The free workshops are being held in cooperation with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), MA Small Business Development Center (MSBDC), New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce, New Bedford Economic Development Council and SCORE.

Both workshops will be held at the Fairfield Inn & Suites, Weypoint Event Center, 185 MacArthur Drive, New Bedford, MA on Wednesday, June 20, 2012.  The first of these workshops entitled “Learn the Fundamentals in Planning, Preparing, and Financing Your Business” will be held from 9:00 a.m. to Noon.  Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.  Breakfast and lunch will be provided free of charge to attendees. 

This workshop is geared toward helping potential entrepreneurs evaluate and understand the fundamentals of owning one’s own business.  Information on how to get started, where and how to get financing and the loan application process will be presented.  Attendees will also be provided with a free guide to writing a business plan and other materials.

The second workshop entitled “Understanding the Purpose of Financial Statements and How They Can Help Determine the Health of Your Business” will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

The focus of this workshop is to help attendees understand a balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. The workshop also explains how a small business owner can anticipate financial needs in order to operate his/her business more efficiently.

Please call SEED Corporation at 508-822-1020, to register for either or both sessions by Wednesday, June 13th and for directions to the Fairfield Inn & Suites, Weypoint Event Center.  SEED Corporation holds this entrepreneurial workshop series on a monthly basis throughout the region.  For information on future sessions, please contact SEED. 

SEED Corporation is a non-profit organization certified by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and designated as an Intermediary under the SBA’s Microloan Program.  This program is designed to provide loans to new and existing business owners in amounts
up to $50,000.

As a regional economic development organization, SEED also offers a full range of financing programs providing loans up to $5.5 million to assist small businesses to grow and create jobs in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.  SEED works with other economic development and financing institutions throughout the region to ensure that individuals who are committed to owning and operating a small business in the region are able to get the assistance they need to be successful. 

For more information on SEED and its programs, please call the SEED office at 508-822-1020 or visit SEED’s website at www.seedcorp.com.

 # # #

Small businesses, often hailed as the nation’s engine of job growth, are hiring at a much slower pace than they were earlier in the year, according to two employment reports released this week.

All businesses are hiring less: The private sector added 119,000 employees last month, down from the 201,000 jobs added in March, according to a payroll processor ADP. Of the jobs added in April, nearly 97% were in small- and medium-sized businesses. Only 4,000 of the April jobs were at large businesses, defined as those with 500 or more employees. About 58,000 jobs were from small business payrolls (defined as having up to 49 employees) and all in the service sector; the goods-producing sector actually lost 1,000 jobs. Meanwhile, 57,000 jobs were added by medium businesses (between 50 and 499 employees).

The April figures show the smallest increase in hiring among small business owners in seven months. Previously, small businesses averaged an increase of 102,000 jobs a month from October 2011 to March 2012, according to the ADP National Employment Report.

Related: Gas Prices, Health-Care Law Keep Small Businesses from Hiring

Meanwhile, a separate report that focuses on small businesses with fewer than 20 employees, echoed the slow in hiring. Financial services company Intuit, maker of popular software programs like QuickBooks and TurboTax, said small businesses added 40,000 jobs in April, fewer than the revised 45,000 jobs added in March.

In addition to its monthly employment index, Intuit added a Small Business Revenue Index, new for April. In its first iteration, the Revenue Index showed that small business sales are just now returning to levels of sales seen in 2007, before the recession began. Businesses in the scientific, technology and professional fields performed the best, with revenues topping pre-recessionary levels. The real estate and construction industries, however, continue to struggle.

Those small-business hourly employees saw their week shrink very slightly in April down to 24.8 hours per week, according to Intuit’s survey of 210,000 hourly employees. The workweek for hourly small business employees had been getting longer since early 2010, but over the last half a year has been pretty consistently shrinking.

