Author: OKSBDC Webmaster

National Small Business Week: Newsroom

Friday, June 14, 2013 – 2:48 pm

Good afternoon! The week of June 17-21 is National Small Business Week! In honor of this week, we’ve included online seminars, workshops and tips on how to bring your business success!

National Small Business Week!

“Hang Out” with SBA and Industry Experts During National Small Business Week

Google+ Hangouts will feature daily tips for small business owners from major tech leaders and social media companies.

WASHINGTON – As part of National Small Business Week, June 17-21, the U.S. Small Business Administration will host a series of Google+ Hangouts featuring an exciting lineup of social media companies, mentorship organizations and distinguished experts.

All Google+ Hangouts will start at 4 p.m. EDT and can be watched live at:

www.sba.gov/smallbusinessweek
www.youtube.com/sba
http://plus.google.com/+sbagov

Small business owners can tweet questions for the panelists using the hashtag #SBW2013. No prior registration is required to watch.

Topics and panelists include:

Monday, June 17th: Getting Started with Social Media – 4 p.m. EDT
Panelists from Twitter, Google, Constant Contact, and W20 Group will hang out. Bill Murphy Jr., author and columnist for Inc.com will moderate.

Tuesday, June 18th: Managing Your Business’s Online Reputation – 4 p.m. EDT
Panelists from Yelp, LinkedIn, OpenSky, Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corp., Google and Manta will hang out. Rieva Lesonsky, CEO of GrowBiz Media will moderate.

Wednesday, June 19: How a Mentor Can Help Your Business – 4 p.m. EDT
Panelists from the SBA’s Office of Entrepreneurial Development, Small Business Development Centers, and Women’s Business Centers will hang out. Fran Tarkenton, NFL legend and entrepreneur will moderate.

Thursday, June 20: How to Get a Business Loan – 4 p.m. EDT
Panelists from Wells Fargo, SCORE, SBA’s Office of Capital Access, and SBA loan recipient Ninkasi Brewing Company will hang out. Calvin Goings, SBA’s Region 10 Administrator, will moderate.

Visit www.sba.gov/nsbw for more information!

SBA’s Business Recovery Center

The Oklahoma Small Business Development Center has partnered with several organizations at the Small Business Administration’s Business Recovery Center to provide victims of recent Oklahoma tornadoes with assistance for their businesses. Counselors at OKSBDC are here to ensure that you and your business remain strong and recover from this devastation, as well as gain the knowledge needed to be prepared for future disasters!

The Business Recovery Center is open Mondays-Fridays, 9 am to 6 pm and Saturdays, 9 am to 1 pm until further notice. No appointment is necessary!

Moore Norman Technology Center
South Penn Campus
Business Development Center Bldg.
13301 S. Pennsylvania Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73170

Ready.gov Prepare. Plan. Stay Informed.

Reasons to Invest in a Preparedness Plan

  • Up to 40% of businesses affected by a natural or human-caused disaster never reopen.
  • Customers expect delivery of products and services on time. If there is a significant delay, customers may go to a competitor.
  • Insurance is only a partial solution. It does not cover all losses and it will not replace customers.

Click here to read more!

How Do Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) Work?

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) send free informational text messages to WEA-enabled cell phones within range of an imminent and dangerous local situation, severe weather event, or AMBER emergency.

For more information about Wireless Emergency Alerts, visit Ready.gov/alerts, download the WEA Fact Sheet or view Frequently Asked Questions.

Visit Ready.gov to find more tips like these on how to make sure your business is prepared for the future!

Ready Business: Are You Ready?

Between 40 to 60% of all small businesses fail to recover in the aftermath of a major disaster. Every business should have a disaster emergency plan to ensure an efficient recovery. Is your business ready?
Click here to find out!

SBA.gov

Emergency Preparedness

For small business owners, being prepared can mean staying in business following a disaster. The following resources can help you develop an emergency preparedness and disaster relief plan:

Disaster Assistance
Emergency Preparedness
Disaster Planning
Disaster Cleanup
Disaster Recovery Plan
State Government Information

Words of Wisdom

“It is critical that small businesses have a disaster preparedness plan in place to put them in a better position to deal with challenges that often come with no notice.”

