Small Business News: Starting Your New Business In A New Year

Whether your starting a new business or rethinking an existing one, 2011 offers fresh possibilities and a new start. If you’re launching a new business, there have never been more resources available to start you on your way. If you have an existing business, look for resources and strategies to make the most of it for a new start in a new year. We hope the advice and resources below will help.

Funding

Tips for raising small business capital. Raising money to start your business may be among your most important steps in the process of getting your small business up and running and make no mistake, it isn’t easy. But with five easy steps you make the prospecting process much easier by establishing a business model, a product and an easily understandable picture of the value your company represents. lawag.com

Self-development

Can your small business change the world? More than simply turn a profit, does your business create true value in a way that changes the world in which we live? Social entrepreneurship is taking this philosophy to whole new level and as you consider your new or existing business in 2011, it may not be a bad idea to figure out where you fit in. YoungUpstarts

What do you want from your business in 2011? As crazy as it may sound, coming up with a set of New Year’s resolutions may be more than just a Holiday tradition. It could be a critical way for either starting a new venture or making important changes to an existing one. Entrepreneur Andre Taylor has some exciting ideas along these lines in this short video. Small Business Loan Blog

Inspiration

What are your small business ideas? Entrepreneur and blogger Ivan Widjaya has a few of his own to share. The business ideas in this list aren’t exactly specific but explore some brand new trends out there that could stand a second look. It’s a great idea to look at some new possibilities when considering starting a new business or branching into a new product or service. Here are some ideas to get the creative juices flowing. Noobpreneur

Survey Says

Some entrepreneurs far from frustrated. The optimism rate amongst entrepreneurs has fluctuated up and down during the tough economic times we’ve all experienced recently. But just how enthusiastic small business people are about the future kind of depends upon who you ask. Here’s one ray of sunshine amongst participants of a recent survey conducted by a blog targeted at solo entrepreneurs that suggests their outlook is far from gloomy. The Solopreneur Life

Community

Staying engaged with your customer base. Whether they’re the people that read your blog, follow you on Twitter and Facebook, buy your products and services or refer others to you, your network is a community that must be nurtured. If you’re just starting a business, this could involve building a network in the first place. If you have a business it means keeping that network energized. Epic Launch

Branding

By any other name. Yes, that new product, business or service name certainly can be important. Think of how much is riding on your choice! No, maybe it’s a better idea that you don’t go overboard fretting about this particular choice. Instead, get educated about the best way to identify a new business or revitalize an old one. Fast Company

Operations

Little changes can make the biggest difference. In his first post of the New Year, David Siteman Garland talks about the small alterations you can make in a new business or an existing business that lead to big differences down the road. Sure, it’s easy to look at what needs to change and get done in the coming year and to get overwhelmed and intimidated as a result. But sometimes smaller, simpler changes are what count. The Rise to the Top

What’s the hottest new business idea? It’s inevitable around this time of year. Heck, we just shared a list of small business prospects earlier in this roundup. And that overwhelming list gets longer when you add those “hot” new franchise opportunities. Do yourself a favor, suggests Joel Libava. Do some due diligence. No idea is hot for everyone. Find the business model that works for you. The Franchise King

The Bookshelf

Want to win in 2011? Read this book! Ivana Taylor reviews a book by Rick Kash and David Calhoun with lessons for companies large and small. As its title implies, Kash and Calhoun’s book rethinks the way that companies look at satisfying customers, something every business should be examining as a way to succeed bigger in 2011. Small Business Trends

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