Related: Recruiting and Hiring Top-Quality Employees

Even as the workweek got shorter and small businesses hired fewer people, those employees that did have a job at a small business were paid slightly more in April (about $3 per month), continuing a trend that has existed at least as far back as 2007, according to Intuit. The average monthly pay at a small business was $2,680 in April, or about $32,200 per year.

The ADP and Intuit reports come ahead of the government’s highly anticipated jobs report on Friday. Employment numbers are scrutinized every month by economists and investors, but in an election year where the state of the economic recovery is being set up in the center ring, the employment reports are drawing close attention from Washington, too. For example, the office of House Republican leader Eric Cantor (R, Va.) pointed to the weak employment numbers from ADP as further evidence why his proposed small-business 20 percent tax cut was necessary.

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Why Hire an Accountant

An accountant can save you time and clear up much of the confusion you experience when it comes to managing your finances and taxes, but a trusted accountant can provide other benefits, too.

– Act as a Trusted Advisor – More than just a tax preparer, an accountant can become a trusted advisor to your small business, helping you manage cash flow, plan for growth, assess risk, and keep your books in order.

– Help Balance Business and Personal Needs – Many small businesses, particularly sole proprietors and startups, find that their business and personal finances are closely linked. A good accountant can help you make sound judgments beneficial to both.

How to Find an Accountant

Referrals are often the best way to find accountants you can trust. Network and mingle at local business events hosted by your local Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Development Center, or other small business organizations. Ask other business owners for referrals and even meet accountants. Your state accounting society can also connect you to CPAs.

Interviewing Candidates

Once you have a short list, schedule a free initial consultation to help determine whether your candidates are the right fit for your needs: Some questions to ask include:

What’s your experience with small businesses? Small businesses have dynamic and sometimes complex accounting needs and few resources to manage them. An accountant who understands these dynamics and has a solid small business client base will likely serve your needs better in the long run. You’ll also want to know that your accountant has experience with businesses that are structured like yours – whether you are a sole proprietor, LLC, partnership, or corporation.

What experience do you have with my industry? Ideally, your accountant should have knowledge of your industry. Many accountants specialize in certain industries such as franchising, real estate, construction or exporting. Again, get referrals from others in your industry.

Do you do more than tax preparation? If you need help with tax filing, then a tax preparer is the way to go. But if you want long-term strategic advice to help you manage your small business finances, be sure to ask about the range of value-add services, such as business valuation, budgeting and forecasting, bookkeeping, risk assessment, and small business startup advice.

Who will I be working with? If your accountant is to become a trusted advisor, then you want to know from the get-go who exactly you’ll be working with. A smaller firm, where a partner or owner handles the bulk of the work, is often a better choice for small businesses looking for a long-term advisory relationship. The alternative is a larger firm, where you are handed off to a junior accountant after the initial handshake. Other things to consider as you compare your candidates are:

–Flexibility and responsiveness – for example, are they willing to visit your business premises for quarterly reviews? How quickly will they respond to queries or requests?
–Fees and charges
–Value-add services that you may want in the future, such as audit support or CFO services.
–Professional qualifications, licenses (CPAs are distinguished from other accounting practitioners by strict licensing regulations), and references

Remember…

You are the person who is ultimately responsible for your taxes and finances. Be wary of accountants who promise things that seem too good to be true. If you have concerns about an accountant’s claims, you should contact your state’s Board of Accountancy. You can file a complaint against a tax preparer at the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility.

Additional Resources

• SBA Guide to Managing Small Business Finances and Accounting

• SBA Guide to Small Business Taxes

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Dynamic Educational Events – from Industry Experts and the SBA!

With a strong focus on how small businesses can take advantage of economic opportunities and new marketing trends, topics of for the educational forums this year include:

–Strategies and resources for taking your small business global through exporting (a growing market that saw U.S. exports increase 15 percent in 2011).

–Tips and best practices for putting social media to work for your business (don’t miss guest panelist and SBA guest blogger, Rieva Lesonsky).

