One of the greatest obstacles faced by thousands of returning veterans who are transitioning back into civilian life is in finding long-lasting gainful employment, according to Kevin Humes, the President/CEO of American Veterans Alliance/American Alliance for Disabled Veterans (501 C-3) and co-founder...
Negotiation is something that home-based or other small business, business opportunity or franchise owners need to contend with, like it or not. Unfortunately, far too many of them think it is okay to just wing it. They don't take the time to refine their skills in this area. As a result, they are doing...
If you’re a mom (or even a dad) who is currently making the job of raising kids your full-time job and who is also wrestling with the idea of buying a business opportunity or franchise, the recent raging and politically charged debate about what constitutes a “working” mom may hit close to home. Personally,...
One of the greatest obstacles faced by thousands of returning veterans who are transitioning back into civilian life is in finding long-lasting gainful employment, according to Kevin Humes, the President/CEO of American Veterans Alliance/American Alliance for Disabled Veterans (501 C-3) and co-founder...
Negotiation is something that home-based or other small business, business opportunity or franchise owners need to contend with, like it or not. Unfortunately, far too many of them think it is okay to just wing it. They don't take the time to refine their skills in this area. As a result, they are doing...
If you’re a mom (or even a dad) who is currently making the job of raising kids your full-time job and who is also wrestling with the idea of buying a business opportunity or franchise, the recent raging and politically charged debate about what constitutes a “working” mom may hit close to home. Personally,...
When you own a home-based or other small business, business opportunity or franchise, the words, names, phrases, symbols and logos you use to identify your company and all that it stands for are your brand. They are what defines you and sets you apart. They allow you to create a reputation for yourself...
Every year at this time there are thousands of new home-based business opportunity owners who sit down to file their final income taxes and wrestle with the idea of whether or not to take the home office deduction. If you’re one of them, then you need to know the general rules for 2012 (tax year 2011) when...
If you are a small business owner you have options when it comes to how you organize your company from a legal standpoint. As you begin to educate yourself on the choices that are at hand, one very important point to keep in mind is the issue of liability.
Liability can be a fairly complicated issue,...
The NYSE (New York Stock Exchange) Big StartUp℠ is a new nationwide jobs-growth initiative that will connect young companies and entrepreneurs with corporate America so that the former can benefit from the latter’s support, experience...
Home-based and other small business owners who are trying to make an honest name for themselves as well as an honest living are all too often the victim of aggressive and even unlawful bullying by larger companies who may feel even remotely threatened by their activities for a whole host of reasons....
A number of influential small business and entrepreneurial interest groups have joined forces to encourage U.S. Senate leaders to bring pending legislation regarding crowdfunding to the Senate floor for a vote as soon as possible. Citing the fact that crowdfunding legislation has already passed the House...
If you’re a home-based or other small business opportunity or franchise owner, chances are you’ve heard about the newest social networking option that has all of Silicon Valley talking. Cited by...
If you’re a home-based or other small business opportunity or franchise owner, chances are you’re among the growing number of individuals just like you who are using mobile applications (or apps) to run your company. And why wouldn’t you? Mobile apps are helping small and medium-sized business owners...
It’s long been thought that pursuing the dream of owning your own business is a risky proposition. And while some element of uncertainty is an inherent part of any entrepreneurial endeavor, the risks associated with being your own boss in this day and age may not be as great as they once were. Why? First...
Love him or hate him, there’s one thing we all can agree on. Donald Trump sure knows how to make a buck, and he also knows how to rebound from seemingly insurmountable failure too. That being said, is it any wonder that his books are so popular―especially in this day and age when the prospect of taking...
The events and conferences designed to inform, educate, celebrate and inspire today's prospective and established entrepreneurs are considerable in number once again this year. Here's a look at what's going on around the U.S. by region:
Note: Just click on the event title for more information.
Autonomy and control are two of the key benefits to self-employment that many returning veterans might find attractive, according to Michael Haynie, Director of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University. In a recent interview on
Three key pieces of legislation are currently being bandied about in Congress, bringing the debate over government regulation and its effects on small businesses very much into the national spotlight this holiday season. Not surprisingly, the arguments about what the implications of these bills would...
Although the formal results have yet to be tallied and released by American Express (the driving force behind this year’s second annual Small Business Saturday), all indications are that this newest complement to the annual holiday shopping-kickoff weekend is here to stay. Not only are local merchants...
Business opportunity and franchise owners who conduct much of their business online have good reason to believe that Cyber Monday 2011 will be a good and profitable day. According to a recent...
