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Life is Sweet For Entrepreneurs as Cupcakeries Boom (+ Tips for Starting a Food Service Business)
Caron Beesley
Post date: 11/25/2009 - 09:14

During one of the worst recessions in U.S.

history, a little sugary confection - the great American cupcake - is proving

to be an unexpected fast food market opportunity for many entrepreneurs.

One city where the cupcake sector is

booming at a rate faster than your average coffee shop is Washington, D.C.,

where an investigatory article by The

Washington Post found that at least half a dozen cup cake eateries - or

'cupcakeries' - have opened in the past 20 months, with more on the way. ('Cupcakeries Emerge as Washington's Sweet Spot in a Downturn*').

The

Secret of 'Cupcakery' Success?

Everyone can understand the appeal of

the cupcake, but why the sudden spurt in 'cupcakeries'?

Some see correlation in the popularity

of the little confection with the current recession. Interviewed by The Post, Paul Sapienza, vice president

for the Retail Bakers of America, offers his own assessment of the confection's

popularity: 'They are cute. They are

an economic treat, which helps out in the recession. They are a little

decadent, so you get cake, frosting and sometimes filling all at the same time.'

While others doubt the trend will last.

One fan of the Washington,

D.C. cupcake group on Facebook

told The Post: 'For me, it's a

personal-size treat. You don't have to share it with anybody. It's a

guilt-free, happy treat that takes you back to your childhood,' Jones

said. 'Do I think it's a stable

business? No. I wouldn't invest in a cupcake store.'

The

'Cupcakery' Opportunity

But regardless of opinion-based

forecasts, 'cupcakeries' are certainly a sweet option for entrepreneurs. Not

only can you benefit from walk-in sales, but

adding a pre-ordered catering option to the business mix can also be lucrative.

For example, Georgetown Cupcake - cited in The

Post's article - sells between 3,000 and 5,000 cupcakes a day - of which 30

percent are walk-ins and 70 percent pre-ordered.

Servicing anything from kids parties to

workplace soirees and even weddings, cupcakes are a perennial treat and a

potential goldmine given the proper planning, marketing and location.

Starting

your Own 'Cupcakery' or Food Service Business

If you are interested in starting a

'cupcakery' or other food service business, you will still need to observe the

basic strategies of starting and operating a business - while observing food

service business laws!

Here are some useful tips and resources

that can help entrepreneurs start, operate and grow their food service

businesses:

1. Getting Started

If you are a first-time business owner

or entrepreneur, or even if you have some experience under your belt, these 10 Steps to

Starting a Business from Business.gov will guide you

through the process involved in making key business planning and financial

decisions about starting a business.

2.

Finding the

Right Location

Whether you are in downtown Washington, D.C. or in America's

heartlands, researching and planning your potential location and market base is

critical. And while city locations may attract walk-in traffic for your food

service business, many suburban locations offer a higher concentration of lucrative

'family-oriented' catering business opportunities.

Use freely available market research

tools to your benefit. You can check local demographics including employment

statistics, consumer statistics, and more using these guides from the

government.

You'll also need to check local zoning laws, even if you

want to operate a home-based food production business - many local governments

restrict what business can be done from home.

Get more advice and tips from

Business.gov on choosing a

business location.

Alternatively you may wish to start

your business online - read 'Starting and Growing an Online Business: An Entrepreneur's Checklist'.

3. Understand the

Regulations That Govern Food Production Businesses

There

are a variety of laws and regulations that govern the food production and

catering business, here are some resources that can help:

  • Start Local - Most laws that govern this sector are

    enforced at the local level. Check your county's Public Health Department for more information.

  • Shipping Food Products Across State

    Boundaries -If you

    produce a food product that is shipped across state boundaries then the FDA and Department of

    Agriculture

    both provide compliance guidelines.

For

a more general overview of federal regulations that affect this industry, check

out the resources on Business.gov's Restaurant and Food Service Business

Guide or visit www.foodsafety.gov.

4. Hiring Employees

in the Food Service or Production Business

Catering

or food service businesses are almost impossible to operate as a one-man-band,

so you are going to need to hire employees. Read Ten Steps to Hiring Your First Employee to understand the legal and regulatory

side of hiring employees.