-Karen G. Mills
Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration

Disaster Relief Preparedness: Newsroom

Friday, June 7, 2013 – 4:13 pm

Good afternoon! The Oklahoma Small Business Development Center is here to help you strengthen your business and ensure that your business will be prepared for any future disasters. This month’s issue features articles, links and other useful information.

SBA’s Business Recovery Center

The Oklahoma Small Business Development Center has partnered with several organizations at the Small Business Administration’s Business Recovery Center to provide victims of recent Oklahoma tornadoes with assistance for their businesses. Counselors at OKSBDC are here to ensure that you and your business remain strong and recover from this devastation, as well as gain the knowledge needed to be prepared for future disasters!

The Business Recovery Center is open Mondays-Fridays, 9 am to 6 pm and Saturdays, 9 am to 1 pm until further notice. No appointment is necessary!

Moore Norman Technology Center
South Penn Campus
Business Development Center Bldg.
13301 S. Pennsylvania Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73170

 

Ready.gov Prepare. Plan. Stay Informed.

Reasons to Invest in a Preparedness Plan

  • Up to 40% of businesses affected by a natural or human-caused disaster never reopen.
  • Customers expect delivery of products and services on time. If there is a significant delay, customers may go to a competitor.
  • Insurance is only a partial solution. It does not cover all losses and it will not replace customers.

Click here to read more!

How Do Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) Work?

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) send free informational text messages to WEA-enabled cell phones within range of an imminent and dangerous local situation, severe weather event, or AMBER emergency.

For more information about Wireless Emergency Alerts, visit Ready.gov/alerts, download the WEA Fact Sheet or view Frequently Asked Questions.

Visit Ready.gov to find more tips like these on how to make sure your business is prepared for the future!

Ready Business: Are You Ready?

Between 40 to 60% of all small businesses fail to recover in the aftermath of a major disaster. Every business should have a disaster emergency plan to ensure an efficient recovery. Is your business ready?
Click here to find out!

SBA.gov

Emergency Preparedness

For small business owners, being prepared can mean staying in business following a disaster. The following resources can help you develop an emergency preparedness and disaster relief plan:

Disaster Assistance
Emergency Preparedness
Disaster Planning
Disaster Cleanup
Disaster Recovery Plan
State Government Information

Words of Wisdom

“It is critical that small businesses have a disaster preparedness plan in place to put them in a better position to deal with challenges that often come with no notice.”

-Karen G. Mills
Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration

Newsroom Feb-2013

Wednesday, February 27, 2013 – 3:57 pm

We hope you had a wonderful holiday and new year! To help kickstart your year, we’ve included articles, tips and tricks to help ensure that your business stays ahead of the competition. We greatly value your role in helping to grow Oklahoma’s economy and wish you great success in the year 2013!

OKSBDC Highlight of the Month

OSU Women Entrepreneurs Inspire Conference

Women changing the world, one venture at a time.

The 2013 OSU Women Entrepreneurs Inspire Conference will be held on April 2nd from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity! Click here to read more.

The Keynote Speakers include Debbi Fields- founder of Mrs. Field’s Cookies and Tina Norris- founder of Foot Petals! Click here to read more about Norris.

Visit www.weinspire.net for more information about this event!

Small Business Success

The Best Day to Post to Facebook (Based on Industry)

Among the greatest challenges in social media is determining exactly when to post a given piece of content so it attracts the most “likes,” comments, and retweets. A recent infographic from LinchpinSEO could help crack that code by showing the best days to post to Facebook. Click here!

How to Change the Financial Future of Your Business

The start of the new year is a great time to get you and your company pointed in the right direction financially. Making small improvements at the beginning of the year is a lot easier than trying to play catch-up later on. There are simple steps you can take that will lead to your business being financially healthy. Click here!

3 Tech Trends That Will Shape Your Business in 2013

Is your business using technology to its fullest? j2Global just released its predictions for the top tech trends that will affect small and midsized businesses in 2013. Click here!

Secrets to Success for Social Media in Business in 2013

Is your business ready to meet the challenge of using social media this year? Have you already begun the process but need a few pointers? This article includes the secrets for both the novice and the experienced user. Click here!

