business Development Centers. The Challenge has been created to help small business owners develop the essential leadership skills they need to cope with the current economic crisis. All Challenge participants receive free access to valuable organizational-improvement software, leadership-training and support.

"Small Business owners feel like they hit a brick wall. Sales are slipping, accounts receivables are mounting and vendors are tightening their credit terms. To survive the current economic downturn companies need to operate at peak performance," says Michael Kramer, co-founder of the Great American Small Business Challenge.

The Great American Small Business Challenge is a new, national, non-profit event created to help small business owners develop the essential leadership skills they need to create a flexible, resilient and sustainable company. The Challenge is co-sponsored by over 25 SBA funded Small Business Development Centers who provide Challenge participants with free access to valuable organizational-improvement software, leadership-training and support.

According to data collected from the US Department of Commerce and the Small Business Administration, there are over 25 million small businesses in the United States. Small businesses employ over 54 million Americans and contribute 40% of our Gross National Product.

"Considering the important role small businesses play in our economy, not enough is being done to help them maximize their success," says Jean Kulig-Tucker, co-founder of the Challenge. "The Challenge has been created to give small business owners the practical tools they need to streamline their operations so they can thrive in any economy," emphasizes Kulig-Tucker. Small Businesses can signup for the Challenge at The Great American Small Business Challenge web site: www.TheGreatAmericanSmallBusinessChallenge.com.

Advice From The Legendary BEN & JERRY

I was privileged to interview Ben Cohen & Jerry Greenfield about how they parlayed a $5 correspondence course in ice cream making from Penn State University into the current global giving empire now run by Unilever.

When asked what was the single most valuable piece of advice they could offer startup entrepreneurs, they said there were two thoughts they wanted to impart:

1. Be wary of family & friends who quickly become naysayers: Ben & Jerry said when they announced they were learning how to make ice cream to possibly start a small business, everyone was supportive; 'oh, yeah, go for it,' and all that--but the day they signed a lease on a space and started cleaning it up to actually begin the business, Ben & Jerry experienced the jealousy of former supporters. Be careful when this happens--and it usually will--because human nature is competitive. Even those who love and care about you will try and hold you back from your dream. Ben & Jerry said, stay strong, to fight through the nay saying!

2. Even if you have nothing going for you, and want to start a small business: Just Start!
They advise, don't let the fact that you have no outside facility or lavish equipment hold you back;
if you have a passion for an idea you believe in, then just start--start at your kitchen table or sell your t-shirts or whatever from the trunk of your car, but Just Start! If you believe in it, everything will fall into place.

The Be-Your-Own-Boss Explosion

More than 800,000 hard working Americans have lost their jobs this year and that figure is estimated to hit more than 1 million as we approach year-end pink slips. Many of our newly unemployed will never be able to transfer their knowledge into a similar position for a comparable salary—the only solution might be to start a small business.

It’s a small world after all--a small business world, that is. It is small business that is fueling our economy today not the Fortune 500 giants. In fact, small businesses account for about 90% of all new jobs created. Small business owners are the innovators who bring us inventions, and faster,cheaper, smarter ways to get from A to B. In the past two decades we’ve witnessed an explosion in entrepreneurship.

Everyone dreams of being his or her own boss--and for many good reasons. Being one’s own boss will always be associated with freedom and to a great extent, pure joy and satisfaction. It is difficult for employees to find this satisfaction on their jobs working for others.

For a long time, American workers have not been able to rely on the comfort and security once associated in working for a mega-giant corporation. There was a time when employees could count on protected pensions, health care and job security.

At the close of each year, CEOs and top management still pocket multi-million dollar profits, while the workers who drive corporations, teeter on shaky ground. We’re all too familiar with the devastation caused by layoffs, plant closings and corporate downsizing in the last few years. Since 1979, 50 million Americans have watched their jobs vanish, and according to The New York Times, only 29 million have replaced them.

We’re now searching for fulfillment and livelihood in new places, in new ways. We’d rather work 14 hours a day for ourselves doing something we love than work for “the man”. Having a small business means freedom from the 9 to 5 shackles. We’d gladly work twice as hard in our own venture. Owning a small business gives us pride and identity.

In the 19th century, Americans worked and plied their trades. Villages usually featured one shoemaker, one clothing retailer, one grocer, and so on down the line. Late 19th and early 20th century entrepreneurs ventured into oil, steel and railways and made a bundle overnight. They struck gold.

Throughout the first half of the 20th century, Americans fulfilled dreams by taking over the family business. After World War II new ideas, technologies and politics came into place changing the business climate as well.

Sons and daughters were no longer content to work in the family business. College was the dream and working for a large corporation became the fantasy. Business students earned MBAs and turned their sheepskins into big buck fortunes. But with the greed of the 1980s came the stock market crash and insider trading scams.

Social awareness, invisible since the 1960s, turned many of us off to the notion of big business. Government let us down, too. Environmental devastation along with concern for human needs, such as health care and shelter, took center stage.

Global alarms on AIDS, famine and natural disasters brought us closer together. Americans started to reject the notion of the big business machine and once again moved toward small business.

We watched garage-based ventures like Apple and Microsoft become world-class empires. It was proof that entrepreneurship--the New American Dream--was alive and well. Advances in technology have made it easy for small businesses to be launched from home.

With the Internet, It’s never been easier to be an “Open Collar” worker than right now and it gets less difficult all the time as one-person operations run from a kitchen table rack up profits and respect.

Running a business is fun and exciting. It has been written and said time and again: If you choose something you love to do, you will love working on it, at it, with it, for it. The money will follow. I hope this blog will serve as your "partner" as you begin your Small Business Journey!