If

you choose to operate a food service business or restaurant you will need to be

aware of the laws that govern the hiring and management of employees in the food service business - Operating a Restaurant within the Law: A 101 in Compliance Part 1 and Part 2.

5. Marketing

Marketing your cupcake or other food

service business is going to come down to identifying your target market and

using the appropriate tools and tactics to reach them. Here are some tips and resources to help

small business owners develop a marketing plan to support their goals,

including sample marketing plans and online tutorials.

Remember to include community and

online marketing channels in your marketing mix - from your company Web site to

Facebook and Twitter; local newspaper ads to stories written by local

reporters. Use integrated methods to reach your audience wherever they are.

Good luck!

*Note: Hyperlink directs reader to non-government Web site.

From W-2 to Schedule 1040 C: Uncle Sam Has a One-Stop Shop for All Your Business Forms
Caron Beesley
Post date: 11/23/2009 - 07:40

Whatever stage your business is at - from hiring your first employee, filing your first W-2, or applying for a loan - a barrage of forms will require your attention. And as a small business owner, it's more than likely your responsibility to take care of this particularly time consuming area of business management.

However, in many instances, small business owners either aren't aware of their regulatory obligations or simply don't know where to find the multitude of government-wide forms they need to ensure they are operating their business within the law.

For example, when it comes to hiring your first employee, did you know that your form checklist should include - an EIN application form; federal tax withholding (Form W-4): federal wage and tax statement (Form W-2); employment verification (Form I-9), and more? (For more information read Ten Steps to hiring your First Employee).

And that's just one facet of business operation!

Business.gov and Forms.gov: All the Government Forms Your Business Needs

The good news is that the government has leveraged its growing Web-based citizen services to connect small business owners to essential regulatory and other government forms needed to help them start, grow and operate their small business.

Yes, agencies such as the IRS and SBA have housed agency-specific forms on their Web site for many years. But only relatively recently has relief come to small business owners in the form of two government-run Web sites - the Business.gov and Forms.gov - that combine government forms and resources from multiple agencies in one place.

  • Business.gov is the U.S. government's official Web site for small businesses and was originally meant to be a portal for federal forms. Even though the site has grown to offer a rich array of tools and information for small businesses, it's still a great resource for forms. Check out the Essential Government Forms page on the site for links to the most frequently requested forms (for example: W-2, W-4, SS-4, 1040 Schedule C, and so on) to forms categorized by business need - starting a business, financing a business, operating a business, and even closing a business.

It also includes links to state government forms as well as forms that support business incorporation, the protection of intellectual property, business licenses and permits, and more.

  • Forms.gov, on the other hand, is a useful searchable online catalog of more than 5,000 federal forms managed by the General Services Administration (GSA). However, it's best to use this site when you know the precise name and number of the form you need access to - for example, if you just type 'tax' you'll get a listing of hundreds of tax forms.

Additional Resources

Follow Business.gov on Twitter and Facebook for up up-to-the minute information and resources for small businesses. You can also discuss, share and get insights from fellow business owners as well as industry and government experts at the Business.gov Community.

Message Edited by CaronBeesley on 11-23-2009 06:44 AM
Selling Imported Goods within the U.S.; Get Started with this Small Business Checklist
Caron Beesley
Post date: 11/12/2009 - 09:07

Selling imported goods within the U.S.

can be a lucrative business opportunity. High demand imported products such as

artisan crafts, furniture and even food and beverage products such as olive

oils, wine, etc. represent a significant market opportunity for savvy business

owners. Margins of up to 700% can be lucrative indeed.

If you are interested in importing and

selling overseas goods into the U.S.

market - whether you are actually based in the U.S.

or not - you will need to do your research regarding both the country of export

and the country of import (the United States).

Here are some business and regulatory

tips to guide you through the process of selling imported goods in the U.S.

Before

you Do Anything - Check Import Rejection Laws and Trade Barriers

In addition to determining the market

opportunity for a particular product or range of imported products, be sure to

check U.S. trade barriers

and local in-country laws to be certain that you can actually export your

chosen goods out of the country of origin into the U.S.

While the U.S. is very import friendly, it

does have stringent safety and quality controls that don't exist outside its

borders. Likewise, foreign nations sometimes restrict the export of religious

ornaments, rare or protected goods. For example, certain animal by-products

such as furs and ivory as well as fake designer goods are banned or are

governed by export restrictions.

