December 21, 2012

The Curator

Here’s our weekly link roundup of small business buzz, musings and muchness. A curation of the best small business talk around the web.

A Wave of Start-Ups Helps Small Companies Outsource Their Tasks
“Small-business owners are like Swiss Army knives: expected to handle dozens of specialized tasks without falling apart. But even the sharpest entrepreneurs have it tough this time of year — inevitably, some will outsource part of their workload to other enterprising people.” (New York Times)

Why the Feds Want to Give Aspiring Entrepreneurs Unemployment Benefits
“In a recent post on the U.S. Labor Department blog, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and Small Business Administration chief Karen Mills trumpeted a “common-sense” initiative to turn unemployment benefits into jobs: Make it easier for laid-off workers to collect unemployment while they start businesses. Would-be entrepreneurs wouldn’t have to hire people to be eligible for benefits; they’d just have to show they’re spending their time trying to create the new venture.” (Bloomberg Businessweek)

Serious Entrepreneurs Master Media Training Early
“Not so long ago, training to meet the press and television reporters was a realm reserved for top business executives only. Now, even the earliest stage startup can rise to visibility or be forever lost by their first media spotlight, so it behooves us all to know the rules early. Most entrepreneurs I know admit to a poor first media interaction, and many are still waiting for the instant replay.” (Forbes)

How to Buddy-Up with Your Bank
“Lending to small businesses reportedly declined a little more than 1% in 2012, which may not seem like a lot unless it’s your business that needs a loan and you can’t get one. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, “total business loans under $1 million held by small U.S. banks continue to dwindle.” A report by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for the first quarter of 2012 showed an increasing demand for loans paired with a tightening of loan standards for small businesses.” (CFO)

Five Essentials for Small Business in 2013
“Small businesses must prepare for what appears to be an extremely difficult economic environment. The size of government has never weighed so heavily on our economy and potentially runs the risk of crowding out the private sector. [In light of these issues here are] five essential things independent business owners will need to consider to position themselves and have successful enterprises.” (Forbes)

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Photo: Lafayette 148 New York