–An open discussion on how small business can better position themselves to win federal government business (over $100 billion of which goes to small business each year!).

Check out the full conference schedule here.

How Can you get Involved?

If you can make it to Washington, D.C. for the event, registration for the conference is now open. If you can’t travel, you can still take part by joining live streaming webcasts of key sessions as they happen (keep an eye on the event website and follow SBA on Twitter and Facebook for more details nearer the time).

 National Small Business Week Webcast

You can also get involved in your own community. Let your customers know about National Small Business Week by offering a celebratory special promotion or use email marketing and social media to spread the word and thank them for their business.

See you in May!

Related Resources

• SBA Guide to Exporting
• Government Contracting 101 – Online course that help small businesses learn how to sell to the government
• Ultimate Guide to Social Media Marketing for Small Business

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The South Eastern Economic Development (SEED) Corporation has closed on two small business loans to Sagamore Inn in Bourne and Regency Police Supply, Inc. in Hyannis totaling $175,000. The loans enabled the businesses to take advantage of SEED’s low interest rates and purchase real estate.

Sagamore Inn received a loan of $100,000 under the Revolving Loan Fund to assist in the purchase of the building that they currently lease.  The business is located at 1131 Route 6A in Sagamore.  The lending team for this project was Laurie Driscoll from SEED Corporation and Chris Richards of Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank.

“SEED made the loan process very easy.  They were very professional and were able to offer us more than one lending option, which is very helpful to a small business,” stated Suzanne Bilodeau, co-owner of Sagamore Inn.  “Without SEED’s lending opportunity we would not have been able to secure a loan.”

Regency Police Supply, Inc. received a loan of $75,000 under the Revolving Loan Fund to assist in the purchase of a 2,500 square foot building from which to operate a police supply business.  The business is located at 11 Enterprise Road in Hyannis.  The lending team for this project was Lisa Holmes from SEED Corporation and Steve Spitz of Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank.

Owners Michael and Suzanne Bilodeau purchased the Sagamore Inn in 2009.  The restaurant is a seasonal lunch and dining venue that is also available for small functions and off-site catering.  They offer a broad menu which includes salads, sandwiches and entrees.  Sagamore Inn is open seven days a week from April to October and Thursday through Sunday from November through mid-December.  Their website is www.sagamoreinncapecod.com.

“It was a pleasure working with Mike and Suzanne at the Sagamore Inn,” said Driscoll, assistant vice president and commercial loan officer for SEED.  “They’ve worked hard through a difficult economy and now they have the benefits of owning their building, as opposed to renting.  I wish them continued success and look forward to visiting them this summer!”

Owner Paul Palmariello established Regency Police Supply in 1988.  The business sells a complete line of police and fire department apparel, as well as belts, boots, holsters, body armor and other accessories.  Regency Police Supply is equipped with a 16 color embroidery machine that allows them to complete embroidery work in-house.  Tailoring services are also provided.  Their website is www.regencys.com.

“It was an honor be a part of the acquisition and give Paul the opportunity allow his police supply business to grow,” stated Holmes, Senior Vice President and Lending Team Leader at SEED.  “I wish Paul the best of luck at his new location in Hyannis!”

SEED can lend up to $200,000 for working capital and other uses.  The term on the loans is up to 10 years with longer repayment periods, if necessary.  Interest rates range from 5 percent to 6 percent fixed depending on whether there is bank participation.

SEED Corporation is a non-profit economic development organization certified in 1982 by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Under various programs, SEED makes loans from $1,000 up to $5.5 million to assist small businesses to grow and create jobs throughout the region.

For more information about the SBA 504 Program and other SEED loan programs, please call 508-822-1020 or visit SEED at www.seedcorp.com.

# # #

Do you sometimes think your customers are clueless based on the questions they ask? If so, you are not alone.

