What is the SBDC? Take a look.

Since 2007 our Small Business Development Centers across South Carolina have helped more than 20,000 entrepreneurs start their own business or help entrepreneurs who already have an existing one.   Take a look at this interview of Michelle Abraham, our state director, and learn more on what the SBDC is and what we can do to help you. 

Winning Proposal Tips

Putting together a proposal can be a daunting, stressful and exasperating process. But the process doesn’t stop when you’ve finished writing the proposal, you have to present it and sell your idea to others. This task doesn’t always has positive results.

Check these tips and increase your chances to have a winner proposal.

Be Creative! Here are some tips...

Are you seeking creativity, innovation or an idea to boost your business? Check these tips out. You may discover that the trigger for that next big idea has been sitting there just waiting for you to notice it. Maybe these tips will help you put your creativity in practice.


Click here to check out the tips!

Happy Monday!

Thanks to Sweet Fire Counseling for starting us out with a little motivation and inspiration this week :-)


This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; in its place is something that you have left behind... let it be something good. :) ~Author Unknown

Are you looking into opening a small business any time soon, but you don't know how things work? In 2011 an Intuit survey came up with the following picture.

Take a look at it and see if this is something you are willing to get into. If you are and you need help, contact us. We are here to help!

Today is YOUR day! Your mountain is waiting. So...get on your way! - Dr. Seuss

Are your customers loyal to your business?

This is an amazing report of one man's customer service experience with Amazon.com. An experience that has made him the greatest marketing tool that Amazon could ever hope to find. A customer who is actively seeking out people to tell this story to.


Do you leave your customers feeling that loyal at the end of their shopping experience with you?

Click here to read this great article that will inspire you.

Thinking about buying new technology for your business?

When acquiring new hardware and software it is important to make a smart technology decision and buy not only what best suits your companies needs but also think of green technologies that can save you some money and also contribute to minimize your company's environmental footprint.


To read more on this click here.

Differentiate your business...it's a MUST!

In today's competitive business world, one has to differentiate from others to stand out and become indispensable in your company.

One way to accomplish this is to discover one's strengths and enhance them, as well as complementing them with other things that you does well. Sometimes discovering one's strengths is not an easy task.

Check out this article and find out of 4 ways to discover those hidden talents that one may have.

Have you wondered how do most successful people start their day?

Here are the first items on the daily to-do list of Craig Newmark of Craigslist, David Karp of Tumblr, motivational speaker, Tony Robbins, and many others.


Robbins suggests setting up an “Hour of Power,” “30 Minutes to Thrive,” or at least “Fifteen Minutes to Fulfillment.” Part of it involves light exercise, part of it involves motivational incantations, but the most accessible piece involves 10 minutes of thinking of everything you’re grateful for: in yourself, among your family and friends, in your career, and the like. After that, visualize “everything you want in your life as if you had it today.” - Tony Robins

Find out you what really makes the difference in their mornings and note what similarities you find. Click here to read more.

Are you having trouble starting your business plan?

A business plan is essential in the starting and developing stages of your business. The first step to starting your own business should be your business plan. Having a plan is always better than having no plan.


A good and solid business plan can increase the chances of success in your business. Learn what every business plan should answer. This article will teach you what the top 10 questions every business plan should answer. Click here to read more.

Do you have a vision??

Share it with us ..... two (or more) heads are better than one! :-) we are here to help.

Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly, and get on with improving your other innovations. - Steve Jobs

Do you use your network to grow?

Did you know that you can use your network to grow your business? Sometimes, just asking a simple question to one your contacts can make a big difference for your business. Make sure you get your customer's contact information to keep them up to date with your business news.


Learn how to approach your network members for advice.
Click here to learn how.

Does your company have an employee handbook?

Is it really necessary to have written rules and policies for employees? Having rules in writing can help to improve productivity in a workplace, as well as creating smoother relations among co-workers.

Learn what an employee handbook should contain and start working on yours.

Click here to learn what you need to know about employee handbooks.

For all you entrepreneurs out there...Take advantage of this!

Starting tomorrow and continuing on through Saturday, you'll be able to investigate possibilities for starting a franchised buiness through an online "virtual expo" sponsored by The Entrepreneur's Source.

Click here to read more about this event and sign up to participate.

A person who never made a mistake, never tried anything new - Albert Einstein

Small Business Job Creation.

Small businesses are important in the recovery of the economy. Jobs are being created faster than big companies and faster than they’ve ever been created before.


So, why is that small business job creation isn’t perceived to be that strong?

This very interesting article explains the reasons why small business job creations are better than they have been before and better than we think they are.

Time to embrace "slow work"

Slow down and be more productive... Does such a thing exist?


In today’s fast paced world that seems unlikely to happen, but it is possible. Learn how you can change your working routine and be more productive.

Click here to read the article on how to become more productive with your work once you "slow down"

Are you following your passion?

If the answer is no, what is preventing you from following it? Fear, hesitation and anxiety are some of the feelings that you may experience before you make the decision about starting your own business, but these shouldn't prevent you from taking that next step.

These tips can help you to be more confident and make a good decision.

Get inspired!

Take a look how this multinational company got started many years ago as a small business and turned into one of the best selling ice cream shops in the world. Cleary, the owner had what it took to become a successful entrepreneur, the entrepreneur spirit. He started by selling ice cream on the streets of NYC with only 1 cart. Today, you can find his ice cream in many countries around the world.

Watch this video and take notes on how he turned his small business into a multi-million and global business.

Turn new customers into a repeat customers!

For any type of business, converting a new time customer into a repeat customer is its number one goal, other than of course, making a profit. Do you own a business and still can’t figure out how to keep your customers coming back?

Here are three tips that might help:

1. Provide stellar customer service – today, one of the most important qualities a customer seeks for in a business, is how the owner treats its clients -- its customer service. Once the customer leaves your business, or after you have provided a service, you want to make sure they walk away knowing that you have done everything possible to satisfy them and make them happy. Otherwise, there is a very small chance they will come back and rumor will spread about your lack of good customer service. So take this tip and start putting it into effect today.

2. Stay in touch – Sometimes providing excellent customer service isn’t good enough. Make sure your new customers know you care about them and want them to come back. The best way to do this is by following up with them after the sale, maybe by sending them an e-mail or just giving them a quick call. They will appreciate this and will be more likely to come back.

3. Rethink your customer-loyalty programs - when you give your customers a good reason to come back, especially if there’s something in it for them, they’ll come back every time. Think about creating a “rewards” program by telling your customer that for every 1 or 2 items that they purchase, they will receive a free gift or maybe a discount off their next purchase. Be creative to think of other incentives. Little things like this will keep your clients happy and coming back to visit you.