Small Business? Big Ideas...

Opportunity for Technology Oriented Companies!

2010-09-02T07:40:00.000-07:00

This opportunity came across my desk today. It is offered by The Technology Collaborative. If you have never received funding before, you may be eligible for up to $120,000. Read on.

Technical Scope: TTC is particularly interested in supporting short- to medium-term projects (6 to 12 months) that build on and extend Pennsylvania’s core technology competencies in areas of interest to its member firms. New product concepts resulting from this work may be further developed by these firms or marketed through the creation of a new commercial enterprise.
Examples of technical areas of interest to member companies include:

• Human-computer interface technologies – voice recognition, graphics interfaces, information visualization, etc.; interfaces between personal communication devices or other electronic appliances and the network infrastructure; rehabilitation or assistive-living applications of these technologies.
• Developments in next generation wired and wireless network systems that will interface among digital TV, home appliances, personal communication devices, and other electronic devices. New network and distribution technologies.
• Robotic technologies - Perception, vision & sensing; data fusion; mapping & navigation; positioning; collaborative/cooperative behavior; systems integration; intelligent mobile power; composite materials; new concept prototypes; rehabilitation or assistive-living applications of these technologies.
• Novel DSP/multi-core designs and implementations for advanced audio and video compression focused on improved quality and speed within existing bandwidth limitations; novel methods for real-time audio encryption and decryption, noise identification & suppression, and multi-speaker identification; Hardware/software for practical Voice over IP implementation; error resiliency and correction; video encoding performance monitoring; hardware versus software coding/decoding implementations.
• Cybersecurity – network tools, internet tools, information assurance, data protection, digital rights management, novel methods for real-time encryption and decryption, and related topics.
• Mobile systems and low power – new wired or wireless mobile data communication devices, mobile computing devices; RFID technologies and systems; core IPs for wired/wireless Internet access; low power hardware and software design and implementation; advanced mobile energy sources; rehabilitation or assistive-living applications of these technologies.
• Network Storage – devices, networking, security protocols, novel fault tolerance/redundancy methods, file systems and storage management for networked storage.
• Novel low power, low voltage (1.8 volts or less) analog circuit blocks for mixed signal integrated circuits, e.g. op amps, comparators, analog-to-digital converters, digital-to-analog converters, voltage references, and related topics.
• Advanced chip design methodologies and tools – novel design flows; HW/SW co-design environments and code encryption methods (e.g. FPGA/CPLD encoding protection); automated mixed signal design implementations; novel CAD environments for SoC and/or for bridging chip and MEMs device design.
• SoC-related MEMS – novel designs, design tools and methodologies, fabrication methods, prototypes, as applied in a VLSI context.

For more information and to download a copy of the RFP click here.

7 Essential Principles to Maximum Business Success

2010-08-05T12:09:00.001-07:00

Taught, repeated in thousands of articles and books over the years, here are the 7 essential principles to maximizing your business success.

1. Clarity
Be clear on your goals and plans for every part of your life, personal and business. What do you believe in and stand for? What do you really care about? What is your vision for yourself and your future?
If you don't have a vision for success, you probably will never be successful. You need a clear vision and an inspiring mission to motivate yourself and others. One of the best questions to ask yourself is: "What would I dare to dream and do if I knew I could not fail?"

2. Competence
You must be good at what you do. You must strive to be amongst the top 10 in your field. Dedicate your energy to quality work, quality products and services. You must have a passion for what you do. You need to choose an areas where your knowledge and experience will enable you to be better than 90% of the playing field. Remember, the most valuable asset a company has is its reputation. Without competence, you can't build a good one.

3. Constraints
There will always appear a constraint or limiting factor between you and your goal. An 80/20 rule applies here. Generally, 80% of the reasons that you aren't achieving your goals are limits you have set within yourself. Only 20% come from external/outside forces. So what is holding you back?

4. Creativity
Innovation is the key to successful business. How do you find faster, better, easier, cheaper ways to produce and deliver your products and services? You need to promote and unleash creativity in your business and workplace. It will help you solve problems and achieve your goals. Creativity can help you overcome some of your "constraints."

5. Concentration
Can you stay at a thing until it is complete? Can you focus? No success is possible without the ability to practice sustained concentration on a single goal or task or stay focused in a single direction. This requires discipline, and sometimes sacrifice.

6. Courage
It takes alot of courage to take entrepreneurial risks. In most cases there are no guarantees to success when you take the first steps into starting a business. Once you have begun, you need the courage to persist. A large percentage of the population do not hold sufficient courage to start a new venture.

7. Continuous Actions
A successful entrepreneur always seems to be in continuous motion. S/he is always trying new things, continually reacting and responding to change, trying new methods, abandoning activities that didn't work, picking themselves up after defeat and trying once more. Top entrepreneurs seem to have three qualities:

they learn more things
they try more things
they persist longer than anyone else.

The ultimate reward for applying the 7 principles is a positive perspective on business ownership. To have more, you must first be more. To realize your full potential and achieve all your financial goals in your own business, you must develop the virtues of integrity, courage, and persistence to a much higher level than you have up to now. You will have to practice the qualities of clarity, competence, creativity, concentration and continous action until they are as natural to you as breathing.

SOURCE: The Way To Wealth, Part I: The Journey Begins--Success Strategies of the Wealthy Entrepreneur. Brian Tracy. Entrepreneur Press.

Leadership - Then and Now

2010-08-04T11:45:00.001-07:00

Sometimes it's kind of interesting to go back in time and see what folks were talking about on different management topics, then to compare that to what we are hearing today. Back in 2007, a magazine called JCI Leader (The Magazine for Young Leaders & Entrepreneurs) did a piece on "Building the 21st Century Leader: Heading Up a Successful Company Today."

The article reviewed the skills that were needed to lead your business to success, with a focus on leadership. Several key points were made, including:

you can't bark orders at your employees circa 1950 "boss" architype
buddy-buddy, hang-loose management via 1990's approaches gain you no respect
abilities to innovate, execute, and be a strong role model are essential
decisiveness, insightfulness and keeping ideas flowing is ultra important
a willingness to question "what are we not doing right?" and then fix it

In the end, the article pointed to a digest of key traits that are crucial for good leadership in changing workplace environments.

(1) Adaptability: change is the norm, rather than the exception. People unwilling to change will not keep up with the marketplace nor with their internal needs for a thriving company. Adaptability means hard choices, sometimes even giving up certain values or beliefs. Workers need to be encouraged to raise tough issues before they become a crisis.

(2) Self-Awareness: Ken Blanchard in the book The One Minute Manager notes that "before leaders can tackle the challenges at heir organizations, they have to look in the mirror. The journey of leadership is first taking a look at yourself." Leaders need to root out negative patterns. Assessment of strengths and weaknesses on a personal level, helps a leader to better manage themselves, and ultimately their relationships with others.

(3) People Skills: Authenticity, accessibility, and respect are just some of the traits workers look for in their leadership. Giving personal credit where it is due is also a key factor. Communicating and allowing people to feel safe about any change in the organization is another key trait employees look for in a leader.

(4) Decisiveness: Holding endless meetings are out the window. At current rates of change fast action is what is needed. Doing what it takes to speed up the decision-making process is essential for good leadership.

(5) Collaborative Skills: More managers and leaders who can work across boundaries, break down silos, and open up the conversation.

Although written three years ago, it looks like most of this article is applicable in today's management environment. What kind of leader are you?

WOW..QUITE A HIATUS!

2010-08-03T09:10:00.001-07:00

Yes, we've been slacking. Sorry. It happens in the world of work, where full-time focus has to shift to some things at the expense of others. No excuses. We're back on board now. Hopefully you'll enjoy today's featured article found in WorkForce online. Excellent information on independent contractors.

We promise we'll be back tomorrow, and the next day and the next day and the next day.

The Independent Contractor Question

The use of independent contractors in place of employees has been on the rise in the U.S. for years and continues to stir debate over its impact on worker protections. Congress has recently taken a renewed interest in the subject with the arrival of a Democratic majority, with one representative calling the misclassification of employees as contract workers “a national problem with implications for federal laws and our federal coffers; a problem we must solve.” By Irwin Speizer.

When California Overnight, a package delivery service, decided in 2002 to stop using employees as drivers and instead hire independent contractors, some of the drivers sued. Their contention: The switch was a scheme to avoid expensive extras like overtime pay and employee business expenses.
In a ruling that may bode well for companies using independent contractors, a California state court found in February that California Overnight, which is based in San Diego, acted properly. The court said that the company’s delivery drivers were not being misclassified as independent contractors. The decision was a victory for companies trying to reduce costs by using independent contractors in place of full-time employees.

Robert Hulteng, an attorney in the San Francisco office of Littler Mendelson who represented California Overnight, says he has received calls from other trucking and transportation companies about the ruling and expects more widespread interest if the case should survive an appeal.
"I think it could become a very significant case in providing guidance on what you can and can’t do in using independent contractors," Hulteng says.
The use of independent contractors in place of employees has been on the rise in the U.S. for years and continues to stir debate over its impact on worker protections. The California Overnight case is among a growing number of court battles around the country filed by independent contractors against companies that hire them.

Congress has recently taken a renewed interest in the subject with the arrival of a Democratic majority. U.S. Rep. Lynn Woolsey, a California Democrat who chairs the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, called a hearing in March to begin an examination of the use of independent contractors. At the hearing, Woolsey described the misclassification of employees as contract workers "a national problem with implications for federal laws and our federal coffers; a problem we must solve."
Woolsey pointed out at the hearing that one of the biggest issues surrounding the use of independent contractors is the lack of workers’ compensation insurance and employer-sponsored health insurance. Woolsey says that in California alone, an estimated 30 percent of the state’s 800,000 employers do not carry workers’ compensation insurance. While the hearing focused on workers in the construction industry, a broad range of other industries use contract workers, including trucking and delivery services, janitorial services, manufacturing and high tech.

Government labor statistics do not specifically track independent contractors but rather lump them in with all contingent workers, a category that includes the staffing industry and temporary help. According to a Government Accountability Office report, there were 42.6 million contingent workers in the U.S. as of 2005—almost a third of the entire workforce.
The staffing industry, a fast-growing group of companies that provides temporary and contingent labor to other companies, is tracking developments in the contract labor field, but so far, it’s been from the sidelines. Most staffing companies hire their workers as employees rather than using them as contract labor. By serving as employers of record, those staffing firms make payroll tax deductions, carry workers’ compensation insurance and follow other rules required of employers.
"For the vast majority of staffing firms, this is not an issue," says Stephen Dwyer, deputy general counsel of the American Staffing Association. "My take on it is that any company contemplating classifying workers as independent contractors should consult extensively with attorneys and accountants. The ramifications can be drastic to both the company and the workers."

One of the largest ongoing disputes over independent contractors involves FedEx Corp., which set up a separate operating company to handle traditional ground delivery service. FedEx Ground drivers are independent contractors rather than employees of the company.
Like California Overnight, FedEx Ground was sued in a California state court by contract drivers who claimed they operated as employees and should have received benefits as such. In 2004, drivers won the first round in that case after a California state judge ruled that they should, in fact, be treated as employees.
FedEx has been sued by drivers in a number of other states, and the issue is far from settled. In March, lawyers for FedEx Ground contract drivers asked a federal judge in South Bend, Indiana, to combine 32 cases into a nationwide federal class-action suit against the company. If FedEx ultimately loses and its 14,000 drivers are reclassified as employees, the company could be liable for up to $1 billion in overtime, business expenses, taxes, penalties and other costs, according to estimates.
As with other challenges to independent contractor relationships, the FedEx case revolves around how much control a company can exercise over its contractors before they must be treated as employees. FedEx Ground drivers own and maintain their own trucks and they can hire their own workers or subcontractors to help them service routes.
But the trucks must display the FedEx colors and logos, and the company maintains dress standards and various delivery and operational standards. Drivers who have sued contend those requirements put them under direct control of FedEx Ground and thus make them employees rather than independent contractors.

Many of the same conditions exist at California Overnight, but there are some important differences. The court decision in the California Overnight case may provide some guidance on how the independent contractor relationship will ultimately be defined.
"The central question is, how much control must a company give up in order to have a contractor relationship?" Hulteng says. "Companies desperately need clarification on where the lines are going to be drawn. The judge [in the California Overnight case] has issued a decision that, if upheld on appeal, will be very helpful in drawing those lines."

California Overnight uses about 1,800 contract drivers to deliver packages around the state. Originally its drivers were employees, although they still had to own their own trucks. In 2002, the company decided to switch to independent contractors to cut costs and increase profits. Some employees kept working for the company as independent contractors, but others left and were replaced by new independent contractors.
When a group of former and current drivers sued, they argued that the switch to contractor status was simply a ruse to avoid paying overtime and other benefits that the drivers had as employees. Drivers were doing the same work—in many cases driving the same trucks. And they were an integral part of the company’s core business.
But the company also adopted policies under the new contractor arrangement to put some distance between management and drivers. Delivery drivers did not have to wear company uniforms (although they could earn extra money if they did). They could make pickups and deliveries for other clients if they wanted, and they could turn down assignments from California Overnight. They were free to use other people to make deliveries. How they made the deliveries and handled their routes was up to them. The fees California Overnight paid were negotiated and varied from contractor to contractor. Some contractors prospered under the system and added routes; a few actually bid so low that they lost money delivering packages.

The lawsuit ultimately required decisions from both a jury and a judge. Both reached the same conclusion: California Overnight drivers were not being treated as employees but rather as independent contractors.

Hulteng says that the decisions point to several important items that companies need to consider when deciding to use independent contractors for ongoing tasks:
~ The contractor must be allowed to work for other clients.
~ The contractor must be allowed the option of turning down assignments.
~ The contractor must be allowed the option of having another person do the actual work.
~ The contractor must be able to determine how the work will be carried out.
"If I am going to contract out a particular service to an independent contractor, I probably can’t say just, ‘Joe Smith, do it,’ " Hulteng says. "But I can say, ‘I want the end product to be a certain way.’ You can control the end result. You just can’t control how they get there."
While that general principle sounds simple, its application has proved tricky enough to trip up some of the nation’s largest corporations. Catherine Ruckelshaus, litigation director for the National Employment Law Center in New York, who testified before the House subcommittee, noted that one of the problems is that there can be differences from state to state.
"You could be found to be an independent contractor in one state and not in another," Ruckelshaus says. "It can get a little bit confusing. Even within the same company they can have different regional practices."

As a result, companies that seek to use independent contractors find they have to hire accounting, tax and legal experts to help set up and run contractor relationships.
For example, Albany, a global contingent workforce consultancy based in London with U.S. headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, offers a compliance service to help companies meet federal and state rules for using independent contractors. Albany says that on average, 62 percent of workers classified as independent contractors are actually employees.
Albany’s Web site features a "compliance calculator" to give companies an idea of how much they might owe if their independent contractors are determined to be employees. Plug in the number of contractors, the average annual payment to each one, and the estimated number who may not be in compliance and the calculator spits out an estimate of how much the company might owe in taxes, penalties and other assessments.
Jason Posel, Albany’s senior vice president in the U.S., says his firm advises companies to take a very cautious approach when using or considering independent contractors. "The trend we are seeing is that IRS is taking a closer look at this, and employees and workers know more about their rights," Posel says. "It is important to take a conservative approach."

