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Since June 15, 2009, the United States Small Business Administration has been processing deferred payment small business loans of as much as $35,000 to be given out to 10,000 small businesses. This is covered by the SBAâ??s Americaâ??s Recovery Capital (ARC) Loan Program.

To qualify, companies should be private enterprises that are for-profit. They should have up to five hundred employees only and should be at least two years old. Furthermore, they should be able to prove financial need with a twenty percent decrease in sales, revenue or working capital. On the other hand, they should be able to prove that one of their two years in business has been profitable, and that with the infusion of cash they will be able to meet their existing and future debt obligations. This means positive cash flow projections. The ARC small business loans are intended to be used to pay outstanding debt such as payables to vendors.

For this batch of small business loans, there are no fees or costs involved, except if the borrower defaults on the loan later. In that case the SBA-approved lender can charge costs for securing and liquidating collateral.

The ARC small business loans also do not charge interest. Actually, the SBA pays the interest for the borrowers. Disbursement of the loan can take as much as six months but payment of the principal is also deferred for the next 12 months. After that, the borrower has five years to repay the loan principal.

Each small business can only avail of one ARC loan. SBA-approved lenders will offer the loans until September 30, 2010 or until available funds run out, whichever comes first.

There are, however, an estimated 30 million small businesses in the United States and only 10,000 of them can avail of the governmentâ??s small business loans. What if you do not happen to be among the 10,000 lucky recipients? How will your small business survive?

There are even doubts being raised on whether as much as 10,000 businesses can indeed avail of the ARC loans. There are fears that there may not be enough lenders willing or able to participate in the program. Lenders will have to advance the full amount of the loan, will not receive payment on principal for a full year, and will not be able to charge any fees, thereby absorbing all administrative costs. This may be too steep for many lenders. They may not be able to afford to participate at all.

This is where you as a small business owner can and should maximize your credit card services. We are not talking about your personal credit card services here. Instead, we are referring to the merchant services that enable your small business to receive credit card  and debit card payments. Surely, any business these days avails of these types of credit card services. After all, more people pay by credit card or debit card rather than cash.

Most credit card services offer small business cash advances that can be as substantial as small business loans. These small business loans do not require any collateral because they are secured by your companyâ??s future credit card receivables. This is even more convenient for your business because repayment is also built into those receivables. Credit card services automatically deduct a percentage from your income to go toward loan repayment. For as long as you have incoming sales, you can support your loan. Interest rates are often quite affordable considering how the loan can help your business.

Small businesses should therefore look into maximizing these credit card services for small business loans. The survival of your business could hinge on this.

A small business company, whether in Tampa or anywhere else in the United States, will always need a small business VOIP phone system at the core of its operations. This is necessary not only to remain competitive but also to continue to grow and even expand. If the business is in Tampa, it would be best to also find a suitable supplier and service provider in Tampa.

A reputable supplier and service provider should be able to maintain the client’s current phone systems and provide local and long distance phone service; IP/VoIP telecommunications solutions; digital phone systems with IP/VoIP capabilities; SIP trunking; Voice T1; ISDN PRI T1; new and used phone systems with voice mail and warranties; computer networking; internet access; recording of phone calls, emails, screen shots and instant messaging; recorded promotions played while on hold; loudspeaker paging and music for offices or plants; and voice and data cabling.

The best choices in phone systems these days are the NEC phone system, BCM phone system and Vertical phone system. It would be good to find a supplier and service provider that offers these.

Having a VoIP phone system is a basic need of any small business. VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. While the old phone system used the Public Switched Telephone Network or PSTN, the VoIP phone system sends voice communications through the internet and other IP networks. This is why the digital phone system is also called as IP Telephony or the IP Telephone System. It transforms the analog voice signal a digital format which are transmitted online as internet protocol packets.

For the VoIP phone system to be functional, the use of SIP / VOIP phones is required. The three different kinds of SIP / VOIP phones are software based SIP / VOIP phones, USB SIP / VOIP phones and hardware SIP / VOIP phones.

The software based SIP / VOIP phone, also referred to as the soft phone, is not a physical telephone but a computer program or software. When installed in the computer it enables the caller to use the computer’s built in microphone and speakers or an attached headset to make a call through the internet.

The USB SIP / VOIP phone combines the software or computer program of the soft phone with an actual physical telephone. The physical telephone is plugged into a computer through a USB port in order to be able to use the software while functioning as the microphone and speaker or as a headset.

The hardware SIP / VOIP phone is almost exactly like any normal telephone except for the fact that it shares a network connection with a computer by being connected to the same mini hub.

Any small business VOIP phone system requires a wide range of voice and data cabling products and installation services for its full operations. A supplier and service provider should, therefore, be an expert in all these. It is always best to work with a supplier and service provider that has a long established reputation. One such company is Digital South Communications which has been serving over 3,000 clients satisfactorily since 1991. Although based in Tampa, it serves clients throughout the country with its network of affiliated dealers.

