July 30, 2007

BizMark Tech

Opening a small business is fraught with pitfalls. Just ask me. I’ve been there and done that, and I’ve learned everything the hard way, through trial and error. It would have been nice to have had a website that anticipated my needs and helped me locate the resources that would have made it easier. Deb has established BizMark Tech with that in mind. She’s waded through the morass of information available out there to find what’s useful and help us make sense of it. Most business websites seem to be unaware that one size does not fit all when it comes to establishing a business. What works for large corporate entities doesn’t necessarily apply to the mom and pop business with five employees or to someone like me, working with no employees at all. Most corporations these days require a college degree to consider you for hiring, so there are common assumptions about the knowledge you may have when you enter business. Many small business owners have skipped over those steps, though, and didn’t have a professor to teach them about how to structure a business or determine which type of tax and insurance programs are most applicable. Those are some of the situations that Deb can help us address.

The Small Business Administration is a resource every small business owner can use, but they spew out so much information that many people leave their site frustrated, not having found what they were looking for. Deb scours the SBA for relavent info and passes it on to her readers. I’ve been to their site many times, but was unaware that they offer live business chats on many specialized topics until Deb pointed that out. What a great resource, to be able to pick the minds of the SBA!

Did you know that you can rent a computer for short-term needs or to try out a new model before you buy? It never would have occurred to me that that was possible. I’ve been thinking about buying my first laptop. It’s so logical to try out several models in real life before I make that investment, but I didn’t even know such a service was available.

Insurance is another area that most of us consider a “necessary evil” when operating a business. I’m required by law to carry business general liability insurance, but what else do I need in order to fully protect myself from loss and lawsuits? Your insurance agent has a vested interest in selling you every kind of insurance under the sun. All of us will profit from learning about the different types of insurance coverage before we sign on the dotted line.

These are just a few examples from a menu chock-full of helpful info at BizMark Tech. I haven’t even touched on the marketing and technology tips Deb has researched for us. If you’re in business, and especially if you’re operating a small business, you’ll want to bookmark BizMark Tech.com and visit frequently. It’s a smart business move!

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