SOURCE: Workforce Online July 2010

Small Business Award Nominees Sought By Local Micro-Lending Program

2010-03-10T10:25:00.001-08:00

MetroAction is currently seeking nominations for its small business awards program. More than ever, entrepreneurs are facing daily challenges in the successful operation of their businesses. MetroAction wants to highlight the very best of our local entrepreneurial spirit by recognizing the successes of these small businesses for their positive impact on our local economy.

The awards have traditionally honored local small businesses that clearly demonstrate how hard work and determination pay off. MetroAction is currently seeking nominations for the following awards:

The Small Business of the Year Award, sponsored by Fidelity Bank, recognizes the dedication, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit displayed by area small business. This award has three distinctive categories:
• Small Business of the Year: 50 or less employees
• Small Business of the Year: 51-250 employees
• New and Emerging Small Business: In operation for less than 3 years

The Virtual Small Business of the Year Award recognizes a local business without a corresponding physical identity, and includes home based businesses, vehicle based businesses, and web based businesses.

The Young Entrepreneur Award, sponsored by Bank of America, recognizes a Lackawanna County young entrepreneur between the ages of 13-30 who demonstrates entrepreneurial innovation and success.

The Small Business Advocate Award recognizes a local individual who provides a distinctive level of service and who is a noted supporter of entrepreneurial development, creating opportunities and growth for small business in the community.

All nominees must serve Lackawanna County. Anyone can nominate a business, including self-nominations. Visit www.MetroAction.org for eligibility and judging criteria or call (570) 342-7711. Award applications are due April, 30 2010 and will be presented at MetroAction’s Small Business Award Luncheon on May 25.

Interesting Links to Relevant Information

2010-03-03T10:39:00.000-08:00

Alot of interesting links and information has come our way over the course of the last month. Instead of doing a separate blog on each, we thought we'd provide the links so you can read some other good blogs with topical discussions.

First, there's 30 Top Objections to Social Media and How To Respond. Great article, and a good blog (Marketing Shindig) to keep on hand.

Here's another great link/article: Where to Hang With Entrepreneurs Online, from Small Biz Trends. There are countless other links within this article, taking entrepreneurs to places on the Web which may be helpful and inspiring. Of particular interest is a Blog entitle "Bootstrap Business."

So, just a quick reminder that there are many places on-line where aspiring entrepreneurs and those already in business can find a wealth of information. Thank's Keith, for the heads on the above sites!

Background Checks - Employer Burden of Proof

2010-03-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

A February job posting for a small company included an overview of a small assembly laborer, paying $9 per hour. The company listed requirements for the position: a high school education or general equivalency diploma, small assembly experience and “no convictions.”

Virtually all of this particular company's hires came out of a “no felons” policy, supported by the company. In an effort to "keep the workplace safe and out of lawsuits", the company owner instituted the policy for the first employee and continued it throughout the life of the company.

Depending on what state you are in, a felony conviction can result from bouncing a $500 check, or smoking marijuana in a park. States vary on the width and breadth of felony statute coverage.

Like most employers, this company had not conducted any studies to prove that their "no convictions" policy allowed for a safe workplace. No "empirical evidence." Companies
spend a great deal of money on criminal checks and often base hiring decisions on the results without evidence of the return on the investment or the efficacy of the decisions. The absence of empirical evidence will soon become more than a question of effective screening and hiring practices--according to a recent article (February 2010) in Workforce Management.

A recent article noted: "Within the next 12 to 18 months, employers can expect to see the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issue new guidelines that require empirical evidence for the 'business necessity' defense in racial discrimination cases that arise from screening and hiring practices, according to Rod Fliegel, a partner at Littler Mendelson in San Francisco. The new guidelines are likely to upend hiring policies based on untested assumptions about criminality and workplace behaviors."

That same article goes on to note the following: "Employers stand to benefit from the new guidelines, which may bring greater clarity to what is now a legal quagmire. In addition to the new guidelines, in September 2009 the EEOC filed the first lawsuit in what experts believe will be a new series of court actions on screening and hiring practices that may help define the empirical evidence federal courts will require.

Perhaps more important, the legal scuffle over empirical evidence will continue to kick up questions about the role of criminal screening in hiring and the extent to which employers find false comfort in a relatively cheap and easy—but unproven—risk management tool while neglecting more effective measures to reduce workplace violence, theft, fraud and employment-related lawsuits. While the screening industry continues to play to employer concerns about criminality and promote criminal checks as an effective countermeasure, broader forces are challenging those assumptions."

Screening companies have told employers for years how their assistance in screening applicants can create "safer" work environments. “Background screening can create a safer workplace,” says Theresa Preg, director of marketing development for LexisNexis Screening Solutions, also known as ChoicePoint, which runs 12 million employment-related screens a year. But the company has no empirical evidence to back up the statement.

Vendors frequently cite statistics on workplace violence but fail to note that the vast majority of incidents are not perpetrated by employees but by criminals unconnected to the workplace, clients or customers, or outsiders who have a personal relationship with an employee. They also don’t say that there is no research indicating that employees with criminal records are more likely to commit acts of workplace violence. Another common vendor claim is that employee theft causes 30 percent of all business failures. Although the number has been reiterated in marketing materials for two decades, there’s no substantiation for it.

“I don’t know of any actual studies or evidence of a decrease in fraud or theft tied to criminal checks,” says Jason Morris, president and COO of EmployeeScreenIQ, which runs more than half a million employment screens each year. “There are no hard reports or case studies, and the National Association of Professional Background Screeners hasn’t produced any.”

To construct new guidelines for screening and hiring, the EEOC will draw from testimony given in its November 2008 hearings and from the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ 2007 decision in the case of El v. SEPTA, according to Fliegel, who represents employers and screening vendors. “The EEOC will look to the hearings and El, which talked about an empirical basis for comparing an applicant with a record with an applicant without a record,” he says. “Some scholarship is now focusing on this.”

Fliegel cites the work of Shawn Bushway, a criminologist at the University at Albany, who testified at the EEOC hearings that employers have elevated criminal-history records as the “trump card” in hiring decisions, instead of using more responsible statistical risk assessments. Increasingly, employers focus less on direct job-related employment and reference checks and skills evaluations and more on criminal records and credit checks.

In HireRight’s 2009 survey of screening practices, employers most frequently cited workplace safety as their motivation for screening. Almost half say they screen to reduce theft and fraud. But no research suggests that criminal checks can predict an employee’s propensity for workplace violence, and there is no evidence that criminal screening reduces theft or fraud.

Most fraud perpetrators, for example, do not have a record because they are first offenders, according to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. In addition, U.S. retailers commonly respond to incidents of employee theft by simply firing the employee, so no criminal record is generated.

While pressure is mounting at the federal level, the recession has forced state governments to take a closer look at the role employers play in the revolving door of recidivism that keeps prisons full and places already stretched state budgets in even greater peril. A number of states, including New York, Massachusetts and California, are tightening restrictions on screening practices and hiring bars.

At the EEOC hearings, experts reported that recidivism drops to extremely low levels for people who have stable employment during their first year out of prison. Employers that construct hiring barriers for millions of marginal nonviolent ex-offenders will find it increasingly difficult to remain compliant with federal and state regulations.

The growing trend at the state level is to require screening and hiring bars for specific jobs, including many caregiver positions, and restrict screening and hiring bars in all others. Greater clarity in state legislation is likely to reduce the small but highly publicized number of negligent-hiring lawsuits that are filed each year, and minimize the even smaller number that center on criminal records.

New EEOC regulations demanding an evidence-based approach to screening may help hone more effective hiring practices and provide a safe harbor from negligent-hiring lawsuits. The criminal screening process now in place at many companies may be an expedient method for culling candidates, but employers with hiring bars may soon have to rely more on proven methods for mitigating risk: job-specific hiring policies, proper supervision and effective performance management. (Source: Workforce Management Research Center, Fay Hansen.)

Coming to Terms With ADA

2010-02-17T17:37:00.000-08:00

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

Here's a question that I read recently: If an otherwise qualified individual with a disability poses a direct threat to employees or others, can the employer take action?

The answer is: Yes.

The fact is that an employer failing to protect his/her workers from safety or health threats may find themselves liable under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, or even applicable state law.

Nothing in the Americans with Disabilities Act prevents an employer from protecting his/her workers. An employer can require that all employees, including those who fall within the definition of a qualified individual with a disability under the ADA, do not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others.

What defines a direct threat?

Under the Act, direct threat is very narrowly defined. It is a situation that poses "a signficant risk to the health or safety of others which cannot be eliminated by reasonable accommodation." Direct threats can arise in connection with contagious diseases and infections.

One warning, however. When it comes to the subject of direct threat, it is best for an employer to seek advice from a capable attorney well versed in ADA law. Basing a course of action on unfounded fear/uninformed lay opinions, and not on valid facts about any illness or disease, may indeed violate the ADA!

Recordkeeping

2009-09-28T08:56:00.000-07:00

As we meet with clients just starting a business or existing business clients, a common question they have is: What kind of records should I keep?

The answer it that you have the ability to choose any recordkeeping system that suits you and your business as long as it clearly shows your income and expenses. Except in a few cases, the law does not require any special kind of records. However, the business you are in affects the type of records you need to keep for federal tax purposes. Your records need to show your gross income, as well as your deductions and credits. For most small businesses, the business checkbook is the main source for entries in the business recordkeeping system. We advise that you keep a SEPARATE checking account from your personal account for business purposes.

What are supporting business documents?
Purchases, sales, payroll, and other transactions you have in your business will generate supporting documents such as invoices and receipts. Supporting documents include sales slips, paid bills, invoices, receipts, deposit slips, and canceled checks. These documents contain the information you need to record in your books. It is important to keep these documents because they support the entries in your books and on your tax return. You should keep them in an orderly fashion and in a safe place. For instance, organize them by year and type of income or expense. For more detailed information refer to the IRS publications, specifically, Publication 583, Starting a Business and Keeping Records.

The following are some of the types of records you should keep:
Gross receipts are the income you receive from your business. You should keep supporting documents that show the amounts and sources of your gross receipts. Documents for gross receipts include the following:
Cash register tapes
Bank deposit slips
Receipt books
Invoices
Credit card charge slips
Forms 1099-MISC

Purchases are the items you buy and resell to customers. If you are a manufacturer or producer, this includes the cost of all raw materials or parts purchased for manufacture into finished products. Your supporting documents should show the amount paid and that the amount was for purchases. Documents for purchases include the following:
Canceled checks
Cash register tape receipts
Credit card sales slips
Invoices

Expenses are the costs you incur (other than purchases) to carry on your business. Your supporting documents should show the amount paid and that the amount was for a business expense. Documents for expenses include the following:
Canceled checks
Cash register tapes
Account statements
Credit card sales slips
Invoices
Petty cash slips for small cash payments

Travel, Transportation, Entertainment, and Gift Expenses. If you deduct travel, entertainment, gift or transportation expenses, you must be able to prove (substantiate) certain elements of expenses. For additional information on how to prove certain business expenses, refer to IRS Publication 463, Travel, Entertainment, Gift, and Car Expenses.

Assets are the property, such as machinery and furniture, that you own and use in your business. You must keep records to verify certain information about your business assets. You need records to compute the annual depreciation and the gain or loss when you sell the assets. Documents for assets include the following:
When and how you acquired the assets.
Purchase price
Cost of any improvements.
Section 179 deduction taken.
Deductions taken for depreciation.
Deductions taken for casualty losses, such as losses resulting from fires or storms.
How you used the asset. When and how you disposed of the asset.
Selling price.
Expenses of sale.

The following documents may show this information.
Purchase and sales invoices.
Real estate closing statements.
Canceled checks.

Employment taxes. There are specific employment tax records you must keep. Keep all records of employment for at least four years. For additional information, refer to Recordkeeping for Employers and Publication 15, Circular E Employers Tax Guide.

H1N1 and Restaurant Concerns

2009-09-25T12:06:00.001-07:00

Theresa Kaplan of the SBDC staff found a great link to some thoughts for restaurants entitled:

"Pandemic Cleaning, Disinfection and Hygiene Considerations" in light of H1N1 news. I'd suggest reading the checklist over, especially the second page which notes specific "touch points" that restaurant staff should be paying attention to in terms of sanitizing.

I've noticed alot of hand sanitizing stations being put up in colleges and universities, malls and other institutional establishments. Hand sanitizers are relatively cheap if bought in smaller bottles from any drug store or health/beauty store. It's a good idea to carry a small container on you and use it just before you eat, before and after you shake hands with someone, and in other situations where you feel you may be exposed to "crowd" bacteria.

Stay safe and healthy out there!

Marcellus Shale Seminars in Carbondale

2009-09-25T05:06:00.000-07:00

MARCELLUS SHALE BUSINESS BREAKFAST SEMINARS IN CARBONDALE

As development of Marcellus shale natural gas grows in Pennsylvania, businesspeople statewide are being invited to a series of breakfast seminars to learn how it may create opportunities for their businesses. Energy firms are flocking to the Commonwealth to extract natural gas from Marcellus, and are creating significant business opportunities for local businesses and entrepreneurs.

The University of Scranton Small Business Development Center and Carbondale Technology Transfer Center (CTTC) are hosting a "Your Business & Marcellus Shale” educational program at CTTC in Carbondale to help entrepreneurs and established small- and medium sized businesses understand and respond to Marcellus shale-related business opportunities. The series will consist of five weekly early morning webinars, with sessions including how businesses can establish working relationships with natural gas and service companies, how other businesses already are responding, and business planning skills necessary to evaluate and implement possible new business ventures.

Session 1 - Wednesday, October 14: Economic Implications of the Marcellus Shale
Session 2 - Wednesday, October 21: Identifying Local Business Opportunities
Session 3 - Wednesday, October 28: Success Stories
Session 4 - Wednesday, November 4: Preparing Your Business for Success
Session 5 - Tuesday, November 10*: Your Business Working with Others

*In observance of Veteran’s Day, the final session will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Cost is $10 per session or $40 for all five. Space is extremely limited; pre-registration and pre-payment are required. Call the SBDC at 800-829-7232 to register.The series is co-sponsored by a consortium of universities, chambers of commerce, local planning commissions and regional economic development boards from across the commonwealth, with leadership from Penn State Cooperative Extension. Presenters and panelists will include successful local businesses, a natural gas industry representative, and experts from Penn State.

Tips for Restaurants To Improve Operations

2009-09-03T08:54:00.000-07:00

Jim Sullivan wrote an excellent article in Nation's Restaurant News on the steps restaurants need to take to improve their operations, especially in today's economy. We'd like to feature a few of them here.

Today, commit to hiring noticeably better people. Don't just hire--assemble a cast.

Don't train "in general", train "in specific". Ask yourself, "who (or what) is my training target today?"

Prune underperformers, that you should have let go, from your staff.

Re-evaluate how you interact with customers.

Conduct a purchasing audit. Assess every vendor's service, quality and resources.

Recharge your business plan, especially your holiday plan.

Teach your team the basics of Food Costs 101.

If quick service time has anything to do with what you do, work on improving it.

Start a plan today to sell more gift certificates/cards before the holidays. Why wait?

Assess your entire team of hourlies today. Assign a yellow light to the ones doing the job, a green light to the ones doing more than the job, and a red light to the ones doing less than the job.

Using the above outcome, decide whether you will "groom 'em" or "broom 'em". Send a message to low performers.

Walk in stupid today. What is your restaurant teaching you?

Write thank you notes to three customers today.

