An Entrepreneur is defined as an individual who typically operates on an independent level, apart from established business or corporations; however, an Entrepreneur may both work for a business, as well as operate privately. In a general sense, an Entrepreneur is classified as a venture capitalist; this entails an individual operating with regard to the facilitation, organization, and investment in business opportunities within industries not considered to be cultivated to their fullest potential. The term ‘Entrepreneur’ is believed to be derived from the French words ‘Entre’ – meaning ‘To Enter’ and ‘Prendre’ – mean ‘To Take’. 

The nature of an Entrepreneur is a vast one; this results from vast expanses of opportunities latent within this industry – however, a single method or ideology in which one becomes – or operates as – an Entrepreneur is not considered to exist. The following types of Entrepreneurial endeavors are amongst the most within the commercial marketplace:

A ‘Start-up’ business Entrepreneur is an individual who believes that investment and cultivation of a specific business or industry will render financial and economic gain. This ideology results from the fact that the specific Entrepreneur may believe that the industry undertaken within an investment endeavor is perceived to be absent of sufficient presence or representation within the commercial market; as a result, the following may take place with regard to this type of Entrepreneur:

Investments made to both fund and sustain a start-up business

The proliferation of marketing and advertisement campaigns

The organization of teams of fellow investors to fun the business

Turnkey Entrepreneur

A ‘Turn-Key’ Entrepreneur retains its titular name from the action of simply ‘turning the key’ in order to open the door to a new business, which was typically sold ‘as is’; this results in the fact that start-up costs and funding are not applicable as a result that the business was transferred in a state considered to working and operational. In contrast to a start-up Entrepreneur, a turn-key Entrepreneur will typically acquire businesses and commercial endeavors believed by that Entrepreneur to be absent of proper management and operation – this Entrepreneur may see potential within the value or growth within that particular industry, which may involve:

An adjustment of preexisting marketing and advertising strategies

Re-staffing and Re-hiring in tandem with the adjusted management plan and ideology

The composition of an updated business plan existing in concert with the adjusted turn-key business model

The United States Federal Government allows Tax Credits to qualifying commercial endeavors and Entrepreneurs responsible for the provision, substantiation, and maintenance of the employment of groups of individuals undergoing large-scale unemployment; these individuals may include Veterans of Foreign Wars, the elderly, and minors – such programs not only allow for the proliferation of employment, but also the administration of work experience, as well. As a result, an Entrepreneur engaging in either the adjustment or the foundation of a business considered to provide business opportunity and stimulation with regard to the commercial market may be eligible to receive tax credits and relief. 

A Business Plan Template is defined as a structured methodology of the itemization of the components latent within the process of both describing and illustrating a particular commercial endeavor. Although a standard Business Plan Template is not considered to be uniform, the necessity for a business plan in accordance with a certain variation of Business Plan Template is considered to be imperative within the structuring of a business or commercial endeavor. Many individuals consider the importance of a business plan – with regard to the development of a business – to overshadow the use of a particular Business Plan Template; however, a wide range of Business Plan Templates have been developed for use ranging from a particular industry to the size of the business in question. A standard business plan template with include the following:

Mission Statement

Biography and History

Financial Reports

Sales and Marketing

Operations Reports

Goals and Agendas

Prior to selecting a business plan template, individuals are encouraged to both explore and define the classifications and needs pertaining to their respective business; the following system utilized to select a business plan template may be helpful prior to constructing a business plan:

The components and tenets applicable to the facilitation, organization, and investment goals with regard to business opportunities will typically vary within respective industries. In certain cases, the industry applicable to a specific business plan may include the following qualifications:

A Business Plan Template may be directed towards investors and venture capitalists interested in commercial opportunities involving the cultivation of an industry in which there exists a wide variety of competing markets:

In this case, a suggested business plan template is one that will allow the individual business owner to illustrate the benefits and advantages latent within their respective business; this may include financial statements, goals, and strategies employed in order to separate themselves from the competition

A Business Plan may be furnished for investors and venture capitalists interested in commercial opportunities involving markets that are considered to be both untapped, new, or not reaching the height of their respective development:

In this case, the suggested business plan template is on that expressed the innate benefits within an industry considered to possess inherent potential and prospective profitability; this can be achieved through the presentation of consumer statistics and the intended commercial operations undertaken by that business

In the event that a business’s interests includes the development of strategic partnerships and expansion of associations and teams, the following may apply:

The suggested business plan should be geared towards commercially-minded administration; the business plan template employed should not only illustrate the profit experienced, but should also convey projected profits and economic gain within the market

In the event that a business required additional funding through the facilitation of investors or venture capitalists:

The suggested business plan template will typically include financial information and statistics geared towards financially-minded individuals; in many cases, this business plan will not only suggest sustainability, but also the potential for growth

The term‘small business’ refers to any type of business model that is privately owned and operated; additionally, all small businesses fall into the established federal size limitations that define what a small business is. 