This weekly newsletter gives you 4 mini-business-plans for new business ideas in each issue. These are for proven money-making business ideas – someone, somewhere, is making money with them. Each issue also reviews a successful ad.
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In the midst of the global economic crisis, many small businesses are on the brink of closing down if not enough capital infusion is found. It is now even more difficult to get small business loans from banks, though. Ironically, the exact reasons why small businesses need such small business loans – the fact that business has slowed down and profitability has plummeted – are the same reasons why banks turn them down for loans.

Small businesses now have to be more resourceful in finding alternatives to small business loans.

Government Grants and Contracts Instead of Small Business Loans

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed by President Obama in February 2009 caused the pumping of billions of dollars for the revitalization of the economy. Because of it, there are plenty of government grants and contracts available to small businesses. These can be alternatives to small business loans.

But how can small businesses avail of the stimulus program?

The Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (APTAC) has the responsibility for helping small businesses obtain and perform federal, state and local government contracts. It has Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC) throughout the country, ready to help small business owners to get registered and find opportunities in the area of government grants and contracts. Counselors assist small businesses in filling out bids, proposals and quotations.

The PTAC holds seminars teaching small business owners all the ins and outs of government legalese, including acronyms and registries. A one-day seminar with PTAC covers what small business owners may take months to learn on their own.

The PTAC then helps small businesses with Central Contractor Registration (CCR), a requirement for doing business with the federal government. This registration can be so complicated that some companies take two days to do it when the PTAC counselor can help them get through it in 15 minutes.

Local PTACs will be of help in acquiring state and municipal contracts.

Other resources that small business owners should consult include the Small Business Administration (SBA) which also coordinates with the APTAC; the General Services Administration (GSA) which acts as the government’s purchasing department and provides information on becoming an approved vendor; the Federal Business Opportunities website (fbo.gov) where federal contract opportunities currently available are posted; and the Small Business Innovation Research website (sbir.gov) where grant and funded research opportunities for small businesses are listed.

Cash Advances from Credit Card Services Instead of Small Business Loans

Another alternative to small business loans are cash advances from credit card services. This option is much easier than winning government grants and contracts.

Most small businesses are already availing of credit card services that enable them to accept payments by credit cards or debit cards. This is practically a requirement to doing business these days, with people hardly paying cash for goods and services. Many small business owners do not know that they could avail of cash advances from these credit card services, though, and that such advances can actually equal small business loans.

The amount that a small business can borrow is based on its average monthly income from credit card sales. This is so because the cash advance does not require collateral and future sales receivables from credit cards stand as the collateral. Payment will also be done through automatic deductions from those future credit card sales. There will be no set monthly amortizations. Instead, a certain percentage of the sales will be allotted as payment. The small business owner, therefore, need not worry over where to find cash for loan payments.

Cash advances from credit card services are the best bet of small business owners as alternatives to small business loans.

Setting up a home-based business may be a more cost-effective alternative to setting up a major company, but it may still drain the limited resources of a small business owner. To keep the business going, small business loans will definitely be necessary. These can be availed of through credit card services. This article will show you how.

First, you need to set up your home based business. Do your research on the type of business you want to establish. Find out what licensing and zoning requirements you need to meet and ensure that you meet them all. Do not attempt to cut corners here.

Get the services of an accountant, even if only on a consultancy basis, to help you set up your books and records correctly from the start. Ask for help in determining deductions so that you can plan on your business expenses. Establish a routine for keeping strict records of all income and expenses right from day one. Keep all business related receipts, invoices, client records, bank statements, bank deposit slips and canceled checks.

Being home-based, you need to set aside a particular place in your home just for your business. Make sure it can accommodate all the necessary equipment. Check that you have the appropriate electrical outlets and have them installed if needed to avoid overloading your system. Set up rules to keep the area insulated from household noise and disturbances.

Have a business phone installed that is separate from your residential line. Avoid having your children answer the business line. Install an answering machine to take calls when you are out or occupied.

Get a post office box so that you can use that address in your official stationery and other documents, keeping your business profile professional. Hold client meetings in rented conference rooms or set business meetings in good restaurants.

One of the most important steps in setting up your home-based business is to acquire credit card services that will enable you to accept credit card payments and debit card payments. These credit card services provide all the necessary software and hardware for you to be able to process payments in person, online or by phone. This step alone already expands the customer base that you can access.

Credit card services will also serve you well once your home-based business begins to feel the need for additional capital. When you need to get small business loans, you will not have to approach banks which are most likely not sympathetic to small home-based businesses.

The need for small business loans usually comes when the home-based business is already at least a year old. At such time, your home-based business would have created an average monthly credit card sales record with your credit card services company. You can refer to that when you approach your credit card services company for small business loans, sometimes called cash advances.

