BUSINESS NEWS

Hot Topics

Tips of the Week:

Wondering about the productivity of Social Media venues? Check out this Monetate report Ecommerce Quarterly Report, Q1 2013 - Email marketing is still king of conversions!

Computer Security Advised to choose/create strong passwords? Check out Intel's How Strong is Your Password site.

Small Business Loans: Implications of Budget Changes at SBA  Read more ...

8 Hot Industries for Start-ups - Looking for ideas or high growth industries, consider these ...

Our website has been MOBILIZED!

It can be viewed entriely on your mobile device(s). Check out these other new features:

• Calendar of Events
  
• Weather widget/alerts

More features coming soon! See below.

Funding Opportunity  Between April 2nd and May 12th, 2013, small business owners can tell Intuit what they need through the Small Business Growing Strong campaign.

Verify employment eligibility for all  employees. Read the USCIS Press Release and/or
 download Form I-9.

Can I learn to become an entrepreneur? Interesting question. Read NYReport about Entrepreneurship: The New Frontier and who should teach the required skills set.

Marketers & Small Business Owners:

Crowdfunding is  the wave of the future in funding.   View the report on Equity Crowdfunding Activity.

View this interesting report on the demographics of Social Media users

NEW FEATURES to our website:
Weather forecast & weather alerts.
Check here for facility closings affecting classes or advisory services.

COMING SOON to our website: updates for improved functionality and content. Here's just a few of the improvements that are still coming:

• On-line availability of class handouts for attendees only
• Expanded resource pages with internal searching
• Preferred-client-only section

INNOVATION SPOTLIGHT: New ideas & business opportunities.

• Musician expands revenue base through multi-media packaging of album, book & film. See/hear how it’s done with Pines.
  
• Soldsie enables online purchases through Facebook comments. Learn more ...
  
•  Rugged 15-pound devices serves as a portable emergency room. Meet LifeBot.
  
•  Shiseido introduces new makeup foundation that washes off with warm water but not cold. Check out Fullmake Washable Base.
  
•  Driverless electric shuttle by Navia is designed for busy urban areas like airports, malls, etc. Discover how …
  
•  Top 10 business ideas & opportunities for 2013. Get inspired ...

Check out how NW-NJSBDC partner Business Fundability can help your business. A few NW-NJSBDC clients have improved Business & Personal credit and received funding.

Weather Alerts: Look here for delayed openings or closings due to inclement weather.

PROGRAMS

Events, Alerts & Polls

Veterans program POSTPONED

Originally scheduled to be held: Centenary College 10 am - Noon, May 23, this event will be postponed for a few months. Check back in early Fall for details. 

MISSED IT? State of Entrepreneurship Address -

Watch it now   OR   Get a transcript.

TESTIMONIAL - "Thank you so much for opening the offices of SBDC in Hackettstown to small businesses during the aftermath of Sandy.  The ability to keep the momentum moving on the tours ... read more from musician/songwriter Kathy Moser.

Managing Cash Flow do you need help?  NJSBDC of Northwest Jersey and Bilbus have partnered to guide established business owners in the development of expanding their enterprises.  Bilbus’ cash flow forecasting and financing tools, allows small business owners to easily track and view the status of their invoices, plan and forecast their collections, and procure commercial credit to support their working capital needs.”

Looking for CAPTITAL to help sustain your business? Complete our new Fundability Tool. Results available immediately! Eliminate the most common impediments to obtaining money for your next stage of growth. Check out the resources on Funding Prep page of our website.

Starting A New Business?  Register for ...

Fast Start: New Business Start-up & Q&A
Start out on the right foot. Avoid costly mistakes. Begin your new venture with NW-NJSBDC’s Start-up Checklist. File all the correct paperwork.  Save time and succeed right out of the gate with our resource list. Ask our experienced SBDC Advisors your specific questions. Launch your venture with Fast Start!  Call our office for schedule in November/December; disruption due to hurricane Sandy postpones these sessions until later this month. 

NEED A BUSINESS PLAN?   Business Plan Pro can assist you in writing your business plan; along with an NJSBDC business counselor. We are excited to announce that we have partnered with Palo Alto Software.  This partnership will bring business owners the opportunity to purchase the software at a discounted rate. To purchase your copy today click here.

NJSBDC of Northwest Jersey partners with Zidster.

As a business owner you want to gain exposure for your business and through this partnership you will have that opportunity.  Zidster has introduced the "Page One Program" which guarantees that one of your Specially Written Web Pages will appear on the first page of Google.

To register your business and take advantage of this program click here.