Franchise expert Jim Deering answers popular franchise questions.

I own a hookah lounge and am wondering what would be some creative ways to advertise and get more customers?

Small businesses have been buying more cars and trucks – another piece of evidence the economy is on the mend.

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i am seeking to find a host / domain to list my small business on google search engine, can anyone recommend a good host?

Loans to small business (those less than $1 million) dropped 5.7 percent to about $660 billion in the first quarter of 2010 from almost $700 billion in the second quarter of 2008, according to the Federal Reserve Bank.

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Weekly Small Business column by Rhonda Abrams

View full post on Yahoo! News Search Results for small business

Small Businesses run our economy. Representing 99% of all employer firms, small businesses pay more than 45% of total |private payroll in the united states. They generate 60 to eighty percent of net new jobs yearly over the last 10 years ; they create fifty % of non farm private gross domestic products, supplied around 24% of the total value of Fed. prime contracts, produce 14 times more patents per employee than big patenting firms. Small businesses are 53% home-based and 3% franchises ; they are companies of 41% of high-tech employees like engineers, scientist, and PC workers; small business owners produced 29% of the known export price in 2004 and made up 97% of all identifiable exporters. A small business is outlined as an independent business having fewer than 500 workers, as defined by the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy. This office further states that in 2005 there were around 25.8 million businesses in the U. S., of which 17,000 are large businesses and of the remainder, 18.6 million businesses were sole proprietorship. Small businesses represent 99.9 percent of the 25.8 million businesses.

Internet marketing for small business should be integrated in any small business marketing plan. The internet is one of most inexpensive forms for marketing for small business. Having an internet site which has all the relevant product info of your business, whether you are selling a product or service, enables a possible client to be aware of your company, and having your contact information online helps you to receive feedback from your clients too. An internet presence is vital in any small business marketing plan, an imperative asset in small business sales marketing, an obligation in any small business methodology. The online part in any small business is a game equalizer for the small firms vs the big ones. Hosting your information on the web is very inexpensive and there are even places that let you host your info absolutely free. You may even have a paying facility in your website whereby people who like your products can buy them right away. Being noticed in the web is another issue. Improving your presence in search engines can be done simply nowadays with software programmes that allow you to be searchable when clients go trying to find you. There also are many companies that will offer these services for you at very reasonable costs. The Net has turned into a resource for small business to sell their products and optimize their operations, which is critical in any small business to be lean and mean. The internet has served the small business in expanding the visibility of small businesses that may be unique in its products. Antique companies not only sell their stuff but also look for new and unique pieces to find. These corporations can also gain feedback from their customers, or else ask them to discover what the latest trends are.

While many people are already experiencing the joy and tribulation involved in running their own internet business, many others are considering going into business on the internet.

If you are considering starting your own internet business then you need to consider the good, the bad, and the ugly truths of ebusiness.

What is good about internet business? Probably the single greatest benefit of ebusiness can be summed up in one word — opportunity. There are numerous opportunities to start a business, buy a business,and grow a business on the internet. There are also many opportunities to learn everything you need about doing business on the internet from blogs and newsletters, articles, ebooks, and forums.

What is bad about internet business? The prevailing myth that you can get rich quick on the internet. Yes, there are many people making millions off their internet businesses and some people even manage those staggering sales numbers they use for their sales pitch. But the real, cold, hard truth is that it takes time to learn how to do business on the internet and it takes time to be a success on the internet. Once you have done your groundwork then you may well also achieve those amazing financial results, but many people give up long before and miss out on their opportunities.

What is ugly about internet business? The simple fact that scams abound. So many people buy into the myth of the internet get-rich-quick-scheme they are willing to put down hundreds, even thousands, of dollars to buy into the dream. Many of the people touting these “successful” programs are not actually rich or successful themselves. In fact, their only income is generated by scamming newcomers.

So how do you embrace the good, avoid the bad, and ignore the ugly?

First you must explore your opportunities. Remember that the internet really is the information superhighway. Study and learn and question — and continue to do all three even after you have started your own business and even after you have made your first million.

Second remind yourself, daily if necessary, that no one gets rich quick on the internet but that millions are there for the making if you only put in your time and learn. Doing business on the internet is much like the tortoise and the hare. Slow and steady wins the race every time.

Third do not sign up for any scheme, program, or partnership that involves sharing your credit card information until you have thoroughly studied the situation from all angles. There are reputable and worthy opportunities that might involve a fee, but if they are worthwhile and reputable then they will not expire in 24 hours, there will ample freely available material to study, and you will see evidence of the program’s success.

Don’t let all that is ugly and bad overshadow the true good that can be accomplished on the internet. You can start your own business, you can make it successful, and you can make it lucrative — and it doesn’t need to cost you anything but time and ingenuity. That is what is truly amazing about doing business on the internet.