If ever there was a business concept whose time has arrived when it comes to franchising, it’s the food truck. So I can’t help but wonder why so many of the most successful food truck owners out there today are not jumping at the chance to replicate their success in other areas of the country.
For...
The impending release of Amazon’s new Kindle Fire on November 15 has many home-based and other small business opportunity and franchise owners wondering if this new tablet has what it takes to compete with Apple’s iPad. With a price tag of just $199 as compared to the iPad’s base model at $499, it sure...
Launched last year by American Express two days after Thanksgiving, Small Business Saturday is designed to build support for small businesses by encouraging consumers to think small when buying big on the most popular shopping weekend of the year. It’s any small business owner's
Facebook, the National Federation of Independent Business Owners (NFIB) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently announced a nationwide joint initiative to help small businesses acquire and retain customers....
BusinessOpportunity.com has announced it will sponsor a California-based expo focused on helping home-based business entrepreneurs in early February 2012. Scheduled to be held at the Hyatt Regency Valencia and Santa Clarita Conference Center on February 18 and 19, the Biz@Home expo will provide aspiring...
All of us can always use a few tips on how to become a better and more effective leader, especially if we are business opportunity or franchise owners. In his new book, “Win,” best-selling author, leading pollster and communications expert, Dr. Frank Luntz focuses on the nine key principles that he...
If you’re a small business owner in one of eleven key states or the District of Columbia, you may be able to benefit from a recent lending initiative announced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Designed to spur private-sector job growth, the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) will...
Earthquakes, floods, tornados, hurricanes… Mother Nature has not been kind to us lately. As a home-based or other small business opportunity or franchise owner, you may be particularly vulnerable to the elements. In fact, an estimated 25% of the thousands of businesses that are adversely affected...
It’s no secret that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS)―a quasi-governmental agency that is virtually self-sustaining― has been hemorrhaging money these last few years, to the tune of more than $8 billion in the last year alone to be exact. As a result, smaller post offices with what has been labeled “low...
Cloud computing has picked up steam in just the past few years as a staple of business function management according to a whole host of recent studies on the subject. Furthermore, the prediction is that the increase in cloud computing services by businesses of all shapes and sizes will be nothing less...
The debate over whether or not online retailers should be made to pay sales tax on products sold in states where they do not have a considerable physical presence is at full boil now that the issue is affecting America’s most populous state of California. The state’s attorney general ruled last week...
As a home-based or other small business owner, you’re used to having to wear many hats at once. That being the case, chances are that on more than one occasion you’ve cursed the amount of time you’ve had to spend doing simple tasks like organizing your database of leads, cherry picking targeted contacts...
BusinessOpportunity.com advertisers can now have their leads automatically uploaded quickly and easily directly to their SalesForce.com CRM account, saving them countless hours of input-computing time and allowing them to manage their leads more effectively. This FREE, value-added service is just one...
According to Jim Breyer, Managing Partner of Accel Partners, during a Stanford entrepreneurship lecture series from 2005, the best and most successful entrepreneurs―particularly Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook―are...
Tired of your home-based or other small business opportunity or franchise being just some ordinary .com, .org or .net?
Thanks to a crucial vote on Monday by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers...
Linear barcodes, which are one-dimensional and the kind we see most frequently on the products we purchase today, became commonplace in the 1980’s, despite the fact that the technology had been patented some thirty years before. A new...
Buying a business opportunity, distributorship or small franchise and going into business for yourself is a risky endeavor. If you’re an entrepreneur at heart, then you’re certainly no stranger to the concept of risk, that's for sure. But inherent in anything risky is the possibility, in fact the likelihood,...
Chances are that if you're a home-based or other small business or franchise owner, especially one who conducts most of your business online, you're all too familiar with "eTaxes" and the impact they currently have and will have on your livelihood in the coming year or so. For those reading this who...
If you are a home-based or other small business or franchise owner who is already using some type of free, internet-based form of telephony (aka VoIP or voice over IP) to get the job done, consider yourself not only smart, but light years ahead when it comes to business-to-business communications. For...
National Small Business Week 2011 kicks off today with a week-long vigorous line-up of festivities in Washington, DC that includes guest speaker seminars, national award ceremonies and networking events for entrepreneurs, government officials and members of the press. Hosted by the
Business owners of all shapes and sizes all too often make a critical misstep in the hiring process―they don’t take the time to learn good, solid interviewing skills. Unfortunately, this can be a very costly mistake, as hiring the wrong person can take quite a toll on any business’ bottom line in the...