A small business, according to the Small Business Administration, employs fewer than 500 people; however, other forms of legislation that elucidate on such qualifications will define a small business as any operation with operate with fewer  than 15 people—these size limitations will vary based on what industry the underlying small business operates out of. In addition to the employee base, a small business may be categorized or classified based on assets, gross volume of sales or its overall amount of production.

The general definitions and actions of a small business are regulated based on federal legislation. Typically, the Federal Government encourages the formation of small businesses to augment entrepreneurship and to entice innovation in the competitive market. 

That being said, the Small Business Act is the predominant legislation that necessitated the aforementioned regulations and that instituted various practices and educational techniques to aid small businesses in carrying out their intended functions. The Small Business Act was the fundamental starting point of the Small Business Administration, which still serves as the critical intermediary and assisting body for all small business owners in the United States.

The Small Business Administration, which was the focus of the Small Business Act, is a government agency that is responsible for providing assistance and support to all small businesses operating in the United States. 

Although the Small Business Administration does not provide loans directly to small business owners, the Administration, through the passing of the Small Business Act, acts as a guarantor between the borrowing party and the lending bank. The Small Business Administration also streamlines the ability to obtain such funding by facilitating the broker deal between a small business owner and a participating lender.

The Small Business Act, which was passed in 1953, outlined the mission of the newly-created Small Business Administration. In addition to creating the Small Business Administration, the Small Business Act required the SBA to guarantee a fair percentage of public or government-structured contracts to various small business owners throughout the country. 

The Small Business Act was passed to maintain and strengthen the United States’ economy by aiding, assisting, counseling and protecting the interests of small business owners and by providing funding to those individuals who were financially crippled by natural disasters.

The Small Business Act instituted through the creation of the SBA, an exchange of information and advice regarding the ability to obtain loans and the qualification standards revolving around government grants and government contracts for women, minorities and veterans. 

The Small Business Act constructed the Small Business Administration to guarantee loans from other lenders and to counsel small business owners with everyday business operations.

The Small Business Administration is a fundamental government agency within the United States Federal Government responsible for providing assistance and support to small businesses.

The primary missions of the Small Business Administration, according to the agency, are “to maintain and strengthen the nation’s economy by enabling the establishment and viability of small businesses and by assisting in the economic recover of communities after disasters.” Through this definition it can be observed that the Small Business Administration focuses on the ‘smaller side of business’, meaning the individual or micro entrepreneur and his or her effect on the local community.  

The Small Business Administration does not provide direct funding through the issuance of loans to small businesses; however, the Small Business Administration does aid these businesses by educating and preparing small business owners to apply for funding through a financial intermediary, credit union or bank. As a result of this relationship and function, the Small Business Administration acts as the sole guarantor for small business bank loans. 

In some circumstances the Small Business Administration also helps to procure small business loans or other forms of financing to victims of natural disasters, such as floods or hurricanes. The Small Business Administration works to secure government procurement contracts for small businesses while assisting owners with management decisions, training strategies and various technical issues.

Through these primary functions, the Small Business Administration has directly or indirectly aided nearly 20 million businesses with funding or educational support. In 2008, the Small Business Administration managed a loan portfolio of nearly 220,000 loans that totaled more than $84 billion. This figure makes the Small Business Administration the largest single financial backer and intermediary of businesses throughout the United States of America. 

The Small Business Administration was created on July 30, 1953, by the United States Congress through the passing of the Small Business Act. Through its creation, the Small Business Administration’s primary goal was to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interest of the Small Business and its owners. Furthermore, the Small Business Administration ensured a proportion of government contracts and surpluses to small businesses; this function of the Small Business Administration was provided by government funds that were set aside by the United States federal government.

The Small Business Administration does not provide direct loans to small businesses, with the exception of Disaster Relief Loans. The Small Business Administration does; however, provide guarantees against default certain portions of business loans made by financial institutions and other lenders that must conform to its guidelines. 

