If you own a small business, you have probably been through difficult and scary times this past year. You are probably also wary about what’s coming in 2010. Will the changes in requirements for employee health care push you over the edge or will it take some of the burden off of your shoulders, for instance. What’s going to happen to the economy this coming year and how will it affect the health of your business?

Everything points to ongoing improvement in the economy next year. Now is the time to take a close look at your business and make some decisions about how to take advantage of an improved economy.

Revisit your business plan

Be objective about what is working and what is not. This might be a good time to have an outsider take an objective look at it. Ask yourself these questions:

Does it still serve as a guide to operations?

Does it communicate your company’s purpose and vision?

Does it spell out management responsibilities adequately?

Is it on target with regard to personnel requirements?

Are the marketing plans it lays out still viable?

Is it accurate with regard to your competition?

Is it an adequate foundation for creating a financing proposal for investors,lenders etc.

Evaluate customer satisfaction

Do you have an effective plan for measuring customer satisfaction?

Do you have a customer satisfaction form?

Do you have an effective way to get it to your customers and back to you?

Do you have an established way to respond to your customers’ comments?

Evaluate your phone system

Are the features of your system adequate to meet your needs?

Do you have enough extensions?

Do you have enough lines?

Does it cost too much? Are you getting your money’s worth?

Evaluate cost of equipment

If you lease, would it be more cost-effective to buy your equipment?

If you own your equipment, would it be more cost-effective to lease it?

Evaluate your real estate arrangement

If you lease your location, should you consider purchasing the land? Does your lease contain that option?

Be sure to factor in taxes, expenses, the potential for termination, etc.

Can you negotiate a more favorable rental fee?

Look at your escalation clause. How is it determined?

Does your lease protect you from competition in the near vicinity?

Review your option to renew. Are you likely to pay more rent at time of renewal?

Do you need more space?

Keep an eye on zoning regulations and changes in them.

Is there a chance that your landlord may not be able to remain solvent in the financial meltdown?

If you feel confident about these aspects of your business, you should look forward to the coming improvement in the economy. If you see weaknesses, get to work on them and make 2010 a good year.

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_De_Zeeuw

Whether you are a professional working photographer or just a weekend hobbyist, subscribing to a photo newsletter can be an interesting and invaluable tool.

If you are a working professional photographer, either artistic or commercial, a photo newsletter can help to expand your business through advertising or perhaps help to put you in contact with other local photographers looking to collaborate on work.

Perhaps you are looking for a photo assistant or want to work as one, a photo newsletter sometimes has classified ads where people can advertise for employment. It can also provide you with valuable information about what is going on in the business of photography both creatively and legally.

A photo newsletter is a good source for ideas in expanding a business and for keeping the working professional connected to the world of photography. Photo newsletters often have articles or features written by working professional photographers. These articles could be about anything from their experiences dealing with clients to how they got their business started.

There might be an article about how to price your work or perhaps an interview with one of the top most admired photographers.

Often articles found in photo newsletters are about equipment and the latest technologies in the field. One of the greatest benefits of subscribing to a photo newsletter are product reviews. Reviews are often done by professional photographers with many years of experience in the field and with working knowledge of many types of equipment.

The experience they have to offer is a great asset and can save you the unfortunate occurrence of purchasing the wrong equipment for your photographic needs. It can help you to narrow down the equipment you will need for your business or hobby.

As a hobbyist photographer, a newsletter with photos can help further knowledge of photography or perhaps give them ideas on a new aspect of photography to explore.

Reading an interview with an artist or a working commercial photographer can be inspiring. With so many advancements happening in photography, a newsletter would be a wonderful way to be kept up to date on new technological advancements.

To have a single source to turn to for information, one that can be relied upon, is a great thing nowadays. A newsletter with photos is really an invaluable tool for any photographer or anyone interested in photography.

Having a source of information that can help further your career or just to read as enjoyment is essential.

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Keith_Farley

Traditional small business loans are hard to come by these days for everyone, but telecommunications funding is scarcer. The reason for this is that your traditional lenders are wary of the whole telecom operation. Business is not black and white as in retail and many banks don’t understand telecoms and are therefore scared of taking a chance on them. Luckily, there are entities that focus solely on telecommunications funding.

Here are the options offered by these specialty lenders if you are looking for some working capital for your small to medium sized telecom venture:

Factoring- You have account receivables (invoices) sitting in a folder waiting for payment. In the telecom industry, you will wait 45 to 90 days before payment is remitted. Meanwhile, a great deal on some new equipment may come up or maybe you need to revamp your marketing strategies- whatever the opportunity, you need cash now but it is sitting in a folder in the form of an invoice. With specialty lenders, you can sell these invoices at a discounted rate and get the money now instead of 2 to 3 months later.

Asset-based loans- This telecommunications funding solution works if you have enough assets to put up as collateral. You can borrow against equipment, inventory, accounts receivable and even contracts. As collateral, you can use the success of your business to make it even more successful and grow.

Using a specialty lender who is experienced in telecommunications funding also means less hassle for you, the business owner. You do not have to make any personal guarantees, non-recourse agreements and, unlike traditional small business loans where you could lose everything if you default, the only things at risk are the specific assets tied to the agreement.

Discuss your telecommunications funding needs with a specialist to determine what would work best for your business. Whatever you do, don’t let the banks get you down when you need money to grow the business. Any of the options above give you the working capital to take advantage of unexpected opportunities. You have to spend money to make money, but you can’t spend it if it is tied up in receivables, contracts and equipment. Put your assets to work for you.

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Stratton