Improve one facet of service today. As author Chris Peck says, "If the only thing to purchase at a restaurant were food, it would be called a grocery store."

If you enjoyed this article, there are plenty more in Nation's Restaurant News magazine. This is one of the magazines we have on our list of "must haves" for anyone opening a restaurant or already in the business. To find out more, go to http://www.nrn.com/.

Seven Not to Start

2009-09-01T09:48:00.000-07:00

If you've thought about leaving your present job to start your own business, it's important that you select a business that can be realistically turned into a profitable operation. Recently, some experts predicted that profitibility might be an issue if you chose one of the following types of establishments noted below....especially in today's economy.

Restaurants: Managers must wrestle with low profit margins and seasonal fluctuations
Direct Sales: High earners are often just sitting atop pyramid schemes
Online Retail: Good luck competing with eBay or Amazon
High-End Retail: The recession has thwarted conspicuous consumption
Independent Consulting: Many consultants spend so much time scouting work that it’s very difficult to earn steady income
Franchise Ownership: It’s a myth that franchises are far more successful than independent businesses
Traffic-Driven Web Sites: You’ll need a million page views a day before you can make a living off advertising

So what do you think? Do you agree with the experts? Do most entrepreneurs end up launching businesses that are the cheapest and easiest to start, not necessarily the ones best suited to thrive in the marketplace? Share your comments on this subject.

So Much Info, So Little Time...

2009-08-19T13:27:00.000-07:00

Ah, when you haven't written a blog in 8 days, you accumulate alot of information to impart. I'm going to synopsize alot of that in this one blog post.

IRS and Small Business Recordkeeping
Wondering how you should prove expenses for your business when it comes to taxes? What are considered to be adequate records? How long should you keep records and receipts? For a good in-depth view of this topic, including a nifty chart you can print out and post, go here.

Home Office Deductions
Here are FIVE important facts about Home Office Deductions you should be aware of if you are running a homebased business.

Hobbyists Ask Yourself Some Questions
Here are eight questions the IRS wants you to ask yourself if you are a hobbyist.

Phishing Scams
The IRS is warning everyone of email "phishing" scams which have become more and more prevalent in recent months. Those involved in the fraud often pose as officials seeking personal and financial information. If you respond, you can become a victim of identity theft. One scam involves the Making Work Pay provision of the stimulus plan. The customer receives an unsolicited email appearing to have been sent by the IRS, saying the consumer is eligible for a tax refund. The IRS notes that it DOES NOT contact or discuss tax account matters with taxpayers via email.

ZIPskinny.com
This truly, dare I say AWESOME, site was brought to my attention by Keith Yurgosky of the SBDC staff. Click here, then enter your zip code. You will get a wealth of U.S. Census data on the zip code area you entered, including comparisons and charts to other areas. LOVELY, especially for those needing demographic information for the development of business plans and marketing information. THANKS KEITH!

SBA Bill Approved

2009-08-11T08:23:00.000-07:00

The U.S. House of Representatives approved the FY 2010 Financial Services Appropriations bill, HR 3170, on July 16. This legislation provides funds for the Small Business Administration and its programs, including the Small Business Development Center/SBDC national program ($110 million for FY 2010). The SBA's entrepreneurial development programs helped generate 73,000 new jobs, infused $7.2 billion into the economy, and offered consulting and training to over 600,000 small business owners and entrepreneurs in 2008. About 900 SBDC offices nationwide provide entrepreneurial assistance to more than 1.2 million small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs annually. FYI: The SBDC's annual conference will be held from September 14-17 in Orlando, Florida. For more information, check the site http://www.asbdc-us.org/conference/conference.html. A wealth of information is imparted in over 80 workshops during the conference. The workshops are attended by both SBDC consultants, to further their training and skill set, as well as outside organizations (such as chambers of commerce, industrial development groups, and others) who want to learn more about working with small firms.

There are 4 SBDCs in the Northeastern Pennsylvania region, including:

The University of Scranton SBDC, covering the counties of Bradford, Lackawanna, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne and Wyoming.
The Wilkes University SBDC, covering the counties of Carbon, Columbia, Luzerne, Schuylkill, Sullivan.
The Bucknell University SBDC, covering Juniata, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder and Union counties.
The Lehigh University SBDC, covering Lehigh, Northampton, and a portion of Bucks and Montgomery counties.

Scranton SBDC To Co-Host Stimulus Roundtable Event

2009-07-21T07:42:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced today that they will be hosting a series of nine events where local small businesses will have an opportunity to learn more about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These events will feature presentations from representatives of different Federal and State organizations on upcoming procurement projects funded by stimulus dollars and how small businesses can take advantage of them. Slated to take place in late July and early August, these events will be held in various locations throughout eastern Pennsylvania and will be free to attendees.

In fact, six major government agencies will be represented at these events, speaking about large upcoming projects that could lead to some substantial revenue for participating small businesses. Government agencies in attendance will include: Pennsylvania General Services; US Army Corps of Engineers; US Department of Homeland Security; US Environmental Protection Agency; US General Services Administration; and the US Veterans Administration. Each representative will present information on their agency, upcoming stimulus projects, and answer questions about how small businesses can get involved.

Since the Philadelphia District Office is responsible for the forty eastern counties of Pennsylvania, events will take place at different strategic locations in that territory. Dates, times, and locations include:

July 21, 2009
9:00am – 12:00pm
Philadelphia Courtyard Downtown
Grand Ballroom
21 N. Juniper Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107

July 23, 2009
9:00am – 12:00pm
Montgomery County Public
Safety Training Campus
1175 Conshohocken Road
Conshohocken, PA 19428

July 28, 2009
9:00pm – 12:00pm
Northampton Community College
Fowler Family Southside Center
6th Floor
511 East Third Street
Bethlehem, PA 18015

July 29, 2009
9:00am – 12:00pm
University of Scranton
Brennan Hall
Scranton, PA 18510
*Please RSVP to Scranton SBDC
570-941-7588 or sbdc@scranton.edu

July 30, 2009
9:00am – 12:00pm
TBD
Reading, PA

August 4, 2009
1:00pm – 4:00pm
TBD
Williamsport, PA

August 6, 2009
9:00am – 12:00pm
TBD
Harrisburg, PA

August 11, 2009
9:00am – 12:00pm
Cyber Center
2101 Pennsylvania Ave.
York, PA 17404

August 13, 2009
9:00am – 12:00pm
TBD
Chambersburg, PA

Please RSVP for all but the Scranton event by contacting the SBA Philadelphia District Office at 610-382-3062 or email phila_do@sba.gov. Please include the date/location of the event you wish to attend along with your name, business name, phone number, and email address.

Late Night TV and Your Wallet

2009-07-16T07:58:00.000-07:00

Being on vacation is a lovely thing, even if you don't go to the beach or mountains. I'm a night owl, so one thing being on vacation affords me is staying up late. Sometimes I fall asleep by the television, and wake up to something so ridiculous I actually have to sit up and be sure it isn't a dream.

Such was a recent episode of "out-of-sleep-into-the-world-of-infomercial" where I woke up to a man in a business suit sitting across from two scantily-dressed, low-cleavage women trying to sell a book on how you too could get FREE MONEY from the government!

I'm not going to try to tell this informercial story by myself, so at the end of this blog entry, are other good links to people who have gone before me and realized that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Still, these forrays into the bizarre manage to clip needed dollars from families who feel there might just be a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow that is easy to get, like taking a pill without exercise and thinking you will actually lose weight.

So here I am groggy and bleary-eyed, wondering exactly where I am and why I am still on the couch, with a dog enwrapped somehow in my throw-blanket, and I see two women with (uh-hum) assets sitting across from Mr. Business as if this were a normal, everyday encounter, and as if they were indeed interested in finding out how they could get money to pay their mortgages, credit card debts and purchase real-estate by simply ordering a book that tells them exactly how to do it. I threw on the coffee and woke myself out of my stupor, because in my day-to-day life as an SBDC person, I knew that soon calls would come rolling in wondering why our office had not been handing out this information like candy.

Without taking you through the A-G-O-N-I-Z-I-N-G (and somewhat ASTONISHING to very smart people) verbage, let it suffice to say that within about two coffee-induced minutes I realized this was a scam. Even if, while in my state of between wide awake and still somewhat sleepy, I hadn't really focused on the purpose of the two women, I could hear loud and clear that the claims being made were inaccurate--this based on my 23 years of experience applying for and searching for specific grants for individuals and our own office (a non-profit, educationally-linked, government-funded agency). But I digress...much like this infomercial.

Please please please please please please please don't believe this stuff. Did I say please? YES, there are agencies who have grant money. NO, they don't give it to you to pay your bills and get out of debt. Grants are very eligibility specific, and many have a dollar limit and reasons why you can use the money. PLEASE don't send away $29.99 + $11.95 shipping and handling to find out you will never be able to use the information. Take your family to a theme park instead. You'll have a better day, get more out of it, and lose stress that way.

Just to show you I'm not the only one who thinks about infomercials the way I do, here's some lovely information to back up my story.

To read Chuck Jaffe's (of MarketWatch) commentary on infomercial land, go here. You'll realize this has been going on a long time, since 2007 and even before that.

To learn more about Kevin Trudeau's history (before finding out all the things that others didn't want us to know) go here and scroll down to the section on "Criminal History and Legal Proceedings." I think he probably didn't want US to KNOW this!

Question: How does Kevin Trudeau find out all the things that the government, doctor's, creditors and banks don't want you to know? My mother doesn't want anyone to know that as a small child growing up during the years just following the depression, she accidentally fell into the outhouse hole (whoops, sorry Mom)...do you think I could write a book about it and get an infomercial?

And for one more take on infomercial heaven, read this.

So, if you wake up in the wee hours and find yourself staring at a television set that has an infomercial promising you the moon, do yourself a favor--get some sleep!!

Elaine Tweedy is the Director of The University of Scranton Small Business Development Center, Coordinator of the Buy Fresh Buy Local Northeast Region initiative, and stays up way too late!

A Day On The Road

2009-07-01T09:19:00.001-07:00

It's SUMMER! Or at least it's supposed to be. You'd never know it by our weather.

Our SBDC is fortunate in that we serve eight of the most beautiful counties in Northeastern Pennsylvania. As part of our summertime travel series (I just decided that we needed this series) we are going to feature a different spot you might be interested in visiting each week on our blog!

Our first is Historic Milford.

Milford is the county seat of Pike County, PA. It is a revolutionary war community, established by a riding circuit court judge, John Biddis. It lies between the Sawkill and Vandermark creeks and the streets are patterned after the layout of Philadelphia streets. They are named for John's children, and alleys are named after fruit trees found in the area. Milford is the portal to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation area. Milford is 75 miles from New York City and approximately 50 miles from Scranton, PA.

Milford is noted for its architecture. A number of great 19th century American architects have examples of their work in Milford. Grey Towers, designed by Richard Morris Hunt; Forest Hall (the old post office) designed by Calvert Vaux; and most recently the historic restoration of the Hotel Fauchere by Peter Bohlin.

Many presidents, writers and artists visited and worked in Milford. Zane Grey lived and wrote in Pike County, and his home in Lackawaxen is now a museum. The Columns historical museum has within its walls the "bloody Lincoln Flag" which was used to rest President Abe Lincoln's head on after his fatal shooting.

Eagle watching can also be done in Lackawaxen. If you are an eagle fanatic, you'll want to click here for more information.

Milford is a quaint town. I've never had a hard time spending money when I go there. There are plenty of shops, eateries and historic inns to meet almost everyone's needs in terms of gifts, jewelry, clothing and good food, as well as a place to sit a spell and take a break. One of my favorite little stops is the Waterwheel Cafe and my favorite sandwich is the brie and granny smith apple open faced deal with toasted almonds. YUM! For unique gifts, just upstairs from the Waterwheel you can find Giffard and White and browse while letting your food settle.

Milford is one of the most picturesque places you will ever visit. If you haven't been, you need to take a trip....trust me, even if it rains, there are things you will find to do!

Our outreach location in Milford is at the Pike County Chamber of Commerce, who I am sure, would appreciate this blog entry!

Something For Everyone!

2009-06-29T10:17:00.000-07:00

I've been away for a week, and oh my how information piles up. So there are a number of interesting things that have crossed my email and desk in the last week that I thought some or all of you might be interested in.

First up, for those interested in local foods and agricultural issues, this website has an interesting audio interview with Jeffrey Smith on genetically engineered crops.

Second, since we are in the climate of possible "extra seasonal help," for those types of businesses who do the bulk of their work in the nice weather (can't say we've had much of that in Pennsylvania...) there is tax information readily available on how to treat seasonal workers. You can find it here.

Third, beginning in late 2009, the IRS will be focusing on employment taxes and will be auditing randomly selected businesses to see if they meet four standards for dealing with employment taxes. To read more, go here.

Now that I've caught up, I feel much better!

What is E-Verify?

2009-06-18T10:56:00.000-07:00

E-Verify is an internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration. It will allow participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of newly hired employees. E-Verify is FREE and VOLUNTARY.

Employers can compare employee information taken from their Form I-9 documentation against more than 449 million records in the Social Security Administration's database and more than 80 million records in the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) immigration database.

E-Verify includes naturalization data, which instantly confirms citizenship status. It also includes a photo-screening tool, allowing employers to check the photo on his or her new hire's Employment Authorization Document (EAD) or Permanent Resident Card ("Green Card") against the 14.8 million images stored in DHS immigration databases.

To participate in the program, an employer must register on line and accept a "memorandum of understanding (MOU)" which details the roles SSA/DHS and the employer will play.

To find out more about E-Verify, click here. An Employer Quick Reference Guide as well as a User Manual is available. To register as an E-Verify user, click here.

Alternative Financing Resource in Northeast PA

2009-06-09T07:36:00.000-07:00

In this difficult economy, with credit being what it is, and access to capital at an all time low if your credit score is less than 700, there are options available which sit outside the realm of conventional financing, and allow you--the small business owner--an opportunity to obtain a loan for your company.

One such option is MetroAction's Micro Loan programs. If you haven't heard of MetroAction and you are unfamiliar with microlending, you may want to choose from the list of training sessions below, being offered over the next several weeks in various county locations, to learn more about the program and your opportunity for financing.

Here is the upcoming schedule:

Business Basics Seminar – East Stroudsburg: Thursday, June 11, 9:00 – 11:00 AM
Business Basics Seminar - Milford: Thursday, June 11, 2:00 - 4:00 PM

MetroAction will provide a free informative seminar designed to take the mystery out developing a successful small business. This program will review the steps needed to develop a successful business and link you to valuable resources to help you grow your business. Attendees will learn how small business loans work, what documents and information are required, and review the requirements to qualify for small business financing. The clinic will also explain about small business grants, what lenders look for, and how you can improve your chances of qualifying for a small business loan. The clinic is free but pre-registration is required.

The East Stroudsburg Program will be held at East Stroudsburg University. Visit www.MetroAction.org to register or call (570) 341-0270.

For more information on the Milford program location, please use the contact information above.

Financial Fitness Seminar – Honesdale: Thursday, June 25, 9:00 – 11:00 AM
Financial Fitness Seminar - Jim Thorpe: Tuesday, June 30, 10:00 AM-12:00 Noon
For many people, the critical path to financial independence is blocked not only by a lack of access to credit, but also by a lack of financial literacy. MetroAction will provide a free informative seminar designed to help individuals harness the power their credit and finances. MetroAction staff will share tips and tools on how to manage money by gaining a better understanding of your financial health, including understanding personal credit, developing a budget, what lenders look for, and how you can improve your chances of qualifying for a loan. The seminar is free but pre-registration is required.