The Small Business Administration provides loans through three distinct classifications or categories. Larger banks, such as Bank of America or Chase, generate the majority of their SBA loan volume by loans that offered to those who would otherwise be declined for ‘typical’ bank credit due to various factors such as length of time in business. 

Small Business Administration loans are widely used by banks of all sizes to provide financing for the purchase or construction of a businesses’ owned or occupied real estate. 

Small Business Administration loans also are used to encourage individuals to buy existing businesses. Dissimilar to real estate transactions, a commercial lender can fund business brokers to aid individuals in buying and selling a businesses; this particular segment of the SBA loan program is supported by smaller financial institutions and independent finance companies involved in this particular sector.

Small Business Grants are forms of funding provided by a Grant Maker, often a Governmental department, Foundation, Trust or Corporation. Small Business Grants are a beneficial stream of financing for small business owners; the United States Federal Government has made Small Business Grants available to many small business owners as a means to encourage entrepreneurship and product innovation. 

While the United States Federal Government offers various types of small business grants, only a few are made available to individuals who own small businesses. 

Although the government offers billions of dollars in the form of grants per year, the majority of that money goes to various state and local governments or nonprofit organizations throughout the country. That being said, the ability to obtain small business grants is still possible depending on your particular small business idea, your particular situation and the viability of your particular product or service.

All small business grants in the United States are offered on a per need basis; for example, the United States Federal government may offer a small business grant to a business owner who will provide shelter for the homeless or child-care to those families who are toiling in poverty. 

Through this example it can be evaluated that, small business grants are awarded to those small businesses who provide direct aid or some benefit to greater society.

There are no small business grants for those individuals who want to start a small business; however, there are many state programs that may provide assistance to small business owners. 

The majority of state programs who offer small business grants are administered through the economic development agency, which is the fundamental place to begin researching small business funding opportunities. To access information regarding small business grants, you should contact your local Small Business Administration office to provide further assistance in regards to who to contact and where to apply for small business grants.

Some forms of small business grants are awarded based on the background of the applicant looking to create the small business. For instance, small business grants for women as well as for minorities or people with disabilities are offered to promote innovation and entrepreneurship for those who are typically impeded from doings.

In some areas throughout the United States, welfare-to-work programs have been experimenting with providing small business grants to low income citizens who wish to pursue self-employment in specialized areas, such as housecleaning, landscaping or daycare. These forms of small business activities are referred to as microenterprises because they typically involve fewer than five employees and invariably require start-up finding of less than $35,000.

If you qualify for small business funding, it is vital to fill out the program application in a stringent fashion that adheres to the underlying program’s funding regulations. Be sure to not omit information; the failure to satisfy the application in alignment with the program’s regulations will result in the disqualification of funding. 

In addition to following the application rules, you must provide as many relevant details as possible and have at least three individuals proofread your wok. If you feel as though you are struggling with the application, it may be beneficial to enlist the assistance of a grant writer. All grant writers are professionals within this particular field, who will provide useful tips that can increase your chances of obtaining small business grants.

Small business marketing is a fundamental and simple way for a small business owner to promote the sale of products or services to the general consumer base and other businesses. Typically small business marketing is accomplished by showing the strengths of an underlying small businesses’ product or service to other businesses, which will in turn, resell the product or service to other businesses. Furthermore, after revealing the benefits of the product or service, the receiving business can also use the good for its own operational benefit. 

Some of the most successful small business marketing strategies and efforts are composed and delivered in a niche oriented marketplace. Furthermore, successful small business marketing campaigns will utilize a variety of approaches to reach its intended consumer base. 

The majority of small businesses possess a limited amount of resources and finances; as a result of these limitations, investments towards small business marketing must be made in a prescient and prudent fashion. When a small business owner invests in small business marketing, the individual must be sure that his or her investment is made in a cost-effective means; the money invested should yield a maximized consumer base. 

Before choosing a small business marketing strategy you must determine what your business’ long and short-term goals are. Developing these goals will not only help you work towards something, but they will also elucidate on the most effective small businesses marketing strategy. After you have determined these goals, you must educate yourself on the various marketing concepts and strategies available. 

The majority of small business marketing strategies will incorporate the use of a website and the various internet marketing techniques that are intended to reach a wider consumer base. These small business marketing strategies are available whether you sell a tangible item or not; possessing an online presence will enable clients to view your businesses’ information more easily. 