A new survey from IT-employment agency Robert Half Technology reveals chief information officers get asked some pretty bizarre questions – and many of them clearly fall outside the realm of an IT staff’s job description. Among the IT help-desk requests the surveyed CIOs got:

• Can I turn on the coffeepot with my computer?
• How do I start the Internet?
• Can you come over and plug in this cord for me?
• How do I pirate software?
• Can you recommend a good dry cleaner?

Funny – and yet not. But the range of crazy questions demonstrates how important it is to train customer-service employees to be ready for anything.

Here are seven tips for excellent customer service that any business can use:

Listen. Sometimes, customers just need to know someone at the company is interested in their problem, notes John Tschohl, co-author of Achieving Excellence Through Customer Service.

Apologize. Don’t engage in fault-finding or laying blame, but do let the customer know you are sorry they had a problem, says Tschohl.

Take them seriously. Customers’ questions may seem ridiculous, but they’re important to that customer. Try not to laugh.

Stay calm. Customers may be irate, frustrated, or just irritating. But don’t get down on their level, ever. Just staying calm can make customers feel you care and have the ability to help them.

Suggest solutions. Help-desk workers should have the power to resolve more than 95 percent of customer issues without having to pass the customer on to another person. Allow line workers to give out free coupons, accept returns, give refunds, and take other needed remedies without having to consult anyone. Then they can offer customers a range of options for resolving their problem, and get the job done, Tschohl says.

Be available. These days, smart customer service means setting up a help desk on Facebook, Twitter, or wherever else your customers hang out online.

Acknowledge your limits. If you’re asked a crazy question like the one above, simply say that you’re sorry their request isn’t within the scope of what your company provides. You can’t be everything to everyone.

What’s the craziest customer-service question you’ve ever had? Add yours to the list in the comments below.

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Click Here for more information about SEED’s Entrepreneurial Workshops

The free workshops are being held in cooperation with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), MA Small Business Development Center (MSBDC), Taunton Area Chamber of Commerce, Neighborhood Corporation and SCORE.

Both workshops will be held at Bridgewater Savings Bank, 756 Orchard Street, Raynham, MA.  The first of these workshops entitled “Learn the Fundamentals in Planning, Preparing, and Financing Your Business” will be held on Thursday, May 17, 2012 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.  Registration begins at 5:00 p.m.  Refreshments will be provided free of charge to attendees. 

This workshop is geared toward helping potential entrepreneurs evaluate and understand the fundamentals of owning one’s own business.  Information on how to get started, where and how to get financing and the loan application process will be presented.  Attendees will also be provided with a free guide to writing a business plan and other materials.

The second workshop entitled “Understanding the Purpose of Financial Statements and How They Can Help Determine the Health of Your Business” will be held on Thursday, May 24, 2012 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.  Registration begins at 5:00 p.m.  Refreshments will be provided free of charge to attendees. 

The focus of this workshop is to help attendees understand a balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. The workshop also explains how a small business owner can anticipate financial needs in order to operate his/her business more efficiently.

Please call SEED Corporation at 508-822-1020, to register for either or both sessions by Thursday, May 10, 2012 and for directions to Bridgewater Savings Bank.  SEED Corporation holds this entrepreneurial workshop series on a monthly basis throughout the region.  For information on future sessions, please contact SEED. 

SEED Corporation is a non-profit organization certified by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and designated as an Intermediary under the SBA’s Microloan Program.  This program is designed to provide loans to new and existing business owners in amounts
up to $50,000.

As a regional economic development organization, SEED also offers a full range of financing programs providing loans up to $5.5 million to assist small businesses to grow and create jobs in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.  SEED works with other economic development and financing institutions throughout the region to ensure that individuals who are committed to owning and operating a small business in the region are able to get the assistance they need to be successful.

For more information on SEED and its programs, please call the SEED office at 508-822-1020 or visit SEED’s website at www.seedcorp.com.

