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New free, online course: Starting a Business in New Hampshire

Last week we here at the New Hampshire Small Business Development Center officially launched Starting a Business in New Hampshire,  an addition to our e-Learning for Entrepreneurs courses.  This course addresses such topics as how to register a business name, the forms of business organization, taxes and licensing, insurance, and business plans, and it provides website links and other resources. Taking the course--it's free and online, available 24/7---would make a great first step for anyone considering starting a business in New Hampshire.  It takes about one and a half hours to go through the 65 slides that are part of the course and you can stop and start again at any time.  For questions about the course, please call 603-227-0417.

E-Learning for Entrepreneurs is sponsored by Public Service of New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development, and the University of New Hampshire. Its creation was funded by a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration and overseen by the board and staff of the NH-SBDC.

Marketing, marketing, marketing

It’s all well and good to have a great service or product to sell, but if nobody knows about it, your idea is going to die on the vine. That’s why any successful business owner has to market with a vengeance—or hire someone who will do it for you. The Business.gov website has compiled an excellent online list of marketing articles and resources, including how to conduct market research and how to comply with advertising laws.

Key tip: Learn as much as possible about your potential customers.

Will there be a new wave of young entrepreneurs?

This article from Crain’s of New York  indicates that young people may be the next wave of new entrepreneurs.  The Kauffman Foundation predicts a “coming entrepreneurship boom” among people ages 20 to 34 because young people have been inspired by the likes of Google, Facebook and Twitter—successful businesses all started by very young adults—and because they see the “traditional” job market just as risky for them these days. Young adults seem to benefit from having smaller companies and fewer financial responsibilities, which leads them to taking innovative risks.

Do you know successful, very young entrepreneurs in New Hamsphire? Write us here with a mention of them.

On-line businesses can look for ways to cut costs

Some old and new entrepreneurs are deciding to do business completely online.  This 2009 article from the Arizona Small Business Development Center pinpoints some ways that those who sell online can cut their own costs and be more efficient. One recommendation for those thinking of going totally online is to learn how to design and build websites to avoid the cost of hiring web designers or developers. Other tips are to not buy in bulk, but to use a “drop shipper” to use when orders are to be fulfilled. Check the full article here.

Webcasts offered by NH-DRED for business owners

Want some professional development training without going anywhere?

New Hampshire’s Division of Economic Development is offering a new monthly series of free business-centered webcasts called NH BizCast.

  The upcoming webcasts are:

• Feb. 17, noon to 1 p.m., "New Mediums, New Messages - How Social Media is Transforming Communication," presented by Allen Voivod of Epiphanies, Inc.;
• March 17, noon to 1 p.m., "Best Business Practices for the Next Century," presented by Dr. Russ Ouellette of Sojourn Partners;
• Other webcasts will be announced on the NH BizCast web site.

To participate in the live audience at the Comfort Inn, pre-register with Leslie Sherman at 271-2591 or leslie.sherman@dred.state.nh.us.

Rise in home-based businesses expected to continue in struggling economy

Home-based businesses have been on the rise for some time and now account for nearly half of all businesses in the United States, according to this article. These businesses are not just hobbies, but are providing a significant or majority share of household income. With a struggling economy, technological advancements and the lower costs of operating out of one’s home, it’s expected that more and more people will choose self-employment at home.

The article identifies 10 trends for home-based entrepreneurs in 2010: 1. A job-challenged economy 2. Bootstrapping (cost containment; cash flow adjustments) 3. Home-based artisans 4. Cloud computing (access to advanced computer capabilities) 5. Mobile computing 6. Social computing 7. Analytics—Tools are becoming more sophisticated; easier to use 8. The New Local movement 9. Boomers—Aging baby boomers are flocking to home-based businesses 10. Work/life balance.

Are you home-based or planning to be?

Write us with your comments using the “comment” feature just below.