Business Loan Application Tips Borrowers Can Take to the Bank

Whether it’s to start, operate, expand or acquire a business, capital is required. Just how much is available, and what it will cost depends on each business’s unique situation and the personal financial position of its ownership. These two factors are so important that they find their way into the starting lineup of every loan application. Borrowers who have a good understanding of […]

SBDC Clients Earns 2016 Small Business Person of the Year

Catherine Downey, CATMEDIA

Catherine Downey didn’t find an easy way to success. She did find what works: hard work and dedication to a vision. Catherine Downey started her first business with “a pen and a legal pad” so she could work at home after her first child was born. Today, she has four grown children and one of the fastest growing companies in Atlanta. She’s also garnered a hard-earned honor: she […]

UGA SBDC Helps Entrepreneur Through Contest

UGA Small Business Development Center helps entrepreneurs through contest

“There’s a value to doing a business plan whether you are part of a competition or not,” Butler said. “But when you’re part of a competition, it kind of intensifies their effort, their focus on it and also allows them to gain some feedback.”

Manage Your Business Taxes – Don’t Let Them Manage You

savings, finances, economy and home concept - close up of man with calculator counting money and making notes at home

As an SBDC Business Consultant, I have the opportunity to work with a lot of business owners, and one of the things I have figured out is that NONE of them got into their businesses so that they could pay taxes. The restaurant owner wants to serve really great food. The car dealer is a car guy. But taxes are a fact of business life. So, it is a good idea to have a game plan to handle them in an efficient way so that you can focus on the real reason you got into business in the first place. Here are a few suggestions:

Times Are Tough-Scrutinize Every Input Choice

Seems like most everybody who retails ag inputs is offering products that they profess will boost yields, even make ‘em skyrocket. Only problem is, claims often aren’t backed up with unbiased data to prove that these materials provide growers with a return on investment–that ROI that should guide every decision.

UGA SBDC Acquires Access to Powerful Industry Data

The University of Georgia SBDC recently acquired access to data from the largest provider of industry information in the U.S. known as IBISWorld. With over 40 years of experience, IBISWorld has constructed economic, demographic, and government data into 700+ industry reports and profiles. Each report is updated at least annually so that the most current facts and figures are included. The UGA […]

Allow Us to (Re)Introduce Ourselves

As the year starts anew, we thought it would be a good time to introduce ourselves to our many recent subscribers who have asked to receive our newsletter. Our faithful friends and supporters may also learn something new about us, as we are always adding to our skill sets in order to help grow Georgia’s innovative small businesses.   Humble Beginnings The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) […]

Foreign Receivables Insurance: A Tool to Grow Your Business

If you have a business that sells product or service internationally, or if you are considering selling your product or service to foreign buyers, you may want to consider using receivables insurance as a way to grow your business and mitigate risks commonly associated with international sales. If you are selling internationally, the least risky […]