The Honesdale program will be held at The Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, Honesdale. Visit www.MetroAction.org to register or call (570) 341-0270.

For more information on the Jim Thorpe location and program, use the contact information above.

MetroAction provides MicroLoans to small business in northeastern Pennsylvania that do not have access to traditional sources of credit. MetroAction services the counties of Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties.

MetroAction spans some of the counties of The University of Scranton SBDC and the Wilkes University SBDC service territories. If you reside in, or are opening a business in the counties of Lackawanna, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne or Wyoming, you may contact the Scranton SBDC for assistance with your business plan and or other business needs. MetroAction staff members have spent time training both the staff of the Scranton SBDC and the Wilkes SBDC in the protocol and paperwork required by the microlending process. If you reside in, or are opening a business in the counties of Carbon or Luzerne, please contact the Wilkes University SBDC.

Social Media Quick Reference Guide

2009-06-05T11:55:00.000-07:00

Ezine articles has a great one on social media, and we'd like to share some of the key points. To read the article in full, go here. Thanks to Keith Yurgosky, of the SBDC staff, for bringing it to my attention.

Many smaller companies have turned to social media networking in light of non-existent marketing dollars for some more conventional approaches. Instead of dropping off the face of the earth, networking through social mechanisms, has afforded an opportunity for small businesses to keep in touch with their clientele.

Facebook, Twitter and YouTube seem to be the popular choices. If you have a web page, you can highten its visibility by marketing it through using SMO (social media optimization) tools.

Blogging is another way to have your own personal views, events, news spotted across a wide variety of readers. Blogging affords you the opportunity to show who you are--your own personal views on what you have to offer, your image, your mission and message. By using "keywords" in your blogging efforts, you can tie into search engines and be picked up by customers looking for what you have to offer. Blogging is also interactive and allows those who read to offer comments. You can utilize small surveys as part of your blogging, picking up on key customer trends, wants, and ideas.

Just to illustrate, over the Easter Holiday my family elected me as chief-find-a-place-to-eat-out. Of course, I totally forgot about it until the very last minute when I was sure I would not be able to get a reservation. Facebook to the rescue! A local restaurant on Facebook sent me their Easter menu and easy access to reservations out of the blue. I called it "divine intervention" at the time, which was much better than facing my entire family's wrath. Eleven of us trooped off to the dining establishment where we had a fantastic meal at an affordable price, and I was a super star. The restaurant now has quite a number of new customers (my family) and referrals based on our experience. Sure they have a website...but I didn't even know who they were until they reached me on Facebook.

Don't discount Social Media! Use it to your advantage.

ATTENTION RESTAURANT OWNERS! (Or Those Interested in Opening...)

2009-06-03T10:51:00.000-07:00

For the latest survey results on “hot trends” in the restaurant industry (as identified by more than 1,600 American Culinary Federation member chefs), see the links at
http://www.restaurant.org/research/chef_survey_2008.cfm.

Number one is “locally grown produce” (beating out #3 “organic produce”). Here are the details.

A whopping 89% of the survey respondents agree that “locally grown produce” is “hot.” For perspective, the item at the bottom of the list (ranking 208 out of 208 choices, with only 9% calling it “hot”) is…drum roll please… Potato Salad!

For a “bite-sized” summary of the results, here is an article from Progressive Grocer:

Local, Bite-sized, Organic Are Foodservice Watchwords for 2009, Says NRA
Dec 11, 2008

A new National Restaurant Association survey of more than 1,600 professional chefs - members of the American Culinary Federation (ACF) - revealed that "nutrition and philosophy-driven food choices" will be the hottest trends on restaurant menus in 2009, according to the foodservice trade group. Local produce, bite-size desserts, organics, healthful kids' meals, and new cuts of meat topped the list of nearly 210 culinary items, in NRA's third annual "What's Hot" chef survey. Rounding out the top 10 trends were kids' vegetable/fruit side dishes, superfruits (including acai and mangosteen), small plates/tapas/mezze/dim sum, artisan liquor, and sustainable seafood.

In October 2008, the association surveyed 1,609 chefs who are members of the American Culinary Federation, asking them to rate 208 individual food/beverage items, preparation methods, and culinary themes as a "hot trend," "yesterday's news," or "perennial favorite" on restaurant menus in 2009. Nutrition/health as a culinary theme was ranked number 11 in the survey, underscoring the growing trends of consumer interest in healthful living, said NRA. Among the top 20 items, nutritionally balanced children's dishes and side items, produce and fruit items, smaller dishes, fish and gluten-free/allergy-conscious meals, illustrate that restaurant menus will continue to expand options for health-conscious diners.

Several of the top 20 trendy items were related to philosophy-driven food choices, including local sourcing, organics, artisanal items, sustainable seafood, and free-range pork/poultry. Locally grown produce - rated the number-one trend on restaurant menus in 2009 - has grown tremendously in popularity. Several factors drive this trend, including culinary creativity, cost-consciousness, and interest in lean protein, said NRA.The hottest trends in culinary themes included nutrition/health, gluten-free/allergy-conscious, food-alcohol pairings, umami (known as "the fifth taste"), and the slow food movement, the chefs told NRA. In the preparation techniques category, braising tops the list, followed by smoking and sous vide.

If you are a restaurant owner and don't know where to obtain local produce or locally grown and raised food, please visit http://www.localharvest.org; or for those of you in Pennsylvania, visit http://www.buylocalpa.org.

Organic Initiative: EQIP GRANT INFORMATION!!!

2009-06-03T10:17:00.000-07:00

For those of you who may be interested in pursuing grant funding via the 2009 EQIP Organic Initiative:

PLEASE JOIN A Q&A WEBINAR SESSION ON Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) ORGANIC INITIATIVE Thursday, Jun 4, 2:00 to 3:00 PM at https://breeze.psu.edu/AgEnvPartnership

A live question and answer webinar session on the new Organic Initiative will be cosponsored by Penn State Cooperative Extension, the Penn State Agriculture & Environment Center and the Pennsylvania Natural Resources Conservation Service. Pennsylvania’s organic farmers – and those transitioning to organic farming – are urged to sign up with NRCS by Jun 12 to have an opportunity to tap $880,000 set aside for conservation practices for organic operations. This Thursday’s Q&A session will feature NRCS’s Dan Dostie, State Resource Conservationist, and Gwendolyn Crews, Resource Conservationist for Organic Agriculture. They will provide a brief overview of the program; however, the primary objective of the session will be to enable participants to interact with NRCS with questions about the new Organic Initiative.

Pennsylvania’s organizations working with organic farmers, are also encouraged to participate in the session. Producers are also welcome to attend.

To Participate: To access the webinar – Obtain a Friends of Penn State Account. Sign up for a free “Friends of Penn State Account” to obtain a user ID and password that will give you access to the webinar the day/time of the program. The Friends of Penn State Account can be obtained by clicking the above link. NOTE: You are encouraged to set up the Friends of Penn State Account prior to the webinar session so that you can easily sign on at the meeting time.

Sign on to the Webinar at the start time: On Jun 4, the webinar site will open at 1:45 PM – and the program will begin at 2 PM. To access the webinar, go to: https://breeze.psu.edu/AgEnvPartnership and sign on using your Penn State user ID and password obtained from Friends of Penn State. NOTE: A high-speed internet connection is needed.

Alternative viewing options. If you wish to view this program live – and are unable to do so at your office or home, please contact your county Extension office. If you need an alternative method (CD or hardcopies of the presentations) for viewing this program, please contact Anna Marie Nachman, amn6@psu.edu, 814-865-9468.

Background: The 2008 Farm Bill created a provision for organic producers and those who are in the process of becoming organic producers. Over $880,000 has been designated by NRCS for Pennsylvania’s organic producers in 2009 in support of conservation practices that protect the Commonwealth’s natural resources. Online resources are available that offer details about the Organics Initiative including:

NRCS’s Organic Initiative Overview: http://www.pa.nrcs.usda.gov/Farmers/Organic/index.html.

A recorded session with key NRCS staff working with the Organics Initiative in Pennsylvania can be viewed at https://breeze.psu.edu/p37532470/ .

The PowerPoint presentation from this session is available at http://www.pa.nrcs.usda.gov/Farmers/Organic/finalNRCSHelpforOrganicAgriculture.pdf

For more information about Thursday’s webinar, please contact Kristen Saacke Blunk, director of the Penn State Agriculture and Environment Center, 814-863-8756, ksaackeblunk@psu.edu.

How Not To Get Run Over By The Recession Bus

2009-06-02T11:44:00.000-07:00

I have a friend who has lived in a big city all of her adult life and has never purchased a car. She relies heavily on public transportation, and where she has lived, it has been provided.

But in recent weeks she has complained of how the price of her bus card has increased. I, being the low-on-empathy person that I am, really find that I provide little sympathy, seeing as how gas just went up this week, and I live 23 miles from my place of work (a 46 mile trip each day).

It was as part of that conversation she noted that previously grumpy or non-committal bus drivers, have--miraculously--in the past month or so, become joyful, smiling, "how are you today" kind of folks in her city.

That got me to thinking. Just the other day I went back to a market I haven't frequented in some time to purchase some food shopping items. At the check out I was treated like I had just won the powerball and had decided to leave 1/2 of the proceeds to the store. I went home and asked my husband: "Have you been to X Market lately?" He had not. "Well, you should go," I continued. "I think it would be good for your ego."

Then, just today, I read an article in Susquehanna Business Life entitled "Color Outside the Lines...But Don't Fall Off the Page!" written by Jeff Tobe (Spring/Summer 2009), and decided there were too many coincidental fonts of knowledge leading to the same path, and that I needed to share them.

Mr. Tobe discusses the value of being creative, especially in today's economic environment, and the fact that businesses too often "commoditize" themselves, rather than seeking to break out from the pack in a unique and differentiated model of "how best we can serve you--the CUSTOMER."

I think I liked Mr. Tobe's article as much as I did because he was preaching what we at the SBDC preach every day to our clients:

(1) R-e-a-l-l-y p-l-a-n, and in the process take a look at your financial picture (income and expenses) in a timeline format (ie month-by-month cash flow). What do you need to do in order to survive expense-wise? If you don't examine your expenses, you won't be able to answer this question at all.

(2) Any new goals lately? Most people put a plan on paper and then forget they ever did it. No review, no measurement, no analysis. Did you even reach previous goals you set? If so, how? What were you doing right? Can you do more of it, maybe in a bigger way? If not, why not? Are you the same-old-same-old to your customers? Are you building great relationships with everyone who comes through your doors? Goals don't have to cost much. Let's say the bus driver wore a different funny hat every day. Heck, I'd want to see what s/he had on the next day and might not ride the subway in order to do so.

(3) Don't become a victim. Again, maybe it's my lack of empathy (I must confess I work on this every day....) but whining isn't going to help. If you don't take your business by the seat of its pants and give it a good shake, no one else is going to be able to help you. There may be tough decisions to be made, but you will have to make them. Don't waste time. Time can be money. Examine what you do with a critical eye and how you might make your customer's experience a bit more inviting....better.

(4) Showcase your strong points. In business and strategic planning lingo, this is called "competitive advantage" or "core competencies". What do you do best? What was the rock, the foundation that your business was built on? How far away from it are you now? Have you lost sight of it? If so, head back full speed to that "what you are noted for" aspect of business management.

It's not hard to realize that most of these things relate directly to the customer--how you treat them, their experience, and what will keep them coming back. Sometimes it's not about price-cutting and discounts. Sometimes it's simply about a smile, a helpful discussion and making them feel like they just won the lottery.

Transition to Organic Grant Opportunity

2009-05-29T12:24:00.000-07:00

We recently received notification from the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) of the following grant opportunity geared toward those interested in transitioning to organic production.

The Path-To-Organic Program offers funding to eligible for-profit enterprises that produce farm commodities, including agricultural, horticultural, aquaculture, vegetable, fruit and floricultural products; livestock and meats; poultry and eggs; dairy products; nuts; mushrooms; honey products; and forest products. Application deadline is July 31, 2009. For more info, click on the green title above, or call Jared Grissinger at 1-888-PAGrows.

The PASA website is also keeping track of grant opportunities for farmers. To read more on the opportunities available, click here.

Money Money Money Money Money Money Money...

2009-05-18T09:39:00.000-07:00

Now....THAT got your attention, didn't it?

We just received information on the SBA's new America's Recovery Capital (ARC) loan program, allowing deferred-payment loans of up to $35,000 to "established, viable, for-profit small businesses." For more information on the loan program, click here.

The ARC program was created as a no-interest, deferred payment loan to help small businesses that have a history of good performance, but as a result of the tough economy, are struggling to make debt payments.

ARC loans will be disbursed within a period of up to six months and will provide funds to be used for payments of principal and interest for existing, qualifying small business debt including mortgages, term and revolving lines of credit, capital leases, credit card obligations and notes payable to vendors, suppliers and utilities. Repayment will not begin until 12 months after the final disbursement. Borrowers don't have to pay interest on ARC loans. After the 12-moth deferral period, borrowers will pay back the loan principal over a period of five years.

2007 Agricultural Census

2009-05-06T13:07:00.000-07:00

Well, the results are in! Yes, the 2007 Agricultural Census is available. Some of the results are not at all surprising to us, and others are enough to win a trivial pursuit game, so we'll share those too.

The Census of Agriculture is conducted by the USDA's National Agricultural Statistical Service (NASS) every five years. It takes a complete count of U.S. farms and the people who operate them. It also examines land use, operator characteristics, production practices, and farm income/expenditures.

The link above provides data on the PA level, however, you can also obtain data on a national level and county level.

Some of the highlights include:

There were 63,163 farms in PA in 2007 (up 9% from 2002).
The counties with the largest increase in farms were Montour, Philadelphia, and Wyoming (each up more than 80%).
The counties who lost farms were Chester, Lehigh, Susquehanna and Washington (down 9% or more).
PA farms sold more than $5.8 billion in agricultural products.
51% of the above sales figure occurred in the counties of Adams, Berks, Chester, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon and York.
Farms with sales between $25,000 to $49,999 increased the fastest (25%).
Farms with sales between $50,000 to $99,999 had the largest decrease (20%).
40 of PA's 67 counties gained farmland. The counties with the largest increases? Delaware, Forest and Pike (50% or more).
29 counties lost farmland, among them Susquehanna, Washington and Wayne had the greatest decline (more than 15%).
In 2002, the average cost of fuel per acre was $16.20...in 2007 it was $31.45 per acre.
PA has 680 organic farms (ranking PA 6th in the nation in terms of organic farming).
Women were the principal operators of 8,550 farms (13% of all farms)--an increase of 41% over 2002 figures.
46% of all PA farms have barns built before 1960 (being a barn enthusiast, I find this interesting--just in case you are wondering why I threw it in).
379 farms in PA marketed products through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Lancaster and Chester counties had the most CSAs.
Bradford County and Fulton County have more cows than people (this is for the trivial pursuit game).

For more information on the Census of Agriculture, be sure to visit the link above.

Specialty Crop Block Grants Available

2009-04-28T14:54:00.000-07:00

Pennsylvania is abundant in produce, horticulture, and many specialty crops, which is why we, as residents, look so forward to the growing season and what it has to offer.

