SSBiN.ORG

Subject: SSBiN.org Update July, 2006

Your Update from the Saginaw Small Business information Network (SSBiN): Educational and informational  opportunities that we want you to be aware of. See SSBiN at http://www.ssbin.org/. Please forward this message to your colleagues and friends.   UPDATE TOPICS: The Truth About Loans: Finance Roundtable Free Entrepreneur Orientation Seminar Course: Starting a Home-based or Small Business Greve Named Michigan's Star The Seven Myths of Small Business Operations   THE TRUTH ABOUT LOANS: FINANCE ROUNDTABLE Team SBA announces another Finance Roundtable session. If you are serious about seeking financing for your business, you owe it to yourself to attend a Financing Roundtable presented by TEAM SBA. TEAM SBA consists of SBA lenders, business consultants, SBA economic development staff, and business owners like you. We’ll debunk the myths and demystify the process of bank financing. You will learn how your loan application will be analyzed, what underwriting criteria is used, and how banking regulations affect the decision. We will answer your questions based upon your business model. Over the last six years, TEAM SBA has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs gain a better understanding of the financing process. In order to help you, we require you to have good credit, a solid business idea and some money to invest in your business. The roundtable is free to attend, but you must register in advance and meet the criteria above. This session will be held on the campus of Delta College, 1961 Delta Road, Room F102, University Center, Michigan on August 10, 2006, from 9:00am to 12:00 noon. To register on-line visit: www.misbtdc.org/region5 Calendar of Training or call 989.686.9597. Check out www.sba.gov/calendar for upcoming sessions throughout Michigan. FREE ENTREPRENEUR ORIENTATION SEMINAR A free orientation for potential business owners will be offered on August 24th, from 6 - 8:30 p.m. at the Hoyt Main Library, 505 Janes Ave, Saginaw, MI. Learn about community resources and the basics on business ownership from a local expert. These opportunities are sponsored by Saginaw Future, Inc., the Public Libraries of Saginaw, Saginaw County Minority Business Development Center, Small Business & Technology Development Center and the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce. For more information contact the Hoyt Main Library reference Department at (989) 755-0904. Future 2006 dates for this seminar: Sep 28, Oct 26 and Nov 16. COURSE: STARTING A HOME-BASED OR SMALL BUSINESS The next session of the 10-week "Starting a Home-based or Small Business" program will begin September 13th. Held at the the Hoyt Public Library on Wednesday evenings, 6 till 8:30. The program teaches the basics of starting and running a small business. instructors include Kathleen Tenwolde and guest instructors form the professional community. Pre-Registration required. Cost is $100. Partial scholarships, based upon need, are available as well as flexible payment plan. Class size is limited so register early. For more information please call Kathy at 989-754-2486. GREVE NAMED MICHIGAN'S STAR Christine Greve, Director of the Region 5 Small Business & Technology Development Center at Delta College, was named by her peers as the 2005 Michigan State Star. This is a national honor that acknowledges her contribution to the MSB&TDC providing services for small businesses in the Mid-Michigan region. The Region 5 SB&TDC is a great resource for small businesses. Take advantage of this opportunity by contacting the center at: Delta College Corporate Services 1961 Delta Road, H-Wing University Center, Michigan 48710-0002 (989) 686-9597 Email: sbtdc@corpserv.delta.edu Web Site: www.gvsu.edu/misbtdc/region5/   SEVEN GREATEST MYTHS OF SMALL BUSINESS OPERATIONS What small business myths do you believe exist? In the article found on BusinessWeek Online SmallBiz, "Dealing With Small Business Disasters," by Jeffrey Gangemi, Ruth King, a serial entrepreneur offers her seven greatest myths of small business. King has owned seven companies over the past 25 years. More information can be found at: http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/index.html What are the seven greatest myths of small business operations? 1) The product is so good it sells itself. Your customers are not going to find you unless you get out there and tell people why they should buy your product. 2) [You can] start your own business to get rich fast. I say, if you make a profit your first year, it's a gift. 3) The perfect partnership: I have the concept and the bank has the money. Banks are in the money- spread business. You go to your family and friends first, because they're the ones that are going to take risks. Banks don't take risks—they do interest-rate spreads. 4) I'll give the customer a discount and make it up on the next sale. If you start discounting, as a general rule, customers will expect the same price next time. 5) If my competition can sell it for that price, then so can I. No way. You have to know what your costs are. 6) My employees are my friends. You can be friendly but you can't be friends. 7) I will have more free time and I won't have to answer to anybody. You have more schedule time, but not as much free time. Most small-business owners work harder for themselves than they do for someone else, because they're enjoying it   ----------------------------------------------------------- The SSBiN website and newsletter is the result from efforts by the Entrepreneur and Small Business Alliance  (ESBA) of the Saginaw Vision 2020. The ESBA is always looking for input and guidance from small business people  like you. If you are interested, please see us at: http://www.ssbin.org/contact.htm.To sign up for SSBiN updates, http://www.ssbin.org/register.htm. To unsubscribe to SSBiN updates, send an email to updates_remove@ssbin.org. To view previous newsletters from SSBiN: http://www.ssbin.org/news.htm We'd like to know what you think about these updates and what information you'd like to see in the future. E-mail  your comments to SSBiN Support (mailto:ssbinsupport@ssbin.org) or see us at: http://www.ssbin.org/contact.htmYour Privacy is important to us. Please see our privacy statement at http://www.ssbin.org/privacy.htm Copyright (c) 2006 www.ssbin.org SSBiN is not responsible for the content or the privacy policies of Web sites to which it may link.