Credit card services do offer small business loans to their clients based on average monthly credit card sales, without the need for any collateral. The aforementioned average monthly credit card sales guarantee your companyâ??s capability to pay the small business loans. Payments will be automatically deducted as a percentage of future credit card sales. This arrangement frees you from worrying about the amortization for your small business loans, too.

As soon as you pay up your small business loans completely, you are automatically eligible for new small business loans for as long as your home-based business is getting a good monthly average in credit card sales. With the help of credit card services, you can continue to expand and grow your home-based business.

It’s very common nowadays for businesses in France, big and small, to do business with Americans. The Internet and other communication technology have facilitated easy international communication and inexpensive global marketing. Even so, when you’re dealing with an overseas company you like to establish their credibility before you place your order. When dealing with American companies, many overseas buyers are careful to check that they’re dealing with a legitimate company – preferably one with a verifiable street address. Americans are just as careful when buying from overseas firms.

If your main business location is in France and you’re not in a financial position to open your own office overseas, there’s no reason for you to miss out on tapping into one of the biggest marketplaces in the world. With VH International Business Solutions, obtaining a legitimate and verifiable virtual office address and telephone number is easy.

Having a virtual office in a major business center isn’t as expensive as you might think. For just $25 a month you can have a virtual office address in Manhattan for your business cards and website. Should anyone stop in at your office address they’ll be greeted by staff at our reception and a message will be taken.

You can choose from other services too – like mail forwarding and a local Manhattan telephone number with a messaging service or live answering. Mail and telephone messages can be forwarded to you promptly and should you need anything faxed in the US, our staff will be happy to help you. Your clients will never imagine you are working overseas.

If you’re at a level where you travel internationally to meet clients, your virtual office can become your physical office space too. We have meeting spaces and private office space that are available at a low cost for temporary usage – so you can meet your prospective American clients at your New York virtual office!

Having a virtual office address overseas can enhance your international business prospects and give you increased credibility. If you’re planning on expanding in, why not dip your toe into international waters with a New York office from VH International Business Solutions? At $25 a month, there’s little to lose and much to gain!

Starting a business and making it successful encompasses a great deal of work, but sometimes it gets overwhelming and you feel that selling it is the best option for you. While the current business market is shaky with the global recession affecting everything, you still have a good opportunity to sell your business. Even if you decide to wait until the economy is in a better state, you can be preparing your business for sale. Here are some things to consider while preparing to sell your business.

1.    If you have any problems within your business whatsoever try to get them resolved as soon as you can. Talk to any business partners about major decisions concerning the business and its sale, and make sure that a buy and sell agreement is in place before any sale is finalised to ensure a smooth transition.

2.    Work on getting all of your financial documents up to date and as accurate as possible. This is a great way to impress the buyer of the businesses acumen, and it will help convince them that the business is worth the price you are asking for it. It’s best to be up front and honest about all aspects of your business as well. Even if there is something negative in the businesses history, not revealing it could lose the sale.

3.    Be prepared to help finance the sale of your business, because the current economic conditions could keep the buyer from getting funding put into place. You can also start looking for a reliable business broker to help you in your search for buyers. They will be able to qualify the buyers for you based on their financial credibility and their ability to successfully run a business.

4.    Discuss with the business broker the price you should be asking for your business. They have all of the expertise needed to help you determine a price for your business that is based on the current economic conditions, how the marketplace is moving, and how a realistic price will help you sell your business instead of leaving you out in the cold because your price is simply too high.

5.    Stay in constant communication with your business broker throughout the preparation of the business for the sale all the way through to the finalisation of the sale itself. They know where to list your business for sale, who to contact and speak to during inquiries about the sale and ways to get the transaction completed in a reasonable amount of time.  They will act as your representative for the buyer and they can assess the offers that come into their office. They can also help you structure the final sales transaction, and by working with them consistently you can build a trusting relationship that will benefit your business.

While waiting for the business to sell it is advisable to keep the business running as efficiently and profitably as possible, letting the business broker hand the sale for you. They are working on your behalf and by allowing them to handle all of the sales aspects for you; you can concentrate on making sure the business remains running at peak efficiency.

It’s very common nowadays for Australian businesses, big and small, to do business with Americans. The Internet and other communication technology have facilitated easy international communication and inexpensive global marketing. Even so, when you’re dealing with an overseas company you like to establish their credibility before you place your order. When dealing with American companies, many overseas buyers are careful to check that they’re dealing with a legitimate company – preferably one with a verifiable street address. Americans are just as careful when buying from overseas firms.

If your main business location is in Australia and you’re not in a financial position to open your own NY offices, there’s no reason for you to miss out on tapping into one of the biggest marketplaces in the world. Obtaining a legitimate and verifiable NY office address and telephone number is as easy as obtaining a NY virtual office.

