Esri Helps Redevelopment Organization

Georgia Neighborhood Demographics

If you aren’t aware of the UGA SBDC’s Applied Research Department, you’re missing out! We have access to four different databases including ESRI, IBISWorld, ReferenceUSA, and RMA. These databases allow our consultants to gather location based information about your neighborhood geography. Here’s a great example of how the SBDC can work for you: Recently, the SBDC […]

Facebook and the Power of Video

78% of Americans have one or more social media accounts, which means no matter who your customer is they’re probably on social media. In an age of exponential digital and mobile growth, it’s increasingly difficult to grow your business without social in your marketing mix. There’s no doubt Facebook is King of the social media roost, and that video is the fastest growing type of viral content. But how can your business use video and Facebook to reach customers and make a digital splash? This class is a hands-on, practical guide to getting started with Facebook and video content.

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.”

Are your employees really exempt from overtime pay?

Are your employees really exempt from overtime pay? – Rick McMurtrey Most jobs are governed by the FLSA. Some are not, however, very few are not covered by the FLSA. Some jobs are excluded from FLSA coverage by statute. Other jobs, while governed by the FLSA, are considered “exempt” from the FLSA overtime rules. Employees […]

QuickBooks Online Tip:

QuickBooks Balance vs. Bank Balance Discrepancies – Eric Frickey   QuickBooks Online displays two balances for each QuickBooks account to include checking, savings, credit cards, etc. When logging in the dashboard will display a bank balance and a QuickBooks balance. The bank balance is the actual balance typically reconciled form bank statements while the QuickBooks […]

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:

Passion for Pets Pays Off

Pawtropolis in Athens, GA

Crook acquired the loan and opened her business. About five years later, she approached McDonell for help obtaining a $1 million SBA 504 loan, which she used to purchase land and build the first Pawtropolis. Five years after that, with 25 employees and trainers, an award-winning business and a facility filled to capacity, Crook again turned to the SBDC. After attending the GrowSmart™ program, she asked McDonell to help her create projections for a $2.2 million loan she received and will use to build a second, larger facility on land she had purchased.