In this special report, we offer a variety of resources available to business owners, including advice for getting your business off the ground and growing it to a successful establishment. This report also serves as the program guide for the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce's annual Small Business Awards Luncheon.
Local startup and expanding businesses, particularly in South County, can get a financial shot in the arm with four loan and tax-saving programs available through the city of San Diego.
While poor management is cited most frequently as the reason businesses fail, inadequate or ill-timed financing is a close second.
The California Council for Excellence (CCE) recently awarded North Island Credit Union the Governor's Award for Performance Excellence. The Governor's Award is reserved for top California Awards for Performance Excellence (CAPE) program recipients that demonstrate consistently superior performance results and organizational excellence in accordance with the national Malcolm Baldrige criteria.
Becoming a sponsor of an event should be like joining the board of a company. As a director of a company, you are partly responsible for the success of that company.
ACCION San Diego is a non-profit organization that provides loans and technical assistance to small business owners who do not qualify for loans from traditional sources, such as banks or credit unions.
Local company Catalyst Advancement, in partnership with Point Loma Nazarene University, recently completed a San Diego Small Business Survey in order to bring attention to small businesses and help the local community recognize how to better serve their needs.
SCORE, known as "Counselors to America's Small Businesses," reported recently that it had helped its 7 millionth nationwide client by offering business expertise and training to help small businesses succeed.
To be effective as a leader, you must develop skills in strategic thinking. Strategic thinking is a process whereby you learn how to make your business vision a reality by developing your abilities in teamwork, problem solving and critical thinking. It is also a tool to help you confront change, plan for and make transitions, and envision new possibilities and opportunities.
In plain and simple terms, marketing activities and strategies result in making products available that satisfy customers while making profits for the companies that offer those products. Marketing produces a "win-win" because customers have a product that meets their needs, and healthy profits are achieved for the company. These profits allow the company to continue to do business in order to meet the needs of future customers.
Many smaller companies experience difficulty offering some of the perks that larger companies do in order to maintain the loyalty, motivation and performance of key employees. But one area where they can find the playing field more level and a bit easier to compete is with employee retirement plans such as 401(k)s.
Savvy entrepreneurs know that a board of advisers can provide their company with the credibility, contacts, advice and even cash they so desperately need.
Your bank is in business to make money. Consequently, when a bank lends money it wants to ensure that it will be paid back. The bank must consider the "5 Cs of Credit" each time it makes a loan.
How does a woman from China become the owner of a medical devices manufacturing company in America? She believes in herself, in her family and in America.
Starting and managing a business takes motivation and talent. It also takes research and planning. Although initial mistakes are not always fatal, it takes extra skill, discipline, and hard work to regain the advantage. Take time beforehand to explore and evaluate your business and personal goals, then use this information to build a comprehensive and thoughtful business plan that will help you reach these goals.
Small Business Sub-Contractors of the Year
SBA lenders achieve outstanding results year after year. These two SBA lenders are recognized for producing the most 7a and 504 loans last year. These lenders were most effective in lending to small businesses, not only locally, but also nation-wide.
Joe Sciarretta
Claudio and Maribel De Lucca, Back From Tomboucto
Small Business Person of the Year
Small Business Person of the Year
The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce is proud to once again partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration, North Island Credit Union and The Daily Transcript to recognize the accomplishments of small businesses at the 2005 San Diego Small Business Awards Luncheon, featuring the North Island Credit Union "Excellence in the Work Environment" award.
Most family business owners avoid succession planning. Nearly three-quarters of owners who intend to pass on the business to another family member have no written plan indicating who should assume control of the business upon the owner's retirement or death, according to the National Family Business Council.
The past week was a time of celebration for local and national small businesses. Entrepreneurs were honored for their efforts to create jobs and grow the economy during Small Business Week.
The Certified Development Company, CDC, Small Business Finance announced Wednesday that a new small business administration loan program is now available for California manufacturers to finance long-term fixed assets, including land, buildings and equipment.
The California State Assembly has adopted Assembly Concurrent Resolution 6 declaring April as "Financial Literacy Month."
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