Having a NY virtual office isn’t as expensive as you might think. For just $25 a month you can have a NY office address for your business cards and website from VH International Business Solutions. Should anyone stop in at your office address they’ll be greeted by staff at our reception and a message will be taken.

You can choose from other services too – like mail forwarding and a NY telephone number with a messaging service or live answering. Mail and telephone messages can be forwarded to you promptly and should you need anything faxed in the US, our staff will be happy to help you. Your clients won’t know you’re not physically in New York.

If you’re at a level where you travel internationally to meet clients, your NY virtual office can become your physical office space too. We have meeting spaces and private office space that are available at a low cost for temporary usage – so you can meet your prospective American clients at your NY office!

Having a NY office address can enhance your international business prospects and give you increased credibility. If you’re planning on expanding in 2010, why not dip your toe into international waters with a New York virtual office from VH International Business Solutions? At $25 a month, there’s little to lose and much to gain!

Today, the popularity of building a new business to get high profit is become highly increasing since long time ago. There are many kinds of business that you may easily find in this modern era. Real estate business is also become one of the most essential part for your company. There are many ways that you may easily do in order to make your real estate business become highly increasing. You may try to use mobile app which will help you to make the best marketing service for your business. The popularity of mobile application is become highly increasing today. You just need to choose the best service to make your company become more profitable.

If you are interested with mobile marketing, you may try to go to Cellit.com. This is become one of the most popular place for you in order to develop any kinds of groundbreaking mobile programs. It will be suitable for any kinds of clients which are come in many sizes. This program will be suitable for any kinds of mobile phone marketing service. They will be very helpful to make a true relationship between the customer and management. This company is also providing the best tools which will be suitable for mobile conversation. You may learn more about sms marketing platform which is offers by this company. You will be easy to deliver your campaign, latest products, and latest price of your products through sms to the iPhone, Android, and Blackberry app. This content is very easy to understand for your customer. Besides that text message crm is also easy to manage for your company. This text messaging system will be very helpful to build your reputation to your customer. They will give you the innovative mobile solution for your service. Besides that, if you are interested to find the best strategy for your real estate business, you may try to go to House4cell.com. House4Cell is become one of the most popular technology for many kinds of real estate business, that will gives you an easy way to share update information about your business. This mobile program is very powerful to your clients.

It will be better for you to use mobile couponing by choosing text message coupons. It will be very helpful for you to cut off the price when you want to get the best price for this marketing strategy with mobile coupon. You just need to go to this web page to get mobile coupons information.

A small business VOIP phone system is a must as one of the core equipment of any small business company in Tampa, or in any part of the country for that matter. This is needed for the company to maintain its competitive edge and therefore to continue its growth and expansion. It is, therefore, crucial for any small business company to be able to source out a reputable and reliable supplier and service provider in Tampa.

Among the expected services to be offered by a reputable supplier and service provider are maintenance of the client’s current phone systems and provision of local and long distance phone service; IP/VoIP telecommunications solutions; digital phone systems with IP/VoIP capabilities; SIP trunking; Voice T1; ISDN PRI T1; new and used phone systems with voice mail and warranties; computer networking; internet access; recording of phone calls, emails, screen shots and instant messaging; recorded promotions played while on hold; loudspeaker paging and music for offices or plants; and voice and data cabling. It should also be able to offer the top brands in phone systems such as the NEC phone system, BCM phone system and Vertical phone system.

A VoIP phone system, meaning Voice over Internet Protocol, is basic for every business concern nowadays. The VoIP phone system, also known as the digital phone system, IP Telephony and IP Telephone System, sends out voice communications via the internet and other IP networks. This modern phone system changes the analog voice signal into digital format and transmits it online as internet protocol packets.

There are three kinds of SIP / VOIP phones used in the VoIP phone system.

The software based SIP / VOIP phone is also called the soft phone. It is actually a computer program or software and not a physical telephone. The program or software is installed in the computer upon which a call can already be made through the internet using the built in microphone and speakers or an attached headset.

The USB SIP / VOIP phone is made up of both the computer program of the soft phone and a physical telephone which also has to be plugged into the computer through a USB port. The physical telephone is then used to make the online call.

The hardware SIP / VOIP phone is a physical telephone that makes a call through the internet by sharing a network connection with a computer. The telephone and the computer will have to share the same mini hub.

For a small business VOIP phone system to be able to be operated fully, it requires a wide range of voice and data cabling products and installation services. The company’s supplier and service provider should provide all the necessary expertise for all of these. It should also have a solid reputation in this field, based on experience and client satisfaction. Digital South Communications in Tampa, for example, has been satisfying more than 3,000 clients since 1991, reaching even clients in other parts of the United states through a network of affiliated dealers.