# # #

Now you have something called the Facebook timeline.  People landing on your Facebook Page for the first time can see a large image at the top, plus other items below.  Visitors to your page can also go back in time through a sliding time scale, and see what was posted on your page at different times – a convenient feature for, say, telling the history of a company.

Some small businesses do not like the changes being forced on them, especially if they invested in creating a custom Welcome tab.  One study by Simply Measured found that fan engagement increases with the new Timeline pages.

Here are 7 things you need to know about the new format of Facebook pages:

• Choose an intriguing cover image – The big image that goes across the top of the Timeline is called a cover image.  It’s an odd size – long and not so high at 815 x 315 pixels – so you probably will have to crop a photograph to work.  Have your Web designer create an image or if you are talented, create your own timeline cover image.  For inspiration, check out these creative examples of small business cover images.

2. Don’t violate the Facebook rules for cover images – Facebook has some specific rules about your cover image.  It is not allowed to have price, calls to action or contact information in it, among other things.  Read the rules.

3. Use milestones to tell your company history and achievements – The new timeline is what it says it is – there’s a sliding timeline that users can use.  Smart companies are inserting information to tell the story of their businesses, from startup to the present time, along with other key achievements.  This might include the date you started your business; when you moved into your new office; and when you won that important award.  Click the Milestone icon in the update status box to add a milestone.

4. Choose a good profile image – The profile photo is the square image 180×180 that appears to the lower left side of the big cover image.  Make sure it is optimized for that square size.  It could be your logo, or a special social media icon for your business that looks good in a square format.

5. Pin important posts – Facebook allows you to “pin” posts at the top of the page, right below the cover image.  This is excellent if you want to highlight something special, such as a contest you are running. That way, as new items are posted, the pinned post stays at the top where it will be sure to be seen by visitors.

6. Highlight posts – In addition to pinning a post, you can highlight a post.  This means that the post expands to the full width of the page, and increases the size of the update.  This is good to call attention to something more important.

7. Use rich media – Photographs and videos get a lot of attention on Facebook.  If you’re not using these forms of content, make it a goal to start doing so.  Take photos of your team and your office.  Next time you attend a conference or trade show, be sure to take photos or videos.  If you create an infographic for your business, be sure to include it as an image.  Expand your horizons beyond simply text.

For more advice about how to leverage Facebook for your business, check out the free ebook “Tips for a Pain-free Transition” (PDF) from Munish Gandhi, CEO of  Hy.ly.

About the Author

I run online communities and information websites reaching over 2 Million small business owners, stakeholders and entrepreneurs annually, including Small Business Trends, a daily publication about small business issues, and BizSugar.com, a small business social media site.

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So how you can get in on the action? Social media superstars Guy Kawasaki and Mari Smith breakdown the 7 social media trends dominating business interactions:
1. Big Brand Bypass: New platforms are allowing more consumers to bypass brands and instead sell or exchange directly with one other.

“Marketing is much flatter now,” Kawasaki said. “Word of mouth is now what makes products tip. Ideas like Pinterest allow a sort of disintermediation where people can go directly to the user, media or artist. It is brilliant.”

2. Humanize to Monetize: In today’s world, personality means profit. Bland, self-serving and inflexible brands are not what consumers are looking for. Mari Smith named big companies like Starbucks, Zappos, Southwest and Virgin Airlines that are doing it right with “great customer service.”

“People are craving that human connection. They just want to be on the receiving end of a random act of kindness,” Smith added.

3. Cause-Based Consumers: Business ethics, transparency and trust are becoming more and more important to individuals.

“Consumers have growing concerns that companies stand for things beyond the brand,” Smith said. “We want to buy from a company that we know cares about the planet and animals.”

4. Super Social Status: A rise in location-based services like Four Square or Facebook Places, have begun to place social connectedness above monetary or material status, as social credentials and connectivity become more important.

5. — 7. Click here for the other business-boosting social media trends
Are you using social media in your business? Tell us how in the comment section below!

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