New York SBDC Research Network

Did you know Steve Jobs loved lecturing at universities because it gave him an opportunity to scout talented potential employees and build his team first hand?  Read more about the habits  of successful business leaders .

Are you an employer who is seeking assistance with your business? Young workers are a potential commodity that you may wish to consider, the following linked article will explain the reasons why. CLICK HERE

Ignoring your financial statement is like ignoring the health of your business. Startups and new business owners often overlook understanding gross margin. This can have a direct impact on your ability to effectively manage a growing business, price your products, and most importantly, make a profit. CONTINUE READING

Each year the New York Small Business Development Center recognizes outstanding small businesses in a variety of ways.  This Success Story from the  Brooklyn SBDC  appears in our  2015 Annual Report .  Andrew Walcott Fusion East Brooklyn SBDC Serial entrepreneur Andrew Walcott has been a client of the Brooklyn SBDC for more than five years, working with several of the advisors. He is the son of immigrant parents, who raised him in the inner-city community of East New York. He is a product of local NYC public schools and a graduate of Brooklyn College, where he is currently an adjunct-professor. He is an Air Force Veteran who worked his way through law school and also has earned CPA credentials.  He has owned and operated his own law and accounting practice for many years. Earlier this year Andrew and his childhood friends opened Fusion East Caribbean & Soul Food, an exciting restaurant in the very neighborhood in which he grew up. East New York is a section of Brook

Calling all small businesses and entrepreneurs! If we hope to translate what we are learning about Alzheimer’s disease into health, safety, and emotional well-being benefits for Alzheimer’s patients and their families, then small businesses have a vital role in making that happen. The NIA recently published two funding opportunity announcements for small businesses focused on Alzheimer’s disease. One targets the  Small Business Innovative Research  program and the other the Small Business Technology Transfer  program. Both have an initial submission date approaching rapidly— April 5 . And if peer reviewers smile upon your application, you can even receive funding before the end of September this year. TO READ MORE

Palo Alto Software has some tips they would like to share with you today! We’re careful about what marketing tools we use and make sure that every one serves a real purpose for a fair price. This is a list of marketing tools that we  actually  use and recommend. We think you'll like them too. Click here to read more »

The IRS writes: You, your employees or your clients may receive one or more forms that provide information about 2015 health coverage. These forms are  1095 -A, 1095-B and 1095-C. The following health care tax tips provide some answers to common questions about these forms: Form 1095-A: What you need to do with this form Form 1095-B: What you need to do with this form Form 1095-C: What you need to do with this form For more information on these forms, see our  Questions and Answers  about health care information forms for individuals.

We have all experienced different levels of mentoring throughout our lives. It may have been during your childhood, college, a job, or even now. The following SBA article explains the impact mentoring can have; and why your work environment should possibly implement more of these ideas to have a more dynamic and diverse work force. Mentoring: A Proven Tool For Building A More Dynamic and Diverse Workforce

My knee-jerk answer to that question is no. I have several reasons why, and I’ll be sharing them in this article. But first, do you know of anyone who has purchased a  franchise business right out of college? To learn more visit  SBA !

When looking for a franchise to buy, it’s important to find one that has it all. But, what does it mean to “have it all.”   I'll show you!

Each year the New York Small Business Development Center recognizes outstanding small businesses in a variety of ways.  This Success Story from the  Bronx SBDC  appears in our  2015 Annual Report .  Franklin J. Fabre Alba Business Solutions Bronx SBDC Alba Business Solutions, named for Franklin Fabre’s wife Alba, has provided clients with expert tax services for more than 10 years. Franklin J. Fabre was born in the Dominican Republic and immigrated to New York in 1988 at the age of 16. He graduated from Lehman College in 2004 with a degree in Computer Information Systems, and in 2008 completed an MBA in management of technology from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. After graduating from Lehman, Franklin decided to open his own financial services business. At the beginning, the business focused more on services used mostly by the immigrant community, such as money transfer, international calling cards, and bill payments, but eventually the business prioritized income

No matter what industry you are involved in, marketing plays an essential role in drawing customers to your business.  In these two links SBA offers the core concepts of marketing- which are fundamental principles that should be known, and also where the direction of the future is taking us, in emotional marketing. The Core Concepts The Future of Marketing