All viable small business marketing campaigns will enable your business to reach a wider population; information regarding your product or service which elucidates on the benefits of your goods will be delivered to a large cross-section of the consumer base. Furthermore, small businesses marketing strategies can be used in a micro-sense, where information regarding your product or service will be delivered to a specific demographic. 

The most effective small business marketing strategy will incorporate web hosting companies, which are platforms that help develop a particular company’s search engine optimization. Although these forms of small business marketing can help your product or service reach a wider cross-section of the consumer market, you must develop a presence before effectively marketing your product. 

Common small business marketing strategies that utilize the Internet including various social networking techniques, writing articles that can be viewed on other sites with a backlink to your homepage and writing blogs to increase keyword value.

Another effective form of small business marketing is quite simple; deciding to advertise in your local phone directory or business publication is the foundation for developing an effective small business marketing campaign. Although the Internet and working with other businesses is the most beneficial way to reach a larger audience, gaining a buzz and developing your product is the foundation for any effective small business marketing strategy.

In the United States and throughout the world, the term ‘small business’ refers to any type of business model that is privately owned and operated. All small businesses fall into the established federal size limitations that define what a small business is. 

According to the Small Business Administration, a small business employs fewer than 500 people; however, other forms of legislation that elucidate on such qualifications will define a small business as any operation  with fewer  than 15 people—these size limitations will vary based on what industry the underlying small business conducts business. In addition to the employee base, a small business may be classified based on its assets, the gross volume of sales or the amount of production. 

The general definitions and actions of a small business are regulated based on federal legislation. Typically, the Federal Government encourages the formation of small businesses to encourage entrepreneurship and entice innovation in the competitive market. 

As stated before, although the size regulations and the particular industries of focus may vary, all small businesses require the obtainment of a few foundational components. For instance, due to the privately-owned status, all small businesses must secure an appropriate line of revenue to finance their operation. Additionally, a small business must possess a small business server to secure a presence on the Internet. 

The ability to acquire a small business server will ensure the owner or operator of the small business access to a web space; this ability will enable the small business to actively market and advertise their particular products or services. Without the obtainment of a small business server, a small business would fail in reaching its prospective consumer market. 

A small business server offers a small business owner the ability to develop a web presence; in a computing sense, a server connects a computer to a network. Once the small business owner has registered a domain name, they need to secure a website host. All small businesses require a base to run its own small business server in order to host a website or space that has the ability to handle multiple tasks for their unique business model. This process will enable a small business to owner to contract a company to help maintain files for their small business server and run scripts or web applications off the server. 

The first step to establishing a small business server requires you to install a Network Operating System. Approaching your small business server in this fashion will enable you to tailor settings that are more appropriately aligned to your businesses’ needs. This installation procedure also will mitigate costs and allow you to control bandwidth usage and downtime. 

You must then install any servers on the Network Operating System, such as email servers, web servers, database servers and domain servers etc. Recently companies (ie Microsoft) have developed small business servers that act as bundles for owners of small businesses. These bundles, depending on your situation, may be more cost-efficient than setting it up yourself.

Once you have installed the complimentary small business servers you should create any network drives for your employees; these network drives will enable your workers to share and keep files on the small business server. It is critical to acknowledge the specifications required for a small business server; to obtain a stable and reliable small business server, it is highly recommended to schedule regular backups and security checks for your small business server.

Lines of credit are a financial practice where credit is made available to consumers, often as a secured debt with collateral such as the consumer’s home.  This line or credit, also known as a home equity line or credit is a common method of borrowing money by leveraging one’s most valuable asset.  In addition to a home equity line of credit, lines of credit may be extended to businesses, depending on their needs.  Business lines of credit are not lump sum payments, but rather a special bank account that affords the borrower flexibility in purchasing, paying bills and other liquidity needs.  Interest is paid only on money withdrawn by the borrower, although there may be mandatory amounts that need to be borrowed in order to avoid inactive account fees or fees in form of interest on the money in the line of credit not withdrawn.

In addition to interest payments, there may be a number of fees associated with lines of credit, including application, property appraisal and lawyer fees.  Some lenders will even charge preparation and filing fees.  Interest rates on credits lines are almost always variable, although the lender and borrower may agree and the end of the term that line of credit was made available to repayment on a loan with a fixed interest rate.

As with all secured debts, the failure to meet the terms of repayment may give the lender the right to collect the collateral that was leveraged to receive the loan.  As such, an unpaid home equity line of credit can be grounds for the lender to foreclose on the homeowner that had received a line of credit.