Now the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has something to offer specialty crop producers. A new grant program, authorized under the Farm Bill, is available to "enhance the visibility of specialty crops."

It is estimated that $1 million will be made available for awards. Fruit, vegetable, tree nut, dried fruit, nursery crop and horticulture producers are eligible. Projects should be centered around product promotion, nutrition and consumption knowledge, distribution and marketing, crop research, and/or enhancing food safety.

Applications are due by 4:00 p.m. on June 12th and may be delivered or mailed to to Lela Reichart, Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Market Development, 2301 N. Cameron St., Room 310, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9408.

To download an application, visit www.agriculture.state.pa.us and select the “Specialty Crop Block Grants” link under “What’s New.”

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

2009-04-22T14:13:00.001-07:00

Take 10 minutes, sit back and watch this video. I can't say it any better, nor would I try.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61BCB2-OmRY&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.care2.com%2Fc2c%2Fpeople%2Fprofile.html%3Fpid%3D679641001&feature=player_embedded

Please think about the Earth in all you do!

Can Your Company Cover the Cash Flow Needed for COBRA Under the Stimulus Plan?

2009-04-21T13:39:00.000-07:00

As part of the recently approved federal stimulus bill, eligible terminated employees can obtain a 65% discount on COBRA coverage. COBRA allows former employees to continue their health insurance coverage for up to 18 months after separation with their company.

The problem here lies with the company, who must pay the 65% premium (the employee pays the other 35%) and then get reimbursed through a payroll tax credit. The up to three-month reimbursement wait can leave a solid cash flow problem for businesses who may already be experiencing "down" time.

Depending on how many "separated" employees elect COBRA coverage under the 65% discount program, may mean that some businesses may not be able to pay the premiums. This backlash could actually cause companies to lay off even MORE employees, freeze salaries, or begin eliminating or downsizing health benefits for regular employees who remain with the company...all for the sake of being able to pay the premiums.

Employers were required to mail out COBRA notices to eligible employees--who have been laid off since September 1, 2008--by April 18th, 2009. Those who fail to notify are subject to fines of $110 per day per former employee. This regulation affects companies with 20 or more employees. The coverage is retroactive until March 1, 2009.

How the new COBRA rules work:
• The federal government will provide a 65 percent subsidy for up to nine months of the COBRA premium retroactive to March 1 for certain terminated employees.
• To be entitled to the subsidy, employees must have been involuntarily terminated between September 1, 2008, and December 31, 2009, and must be eligible for COBRA.
• A special election period exists for individuals involuntarily terminated on or after last September 1 who had not elected COBRA. They will have 60 more days after receiving the notice to elect coverage, which is retroactive to March 1 if they lost their jobs before then.
• The employer pays the 65 percent on the employee’s behalf and is then reimbursed through a payroll tax credit. Large companies may be reimbursed either weekly or monthly, but smaller employers must file for the credit with their quarterly payroll taxes.
• The employee must pay 35 percent of COBRA before the employer can request reimbursement of the other 65 percent. Employers that do not charge the full COBRA premium will not be entitled to reimbursement of 65 percent of the maximum COBRA premium. (SOURCE: Workforce Management - April 13, 2009)

For more information, click here. For IRS information on COBRA, click here.

Slow Money

2009-04-20T10:07:00.001-07:00

No, I'm not referring to the credit/banking situation. I'm referring to a very different outlook--an outlook that considers investing in local food systems.

On April 28th, the White Dog Cafe in Philadelphia is sponsoring a Breakfast Talk on Slow Money, from 8:00 - 9:30 a.m. The talk, entitled "Slow Money: Investing as if Food, Farms and Fertility Mattered," will be given by Woody Tasch, author of "Inquiries into the Nature of Slow Money."

Woody Tasch is chairman and president of Slow Money, a 501c3 organization formed in 2008 to focus the investment of capital to small food enterprises and to support sustainable agriculture.

In the typical world of investments, the investors want fast returns. Can investors appreciate small scale, aesthetically pleasing and healthfully balanced investments, which do not necessarily provide fast returns? Woody Tasch is out to prove they can, particulary among the socially-conscious investor set.

With a grant from the Kellogg Foundation, Woody is looking to establish a Slow Money Fund. This fund would be used to invest in early-stage sustainable food enterprises. A venture capitalist, Tasch sites the difference between traditional investments and Slow Money investments as the difference between a 20% profit return in 10-12 years on typical investments, to a profit return of 5-14% in possibly 15 years going the Slow Money route. (For more information on sustainable investing, click here.)

Tod Murphy started Farmers Diner in 1999 in Barre, Vermont. He spends 65 cents of every food dollar with farmers who work and live within a 70-mile radius of his diner. Tod's goal is a national franchise of diners following this model. A Johnson School of Business, Cornell University Social Venture study in 2001/2002, calculated significant social returns from this type of diner establishment as follows: "Every 1,000,000 in annual sales at a diner translates into 350 acres of farmland in production, 15 farmers with gross sales of $50,000, 13 new farm jobs, and $1,200,000 in land conservations costs saved. Local production and shortened delivery routes saves at least 10 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually." (For more information on Farmers Diner, click here.)

If you have the chance to attend the Breakfast Talk, let us know what you thought in the comments below. Here's more information on the event: $15, includes a buffet breakfast with farm fresh eggs, French toast, granola, and more, tax, gratuity and program. Reservations required: 215-386-9224.

Industry Specific Tax Information

2009-04-16T08:09:00.000-07:00

Whew! We just got through another tax year this week. Hopefully all of you diligently mailed your taxes on April 15th, or applied for your extensions as needed.

In looking through some of the tax information on the IRS website I found some interesting information I thought I would share, which is good for the WHOLE year and not just at tax time.

The IRS has an area called Industries/Professions which provide you with materials for specific industries. For example, you can find an entire menu of items related to the Agricultural industry, which answers questions such as: How do I report farm income and expenses? Are crop insurance and crop disaster payments taxable? When do I deduct the cost of livestock and other items?

There are various industries covered in this way including: automotive, manufacturing, and the newly revamped construction industry. Check it out.

We also receive many questions on the difference between a C corporation and an S corporation in Pennsylvania. The IRS website not only explains this very well, but has the actual forms available for you to get a good idea of the types of documentation required both during and at the end of each tax year. To read through this information, click here.

Common Sense Management

2009-04-13T08:08:00.000-07:00

Today features the final blog entry from student submissions. It's written by Caleigh Conahan, an Operations Management Major from Hazleton, PA. Caleigh is a Junior.

The economic conditions have unveiled to the public what I like to call "the two faces of management."

First, there is the 9-5 manager who is not concerned with his/her employees or the betterment of his/her company, rather he/she believes by showing up to the office his/her job is done and pay deserved.

Second, there is the manager who has always been--or developed into--the innovative leader.

It is obvious that what management needs, especially in these current economic conditions, is a manager that is willing to go above and beyond to drive his/her company through the recession. Despite all the selfish and negative aspects that have been surfacing in the news these past months, I have been able to witness a manager of a small company that has devoted his full effort to becoming an ideal manager. The manager I know runs a small air freight company here in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and although the company is not booming, as in past years, they are surviving by "common sense" management.

First, the manager accredits cost saving by asking employees to pitch in and help the company. The manager asked employees if they would mind cutting their paid lunch breaks by a half-hour (on a voluntary basis), once or twice a week, if the employer would buy the lunch. This has proven effective because, not only is the company getting more work accomplished, but the employees are also saving because they do not have to buy their lunch.

Second, management has cut back on redundant meetings with employees which involved tasks lists. Instead management hosts a monthly meeting and asks employees to dtrop any suggestions to improve the work environment into the suggestion box. Management was surprised to see not only suggestions in the suggestion box, but encouragement to keep up the improvements and changes.

Third, management realized that they must make cutbacks. Management executed the cutbacks by limiting the number of conferences employees attend to two for the year, and will only send one employee per conference. The employees are chosen to attend by those who have the least days called off and the best customer feedback. This incentive, of being able to go to a conference, has encouraged employees to work harder.

Overall, these are examples of three simple things done by management in this particular company to improve the workforce. I think that simplicity will become even more apparent in these economic times. Once managers realize that it only takes a few simple steps to improve the workforce, maybe our economy will see the start of a turn around.

For some additional information on this topic visit the following sites:
http://www.management-issues.com/display_page.asp?section=opinion&id=5201

http://trendsupdates.com/during-recession-is-a-manager-more-useful-than-a-leader/

Not Documented, Not Done

2009-04-13T07:37:00.000-07:00

Today's blog features Nicole Cruciani. Nicole is a Junior Marketing Major from Clarks Summit, PA.

The title of this blog represents everything I do every day at my job. "Not documented, not done"--so simple, yet so complex. Seems so formal and time consuming, however, the time and money that it can save is tremendous, and unfortunately, constantly overlooked. At the young age of 21, I've already been exposed to some of the realities of life, one being that documented support of an argument--whether it be a research paper, or dealings with an insurance company, is crucially important. The practice of "not documented, not done" can essentially save many managers in today's recession economy.

What can four silly words do to bolster the reputation and integrity of managers? Simply put--everything! Managers should be tracking and recording everything that's essential to the company, their employees, and employee performance. When it comes time for reports to be given, or employees to be laid off, these managers should have detailed, documented information to support their decisions.

Sadly enough, many managers do not keep their notes updated and are reaping the negative effects. It's almost an ironic situation, because (in a way) managers are mismanaging themselves. (For more documentation to support this claim, see the article from Workforce Management.)

I've seen what becomes of undocumented information. Companies today need to enforce within their management staff how important it is to have clear, concise evidence as to why certain decisions were made, especially when it comes to laying off employees, as has been the trend during this recession. Like the health profession, when a medical malpractice law suit is filed, doctors and staff need to have been staying on top of the documentation! (Instructor's Note: The medical profession, specifically the nursing field, is responsible for the "not documented, not done" mantra, a staple of their industry for years.)

"Not documented, not done." Repeat it to yourself a few times and it will stick with you forever. Let's get our managers out of a rut by incorporating this simple phrase into everyday business. If an inexperienced college student, such as myself, can manage documentation, let's hope the real managers catch on. If not, we'll most likely continue on down this spiral path of loss, turmoil, headache, and essentially being "not done."

And The Winners Are...

2009-04-13T06:14:00.000-07:00

A few blog spots ago I mentioned the fact that 41 University of Scranton Management 351 students had submitted potential material for this blog, based on an assignment entitled: Management Issues in an Economic Downturn. The top three, which best "fit" the style of this blog, as well as stuck to the topic, have now been selected and will appear over the course of the next three days.

Today we feature Christopher Baginski's blog entry. Christopher is a Junior Accounting Major from Wallington, NJ.

I am quite sure that we all know about the devastating economic recession that has recently plagued our country. The stock market has taken a tremendous tumble, at one point falling 50% below its previous peak. This has caused terrible problems throughout the world. These problems extend to each and every one of us personally. In addition, this downturn has greatly affected businesses, especially in the areas of management and human resourcs.

Businesses measure success by production and profit. Production here is the key. Production leads to profit. So it comes as no surprise that many business leaders dedicate much time, energy and thought to find ways--or to create situations--where productivity can be enhanced. One such way to enhance productivity and profit is to increase employee morale.

It is a commonly held belief in many companies and amongst many executives that happy employees work harder and more efficiently. The task of increasing employee morale falls to the managers and human resources departments of companies. In the past, when the economic outlook was much brighter, managers didn't have to do a great deal to make employees happy. They were to show employees respect, build friendly relationships with them, and perhaps compensate them (increase/bonus) for good work.

However, we are no longer in good times and the demands of employees have shifted. Managers must now face different issues and work much harder to maintain employee morale. The results of a poll about employees' concerns in the downturn done in November 2008 were featured in the February 2009 edition of Workforce Magazine in an article entitled "HR in the Downturn."

The poll listed the impact of the recession on retirement plan investments as the most significant concern of employees. Also mentioned as concerns of employees were the impact on the organization overall, job security, and the impact on employee merit increases in the coming year.

(Instructor's Note: To add to Chris' blog entry, follow up with a trip to this on-line article on the impact of recession on employee communications.)

While in my Intermediate Macroeconomics class the other day, my teacher said that when people worry about their nest egg, they stop spending, start saving, and the economy goes into a stall. This statement is supported by this poll. People are afraid that they will spend their "golden years" at work. They are also constantly afraid of losing their jobs. Without income steadily flowing into the household, what will they save, and more importantly, how will they survive?

This is where the effect on the field of management can be seen. Managers are spending more and more time assuring their employees that their jobs and their pensions are safe. Several human resource departments are holding seminars for employees designed to educate them about financial planning, focusing specifically on managing retirement plans. With extra time being dedicated to allaying fears of employees, managers are now faced with the difficulty of maintaining production levels and employee morale. These challenges are a direct product of the economic recession and a perfect example of how the management field has been affected by it.

What is rBGH and Why Should You Care?

2009-04-09T13:41:00.000-07:00

Genetically engineered Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone is a mouthful, and that's just what you could be getting a mouthful of if you don't have clear and concise labeling on your milk products.

Both the General Accounting Office and the Consumer's Union have warned of potential hazards to human health caused by consuming products from rBGH-treated cows. BGH is banned in Europe and Canada. If you'd like more information on this hormone, you can find it here and for a more technical look at the issue, go here.

So why are we bringing it to your attention? As you know we run two Agribusiness and Food Specialty Centers and have become a part of a wide network of farmers across the Commonwealth who truly care about your health and knowledge of how to stay healthy. An entire movement dedicated to local food and growers, the Buy Fresh Buy Local initiative, also promotes putting a face on your food, knowing whom you buy it from, and taking advantage of local produce and commodities in season. For more on the Buy Fresh Buy Local effort, visit: http://www.buylocalpa.org/, then click on the region you are interested in on the map provided.

Recently we were made aware that the Kansas State legislature passed a bill restricting how much information consumers get about the milk they buy. The legislature in that state wants to restrict rBGH-FREE labeling. A bill in Kansas may not mean much to you right now, but could easily become a part of our own state's agenda at some point down the line. Governor Kathleen Sebelius can still veto the bill. The Governor is President Obama's nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, the agency that houses the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA has national rules for rBGH-FREE labeling which have worked well in the past. It has been suggested by Food and Water Watch that the new bill would "water down existing national labeling by requiring a misleading disclaimer on all rBGH-free labels" and that the legislation would place "a financial burden on small dairy producers." It would also "force national producers to have different labels for Kansas, than the rest of the country."

Our job is to keep you informed, so we present this issue here for all of our PA Dairy farmers, who are already struggling with milk pricing issues. 95% of U.S. Dairy farmers have boycotted use of rBGH.

We will keep you posted on what transpires in this area in the future.

Attention ALL EMPLOYERS!

2009-04-06T07:31:00.000-07:00

All U.S. employers are required to complete and keep a file copy of the Form I-9 for every person hired within the United States, whether a citizen or non-citizen hire. This form allows the employer to examine the eligibility for employment within the U.S., and verification documents as presented by each person hired.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, has a great blow-by-blow of the I-9 requirement, including access to the form itself.

The I-9 Form was recently revised on 2/2/09 in order to revise the list of acceptable documents submitted as part of the I-9 process. From this point forward any documents which have expired will not be acceptable to the process. Previous forms of the I-9 can no longer be used.