IRS “Need to Know”

Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center Provides Online Tools and Resources

You don’t need to be a tax expert when you’re running a business, but you may need to know the basics so your business can run smoothly. The IRS.gov Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center has useful tax information and services for business owners. Click here!

Words of Entrepreneurial Wisdom

“A real decision is measured by the fact that you’ve taken a new action. If there’s no action, you haven’t truly decided.”

-Tony Robbins

Newsroom NEW DESIGN

Friday, December 21, 2012 – 12:11 pm

We’re excited to include you in our new monthly newsletter! We hope this information is beneficial to you and your business. Our experienced team looks forward to serving your business with our full line of services at no cost to you! Have a great month!

OKSBDC Highlight of the Month

Enid Veterans’ Entrepreneur Conference a Success

The Oklahoma Small Business Development Center in Enid hosted their inaugural Veterans’ Entrepreneur Conference on November 1st. The theme was “Small Business, Big Technology.” Forty attendees enjoyed a welcome by Lt. Governor Todd Lamb, followed by an encouraging talk by Dr. Michael Morris of the Oklahoma State University Entrepreneurship program. The Google Team informed the group about the latest Google tools and how to use the tools to promote their business. Breakout sessions were held and included the Sticky-Note Business Plan, Intuit card reader training and programs for veterans through SBA. The participants enjoyed a buffet lunch and had the opportunity to speak with area OSBDC partners and local service representatives.

Watch for video links with tips and highlights coming soon!

Small Business Success

How to Win in Business 10 Quick Lessons from Dave

A little more than two decades ago, Dave Ramsey set out to live the American dream- but created a nightmare instead. Flat broke, with his marriage hanging on by a thread and two babies to feed, he had no choice but to forge ahead after his company failed. Read more.

The Perfect Facebook Business Post

Using Facebook to market your business can generate tremendous leads and sale, but only if you have the right strategy. In this video, Eric Spellmann shows you how to construct the PERFECT Facebook Business Post. Watch now!.

Free Business Check-up!

Is your business on the road to success? With the new year quickly approaching, it’s important now more than ever to ensure that your business is ready to meet the challenges of the small business world. Simply fill out this form and contact the nearest OKSBDC center for a free Business Check-up!

Your Free Business Check-up Guide
Find an OKSBDC Center near you!

Wishing you and your family Happy Holidays & a Happy New Year!

Newsroom: Volume 1: Issue 3

Friday, October 5, 2012 – 4:52 pm

We’re excited to include you in our monthly newsletter! We hope this information is useful, and our team looks forward to serving your business with our full line of services at no cost to you. Have a great month!

October is National Women’s Small Business Month!

Are you a woman who is ready to start or expand your small business? Now is a good time to take that first step. In recognition of National Women’s Small Business Month, the U.S. Small Business Administration will host a web chat series the month of October. Each week this month, the web chat series will feature an expert that will give advice to women on how to put together business plans, navigate the difficulties of entering competitive markets, and establish the foundation for a successful, profitable enterprise. Read more here!

The 20-Minute Business Model

Can you put your entire business model down on paper in 20 minutes? Author Ash Maurya shows us how. Read here!

“Start-ups that succeed are those that manage to find a plan that works before running out of resources.” –Ash Maurya

Congratulations to our Woodward Small Business Management Graduates!

Rita Mascarenas
Jane Adair
Daisy Adams
Claudia West
Sally Smith
Janet Fitz
Trina Dunkin
Dana Wheeler
Courtney Kidd

Interested in enrolling in our Small Business Management Program?

Contact our state office at 580-745-2877 or visit us at www.oksbdc.org!

Small Business Management Certificate Program

The SBDC Small Business Management Certificate program is a highly facilitated, hands-on process for taking control of the twelve (12) core business management disciplines.

Level 1
Cash Flow
Forecasting
Management Control
Target Marketing
Time Management
Financing

Level 2
Human Resources
Inventory Control
Marketing Communications
Credit and Collections
Strategic Analysis
Knowledge Management Systems

For more information about this program, contact our state office at 580-745-2877!

Free Business Check-up!