Two events in the upcoming month of May will focus national attention on America’s small businesses―one primarily in recognition of all that small businesses do to bolster our economic stability and the other to foster the ability of entrepreneurs to make their voices heard in Washington. Registration...
We’re all seriously cell phone dependent at this point, for sure. But as a home-based or other small business owner, your cell phone may very well be of particular importance to you and your livelihood. In fact, it may be all that stands between you and closing the next deal.
Introduced in 2008,...
A somewhat buried, three-paragraph pay-for in last year’s new healthcare legislation has been approved by the Senate for repeal, much to the relief of the nation’s small businesses and their advocates. The provision would have required companies to report to the IRS payments of more than $600 per year...
A recent Gallup poll showed that 16.3% of adults in the U.S. were uninsured as of February 2011. And the percentage of Americans who receive health insurance benefits through their employer dropped to a low of 44.6%, the lowest it has been in the past three years. On the flip side, the percentage of...
One of the key provisions set forth in the new 2010 healthcare law allows for the creation of healthcare exchanges. A healthcare exchange is in essence an organized marketplace where both individuals and small employers can shop for insurance coverage. The basic premise is that risk is diffused when...
Findings from a recently conducted poll of small, California-based employers reveal that the majority of them are unfamiliar with the provisions in the new healthcare...
While many home-based and other small businesses and franchises continue to struggle in the wake of the most recent economic downturn, there are some indicators from both the past month and week that are cause for optimism. The Index of Small-Business Optimism, the number of jobless claims and consumer...
If you’re currently unemployed or in a job that you hate and just need that extra nudge to start your own home-based or other small business opportunity or franchise, look no further than a recent study that shows just how much having the wrong job can negatively affect you―every bit as much or more...
In the largest worldwide acquisition in almost a year, AT&T has announced its purchase of T-Mobile USA for $39 billion. Should the deal meet with regulatory approval, AT&T will become the biggest U.S. mobile-phone carrier by far―surpassing Verizon Wireless, its closest rival, and controlling...
Any small or even home-based business owner knows all too well that plastic reigns supreme in today’s marketplace. According to the Federal Reserve, debit card payments in particular have grown more than any other form of payment in the last decade to a height of 37.9 billion total transactions in 2009....
Google recently announced that it would be making considerable changes to its search-results algorithm. Why? Two reasons: content farms and webspam.
For far too long now, many sites have been guilty of “gaming” the system when it comes to their rankings. As opposed to offering fresh and original...
As a home-based or other small business owner, if you’ve at all been hesitant to invest in a website or actively market your business online or via social media such as Facebook or Twitter, a recent research study by the Pew Research Center proves you might be making a very big mistake. It found significant...
The answer is simple really and three-fold. One, working with kids or pets requires true commitment and a passion for what you do. Two, both fields can be incredibly rewarding both personally and financially. And three, given how much we all love our kids and our pets―they are a member of the family...
This month the Commerce Department’s U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced its new “Three Track” program, which allows for patent applicants to choose the speed with which their application is processed. Acknowledging the key role that intellectual property plays in promoting innovation...
If you own a home-based or other small business, chances are you’ve struggled over the last few years to obtain credit―so much so that you may have given up trying. According to new survey data collected by The Gallup Organization for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), you aren’t...
BusinessOpportunity.com now naturally ranks for more than 500 of the most popular keyword search terms―in both the singular and plural forms in most cases―used by individuals who are proactively searching for a business opportunity, distributorship, licensee opportunity or small franchise. Moreover,...
Owners of small or home-based business opportunity enterprises, beware the short-sighted sale! While it might seem financially prudent in the short-term to hire just about anyone who says they’ve got what it takes to replicate your success, you’d be foolish to do so. “Why?” you ask. After all, isn’t...
An old joke, I know―one that isn’t particularly funny once you find out it may be true. And it gets even worse when you find it to be true only after you’ve spent money with someone and bought their act. It is one thing to try using a particular advertising medium only to find out that it did not work...
As a small business owner, you should know about the debate that is raging right now regarding whether or not a growing number of states have the right to demand that online retailers, such as Amazon.com, collect sales tax on products sold to customers in those states. Perhaps surprisingly to some,...
The grandfather of all smartphones, the BlackBerry was the product that started the entire revolution. While some think that using a BlackBerry is the only way to do business, others feel that the Droid and iPhone have surpassed the BlackBerry and are in a league of their own. In the last part of this...
