Tips &Tools: Resources for New Business Owners

TIP:

Have a great idea but confused about where to go with it? Are you trying to determine if you should go into business or not?

I stumbled across a great resource through the Mississippi Development Center. The Entrepreneur Center offers a comprehensive manual for potential business owners—with critical questions to consider before launching your new business as well as solid insight to help you succeed.

Check out the download available here.

A side note for my friends who live in the Mississippi area. The Development Center is also currently taking applications for the Pilot Entrepreneur Training Program. “This program is partially funded through a grant from the Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The nine-month pilot program will provide qualifying small businesses and entrepreneurs with the knowledge and skills necessary to create a successful business. The program will feature some of the best business development experts in the state and will cover topics critical to building and sustaining a business. Participants will also receive personalized mentoring by Entrepreneur Center staff (information taken directly from the website).”

Go here for the application.

A quick tip to my non-Mississipians. Since this program was partially funded through a national grant, I suspect other states may have similar programs. If interested, I recommend you contact your local Development Center and inquire if they have any programs available that you could plug into

TOOL:

Multimedia is exploding. For the entrepreneur, this offers diverse venues to tell your story in new ways.

Here are a couple links to help you share your multimedia presentation:

Widgetbox

Twitter Widgets

Flickr

Gather

Vimeo (or You Tube)          

Much like a carpenter, an entrepreneur needs a toolbox. A real workhorse, filled to the brim with the essential tools to do a quality job. An easy to tote, practical, and always-on-hand toolbox.

Consider this yours. Each week, we will offer practical tips and tools to help grow your business.

What do you think?

Have you used any of these tools? We would love your feedback. What worked, and what didn’t? Would you recommend them?

Jo Ann Fore is a certified Life Coach and freelance writer. Visit her at www.JoAnnFore.com.