It's a shame that so many people think business plans are just for startups, or to back up loan applications, or for getting investors. The truth is that business planning offers serious benefits for everybody in business. And I'd like to point out that none of these benefits require a big formal business plan document. A lean business plan (as in  What Business Plan Type is Best for Me ) is usually enough. It takes an hour or two to do the first plan, then just an hour or two to review and revise monthly. Here are those top ten benefits.                                                   10 Benefits of Business Planning

A hamburger is from a fancy restaurant. It costs $17. And it probably tastes good. No, it has to -- who would pay $17 for a burger and fries which didn't? No one, at least not twice. That makes sense: in order to stay in business with an expensive menu, whatever your selling better make for a good dining experience. But at some point, our palates can't really discern between foods. When that happens, other signals take over. And at times, those signals can be so powerful that it overwhelms the rest of the experience. For example, would the same burger and fries taste as good if it cost, say, $4? Maybe not. More from Now I Know .

"Chip Kidd doesn't judge books by their cover, he creates covers that embody the book -- and he does it with a wicked sense of humor. In one of the funniest talks from TED2012, he shows the art and deep thought of his cover designs. (From The Design Studio session at TED2012, guest curated by Chee Pearlman and David Rockwell.)" The applicability in business, design as marketing, is quite striking. The link is HERE .

The classic  Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance  also holds lessons for entrepreneurs. After all, great startups are equal parts science, art and religion.    Read more about  the intersection of business and Zen.

Watertown: March 29, 2016 North Country PTAC Matchmaker 2016 is an opportunity to meet with procurement and prime contractors and representatives from state and federal government agencies in a series of one-on-one appointments. This annual event provides valuable networking opportunities with dozens of exhibitors and government contracting resources. Both government agencies and prime contractors are looking for qualified firms to buy products and services required to fulfill government procurement needs. Here is the current list of Prime Contractors and Government Agencies you will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with. •    US Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) •    Black Horse Group •    General Services Administration (GSA) •    New York State Preferred Source Program (NYSPSP) •    Fort Drum Mission Installation Contracting Command (MICC) •    NYS Office of General Services MWBE Office (NYS OGS) •    Development Authority of the North Country (DANC) F

The Internal Revenue Service today issued an alert to payroll and human resources professionals to beware of an emerging phishing email scheme that purports to be from company executives and requests personal information on employees. The IRS has learned this scheme – part of the surge in phishing emails seen this year – already has claimed several victims as payroll and human resources offices mistakenly email payroll data including Forms W-2 that contain Social Security numbers and other personally identifiable information to cybercriminals posing as company executives. “This is a new twist on an old scheme using the cover of the tax season and W-2 filings to try tricking people into sharing personal data.

Each year the New York Small Business Development Center recognizes outstanding small businesses in a variety of ways.  This Success Story from the  Brockport SBDC  appears in our  2015 Annual Report .  Ed Mott & Asa Mott ButaPub Brockport SBDC The father and son team of Ed and Asa Mott came to the SBDC with the dream of opening a restaurant. Ed, a retired contractor, and Asa, an executive chef at several of the Rochester areas finest dining venues, found what they believed would be the perfect location. The restaurant housed a dining room, a theater, and private banquet room under one roof, and was located in the heart of the city’s newest up and coming South Wedge neighborhood. Finally after months of deadlines, reconfiguring financials and planning with Advisor Jim Soufleris at the Brockport SBDC, the place was theirs. Ed and Asa were able to obtain a $260,000 SBA 7a loan to purchase the business. They also made a $120,000 personal investment to get the business off

More and more people are browsing, shopping, and doing business on their phones and tablets. Currently, 11.3% of the digital population uses mobile  only , compared to 10.6% desktop only use*. This may not seem significant now but these numbers will continue to grow as mobile capabilities advance and mobile devices become more and more integral to day-to-day life.  Seriously, if you are not mobile ready you are missing an opportunity to connect with mobile users who may be future customers and partners. So how do you get started? You see, mobile is really about your audience. Here are some tips to help you get started. Click  HERE  to learn more!