An independent agency of the U.S. government, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is tasked with protecting consumers through the elimination and prevention of what regulators perceive to be "anti-competitive" business activities. Inherent to the agency's mission are the concepts of fairness and the...
In this day and age, a smartphone is a must, but the tough part is figuring out which one is the best choice for you as a home-based or any other type of business or business opportunity owner. In the first part of this series, we examined what makes the iPhone a good fit for any small business entrepreneur....
For small business owners, having a smartphone is a must. You never know when you’re going to need to contact a client or solve a crisis on the go. Having access to e-mails and other important business-related documents at a moment’s notice at all times is therefore critical. While it's more likely when...
These exciting and informative conferences, forums and meetings are designed to help you with all aspects of your home-based or other small or medium- sized business, distributorship, licensee opportunity or franchise. Check out what’s going on in your region of the country this winter and throughout...
Whether you own a home-based or other small business, distributorship, licensee operation or franchise, chances are you run so hard all year long that you feel as if you can barely catch your breath. For many of you, the slowdown in business that often occurs at this time of year can be somewhat of...
If the first decade of the 21st century has taught us anything it’s that the only constant in life is change. The technological, environmental, demographic and financial changes of the last ten years have been significant and are driving a tremendous amount of political debate, that’s for...
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, your chances of making it in business for five years or more are roughly 50/50. Okay, so the odds could be better, but they could be a whole lot worse too. As is true with so many things in life, much of how you perceive your odds depends on your...
Just because you own your own home-based or other small business, franchise or distributorship doesn’t necessarily mean you’re an expert when it comes to sales. You may be getting the job done ― and doing it quite well for that matter ― but even the most experienced sales professionals will tell you...
Interested in the “new” social media storm and how it can help you grow your business, franchise or distributorship? Are you a young woman who wants to start her own home-based or other small business? Perhaps you’re a current business owner who wants to learn more about how you can become a government...
You’re a self-made business owner with a great product/service to sell and a brand you can be proud of. You’ve been in business long enough that you think it’s time to expand your operations. Sure, there’s always the option to just open more stores/outlets of your own. But then you somehow have to...
Today’s technology is here to assist all of us in a big way when it comes to sales and marketing, but relying on it too heavily can be a huge mistake! Here’s why…
Autoresponders…it’s a relatively new term for a relatively new concept. In the old days, a lead would come in and you’d get busy working...
It’s an age-old argument in business…Which is more important? Which one should command the most attention and effort? Marketing or sales? Here’s why the battle about which one matters most really needs to be about balance…
Imagine for a moment a balance scale with an empty plate hung by chains...
Chicago, IL —BusinessOpportunity.com launched its completely re-engineered website today. The site’s new design and its associated functions will enhance end-user navigability and customer satisfaction...
It’s Monday morning at 8 a.m., time for your weekly sales meeting. Chances are, if you’re a salesperson, you’re dreading yet one more session where one or more of the following occurs:
There’s really no concrete agenda, so the conversation just wanders with no real set goal in mind. In...
Working from home has its benefits, that’s for sure. No commute, no overhead, the money you make is your own, you’ve got the flexibility to do what you need to do when you need to do it, you’re your own boss… Wait a minute! These last two can certainly be great perks of the work-at-home lifestyle, but...
Cold Calling Is Still a Worthwhile Sales and Marketing Strategy, but Only If It’s Done the Right Way
With the arrival of computer technology the likes of which we’ve never seen before, not to mention cell phones and social marketing beyond our wildest dreams,...
Pundits from all sides are arguing over the best approaches to financial reform… BusinessOpportunity.com takes a look at the debate over how the proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) might impact the nation’s small businesses.
When the nation’s mainstream press, newspaper op-ed pages...
Are you looking to increase sales but seem to lack that ultra-creative subject line that catches everyone’s attention? Do you want to attract more customers and turn your website visitors, newsletter signup data and leads into real, measurable consumer impressions? I’m thinking that if you’re still...
This Is The New Business Start-Up Planning Pep Talk You Might Not Want But You Definitely Need!
The idea of starting your own business is so exciting. You start looking for the right business or licensee opportunity, distributorship or other small franchise to meet your goals and...
Foreclosure Cleanouts: It’s A DIRTY JOB, But Somebody’s Got To Make Great Money Doing It! Why Not You?
An estimated 2.8 million U.S. properties became foreclosure casualties in 2009, according to RealtyTrac®, the leading online marketplace for foreclosure properties. That’s a 21%...