Remember that the I-9 process takes place AFTER you have made your selection in the hiring process and an offer has been accepted. On the employee's first day of work, all HR paperwork is completed, with the I-9 being a part of that paperwork. You must retain the I-9 form in your files for three years.

American Recorvery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

2009-04-03T04:38:00.000-07:00

It's been a bit of time since we first heard this Act title mentioned. I thought I'd surf the web and see what's being said about the Act.

Senator Harry Reid, from Nevada, has the best explanation of the monies funneled to different areas and how that specifically affects the State of Nevada. My hat is off to him and his staff for being proactive, and getting this out in an understandable way for all concerned.

The SBA's Kansas City District Office has a great PDF piece--which is succinct, concise and understandable--which you can read through here (note, it is very general--so what you read there applies to PA as well).

I highly recommend the umbrella site RECOVERY.gov which is updated regularly and has a wealth of information for all affected by the stimulus and business stabilization programs.

Finally, here is a good outline of what faces SBA as it creates its new Business Stabilization Loan program as mandated by Congress.

I am hoping one of our own legislators takes on the task of putting out a "How ARRA Affects PA" document. I could not find a single source for this information. If you do, please let us know in the comments section.

Something For Everyone

2009-03-28T07:08:00.000-07:00

I've been in sunny Florida, which does the heart good when you live in winter-until-May Northeastern Pennsylvania. While there I accumulated a number of topics and corresponding information from SBDC staff and others I'd like to share.

Someday I'll do a blog on customer service and the airline industry....but this isn't the day!

(1) For those who asked...we are still waiting for the specifics on the Business Stabilization Loans to come out of SBA as a result of the stimulus package. As soon as we obtain the information (I have contacted our Philadelphia District Office and let them know we would like to receive that information as soon as possible) we will post all of the data and "how to's" on this blog. Stay tuned in!

(2) Keith Yurgosky found this website, which confirms everything we always say about business planning in a five-step-or-less-format. My only concern....the writer did not recommend the SBDCs as your source for business planning assistance. To read the quick "reasons for" site, click here.

(3) Theresa Kaplan did alot of searching for a client recently on the topic of NEW REGULATIONS FOR HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTORS IN PA. She contacted the Attorney General's office after finding very good information on their site, asking if we might post that information to this blog.

Thank you to the Attorney General's office in Pennsylvania for allowing us to do so!

Here are the FAQs which appear on the site. The responses are too lengthy to post here, so you can go directly to the site by clicking here to read the responses.

The Office of Attorney General has prepared this document to answer commonly asked questions about Pennsylvania's Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act. This document highlights key areas of the law-it is not, however, a complete explanation of the statute and is not a legal opinion. We recommend that you carefully review the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act and consult with a private attorney if you have any questions about the law or need legal advice.

What is the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act?
What is a home improvment?
Is new home building included in the law?
Whis is a home improvement contractor?
Who must register under the law?
How do I register?
What information is required to register?
When do contractors need to register?
Does every employee of a home improvement business need to register?
What if a contractor fails to register?
Does the law contain a "grandfather" clause for businesses that have been doing work for a long time or do they still need to register?
How long are registrations valid?
Does someone who only does a few jobs a year need to register?
Do subcontractors who are paid directly by a general contractor and who never enter into contracts with consumers need to register?
Do hardware stores or businesses that supply products and equipment used in home improvements need to register?
Must landscapers register?
Do building superintendents or the maintenance staff for apartment buildings, condominiums, or community associations need to register?
Do engineers, architects, land surveyros, electrical contractors, master plumbers, locksmiths, burglar alarm businesses, fire alarm businesses and similar businesses need to register?
Do contractors need to show their registration to their customers or display the registration in their business?
Do contractors need to display their registration number on their vehicles?
Is there an exemption for work performed by or on behalf of a charity or a non-profit corporation?
Does the law aply to home improvements done on commercial properties?
Does the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act affect the licensing or registration of home improvement contractors by counties, cities or towns?
Are there additional requirements in the act besides the registration requirement?
Does the law apply to out-of-state contractors?

All the info on the regulation, including a link to the online registration as well as to a PDF of the registration form are found at http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/hic.aspx.

A PDF of the Act itself is located here.

To register, click here.

(4) AND FINALLY, students from the Kania School of Management's Management 351 class, Section 1, will be competing to appear on this blog in the next week. Forty-one students have an assignment to read through the blog and create their own blog entry on the issues facing management in a downturn economy. The top three blog entries will be posted here on three consecutive days. We are encouraging our students to participate as much as possible in analyzing the economic issues facing ALL businesses in today's environment. Check in to see who made it to the blog!

Enjoy your weekend!

What's Happening Out There With Small Business Lenders?

2009-03-23T05:09:00.001-07:00

A client recently called the office and told me that their long-standing revolving line of credit, which they used sparingly and payed down immediately after use, was pulled by their bank with no notification or explanation. He found out about it because he tried to use the line, only to have someone at the bank tell him the line had been revoked.

Wondering if this was happening to other clients, I checked into our network of 18 SBDCs across the State of PA. The answer is "YES." Other SBDCs have also had clients contact them to relate a tale much like the one above.

I decided to do some research to see if we could answer why this is happening. Here's what I found.

A Senate Hearing held on Thursday, March 19, might give us a clue. To read the article on the results of that hearing, click here.

And here is an interesting piece on SBA's emergency business loans--up to $35,000 to pay down debt. Most debt, except for an existing SBA loan, qualifies.

Finally, here is a great little piece on how to up your chances of getting a loan! To read it, click here.

Happy Monday!

HR 875: The Food Safety Modernization Act

2009-03-13T07:35:00.000-07:00

The Scranton SBDC is a member of PASA, Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture. Recently, as a listserve member, the following information was provided, which may be of interest to our agriculture and food-oriented clients. We have PASA's permission to provide you with the information through our Blog. The original data comes from Food and Water Watch, which I'll discuss at the end of this entry.

PASA Members: The following information about a bill now before Congress, HR 875, was developed by our friends at Food and Water Watch, and forwarded to us by the National Sustainable Ag Coalition (NSAC), of which PASA is a member. This Myth/Fact sheet was developed to help answer some of the rumors that are fairly rampant on the Internet right now. We will keep a close eye on the situation, and share further updates from NSAC as they become available.

Myths and Facts: HR 875 - The Food Safety Modernization Act

MYTH: H.R. 875 “makes it illegal to grow your own garden” and would result in the “criminalization of the backyard gardner.”

FACT: There is no language in the bill that would regulate, penalize, or shut down backyard gardens. This bill is focused on ensuring the safety of foods sold in supermarkets.

MYTH: H.R. 875 would mean a “goodbye to farmers markets” because the bill would “require such a burdensome complexity of rules, inspections, licensing, fees, and penalties for each farmer who wishes to sell locally - a fruit stand, at a farmers market.”

FACT: There is no language in the bill that would result in farmers markets being regulated, penalized any fines, or shut down. Farmers markets would be able to continue to flourish under the bill. In fact, the bill would insist that imported foods meet strict safety standards to ensure that unsafe imported foods are not competing with locally-grown foods.

MYTH: H.R. 875 would result in the “death of organic farming.”

FACT: There is no language in the bill that would stop organic farming. The National Organic Program (NOP) is under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Food Safety Modernization Act only addresses food safety issues under the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

MYTH: The bill would implement a national animal ID system.

FACT: There is no language in the bill that would implement a national animal ID system. Animal identification issues are under the jurisdiction of the USDA. The Food Safety Modernization Act addresses issues under the jurisdiction of the FDA.

MYTH: The bill is supported by the large agribusiness industry.

FACT: No large agribusiness companies have expressed support for this bill. This bill is being supported by several Members of Congress who have strong progressive records on issues involving farmers markets, organic farming, and locally-grown foods. Also, H.R. 875 is the only food safety legislation that has been supported by all the major consumer and food safety groups, including:

Center for Foodborne Illness Research & Prevention
Center for Science in the Public Interest
Consumer Federation of America
Consumers Union
Food & Water Watch
The Pew Charitable Trusts
Safe Tables Our Priority
Trust for America’s Health

MYTH: The bill will pass the Congress next week without amendments or debate. FACT: Food safety legislation has yet to be considered by any Congressional committee.

If you haven't checked out Food and Water Watch's website, you may want to make it one of your favorites. Even if you are not presently farming, there are a number of good, solid resources for consumers as well.

Food and Water Watch is a nonprofit organization whose mission statement (to "ensure clean water and safe food") is a simple one. Newsletters covering the aspects of water protection (Currents) and food protection (Food Alert) are archived on the site for review. There are links to a Blog list and a Consumer Tools list on the home page. It's worth your while to investigate what the site has to offer.

Follow Up on the Stimulus and SBA

2009-03-12T09:39:00.000-07:00

I wanted to follow up with our friends at SBA on which items, specifically, we should be aware of that are relevant to small business owners in terms of translating the stimulus package to action.

John Banks, Lead Business Development Specialist in the Philadelphia District Office, was kind enough to spend some time creating an informative email to me, outlining exactly what the American Recovery Reinvestment Act has in store to stimulate lending. John has given me permission to copy his email thoughts to this Blog. You will find them below.

90 Percent Guarantee
The bill allows SBA to raise its loan guarantee from the current levels to as much as 90 percent for some loans. At present, SBA can guarantee loans up to 85 percent on loans up to $150,000, and up to 75 percent on loans greater than $150,000. The 50 percent guarantee on SBA Express loans would remain unchanged. Increasing the SBA guarantee percentage will encourage lenders to extend more capital to small businesses by increasing the share covered by an SBA guarantee.

Business Stabilization Loans
The bill creates a new SBA loan program to provide deferred-payment loans of up to $35,000 to viable small businesses that need the money to make payments on an existing, qualifying loan for up to six months. These loans will be 100 percent guaranteed by SBA. Repayment would not have to begin until 12 months after the loan is fully disbursed. The bill provides $255 million for this new program. These loans will help ensure that small businesses have time to re-focus their business plans in order to succeed in the long run.

Microloans
The bill expands SBA’s Microloan program, which provides small loans (up to $35,000) paired with technical assistance to start-up, newly established or growing small businesses. The bill provides funding to increase loans from SBA to participating Microlenders by $50 million through September 30, 2010, and adds $24 million in grants to provide technical assistance to borrowers. Historically, these loans reach low-income individuals, women and minorities in both rural and urban areas. Expanding this program through the stimulus bill will help ensure these entrepreneurs are not left behind in the credit crunch.

Refinancing
The bill also gives SBA the power to use the 504 Certified Development Company program to refinance existing loans for fixed assets, providing fresh support for small business expansion. This change will help business owners expand their current development projects and create jobs in their communities.

Secondary Market Expansion
The bill authorizes SBA to establish a secondary market for pools of “first lien” loans under the 504 program. These “first lien” loans from commercial lenders currently have no SBA guarantee. The bill authorizes SBA to deploy federal guarantees for pools of these first lien loans, so that they can be sold to investors in a secondary market. Providing liquidity for these first mortgages will help encourage lenders to continue participating in SBA’s 504 loan program, which provides a key source of capital for community development and other projects.

The bill also empowers SBA to set up a Secondary Market Lending Authority that would make direct loans to broker-dealers that participate in the secondary market for SBA-guaranteed 7(a) loans. These broker-dealers would use the funds to purchase SBA-backed loans from commercial lenders, assemble them into pools and sell them to investors in the secondary loan market. This program may help address some of the issues facing the secondary market for SBA loans and may ultimately help SBA lenders make new loans to borrowers.

Investment Program
The bill helps SBA-licensed Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs) and families of SBIC funds better leverage the capital they use to invest in small businesses. The bill sets maximum levels of funding the agency can provide to these companies at up to three times the private capital raised by those companies, or $150 million, whichever is less. It also raises the percentage any one SBIC can invest in a single small business to 10 percent of total capital, and raises from 20 percent to 25 percent the percentage of any licensee’s dollar investments that must be made in “smaller” businesses.

Surety Bonds
The bill also raises the maximum contract amount that can be covered by an SBA guaranteed surety bond from $2 million to $5 million, and, under certain circumstances, for contracts amounting to $10 million, and provides additional funds to cover the costs of expanding this program. Small businesses need surety bonds in order to bid on and obtain many federal and other contracts. SBA guarantees surety bonds to small businesses that private surety companies would not otherwise be able to extend.

Stimulus Scams

2009-03-09T09:16:00.000-07:00

The SBDCnet site has a great article on Obama stimulus plan scams SBDC staff member Keith Yurgosky would like to share. To read the blog entry, click here.

This got me wondering about internet scams in general. As a savvy consumer, I know how to spot a scam, read the fine print on all things, and never give out any of my information on line, unless I am the one contacting the source to make an online purchase, and there is a security system in place to take my information. Even then, I'm somewhat leery of use.

Off I went to Google, searching for the latest articles on internet scams. I found some things I'd like to share.

First, we find this particular piece on "Top 10 Work at Home and Home Based Business Scams" by ScamBusters. I'm not advocating that this is the best article out there, but it does give food for thought on homebased business scams. The most unfortunate piece of this site is the ADS selected by Google to highlight it. Guess what? They are all work at home scams. Why are we highlighting comments on how not to be scammed with scam-worthy material? This is a lesson in how Google ads can work against your message.

Second, there are quite a number of sites devoted to telling you--from an individual's perspective--how they were personally scammed and how they don't want you to be. So they recommend a "good" work-at-home opportunity. One such recommendation from a previously scammed individual was "Maverick Money Makers." Further delving into on-line research and we find out that Maverick Money Makers may offer you the chance to make $397 per day, though "affiliate" marketing. That is....tell people about Maverick Money Makers so they buy into the program and you get a cut. You should also know that you become a member of a "secret club" for which you must pay $97.00 per month to stay a member, and you don't even get a decoder ring.

It's easy to see how people in dire situations might turn their gas money into get rich quick schemes once you start reading through the countless (and I do mean endless) array of on-line "opportunities" that promise you can make money.

My suggestion? If you are unsure about something you are reading on line, contact your local SBDC and have a consultant analyze the site and opportunity for you. They will honestly evaluate it from an unbiased perspective and give you the ins-and-outs of possible affiliation. Don't turn your hard earned money into a loss situation. To find an SBDC near you, go to http://www.asbdc-us.org/ and click on the map on your right.

Dribs and Drabs: Springing Into Action

2009-03-05T09:48:00.001-08:00

Today is one of those days where you just know Spring is coming, but you need further proof. In light of that feeling, which has been with me since I got up this morning, I'm concentrating on items that are "further proof" of statements made by agencies in how they will help you in terms of the Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

(1) Employers to Receive COBRA Medical Coverage Tax Credit. The IRS released information relative to employers claiming credit for the COBRA medical premiums they pay for former employees. If your small business has had to lay off workers due the recession, this may be important for you to know. The IRS unveiled new information on their website that includes an extensive set of questions and answers for employers. In addition, the website contains a revised version of the quarterly payroll tax return that employers will use to claim credit for the COBRA medical premiums they pay for their former employees.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which became law last week, includes changes to the health benefit provisions of COBRA. Under the new law, eligible former employees, enrolled in their employer’s health plan at the time they lost their jobs, are required to pay only 35 percent of the cost of COBRA coverage. Employers must treat the 35 percent payment by eligible former employees as full payment, but the employers are entitled to a credit for the other 65 percent of the COBRA cost on their payroll tax return.

