| SECURITY.
Small Businesses might also want to consider installing
security
cameras. Various security
systems not only offer piece of mind, but provide insurance
discounts, the ability to monitor in house employees or
other both locally and remotely, including assisting with
protection against vandalism and theft. Google "security
systems" for additional information. |
| SCORE.
This year SCORE celebrates its 35th anniversary of helping
new business owners with free counciling. For information
about starting or operating a small business, call 1-800-634-0245
for the SCORE chapter nearest you or visit their website
at http://www.score.org. Small businesses can receive e-mail
counseling, which allows small business owners and aspiring
entrepreneurs to select and correspond with a SCORE counselor
via e-mail. |
| TELEPHONE
SCAM ALERT. Be wary of anyone calling you and identifying
themselves as a Telephone Service Technician who is conducting
tests. The “technician” will ask you to touch nine (9),
zero (0), the pound sign (#) and then hang up. If you do
this, you give the requesting individual full access to
your telephone line, which allows them to place long distance
telephone calls billed to your phone number. Do not press
90# for ANYONE. |
CREDIT
HISTORY. You should check your credit history with the
major national credit bureaus at least once a year. Call
or write to get a copy of your report.
Experian, PO Box 2350, Chatsworth, CA 91313. 1-800-392-1122
TransUnion, PO Box 7000, N. Olmstead, OH 44070. 312-408-1400
Equifax, PO Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374. 1-800-685-1111
|
| DUNS.
Speaking of DUNS, you should get a DUNS number even if you
are not interested in pursuing Government business. Many
of your potential customers may check D&B to see if you
are a "real business." The DUNS number will allow D&B to
identify your business. Get the number - it's free and takes
about 2-minutes over the telephone. You are given the number
immediately. |
| SOCIAL
SECURITY INFO. Your social security records are important
(especially in light of possible Year 2000 problems!). Get
a current copy by calling the Social Security Administration
at 1 (800) 772 1213 and ask for a "Personal Earnings and
Benefit Estimate Statement," Form SSA-7004 or get one over
the internet at http://www.ssa.gov |
| U.S.
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS. NASA has a couple of programs of
interest to small businesses. The Small Business Innovation
Research program (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology
Transfer Program (STTR) The general objective of the SBIR
Program is to provide increased opportunities for small
businesses to participate in federal research and development.
The goal of the Congress in establishing the STTR program
is to transfer technology developed by universities and
federal labs into the private marketplace through the entrepreneurship
of a small business. Learn more about these programs at
http://sbir.nasa.gov. |
| CURRENCY
CONVERTER. Need to convert one currency into another?
Try out this site: http://www.xe.net/currency which contains
a very easy to use form. |
| UPS WEBSITE
CAUTION. When using the UPS website (www.ups.com) to
determine shipping costs, be advised that the amounts returned
are for a customer with a UPS account - shipping costs for
those without an account are somewhat higher! |
| TELEPHONE
SAFETY TIP: Anyone concerned about employees or family
members calling undesirable exchanges (such as 809, 900
or 926 numbers) can request "call blocking" from their local
telephone company. |
| LOOKING
FOR an area code, an address, a location somewhere in
the U.S.? Try this fantastic resource: http://www.555-1212.com/aclookup.html |
| THE LIBRARY.
Don't forget your local library as a source of business
information. For example, your reference section most likely
contains the following items that, if purchased, cost hundreds
of dollars: Magazine
Advertising Source (SRDS). A giant volume containing listings
of thousands of direct mail lists, mailing list compilers,
brokers and managers.
Phone books
from every major city in the U.S and most other countries.
The Thomas
Register. 20 volumes of products and services from Abacuses
to Zoo equipment; 2 volumes of company profiles, 3 volumes
covering the food industry and 8 volumes of company catalogs.
Tax guides
Periodicals
covering dozens of different disciplines.
The Standard
Periodical Directory (Oxford). Every print publication
in the U.S. and Canada including newspapers, newsletters,
journals and catalogs. |
| AREA CODES.
Looking for the area code for a city or the city for an
area code? Here is an easy to use resource: http://www.555-1212com:80/aclookup.html |
| FRAUD ALERT
INFO. To monitor what's going on in the world of "on
line" fraud check out www.fraud.org. |
| Those of you
who have used the THOMAS REGISTER series of industrial
catalogs know what a valuable resource it is. Now search
the complete catalog on line at http://www.thomasregister.com
and save the cost of this expensive resource and gain the
advantage of keyword searching. |
| CONSUMER
INFORMATION CATALOG. Get a copy from the Computer Information
Center, 7D-7, POB 100, Pueblo, CO 81002. It's free and contains
some interesting free and inexpensive small business related
publications. For example, "Copyright Basics" 50-cents;
"General Information concerning Patents" $2.25; "Guide to
Business Credit for Women, Minorities, and Small Businesses"
50-cents; "Resource Directory for Small Business Management"
50-cents; "Starting a Business" Free. You can view all these
publications at the Consumer Information Site at http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov. |