Set up an appointment with a Business Development Specialist to make sure your business is running smoothly! Click here to find an OKSBDC near you!

SBA Delivering Success: Top 10 Business Tips

The U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Postal Service bring you Delivering Success- video interviews with successful entrepreneurs who share the lessons they’ve learned about owning a small business. Click here to watch now!

OSBDC is now on Facebook!

For weekly updates including training events, business news, tips, tricks and much more, visit our new Facebook page at www.facebook.com/OklahomaSmallBusinessDevelopmentCenter and bring success to your business!

Newsroom: Volume 1: Issue 2

Wednesday, September 26, 2012 – 2:42 pm

We’re excited to include you in our monthly newsletter! We hope this information is useful, and our team looks forward to serving your business with our full line of services at no cost to you. Have a great month!

Selling Global? 8 Reasons Why Your Small Business Should Get to Know Export.gov

Thinking of exporting your products or services? Want to expand your existing exporting business? The U.S. government can help.

The SBA, for example, is making it a priority to help small business owners develop or expand their exporting activities through initiatives such as its Export Loan Programs and free online informational videos.

What else does Uncle Sam offer? Well, did you know the U.S. government can help target and facilitate meetings with potential international partners and buyers? Or that it provides U.S. exporters with international marketing and promotion opportunities? Read More Here!

National Development Council Training Opportunity!

Economic Development Finance Professional Certification Program

ED101: Economic Development Finance

Explores economic development activities as part of a community’s overall economic development finance strategy and investigates the financing resources available for job creation projects.

October 8-12, 2012 | Reed Conference Center, Midwest City | Tuition: $999

Deadline for registration is September 29th!

Click here for more details!

Small Business Management Certificate Program

The SBDC Small Business Management Certificate program is a highly facilitated, hands-on process for taking control of the twelve (12) core business management disciplines.

Level 1
Cash Flow
Forecasting
Management Control
Target Marketing
Time Management
Financing

Level 2
Human Resources
Inventory Control
Marketing Communications
Credit and Collections
Strategic Analysis
Knowledge Management Systems

For more information about this program, contact our state office at 580-745-2877!

Free Business Check-up!

Set up an appointment with a Business Development Specialist to make sure your business is running smoothly!

Click here to find an OKSBDC near you!

How Email Hurts Your Business

You use it every day, all day to do almost every aspect of your job. But email might be what’s holding you back.

Email. You probably know it as that lovely little tool that pretty much rules your life. In my eyes, it’s both the greatest–and also the worst–innovation impacting business today.

Email is great for short follow-up questions, forwarding presentations, and sending around office humor. Emails suck, however, for explaining a point of view, sucking up, getting angry, scheduling meetings (have you ever had an email tennis match to schedule a lunch?), getting the best seat at a restaurant, screening new employees, and negotiating a deal (though lawyers love negotiating via email as it makes it last longer).

So how do you balance email’s pros and cons? Read more here!

OSBDC is now on Facebook!

For weekly updates including training events, business news, tips, tricks and much more, visit our new Facebook page at www.facebook.com/OklahomaSmallBusinessDevelopmentCenter and let us help you bring success to your business!

SENT Newsroom: Volume 1: Issue 1

Wednesday, August 8, 2012 – 4:32 pm

We’re excited to include you in our monthly newsletter! We hope this information is useful, and our team looks forward to serving your business with our full line of services at no cost to you. Have a great month!

Oklahoma SBDC Receives Full Accreditation from Association of Small Business Development Centers!

“SBA relies on partners like the Oklahoma SBDC to provide a ASBDCcritical element of assistance to small businesses who are looking to start or expand,” said Dottie Overal, SBA Oklahoma district director. Research shows small business counseling makes a tremendous difference in the long-term success of a small business.” Read more

Oklahoma #3 Friendliest State to Small Businesses

After a two-month survey of more than 6,000 small business owners nationwide, Thumbtack.com, in partnership with the Kauffman Foundation, has released new data showing that small businesses rank Oklahoma as the third friendliest state nationwide towards small businesses. Oklahoma soared above rival states in a variety of categories, earning an A-, A, or A+ grade in 10 of 12 possible graded rankings.