Many lenders will place restrictions on lines of credit, requiring the borrower to borrow a certain amount of money per term, a minimum amount of money borrowed at a time, or specific conditions on minimum payments.  Among the greater risks associated with lines of credit will be exploitive terms and conditions as well as variable interest rates.  All lines of credit interest rates are based on an index, such as the “prime rate” which is usually the consensus of a survey of major banks’ interest rates.  Changes in the prime rate tend to be reflected in interest rates offered to consumers.  Many lenders will entice potential borrowers by offering low introductory rates, but luckily, for consumers, all interest rates for home equity lines of credit are capped at a certain level, determined by the lender.

Due to variable indexes, anyone that takes a line of credit without properly researching the index that the variable interest rate is tied to will risk unpredictability in the changes of the “prime” rate and may not be aware of volatility or historical highs associated with the index.  Shrewd lenders will also include a “floor” in the agreement, ensuring that the consumer will never pay less than a set interest rate.

There are numerous retail franchise opportunities available for anyone who is looking to start their own business but is unwilling, or incapable, of starting up their own distinct operation. Through a cursory internet search for retail franchises you will be directed to thousands of retail franchise opportunities from small to large, inexpensive to million dollar franchises, small and large names, and profitable and non-profitable.

When you are deciding on a retail franchise there are a number of considerations that you need to make before picking the retail franchise opportunity that is right for you. You will need to consider price, reputation, financing, and location, among others.

First step is deciding what type of franchise you want. When considering retail franchise opportunities you need to analyze a number of factors. What is the success of the franchise? Like the stock market, there are blue chips and risky ventures. Getting a Macy’s franchise is more likely to be a stable money maker than a franchise that has not proven itself.

Before you settle on a franchise you will want to consider personal goals.  What do I have experience with?  If you are a professional carpenter then a Home Depot franchise may better suited for you than a Barnes & Noble.  Other questions to ask are what can I afford for a franchise? what kind of royalties will I be expected to pay? among other things.

You will also want to consider the commitment of the franchisee. How involved is the franchisee in the operation of the franchise? Depending on who you are and where you want the franchise to go, you may or may not a franchisor who is highly involved.

The name of the franchise is also important. One of the main reasons why people enter into a franchise business is because the name of the franchise itself demands respect and customers will go to your location simply because of the name. This way you don’t have to worry about acquiring clientele. A good franchise should also have a very serious and widespread marketing system. When your franchise has commercials on television and radio constantly it prevents you from having to go out and do advertising on your own.

One of the objectives of a franchise opportunity is to have that franchise operate like any other in the chain of stores. When customers come to your location they should know right away that it is associated with that franchise. This not only means in the name but in the service and products they provide, layout of the business, and even the uniforms. When you are considering a franchise opportunity you will want to find out if training is involved and how extensive. You want your franchise to operate like every other in that chain of businesses. The franchise has spent a long time building a reputation, its why you bought that specific franchise to begin with, take advantage of it.

Maybe the most important aspect of a franchise is the standard “location, location, location.” Retail franchise opportunities depend on foot traffic, access to major highways and roads.  When looking to buy a franchise you will pay more for better locations but you will also be taking advantage of a bustling business area.  Retail franchise opportunities that exist in business districts, downtown areas, or malls have the benefit of taking advantage of consumers who shop at other store sin the area.  When consumers are shopping at one store close to your retail franchise they are more likely to enter your store than if your store was secluded.  When looking for retail franchise opportunities you may want to consider a franchise that already exists in a mall or strip mall.

One of the most difficult parts of taking advantage of are retail franchise opportunity is getting financing. When you get financing for your retail franchise opportunity from a lender you will normally be lumped into one of two categories: “sure things” and “high risk.” The “sure thing” category, and the ones that often receive financing, are individuals who have successful business experience in similar businesses, have stellar credit, and have successfully run franchises in the past. These individuals are looked at as guarantees in the eyes of the lender and will often be approved.

The “high risk” category encompasses those individuals who have little to no business experience, are looking to start a franchise in a new location with a little known name, and have average to poor credit. When this happens a lender will be hard pressed to give you a loan for your franchise opportunity. In those situations it may be better to fund your franchise opportunity through a home equity loan, personal loan, or an extended line of credit. Many times the franchisor will actually finance your franchise opportunity.

When meeting with a lender for a retail franchise opportunity it is important to have all documentation readily available. This includes tax returns, personal financing, credit reports, any documentation of property that may be used as collateral, among other things