The Leading Edge - Fall 2007 - (Page 13)

SMALL BUSInESS OWnERS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT gROWTH Although almost two-thirds of small business owners say the overall economy will grow at the same or slower rate, they expect their own revenue to increase, according to an August survey by Capital One & BusinessWeek Research Services. So how will they make that growth happen? “Capital remains an important driver of small business growth,” The Capital One Small Business Study states. Small businesses say additional capital would make it easier to grow the business. About half of small business owners rely on their personal savings to fund their businesses, and only three of 10 tap into commercial banks, lenders or financial companies. Forty-four percent of small business respondents reported that they do not feel their banks value or appreciate them. The survey included representatives from 603 small businesses from more than 40 services and industries. For the purposes of this study, small was defined as companies with fewer than 10 employees. The survey also asked for small business executives, “How would you use $50,000 to improve your business?” Here are some of those free-form responses: • Marketing, advertising, market research • Hire an outside salesperson • Increase inventory. • Open an additional location • Travel to more business events • Expand our intellectual property protection • Hire an accountant to get the books in shape The Capital One Small Business Knowledge Center includes the full details of this study and more research. It can be found at http://knowledgecenter.businessweek. com/smallbizconfidence. REAd A gOOd BOOK, FOUnd A HELPFUL WEB SITE? We want to hear from successful business leaders, like yourself, what you’re reading—books, magazines or on the Web. Where do you get your inspiration? What helps you develop your great ideas? What sources do you find invaluable to your business? What do you read to keep your sanity? We’ll share your suggestions with other readers of The Leading Edge. Send your ideas to ann@ wisegroup.com or your Leading Edge Alliance firm (contact information is on page 2). gLOBAL TRAdE dATA AT YOUR FIngERTIPS Businesses seeking entering or expanding in the global market might benefit from visiting www.trade.gov—the International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The site contains a wealth of information about specific countries as well as trade in general. The trade administration exists to strengthen the competitive of U.S. industry. Trade.gov also has valuable links, including the TradeStats Express™ national trade and state export data (tse.export.gov). Users can enter specific parameters and uncover global patterns of U.S. merchandise by product and market. Another resource links businesses to the U.S. government export portal, export.gov, where they can find information about expanding their export markets. THE LEAdIng EdgE 1 http://www.trade.gov http://www.trade.gov http://knowledgecenter.businessweek.com/smallbizconfidence http://tse.export.gov http://knowledgecenter.businessweek.com/smallbizconfidence http://export.gov

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The Leading Edge - Fall 2007

Contents More than Money Riding E-Cycles Can Mean Green for Your Business Business Across State Lines - The Tax Implications Holiday Recognition? Bits & Pieces In a Nutshell: Q&A The Leading Edge Alliance

The Leading Edge - Fall 2007

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