Employers must maintain supporting documentation for the credit claimed. This includes:

Documentation of receipt of the employee’s 35 percent share of the premium.

In the case of insured plans: A copy of invoice or other supporting statement from the insurance carrier and proof of timely payment of the full premium to the insurance carrier.

Declaration of the former employee’s involuntary termination.

I want to make note here that while many have complained about the IRS over the years for various reasons, which may or may not be factual, in doing research on follow through on the Recovery Act of 2009, and agencies that have begun to get information to the public on how EXACTLY they are to apply, check, utilize, respond to, move forward with, and generally take advantage of what the Act proposes, the IRS wins hands down on the fastest to come to the plate with a formula. Case in point, above. Most other websites are still saying: STAY TUNED. The IRS has the information ready for you to use now.

(2) Recovery Website. The federal government has created a recovery website to afford transparency and accountability to taxpayers on how the money allocated to the process will ultimately be used. If you would like to keep track of who does what with funding received, click here.

(3) Department of Labor Website. Second place in getting information translated from paper to action goes to the Department of Labor. At a special "recovery" webpage (with associated links from that point) you can find a host of information on activities being implemented.

(4) PASBDC. The Pennsylvania Association of Small Business Development Centers has a spot on their main website devoted to tutorials which may be of help to you and your small business in these times. Providing links to some of our friends and partners, such as the SBA, Famee Foundation, and Corporate Turnaround, you can take advantage of free tutorials (one from the Famee Foundation is a 10-email-over-10-day tutorial geared to Marketing in times of recession) and other documented information prepared specifically to assist you in developing your knowledge base and generate ideas for coping with what's ahead.

If you know of a good resource not presented here, one which translates the recovery act into action and makes it easier for us, the common man, to follow and take advantage of, please post it in the comments section.

Building Web Credibility

2009-03-03T12:03:00.001-08:00

An interesting fact came my way today. Stanford University's Persuasive Technology Lab has done research into what makes a website credible. The information, compiled under a document entitled "Stanford Guidelines for Web Credibility", is based on three years of research and 4500 participants. It comes complete with supporting research, for those who want to follow up the third party references.

With many small businesses moving to a web-based format for selling and marketing purposes, these items are most important to review.

The research fell into four areas: evaluation strategies, design, individual factors, and context/content.

In evaluation strategies, researchers examined the deciding factors people take into account in determining the validity/credibility of a website. Do people try to verify what they find on line? How much does their own past experience reflect on what they believe and do not believe about what they read?

The visuals and structure of a website, including advertisements on the site, often lend to the design credibility factor. Researchers noted "like human communicators, websites benefit (or suffer) based upon their appearance."

The individual factors are the reason why, if I find a few typographical errors on a website, I don't feel it is very professional or credible (and is the reason why I am constantly going back and editing these blogs!!!!!). But not everyone responds to typos, errors and design flaws the way I do. It depends on the individual. There is a great follow up piece to this element, with key findings which you can review by clicking here. That being said, I can honestly point you to some very well done websites, which I personally have found, through my own research, to not be credible. (But then again, what is my definition of credible and what is yours?)

Context and content further elaborates on the information a user finds while researching websites. The motivation behind seeking the information, the information presented, and whether or not the user has the time (or inclination) to prove the results as valid, are all involved in this area of research.

All-in-all this makes for interesting reading and another well-researched perspective on website development.

The Stimulus and Small Business: What's In It For Us?

2009-03-02T10:55:00.000-08:00

We've had a number of small businesses wondering how the recent passing of the stimulus package will ultimately affect their bottom line. Based on our research, the following seems to be of importance for small business owners.

If you lost money. Some small businesses will be able to use monetary losses to their tax advantage. To qualify your gross receipts have to fall at $15 million or under. You can use your losses to alleviate your tax bill for two years prior to the loss and 2o years following the loss. Ask your accountant about this important change to the tax regulations.
Money for equipment. A business can normally write off up to $125,000 in spending for equipment such as vehicles, machinery and computers. In 2008, that amount was temporarily increased to $250,000. The stimulus package maintains the $250,000 level through 2009. However, if you already spend more than $800,000 on these types of capital expenditures, the deduction is phased out. For this reason it is geared more toward small business spending.
Hiring tax credits. You can receive a $2,400 credit per worker on your taxes providing you hire a worker who falls in a targeted group of disadvantaged individuals. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit allows a 40% tax claim on the first $6,000 in wages paid to such a worker. Two new categories of disadvantaged workers have been added to the new package. These include veterans who have been unemployed for at least 4 weeks and left the military within the past 5 years, and disconnected youth, with disconnected being defined as between the ages of 16-25 with no formal education and no work in the past six months.
Increased SBA lending. An additional $6 million is allocated to microlending through SBA sponsored non-profit lending organizations. The SBA has also been authorized to temporarily eliminate or reduce fees on their loan guarantee programs, and increases the amount of the guarantee to 90% for qualified loans.

Although there is alot more to the stimulus package than the four items above, we feel that the impact of what is left does not affect ALL small businesses, but may be geared toward certain industries and certain types of businesses. The above four points affect ALL small businesses.

To read a very good article on the full package from Forbes, click here.

HR Compliance for Small Business

2009-02-26T10:44:00.001-08:00

No matter the size of the business, it is important for owners to be aware of the laws that govern hiring, employing and terminating workers. It only takes one disgruntled employee to bring suit against an employer for a practice which may not match the standards for compliance in today's work world.

There is a website (which we've added to our favorite links to the right of this blog) we would like to pass on to small business owners, and anyone, for that matter, interested in finding out more about things like:

developing a policy and procedures manual
sexual harassment and discrimination
payroll management
privacy policy guidelines
developing job descriptions and interview questions
etc.

You can also sign up to receive free and informative e-mail newsletters, such as "Employment Law Today." There is access to free reports, free HR forms, the HR Soapbox Blog and many HR links.

The website, http://www.legalworkplace.com/, belongs to The Alexander Hamilton Institute. In the AHI Store, there are many good products we have used in our SBDC, as well as recommended to others. Our favorite pick is The Complete Policy Handbook, which we use in our offices to assist clients in constructing HR manuals and guidelines. Because of its very fair price ($97.50) most smaller companies can afford the CD--a small price to pay to make sure their operations are litigation-proof.

Check out all of their other products and tools, all very reasonable, and the training sessions offered.

More "Tough Times" Suggestions

2009-02-25T10:05:00.000-08:00

Keith Yurgosky, Internet Business Manager for the Scranton SBDC, found a great blog post the other day on Taking Control in Tough Times: 10 Things You Can Do Now written by Ravit Lichtenberg.

After reading through many of the blog entries on Ravit's blog, we find we like him, so we've linked him in our favorite blog spots over to the right of your screen and we've become a follower.

To access his February 23, 2009 blog post (noted above), click on this link: http://ravitlichtenberg.typepad.com/home/

We decided to do a search for more good "tips and recommendation" sites for small business owners experiencing difficulties in today's economy. Below are just a few sites you may want to visit.

For a great USA Today article, click here. "Tough Times Means You'll Face Hard Choices" by Steve Strauss.

Here's another Ezine article: Top 10 Small Business Tips During A Recession.

Finally, on Smart Money's Small Biz site, there's another tip-oriented article entitled: Quick Tips - How to Recession Proof Your Business.

Read them all and look for the common themes.

If you are a small business owner in Pennsylvania, remember the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center network is also holding a series of workshops for small business owners entitled "Gaining Ground in an Economic Slowdown." These workshops discuss the current state of the economy and assist attendees to understand how to do a cost and cash flow analysis for their business in order to track the impact of the slowdown on their particular situation. Tips on reducing costs and increasing sales are also covered. For more information on where to find a workshop near you, visit http://www.pasbdc.org/.

The "R" Word and Small Business: It's a Jungle Out There!

2009-02-23T16:43:00.001-08:00

Turn on your television to watch the news, read your morning paper, everywhere you look the word "recession" rears its ugly head. It's amazing to me that a word that was mostly avoided up to a year ago and was "something we were not in" according to the past administration, suddenly became the vocabulary of the day.

My theory is, if the government really would like to know when a recession will occur, interview some SBDC consultants. Based on what happened back in the early 90's and what has happened recently, there are certain predictors we often see in terms of the small business habitat.

Not unlike Marlin Perkins and Wild Kingdom, we can do a little safari run, and look at some of the predictors we see that indicate we may be coming into a "dry season."

(1) More existing businesses come into the SBDC experiencing cash flow and payables difficulties.
(2) The lending market tightens up.
(3) Existing businesses request assistance in finding ways to increase sales, which suddenly drop (this is especially true of our retail sector clients).
(4) Existing and start-up businesses look to cheaper marketing avenues or "no cost" marketing, or may, unfortunately, drop all investments in marketing and advertising to cut corners.
(5) Existing businesses request assistance in stepping up their collection efforts (from customers/vendors who are paying them more slowly, or not at all).
(6) More easy-to-start, minimal-cash-required ideas are presented by preventure clients in terms of start ups.
(7) Existing businesses operate leaner. Inventory isn't warehoused or stocked as heavily, worker-bees are kept to those that are needed and there is no job overlap.

Personally, I can remember back in the early 90's trying to caution a start-up wanna-be retailer about the perils of starting her woman's clothing business. I wanted to present all of the market factors at the time which could affect her sales, and encouraged her to be as conservative as possible in her income projections as she approached the bank for financing. That's when I really began to learn the importance of small business starts during a recessionary period. This particular small business start opened her doors at the worst time, only to surpass her sales projections by nearly 20%. Why?

Well, she took advantage of the following characteristics of a recession:
(a) Suppliers to businesses will also be hurting, so it's the best time to negotiate good supplier contracts at less cost.
(b) Competing on service, quality or something other than price keeps the cash flow where it needs to be. By offering something more unique in the way of service (in my example's case, it was child care while you shopped, and dressing rooms that had all the ammenities), customers don't mind that there aren't necessarily price cuts.
(c) When unemployment rises, people start businesses, so the need for a competitive advantage is even more important to consider before entering the market, because more people will be entering it.

Tips For Small Businesses in the Heat of the Recession

In the jungle, when we are down to the last 100 of a certain species, it normally goes on an extinction list. Then alot of effort is put into making sure it survives. In a recession, small businesses need to cultivate their customers in this same manner. Don't let them become extinct. Keep them by doing extra things to make their experience with you better.

Remember, there will be more animals at the watering hole in a dry season. Get there early to drink. Capitalize on the areas of the watering hole that are not populated. Use targeted marketing or niche marketing, designing your goods and/or services to meet the needs of a very specific population. Baby boomers come to mind. I'm one of them. There are lots of us.

The canopy of the jungle landscape can be a good protector against the elements. Be aware of the federal, state and local government policies and programs coming forward in the form of stimulus packages. Your local governments, for instance, could be receiving monies to perform services which your business can assist with. Understand how you may benefit from some of these programs.

Realize that the jungle has preditors. Their hunting increases during difficult jungle times. Don't be a scapegoat. If it looks like a duck and smells like a duck, it's a duck. Don't fall for at-home-money schemes, or quick loans with no fees, or free money scams (see this blog for more info on "free" money). There is no free lunch. Even in the jungle, you have to work for what you eat.

Finally, any jungle analogy would be unfit to print without mentioning jungle law: the strongest survive. Now more than ever, small business becomes the strongest sector of the market. Recession is, after all, just an "R" word.

Small Business IRS Information

2009-02-18T17:51:00.000-08:00

The Small Business IRS Resource Guide is now only available online and no longer in CD format. We thought we'd post the link here for your benefit. Useful tools in the Resource Guide include a checklist for going into business, as well as a link to the Small Business Administration's Frequently Asked Questions.

There is also a very good section on Hiring Employees.

Another good resource on the IRS site is Publication 583: Starting a Business and Keeping Records. This is also available online and as a PDF file.

Stay tuned to the Blog for Tax Information updates as we receive them relative to Small Business issues!

Idle Time - Commercial Bus and Truck Drivers Be Aware!

2009-02-11T10:17:00.000-08:00

If you own a diesel-powered motor vehicle or a property that allows owners of diesel-powered vehicles to park, you need to know about the Diesel Powered Motor Vehicle Idling Act 124 (SB 295). This Act restricts the idling of diesel-powered motor vehicles.

Commercial and school bus drivers, as well as truck drivers, are affected. Specifically, the Act prohibits: "diesel-powered motor vehicle with a gross weight of 10,001 pounds or more engaged in commerce” from causing the engine of the vehicles to idle for more than five minutes in any continuous 60-minute period There are certain exemptions, which include school buses and/or vehicles needing to maintain heat or air conditioning for children or special needs children. The Act is enforceable through fines from $150 to $300 per violation and through enforcement orders and civil penalties.

To read more of the Act click on the word.

This information is presented for our clients who may own bus companies, or independent truck companies. If you have further questions on how this law may apply to you, please contact the SBDC.

Greenwashing...It's not about laundry!

2009-02-09T21:26:00.000-08:00

Well, maybe it is about laundry. It could be if you are buying a product you think may be environmentally friendly, or "green", only to find out that it isn't what it says it is.

TerraChoice Environmental Marketing Inc., in November of 2007, completed a study of products in North American consumer markets, and the environmental claims made by those companies with regard to their products. The results of the study were translated into TerraChoice's "Six Sins of Greenwashing" and make for interesting reading.

Of the 1,018 products reviewed, only ONE came out actually meeting the claims it made.

As SBDC consultants--meeting with clients who may have products they are developing with claims of "all natural" or "earthfriendly"--it is important we advise our clients to be ethical about their marketing standards in terms of the "green" approach. 1,017 products calling wolf is a good example of marketing that is being stretched to capitalize on what is fast becoming a lucrative market niche, and eventually this dilution will cause the consumer to lose confidence in ALL green products, even those that meet their claims.

We encourage you to read the study: http://www.terrachoice.com/files/6_sins.pdf. Pass it on!

Sustainable Agriculture: Farming For the Future Conference

2009-02-06T12:19:00.007-08:00

Four staff members are attending the 18th Annual Farming for the Future Conference run by PASA (Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture) in State College this week. Close to 2000 participants have walked through the conference doors this year and the sessions are informative and chalk full of resources. We are passing a few on to you today, but stay tuned to the blog for our return, when we will pass on many more things we have learned while at the Conference.

If you have not heard of the book Stuffed and Starved by Raj Patel, and you are interested in the way we eat and how we need to change, run right to your bookstore or online ordering process and grab it. Raj Patel was the keynote speaker at the Friday morning conference opening festivities, and delivered one of the best keynotes we've heard in a long time. Raj Patel is a visiting scholar at the Center for African Studies at the University of California at Berkeley, a Fellow at the Institute of Food and Developmental Policy, and a Research Associate at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. With degrees from Oxford, the London School of Economics and Cornell University, Patel has worked for the World Bank, interned at the World Trade Organization, consulted for the United Nations and been involved in international campaigns against his former employers.

His book, noted above, discussed the global food system and explains the paradox of why one billion people are overweight, yet 850 million are still starving. In today's environment of food-related issues, and economic disadvantages facing our farming communities and food growers, Patel is an advocate for the sustainable and organic farm movement.
**********

For those of you who are farm owners, ranch owners, food packers, food producers, processors and distributors, you may be interested in examing information about the Food Alliance at http://www.foodalliance.org/. The Food Alliance, an Oregon based non-profit association, has a certification program geared to fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meats, grains and processed products. A Food Alliance Certification reduces consumer concerns for health, food safety and the environment, and creates market incentives for more sustainable agricultural and food handling practices. The Alliance has established standards for farms and ranchers, as well as standards for processors and distributors. Certification helps add value to your initiative. The Food Alliance will be forging a partnership with PASA in the near future. We will keep you posted on this activity.

