First, Jeanne (OkieJ), explained that small businesses don’t get much of our money from banks. I gave a link to a bit more on how to raise money from friends and family. Now Marco Terry explains another option in his blog, Invoice Factoring: Small Business Financing: There are still two types of financing that are…

We are immanently flattered that Chris Brogan gave us his “Yellow Highlighter” treatment: Becky McCray consistently has amazing posts at her blog, Small Business Survival. They are often tied to not only small businesses, but small rural businesses. I think her efforts deserve attention and highlighting. If you run a small business, if you want…

This week I had a talented woman help me present a business start up workshop in the office. She spent a lot of time talking to those attending about how and what to keep for tax records and why, because, well, it’s what she does. But one of the most important comments she made during…

Brian Fling, from A Blue Flavored Blog, said: I feel that anytime is the right time to start a company. External forces are not what makes a company succeed or fail. It is your passion, commitment and love for your idea that will make or break a company. And just as in life, a successful…

Let’s start listing reasons that it’s better to be in a small town or rural setting, rather than the big city. Here’s Number 1: We don’t have a rush hour. We have a rush moment. (Attribute that one to Maesz.) That’s why the NFIB’s tips on “Driving Stress From Your Daily Commute” was good for…

Center for Rural Affairs: Center Launches Rural Development Virtual Libraray Enhancing opportunity through the building of assets and wealth is the most promising strategy for creating a future for rural communities and their residents. This “virtual library” contains resources we have developed to champion such strategies. Read the whole article, and see the list of…

With only 6% of new small businesses getting funded by bank loans, small biz survivors raise their money creatively. Lots of small biz people turn to family and friends, partially because rural families tend to live close together. Rural banks play a role, too. If it ain’t an ag loan, many rural bankers ain’t interested!…