SCORE Counselors to America's Small Businesses

ASK SCORE ARTICLES

QUESTION: Your column recently mentioned a Small Business Administration loan program called Patriot Express for military veterans and their families. Can you provide more details about the program? Read Answer...

QUESTION: I am starting my business and will have a number of employees interacting with our customers. These will be mostly young and part time employees. I can give them the technical training that they need but what other skills should they have before dealing with my customers? Read Answer...

QUESTION: Your column recently recommended the SBA CAPlines loan program for seasonal cash flow business loans. Sorry, but that advice is fiction. Please tell me which banks in the area offer CAPlines loans. Read Answer...

QUESTION: A friend told me I should file a Tangible Personal Property Tax Return. I thought that this tax was repealed by the Florida legislature last year? Read Answer...

QUESTION: Faced with the usual seasonal slowdown, I would like some ideas for marketing my business during the off season. Read Answer...

QUESTION: Our restaurant business is seasonal in nature. Historically we have a difficult time meeting our obligations during the summer months. Any suggestion how to smooth out the seasonal dips will be most appreciated. Read Answer...

QUESTION: I am a recently divorced woman with limited resources. I would like to start a small decorating business. Where should I begin to locate sources of start-up capital? Are there grants available? Read Answer...

QUESTION: I am thinking of starting a home based business utilizing the Internet. Is there an easy and inexpensive way for me to design and promote my website? Read Answer...

QUESTION: As the owner of a small business that depends on the support of our local community, I try to reciprocate by doing my part to save the environment we all cherish. Can you suggest ways that I and other business owners can make our operations more cost effective and environmentally friendly? Read Answer...

QUESTION: I am a principal in a local insurance agency. We employ both customer service representatives (CSR) and sales staff. Both are paid competitive salaries and our sales staff can also earn commissions from their production efforts. In spite of the commission incentives we are not meeting production goals. Any suggestions? Read Answer...

QUESTION: I am a college graduate who was displaced when the small company I worked for merged with a larger company. I am either over qualified or the available jobs offer a fraction of my former salary. Any suggestions? Read Answer...

QUESTION: I am a relatively new business owner and use the Quick Books accounting software system by Quicken. Do I also need the services of a bookkeeper or a Certified Public Accountant? Read Answer...

QUESTION: I am starting up a new business and everyone tells me I need a business plan. Although I know exactly what I want to do in this business, I am having a great deal of trouble developing a written business plan. Do I really need a plan and, if so, can I hire someone to write it or use plan development software? Read Answer...

QUESTION: Each year at this time I wonder if I am taking full advantage of the various deductions allowed by IRS. Is their some resource you can recommend that makes the process simpler to understand? Read Answer...

QUESTION: I am a one-person operation and with all I have to do, bookkeeping and record keeping is often put on the back burner. I know these are important items and the longer I put them off the more overwhelming the task becomes. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Read Answer...

QUESTION: I am interested in starting a business in Collier County, but have limited financial resources. What are my options for obtaining a business loan? Read Answer...

QUESTION: I own and operate a local service business. We are quite good at what we do, but our growth has been slow to develop. I have tried ads in the local news paper and several other media that have generated some interest. What else do you suggest? Read Answer...

QUESTION: I read recently that many small business ventures fail in the first two years. If this is true, what are the main reasons for failure and how does one avoid the pitfalls? Read Answer...

QUESTION: The cost of health insurance for my small business is getting out of hand. What is your opinion of a Health Savings Account as an alternative and where can I find more information on the subject? Read Answer...

QUESTION: I am a general contractor and am uncertain as to how the Internal Revenue Service will view my relationship with sub contractors. Are they employees or independent contractors? Read Answer...

QUESTION: I heard that the Small Business Administration recently approved expanded benefits for veterans. Can you explain the details of the program and who is eligible? Read Answer...

QUESTION: Your last column highlighted the 7 steps to small business success. Of all the pitfalls in the marketplace, which do you consider the most common and how can I avoid making these mistakes. Read Answer...

QUESTION: I am in a dead-end job and long for the opportunities and challenges of
owning and operating my own business. I am in the process of writing a business plan
and will appreciate any insights you can offer to help me get started. Read Answer...

QUESTION: I have noticed in several of the “Ask SCORE” columns the reference to a Business Plan. Exactly what is a Business Plan and why do I need one? Read Answer...

QUESTION: My wife and I operate a small independent hardware store. We stock most anything one would need around the house and the merchandise is of the highest quality. We have a loyal customer base, but with the competition from the “big box” stores, we find ourselves having to match their prices. Is there a solution to our dilemma? Read Answer...

QUESTION: I operate a seasonal business here in Naples. From November through May sales are brisk. However, when the “snowbirds” go home I can barely meet expenses. Is there any solution to my dilemma? Read Answer...

QUESTION: I am starting up a new business. Should I source my products locally or go directly to China? If I purchase from China, what are the problems or issues I might encounter and how do I go about it? Read Answer...

QUESTION: I read with particular interest the recent Ask SCORE article entitled Will a Web site help my business grow? Can you offer some tips on how to create a successful, visible Web site for my small business? Read Answer...

QUESTION: I am just starting my business and wonder what kinds of insurance coverage I should consider? We recently moved here and I do not have any contacts locally. Any suggestions you may have will be appreciated. Read Answer...

QUESTION: I run a small business in the Naples area. Business has been steady, but not growing. I do not have a Web site; in fact I’m not very computer literate. Will a Web site actually help my business grow? Is setting up a Web site expensive? Do you have any other thoughts on using a Web site? Read Answer...

QUESTION: I am having a problem managing my cash flow. My customers are sometimes slow to pay and I can't pay my bills with promises. I am afraid of losing my customers if I push them too hard for payment. Is their a solution to this problem? Read Answer...

QUESTION: I have a small metal processing business, less than a year old, and I am considering taking on a partner. The partner would take over responsibility for sales and some office duties. This will free me up to do more shop supervision and other management tasks. What are the risks and rewards of getting into a partnership? Read Answer...

QUESTION: We are organizing a new business in Collier County and want to create public awareness. We have a limited budget for advertising and wonder what is the best and most cost-effective way to promote our new venture? Read Answer...

QUESTION: Should we Incorporate our new business or file as a Limited Liability Company (LLC). Please explain the advantages of each. Read Answer...

QUESTION: We want to start a business and have limited financial resources. We have approached several banks without much success. What are my options for securing a business loan? Read Answer...