Read about import goods rejections and

trade barriers on Export.gov here. If you wish to import or sell

agricultural products into the U.S.,

the Food Safety and

Inspection Service provides a checklist and other information to help you

comply with the laws that govern the import of meat, poultry and egg products.

For more information about trade

agreements, refer to this guide on

Business.gov.

Formally

Set up Your Own Business

Consider formalizing your business

entity before you start pursuing importing opportunities and engage in any

regulatory practices. Read these 10 Steps to

Starting a Business for a step-by-step guide to the planning, financial and

legal steps involved in starting a business.

If you are a foreign national and plan to import and do business in the U.S., read Starting a Business in the U.S. as a Foreign National for guidance on tax and legal obligations.

Build

Relationships and Network on the Ground in the Export Country

As with all wholesale procurement, you

will want to meet and greet with the producer or distributor of the product(s)

you will be selling. Try to establish whether the company you are dealing with

has export experience, and request references. Refer to these resources for Doing Business

Abroad

to ensure your business travel is well planned.

Consider

Hiring a Customs Broker

Many people who are in the business of

importing goods into the U.S. choose to utilize a customs broker to help

facilitate the laws and regulations that apply to your business, including

licenses, taxes, duty fees, etc. A customs broker prepares all the documentation

needed for importing goods,

just as a freight forwarder does for exporters. You can read more about customs

brokers here. You can also search

for a certified customs broker at the *National Customs Brokers and Forwarders

Association of America.

Check

Whether you Require a License or Permit to Import Certain Goods

Many imported and exported products are

regulated by federal agencies. If you import or export any of the types of

products listed by the government here, you may be

required to obtain specific licenses and permits or complete additional

paperwork (the link also provides information on how to get the appropriate

licenses and permits). A customs broker

can also help with this aspect of importing goods.

Selling

Imported Goods - Retail and Distribution Options

How will you sell your imported wares?

There are a number of options from re-selling your products to niche

independent stores to selling direct at fairs, festivals and markets (get tips

on starting and operating a concession stand in these two posts - part 1 and part 2). You can also

set up your own retail store. Read How to Start a Retail Business - A Step-by-Step Guide for more

information.

Online retailing or 'e-tailing' is a

useful option if you happen to be based outside the U.S.

and wish to sell to the U.S.

market. But be sure to set up your site using a U.S. domain and host it on a U.S

server. Read Starting and Growing an Online Business: An Entrepreneur's Checklist for tips about

starting an online business operation.

Additional

Resources

*Note: Link directs reader to non-government Web site.

Going Beyond the Shot Gun Approach; 5 Tips for Optimizing Your Non-Profit’s Fundraising Efforts
Caron Beesley
Post date: 11/10/2009 - 08:52

Raising funds to support the

philanthropic mission of any non-profit organization can be a time consuming

chore often fraught with trial and error.

While splashy one-off fundraisers

(otherwise known as 'episodic funding') can generate a large chunk of

charitable change they can also consume much needed resources for months on

end. At the other end of the spectrum, 'ongoing' fundraising tactics, while easier

to execute, oftentimes don't generate the required financial rewards.

To succeed in

fundraising, your non-profit must diversify its efforts to strike a balance

between episodic and ongoing fundraising activities that ensures multiple

streams of income for the medium and long term. This means having a long term

plan.

Consider

these five tips and tactics for optimizing your non-profit's fundraising activities:

1. Tell Your Story - Create a Case Statement

Much like a

business elevator pitch (only longer), a case statement is a brief one or two

page document that clearly informs potential donors about who you are and how

their donations to your cause can make a positive difference. It is the story of your cause, and the part

played by your donors to support that cause.

Your case

statement is a useful tool for focusing your message and objective,

particularly when communicating with new donors - especially those who have a

history of philanthropy and know what they are looking for in terms of a

compelling and emotional cause. It can also be plugged into campaign messaging

and in-person solicitation efforts.

According to *Enterpreneur.com, your case statement should

address why you are in business, what outcomes you anticipate, how your

organization is different, how you intend to achieve your goals, and what major

accomplishments your non-profit has achieved. It should also include the

history, philosophy and financing basis of the organization.