In addition to the #3 overall friendliest ranking, the survey breakdown also ranks Oklahoma as the fourth easiest state in the nation for starting a new business and the sixth least-costly state in the country for hiring a new employee. The survey includes full sets of rankings, dozens of easily searchable quotes from Oklahoma small businesses, regional comparisons within states, and Census data comparing Oklahoma’s key demographics against those of other states. To see a copy of the survey, click here.

Wes Watkins Center for International Trade & Development: New OSBDC Center

The Center for International Trade and Development is focused on strengthening Oklahoma’s economic development by providing world-class export advisory services. We partner with companies to enhance their export programs through high-value counseling and client engagement. Our broad portfolio of professional services addresses a wide variety of foreign trade challenges.

  • Customs and Export Compliance Review
  • International Strategy Formulation
  • Foreign Trade Education and Training
  • Transactional Analysis
  • Export Finance Advice
  • Free Trade Agreements
  • Harmonized Tariff Classification Review
  • Global Market Research and Intelligence

For more information, visit their website, http:/citd.okstate.edu/.!

Free Business Check-up!

Set up an appointment with a Business Development Specialist to make sure your business is running smoothly!

Click here to find an OKSBDC near you!

Bryan Clay: The Small Business Mindset

2012 Olympic athlete Bryan Clay founded the Bryan Clay Foundation in 2005. Its theme is “Building Champions, Changing Lives,” and the goal is to provide support and direction for kids who, like Clay many years ago, are in danger of losing their way. The biggest surprise for Clay was how much time running the foundation would take, and he likens it to running a small business. “I have had to treat it the way I have treated my athletic career. I put a good team around me, we figure out my strengths and weakness, and we fill in the gaps…” Read more

OSBDC is now on Facebook!

Visit our new Facebook page at www.facebook.com/OklahomaSmallBusinessDevelopmentCenter to receive weekly updates including upcoming business training events, news, tips and tricks and much more to bring success to your business!

Affordable Care Act Resources

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Affordable Care Act or ACA) enacted comprehensive health insurance reforms designed to ensure Americans have access to quality, affordable health insurance. Learn what the law means for small businesses.

Key Provisions of the Affordable Care Act

NOT every business has to participate …

The Affordable Care Act includes a variety of measures specifically for small businesses that help lower premium cost growth and increase access to quality, affordable health insurance. Depending on whether you are self-employed, an employer with fewer than 25 employees, an employer with fewer than 50 employees, or an employer with 50 or more employees, different provisions of the Affordable Care Act may apply to you.

Learn about the key provisions of the Affordable Care Act based on the size of your business by calling the OKSBDC and working with our team of counselors to help determine your next move

Eligible Small Businesses can get tax credits up to 35% of premium (so they still pay 65%)

SHOP = Small Business Health Options Program
Health Insurance Marketplaces (Exchange)

Use healthcare.gov site to enroll and use SHOP for package deals and benefits

ACA exempts all firms that have fewer than 50 employees! (Nearly 96% of all firms in US) – from any employer shared responsibility requirements.

Health coverage is tax deductible.

www.sba.gov/healthcare

www.healthcare.gov

www.irs.gov

www.dol.gov/ebsa/healthreform

Success Story…Consulting Services Inc.

Ken Novotny and David Mitchell met at a gym one day and became fast friends. They soon discovered they share more than just a desire to keep physically fit. They both shared a dream of building a successful business.

Novotny worked as a defense contractor at Tinker Air Force Base while Mitchell worked for a large contracting company as a buyer. Novotny had vast experience in computer systems. Mitchell knew the process of doing business with the federal government.

“I saw immediately that Ken had great business sense. He was very personable, which seemed unusual for a typical computer geek,” Mitchell said laughing.

In the spring of 2004 the team began building their dream by working with Mike Cure, Business Advisor at the Oklahoma Small Business Development Center at Rose State College in Midwest City. Cure helped the pair build a business plan and locate space for their new enterprise as well as understand the various certifications available to Native American-owned businesses. “Mike gave us outstanding advice and became our mentor,” said Novotny.