In this article, I’ll help you understand what an Alexa ranking is, how the Alexa ranking system works, ways that you can boost your rankings and what you need to do to keep your rankings up. Also, I’ll expose some weaknesses involved in using Alexa as a reliable means to measure your traffic and overall...
Thousands of dollars worth of gold, platinum and silver is discarded everyday by consumers, and they don’t even realize it. Scrap electronics, catalytic converters from junked cars and old jewelry are just a few of the sources at your disposal to generate significant additional income. That is if you...
Excellent customer service is the ability of an organization to constantly and consistently exceed the customer's expectations…
No one is certain just where this definition came from, but it seems to be the one most experts agree best articulates just what customer service...
The number one reason why more advertisers or lead buyers don’t close on more leads that they either receive from an online ad or buy is that they don’t “work” the leads properly.
You might be one of those who receives leads every day only to not know how to work...
There are dozens of quality Web Directories, Business Directories and Article Resource Directories on which to place your company’s URL. They play a critical role in how you can drive both free and paid traffic to your website.
Let’s talk about free directories first, as they might...
Any entrepreneur with an ounce of street smarts can see the potential profits to be made by owning one of the most exciting, interactive and unique crowd pleasers ever invented… a genuine Surf Simulators Hawaii indoor surf simulator. These totally portable, lightweight and easy-to-assemble attractions...
If you’re someone who’s interested in starting a vending business of your own or expanding the one you already have, then why not choose one that’s not only going to generate some serious revenue, but that makes a positive impact...
Unemployment and tight credit still pose significant challenges to many individuals and businesses, but all signs are that we’re making a slow ascent out of perhaps the greatest economic downturn of our time. “Cautiously optimistic” is the buzz phrase of the day.
If the leading economic...
You’ve spent much of your career in a boardroom. You’re well spoken. Dealing with movers and shakers is second nature to you. You’d like to find a way to build a business of your own that’s profitable and flexible, providing in-demand products and services to businesses of all shapes and sizes. Well,...
If you love animals and want to make a respectable living providing a much-needed and in-demand service in your community…all from your own home, then the At Home Pet Network might be just the right option for you! There’s never been an opportunity for you to start a business of your very own quite...
Some Good News for the Home Improvement Industry… Opportunities Abound If You Seize Them!
The housing market is in somewhat of a slump. Okay, maybe it’s more than a slump. Any way you want to look at it, many Americans are coming to grips with the fact that they won’t be moving...
Jason* always wanted to own his own business. When he was young, he was always hatching a plan to sell something or provide a service so he could make money. He worked hard. Shoveling snow, raking leaves, mowing lawns, selling stationary…no job was too small or too dirty, as long as the dough rolled...
The world’s gasoline reserves are running out. It’s not a matter of if, but when. Supply will never be able to keep up with demand.
Oh sure, we can debate the merits of off- shore drilling or tapping the known and yet undiscovered wealth of resources beneath our own, often protected, soil. But...
Well over 300 people turn 60 every hour in the United States. Each of them is a Baby Boomer. They are an unprecedented generation both in terms of their sheer numbers and their collective insistence on reinventing the overall American landscape with oftentimes progressive notions of what it means to...
Maybe it’s because you haven’t yet landed that dream job you hoped for right out of college. Or, you’ve lost faith in what was once the more traditional standard for employment, where employee loyalty was reciprocated by employers. Perhaps, you’ve always been someone who takes the initiative and works...
Ed Lewellen is the Senior Vice President of Talent Acquisition for Employers Edge, Inc., a company that uses its own highly successful and proven business model to improve the performance of other companies―coaching,...
HOT OPPORTUNITY!
View Our Video...Part on-line magazine, part community blog, and part destination site, CityStir is your best business opportunity for 21st Century economy!
Color Glo International is a restoration franchise focused on restoring and repairing damaged, dirty, faded or mismatched upholstery found in homes, offices, automobiles and commercial aircraft. Color Glo’s proprietary process uses specialty formulated, water-based, and environmentally friendly products for on-site re-conditioning of items in need of repair. Color Glo Franchise: Specialists in Color Restoration and Repair!
Color Glo provides a uniquely effective solution for repairing, cleaning, and restoring valuable fabrics and materials to achieve a like-new appearance. Our franchisees are trained to expertly handle leather, vinyl, velour, plastic, carpet and various types of fabric. In addition to material restoration, our franchisees offer a deodorizing service for our clients.