2. Target Your Marketing - Start with your Network and an

Understanding of its Motivation

Some very

basic marketing planning can help you zoom in on the right donors and avoid a

shot gun approach to your fundraising efforts.

Start by

building a picture of your current personal

network - your sphere of influence. This will likely include early

volunteers or board members. Next, determine what it is about your cause (the motivator) that appeals to them and

to their demographic. Using this profile data, develop a strategy for reaching

other potential donors outside this early 'inner circle'.

The tactics

you employ should be repeatable and reusable as your sphere of donors grows. Be

sure to assess the success of your approach and re-visit your strategy

frequently to ensure you are on track with your goals.

3. Write a Fundraising Campaign Plan

Assuming you

have written a business plan for your non-profit, drill down one step further

to develop a fundraising campaign plan for the year ahead. This is an

invaluable exercise in ensuring your tactics are aligned with your goals as

well as your available resources.

Be mindful of

your target market as you write your plan - your best bet for securing funds

from donors is to restrict your episodic fundraising activities to two to three

campaigns per year. More than that and you risk alienating your supporters with

too many contribution requests.

Don't forget

to plan out your strategy for ongoing initiatives too - this will include

everything from cause marketing activities to grant solicitations to

maintaining newsletters, attending and exhibiting at events, and other

brand-building activities.

(Read my earlier post - Tips for Finding the Right Blend of Funds for your Non-Profit - to get a picture of the role played by episodic funds and ongoing

funds in your non-profit business plan).

4. Understand the Role of Social Media

From Facebook

and Twitter to blogging, it's hard to ignore the potential of social media as a

low cost tool to support the fundraising and outreach activities of

non-profits. But take time to understand how it can fit with your goals and the

time investment. And, develop a plan for implementation before you start any

online dialog with your potential donors.

Read these

three articles to get tips on your non-profit social media strategy:

5. Leverage the

Resources of Other Non-Profits

Lastly, there are many resources to

help non-profits achieve their fundraising and philanthropic goals, not least

of which are those provided by other non-profits and government organizations

(even those traditionally associated with for-profits such as the Small Business Administration and *SCORE).

*Idealist.org, for example, lets you register your

non-profit and provides access to non-profit resources and information. You can

even create your own Web page, seek volunteers and interns, advertise on the

events page, network in forums, and more. They also offer in-person non-profit

career fairs and other events to help organizations network and grow.

Traditional small business support

groups such as SCORE are also a great resource to help non-profits start and

grow. Find SCORE and other free in-person assistance for your non-profit here.

Additional Resources

Other resources that can help you in

your fund-raising efforts, from sourcing funds to writing grant proposals,

include the following:

  • Business.gov's Non-Profit Organization Start-up Guide - This site collects links to programs and services to help

    non-profits find opportunities available to them from the federal government

    including grants and financial assistance, tax information, government sales

    and surplus, and more.

  • *The

    Center for Non-Profit Success - Here you'll find training and resources to help

    non-profits succeed.

  • *Foundation

    Center - This is a non-profit that connects

    non-profits and grant makers. It also provides resources and advice for

    starting and managing a non-profit.

  • *Writing

    a Grant Proposal -

    From Summary to Budget

  • USA.gov for Non-Profits - This site is the online version of

    what many companies offering CFDA assistance services use to advise their

    clients. It is available for FREE to all who wish to reference it. It has

    specific information for non-profits divided into 3 sections: grants/loans,

    management/operations, and tax information.

  • *About.com

    Non-profit Portal

    - Covering everything from starting up, fundraising, and managing volunteers to

    marketing your non-profit, About.com's Non-Profit Guide is an invaluable and

    resource-rich Web portal.

  • *Non-profit

    Guides

    - This site provides free Web-based grant-writing tools for non-profit

    organizations, charitable and educational organizations, public organizations,

    and other community-minded groups.

*Note: Hyperlink directs reader to non-government Web site.

Message Edited by CaronBeesley on 11-10-2009 07:52 AM
Thinking of Starting a Blog? Tips to Help You Start, Maintain & Grow a Small Business Blog!
Caron Beesley
Post date: 11/03/2009 - 08:57

The online social media revolution that

has bought us Facebook and Twitter actually started back in the late 90's when

the term 'blog', short for 'weblog', entered the lexicon.