In 2004, Novotny formed KNWEBS Inc. dba CSI, a defense contracting business. CSI offers information technology and engineering services including information assurance, cyber security, software development, data center consolidation, network security, and system security. CSI has grown from two employees and $64,000 in revenues to almost 120 employees and more than $8 million in sales in 2008.

“We have grown beyond our expectations,” said Novotny, “In the first two years we exceeded our five-year projections.” He credits much of their success to the OKSBDC. “Without the help of the great people of the OKSBDC, owning this business might still be a dream.”

Cure helped the partners with the paperwork to qualify for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), 8(a) and Historically Underutilized Business (HUBZone) programs. CSI has been able to prove past performance from subcontract work to becoming a viable Federal contracting company with the ability to have sole source set aside contracts.

“Although we are just beginning to get into the prime contract market, we have been providing IT and engineering services to large companies like Northrop Grumman, which awarded CSI the small business excellence award in 2007,” said Novotny. “In the services business, your company is ONLY as good as the people that represent it. Our customers will only stay with us if we take good care of them.”

In 2007, Novotny established a recruiting division within CSI to ensure the company only hires the highest qualified employees to meet the customer’s expectations. This new division has caught the eyes of many Department of Defense contracting firms which use the recruiters to fulfill their requirements. “The recruiting division has tripled in growth since being stood up just a year ago,” Novotny said.

This new service has opened the doors to many of the largest Department of Defense contracting companies CSI is looking to team with on new requirements.

“Don’t wait for the ‘right time’ to begin your business,” Novotny advises others who are thinking about going into business. “Go to your local SBA representative and understand the avenues to accomplish your business plan, and then go do it! Patience is another key piece of advice. It’s going to take long hours and a lot of work but it will pay off, just give it time.”

Success Story…Shorty’s Caboy Hattery

Lavonna “Shorty” Koger, owner of Shorty’s Caboy Hattery, knew a lot about rodeos and making quality cowboy hats. However, she did not know a lot about running a successful small business until she visited with Susan Urbach at the Oklahoma Small Business Development Center (OKSBDC).

Today, her company, located in historic Stockyards City, is bursting at the seams thanks to management and technical advice received from the OKSBDC. Sales have increased 400 percent. Staff has doubled, and the company offers better salaries with employee benefits.

“I don’t know what I would have done without the OKSBDC,” said Koger. “I knew how to make and sell a great cowboy hat, but the OKSBDC has helped me understand how to run a business. I trust them. They give good, sound advice in a way a plain speaker like me can understand.”

Koger, who has been involved in the rodeo since she was 14, began her business in 1990. Determined that nothing was going to stop her, Koger said she has the only woman-owned and operated custom hattery in the United States.

Koger said she will never forget her first meeting with Urbach. “She took a marker and started drawing a tangled mess of lines all over this blackboard,” she said. “I asked her, ‘what does that mean?’ Susan said, ‘that’s how your business has been running.’ I asked her, ‘can you help me?’” That illustration became the guiding focus that you can’t do everything all at once, but you begin to start unraveling and, eventually, there will be order.

Urbach said she began helping Koger by unraveling her personnel and work flow issues.

“We walked her through letting go and hiring new people,” she said. “We spent a great deal of time talking about financial information and how to use it to help management decisions. This meant getting set up on QuickBooks and beginning to understand how it can help the company. We used information to look at cost of goods, pricing, salaries, and how she could get the most benefit out of income and maximizing every dollar. We have advised on marketing issues, looking at where she is spending her advertising dollar. In fact, recent advice has included redoing the building awning and thinking of it as a billboard, which has been helpful in increasing visibility for her retail business. And we have been working with her on redoing the layout of the retail end to maximize the sales from the space.”

“Susan is honest, patient and she told me just like it was,” Koger said. “I can’t say enough about her. I must have drove her crazy for several years.”

Koger’s top quality hats are worn by many who are well-known in the western world, including horse show and rodeo winners as well as country music stars.

Koger advises others who are thinking about going into business to “be patient and don’t ever give up. You have to have determination to succeed. I love what I do. When I decided to go into the business, I was determined that nothing was going to stop me. But, the main thing I tell people is to go see Susan,” Koger said laughing.