Stay tuned next week for more information and resources we will pass on once back from the conference!!

Small Business Layoffs

2009-02-01T07:21:00.000-08:00

I had a phone call last week regarding the need for an area small business to downsize. Their business is seasonal, and the economy has not helped them one iota lately. So, in an effort to survive, they have decided to use a layoff approach with some of their workers, based on season, need, etc.

Based on that call, I thought it might be wise to cover some information on what a small business owner needs to know in terms of layoffs, unemployment compensation, and a policy manual.

First, let me say that I believe it is very important for even very small businesses to have an employee manual. This document can outline what happens in terms of layoffs, such as, how individuals are selected for layoff purposes, or if the type of job lends itself to layoff. For instance, in our area, we have a number of country clubs that have in-house eateries. Some close over the month of January, causing the need for temporary layoffs amongst staff. Staff sign up for unemployment for the period, then report back to work the first week of February. This normal occurrence would be outlined in a policy manual for the establishment.

Layoff decisions can be challenged under discrimination law, so it is important for a business to come up with the reasons for the layoff, based on a set of criteria. A very good discussion on this can be found at the following site: http://www.palaborandemploymentblog.com/2008/09/articles/discrimination-harassment/managing-layoffs-and-reductions-in-force/

This discussion also encompasses the WARN Act (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) which applies to employers with at least 100 full-time employees. This act requires a business to provide employees with at least 60 days written notice before a closing of the business which would involve termination of 50 or more employees or a large layoff involving termination of 33 percent or more of the workforce. An employer that fails to comply with WARN may be liable for back pay and attorney´s fees.

Beyond that, wage and hour laws may also impact layoffs. These laws require employers to pay nonexempt employees for the hours they actually worked. Each state has their own set of wage and hour laws, and there are time periods within which an employee must be paid. If employees were promised they would be paid for accrued, but unused, vacation time, sick time or personal days, state law requires that the employer honor the promise. Actually, in some cases, even in the absence of such agreements, state law may still require payment of these items. These items are often rolled into something called "separation pay."

COBRA is a much used word today, especially in the face of job loss and economically-fueled layoffs. Employers with 20 or more employees are usually required to offer COBRA coverage and to notify their employees of the availability of such coverage. In a layoff situation, employees would be offered the option to continue their current health coverage, however, they have to pay for the coverage themselves. It is best to discuss the options of such coverage with the insurance agency a small business is using to cover employee health benefits, to discover the nuances of the items that will surround payments, amounts, etc.

A business owner should also develop a layoff letter to present to the employee, covering some of the elements discussed in this very good on-line article: http://www.thehrspecialist.com/17873/How_to_write_a_legally_safe_layoff_letter.hr?cat=terminations&sub_cat=layoffs

Finally, there is the question of whether vacation benefits and accrued time might affect unemployment collection amounts. For the most part, any lump sum payouts which show up in the final paycheck, have no bearing on the unemployment compensation picture. However, a severed employee cannot receive unemployment benefits for any day they also received vacation benefits, so if an employee decides to use vacation days as part of the layoff, (or if you, as an employer REQUIRE that they be used as part of the layoff) that employee will not be eligible for unemployment for the days chosen as benefit days.

Also, vacation pay or holiday pay may be deducted from an employees' unemployment compensation benefits depending on whether or not the employer has given them a definite date to return to work at the time of layoff. If an employee was not given a definite date to return to work, any vacation or holiday pay paid to them when the job ends is NOT deducted from their weekly benefit amount. If an employee is given a definite date to return to work, any vacation or holiday pay for the period of the temporary layoff IS deductible from their benefts.

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry is a good source of information with regard to the type of questions which surround layoffs. To access their website, go here: http://www.dli.state.pa.us/landi/cwp/view.asp?a=355&q=235210 which will direct you immediately to the Unemployment Compensation section.

While I hate the topic, I feel it is an important discussion for our small business owners. Our SBDC has a Human Resource specialty as part of its program efforts. If a small business owner has any questions concerning issues surrounding employees, employment and other HR related topics, feel free to contact our office. If we don't have the answer, we'll find it for you!

FREE MONEY $$$$$$$$$ FOR SMALL BUSINESS: The Myth Lives On

2009-01-30T07:20:00.000-08:00

Once in a while I stay up pretty late watching some old movie that I can't seem to pass up. It's during this late night venue that the commercials and ads often feature someone discussing their latest book on how to obtain "free money" from the government for starting a business, paying your household bills, etc.

I've always wondered: IF this free money exists, why isn't the person in the infomercial getting some? Why do they have to sell a book?

Heck, if money were that easy to come by, I'd be out there myself signing up for it, and you'd find me vacationing in Tuscany rather than writing this Blog!

So, I've set out to find what is written about FREE MONEY and better educate you on that subject.

Here's a good response by Business Week's Karen Klein: http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/0001/sa000111.htm

It's a bit dated, but it still holds true today.

Business Week stepped up to the plate on this issue again in 2008, with the resulting response by Kerry Miller, definitively touching on my favorite question-mark-coated book author: Matthew Lesko, of late night running-around-the-capitol fame.

http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/feb2008/sb20080226_339856.htm

About.com has a great two part article on Government grants you may want to check out:

http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa060400a.htm

Hopefully, this will answer some of the questions you may have had on where to find all of this grant money that really does not exist. I just got a new kitten, and I forgot how often they run around in circles chasing their tail until they figure out it is attached to their body. Hopefully, this will save some of you from having to run around in those same circles looking for that ever popular, in late-night-ads and on-the-internet, free money myth.

Is Your Small Business Healthy?

2009-01-29T16:38:00.001-08:00

Today was Wellness Day at The University. Employees are invited to spend their day being proactive about their health and well-being by attending hour sessions and activities geared to sparking enthusiasm about taking care of themselves. It's a very good day, not only in that it exposes us to many ways we can work at becoming stronger and healthier in the upcoming year, but because it's a well-organized program with plenty of good things to learn!

This got me thinking. When can we say a small business is healthy? Is it simply a matter of profits, or are there other things involved. So I did some research, and below is a synopsis of what the experts say makes a small business a healthy business. You may be surprised at some of the items.

(1) The business has a clear direction, mission, or set of goals and is clearly defined and focused.
Focused businesses have people all working toward the same thing, and not running around in circles trying to accomplish 50 things at once. They are not trying to be all things to all people, but they are trying to be the BEST at some THING that they do very well. Focus also involves employees, making sure they know what is expected of them in their jobs, and asking them to meet the requirements of performance for each of their positions.

(2) The goals are monitored/measured as to what is achieved on a monthly, semiannual and yearly basis.
Goals are meant to be measured. You don't just set them and say "that's nice." You set them and check back on them regularly to see how far you've come in meeting them. That's why every goal should have the following elements: (a) state the objective; (b) state the expected result; (c) quantify the goal for measuring purposes; (d) set a deadline/date for completion.
An example of a poorly worded goal might be: "Improve customer contact to be more effective."
There is no mention of how to improve it, by when, or how improvement will be measured. AND, who defines "effective?" What exactly will be considered effective? A better way to word that goal would be: "Monitor customer interactions by surveying 10% of the customer base each year." This goal implies a survey will be designed as a measuring tool, one which would ask questions that help us define what is and isn't effective. The goal also tells us exactly how many surveys we will do in the course of a year (12 month period). Ultimately, many better measurements could come from this goal.

(3) Business owners set aside time to plan for the business' success.
I've met plenty of business owners who tell me they don't have the time to do alot of things. They don't have the time to take classes and continue their education. They don't have the time to attend business functions, community activities, or networking opportunities. They don't have the time to plan, they are too busy running their businesses!
I do understand that running a business is, well, BUSY....but, if you don't make the time to plan for your future, to set those goals, to set the direction, you will eventually find that you are not as competitive in the marketplace as you should be. Planning is key to the success of a business.

(4) Owners examine their environment, including their competitors, regularly.
This can almost be tied to number (3). Time needs to be given to watching what is happening in the marketplace around the business, to examine what competitors are doing, and to figure out what responses YOUR business will make (if any) to the findings. If you know, for instance, that a competitor is missing the mark with a certain type of customer, you may be able to fill that gap and supply that customer with what he or she needs. But you won't know that unless you make some time to look the situation over. Healthy, successful businesses do not live in their own little shell. They are constantly interacting with their environments and surroundings, pulling pieces of information from their interactions which may be used to better their businesses.

(5) A healthy business has the resources available to do what it has planned. (And if it doesn't, it finds them and puts them in place.)
The term "resources" applies to many things: people, capital, facilities, equipment, etc. A business should not plan itself OUT of business. That is, if the goal requires more people with certain types of capabilities be employed in the business to see the goal through, then the business needs to have the capital in place to hire those individuals and find those capabilities. If it doesn't, it may have to scale back or attempt the goal in phases. It's okay to set some challenging goals for the future, but don't rush into them until you have the resources in place to assist you in achieving them.

(6) The owner understands how to construct a Cash Flow Statement.
If there's one thing I know for sure, it's that a Cash Flow Statement is the truest picture a business can have of the flow of money in and out of the business. If a business owner could only pick one statement to concentrate on in terms of helping them to understand trends in their business, and how those trends affect their available cash, this is it! If you are thinking right now that you have no idea what a Cash Flow is, go back up to (3) above and set aside some time to take a seminar in understanding Cash Flow. (You may also sit down with an SBDC counselor and have them explain it to you.)

(7) A healthy business pays its people and its vendors regularly.
This probably doesn't need much of an explanation. If you are good at (6) above, you have a head start. Healthy businesses maintain their expenses. It's as simple as that.

(8) A healthy business is a fun place to be.
There really wouldn't be anything healthy about going to your business on a daily basis and hating it. You have to like what you do. You also need to work at making your business environment a great place for your customers, suppliers, employees and others to be.

These are just a few of the characteristics I've found that are related to healthy businesses. Can you find more? If you do, post a comment and tell us where you found the items, or give us your opinion on what you think makes your business healthy!

STARTING A BUSINESS?

2009-01-28T08:04:00.000-08:00

What do you need to know when thinking about starting a business? Well, we recommend a number of things.

First, you need to know that you will be dedicating alot of hours to your start up and to running your business in general. Also, that in the initial stages, you may wear alot of hats: bookkeeper, planner, owner, marketer, etc. You need to be prepared for this. It isn't easy and it's going to require your persistence and enthusiasm every day.

You also need to sit down and begin to put the "operations" of your business in writing. Often called a business plan, this document will serve as a measuring tool down the road, and a guide for you and others who join the business.

As part of your plan, you will be doing research regarding the type of business you are looking to open. Hopefully, this is something you are interested in, have a background in, and perhaps may have even worked in the field and/or been educated in the field before start up. You don't have to know every nuance of the field, but you have to be aware of some of the basics involved. For example, a person who worked as a buyer for a local women's clothing store for five years, would be an excellent candidate to think about starting their own shop. They know the basics of the business, have experience in some of its aspects in terms of management, and have a basic understanding of the market and costs associated with opening this type of concern.

Trade associations are a good place to look for information that is industry specific, such as how much consumers spend in a given industry, sales and outlook forcasts for the industry, and other significant and specific information relative to each sector. To find a trade association geared toward the type of business you wish to start, go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_industry_trade_groups_in_the_United_States. While not a comprehensive listing, it is a start. You can also "Google" your industry, plus the words "trade association" to find more associations in your business category. (Example: Womens Retail Clothing Trade Association).

We advise that you explore all the expenses and costs associated with starting your business, to help in the development of a solid CASH FLOW document. A good example of cash flow statements (with an excellent discussion and explanation) can be found at this site: http://www.toolkit.com/small_business_guide/sbg.aspx?nid=P06_6400.

Once your cash flow is constructed, look at the bottom line--the full year of projected cash flow--and ask yourself: "Do I have the capital to cover this activity in my business for the first six months? The first year?" If not, you may need to seek outside sources of funding. To start up without making sure your business is covered financially will mean you will start "undercapitalized" and this can cause problems down the road, such as relying on personal credit cards to finance your business, not being able to pay your accounts payable on a timely basis, etc.

In the State of Pennsylvania, there are three basic items a would-be entrepreneur needs to consider for start-up purposes. These include: (1) registering the name of your business; (2) obtaining an Employers Identification Number; and (3) obtaining a sales tax number. There may also be some local or municipal concerns in terms of business start up. It all depends on where you are located and what type of business you are starting. For example: If you decide you would like to start a car wash in a given municipality, there will most certainly be zoning and environmental issues surrounding this type of start up.

The University of Scranton SBDC can assist you in your start up, by guiding you through the steps discussed above. For more information on how you can become a client, contact our Center at (570) 941-7588 or 800-829-SBDC. You may also fill out an online "Request for Counseling" form on our website: http://www.scrantonsbdc.com/.

(1) Fictitious Name Registration in PA

(2) Employers Identification Number
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=102767,00.html

(3) Pennsylvania State Sales Tax
http://www.pa100.state.pa.us/

Food Specialty News

2009-01-27T12:09:00.000-08:00

If you have ever thought about packaging up that sauce that everyone tells you is SOOOO good, and selling it in the food marketplace, you may want to attend the Nebraska National Small Food Manufacturer Conference, April 23-24, 2009 in Lincoln, Nebraska. For more information on the conference go here: http://www.fpc.unl.edu/nsfmc/ (a nice overview of the conference, topics and break out sessions).

More local, and upcoming, is the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture's (PASA) http://www.pasafarming.org/conf2009/ farming for the future conference held in State College. If you farm or are a producer in Pennsylvania, this is a must go! Let us know if you are going to be there, and after the conference, let us know what session you liked best!!!

If you have other questions with regard to developing your specialty product, you can contact our Agribusiness and Food Specialty Center at (570) 941-7588. Ask to speak with Maria or Elaine!

Scranton SBDC Joins The Blog World!

2009-01-27T11:42:00.001-08:00

Welcome to the University of Scranton SBDC Blog!

We hope you will check back often to see what's happening at the SBDC, to ask questions about starting and running a successful business and to tell us about yourself and what you need to succeed in the small business world.

The SBDC offers FREE and CONFIDENTIAL one-on-one consulting to small business owners and those thinking about starting a business. The SBDC also offers training and educational programs in various aspects of small business management, start up, and business planning. We will be sure to post upcoming trainings to the blog!

In the meantime, be sure to check in for tips in strengthening and running your business in a difficult economy.

The network of SBDCs is 18 strong in Pennsylvania. For a list of where the PA SBDCs are located, go here: http://www.pasbdc.org/. Not just limited to Pennsylvania, the SBDC network can be found nationwide. For a listing of an SBDC near you, go here: http://www.asbdc.org/.

The SBDC network in PA is funded by the Small Business Administration and the Department of Community and Economic Development (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania), as well as, in most cases, by the college and university host institutions at which they are located. This public/private partnership allows you to access small business assistance to assist you in keeping your operations competitive, viable and successful.

For more information on the Scranton SBDC program, go here: http://www.scrantonsbdc.com/.

Happy Blogging!