Since then the activity of blogging has

exploded and it was in May 2005 that BusinessWeek

proclaimed that *Blogs Will

Change Your Business. They certainly have.

Why

are blogs important for your business?

Blogs provide business owners with

unprecedented ways of reaching and engaging with large audiences in a way that

the traditional one-way information push of a company Web site could never do.

Not only this, but blogs can help put a

human face to your business while showcasing your knowledge and passion for

your chosen field. For example, restaurant owners can share recipe secrets.

Just about anyone from a landscaping business to an IT security company can

share tips of the trade that connect them with their customer base.

And unlike the static content of a

business Web site, blogs are collaborative and invite comment - a great way to

engage with and solicit feedback from your customers!

Blogs can even be lead generating. I

read and monitor blogs religiously and have nurtured leads and networked with

businesses that I would not have known existed, had it not been for the viral

marketing effect generated by their blogs.

Of course, if you are thinking of

starting a blog you need to have an underlying strategy in place to ensure it

is a success. Here are four things to

consider before you enter the blogosphere:

1. Identify a Purpose,

Goal and Intention for your Blog

While you

obviously want to promote your business, don't be over-promotional in your blog

content strategy. Decide early on what you want to accomplish with your blog -

and this should drive your content.

Most blogs are

typically centered on positioning businesses or business owners as thought

leaders in their space or for sharing information and tips that readers find

useful. For other ideas on how to shape your blog strategy, including the use

of case studies and interviews, take a look at this article - '*5 Winning Post

Ideas for Your Small Business Blog' - from *OPENForum.com.

Once you have

defined your goal, be sure to adhere to it. Consider publishing your blog

objective on your blog home page. For example, the objective of a hypothetical

company - JJ's Landscaping Services - might be to provide tips that help consumers

maintain a thriving garden in all seasons, which could be summarized and

published as:

The

Better Garden Blog

Tips and Tools from our team of experts

to keep your garden looking its best year round!

2. Getting Started

- Blog Software

Once you have decided

to start blogging, you will need to consider the software options available for

hosting your blog.

Many social

media experts advise businesses to be wary of some of the free blog tools

available, since their basic features don't offer integration with existing

business Web domains or allow for brand customization.

Truth be told,

however, if you are just getting started with a blog, free blogging software

can be a cost-effective and easy solution for many small businesses. If your

blog does take off down the road, you might want to consider migrating to blog

software that is installed on your domain and integrated with your Web site.

And don't forget to devise a communication plan to let your readers know that you

are moving hosts!

3. Commit to Blogging

Regularly and with Relevance

There are two

tell tale signs that a blog has lost its way - no posts for two weeks or more,

and content that has veered off course. Neither will give a favorable

impression of your company.

If you can't

commit to posting at least 2-3 times a week, then blogging is not going to work

for your business. And this is something to consider before you even start your

blog. A good way to keep posts regular is to share duties with others. This

also adds a diversity of voices.

Having an

editorial calendar can also keep you on track. Written in advance (for the

coming month or quarter), an editorial calendar should include not just the

working title of upcoming posts, but a summary of the objective of each post

too. Also include hyperlinks to other resources that can help you craft your

post quickly and efficiently when it comes time to write.

Don't forget to

include placeholders for topical posts that spring up at the last minute. For

example, in the case of our hypothetical company - JJ's Landscaping Services -

topical posts that address current issues such as protracted weather conditions

can keep your blog relevant and compelling.

4. Develop a Plan

to Generate Traffic to your Blog

Last, but by no

means least, generating traffic to your blog is critical. The trouble is, many

bloggers either do nothing to leverage the tactics available to them, or they

go overboard and saturate their blog pages with links and social media icons to

drive inbound traffic.

There are many

traditional and non-traditional ways to drive traffic to your blog - from

ensuring you have RSS feeds built in to adding a link to your blog from other

customer touch points such as your email signature and main business Web site.

This article

from *Louis Gray - '*10 Pointers for

Generating Traffic to Your Blog' - is essential reading to get any blogger

started in thinking about ways to promote their blog content and drive inbound

traffic.

Happy blogging!

Additional Resources

*Note: Hyperlink directs reader to non-government Web site.

Message Edited by CaronBeesley on 11-03-2009 08:02 AM