Small Businesses Can Now Apply for ARC Loans from SBAJune 15, 2009 -- The SBA will begin accepting loans for a temporary new program called America's Recovery Capital (ARC). ARC loans of up to $35,000 are designed to provide a "bridge" for viable small businesses with immediate financial hardship - to keep their doors open until they get back on track.
"These ARC loans are another tool in the SBA toolkit which will provide critical support to small businesses struggling to make it through these tough economic times," says Administrator Karen G. Mills. A New Place to go for People Officing Out of Coffee ShopsJune 3, 2009 -- okcCoCo, Oklahoma’s first coworking collaborative, hopes to brew up something big by offering freelancers and entrepreneurs an alternative to coffee shop "officing."
The Oklahoma City Coworking Technology Collaborative opened to the public on May 1 in midtown Oklahoma City. okcCoCo’s goal is to provide freelancers, entrepreneurs and small businesses with the comfort of a coffee house and the resources of a professional workspace in which to meet and work on a flexible time-share basis. Oklahoma Small Business Advocacy Committee Adds ThreeMay 21, 2009 -- Three small business owners from across the state have recently been added to the Oklahoma Small Business Advocacy Committee. Those named to the team are:
- Edward (Ed) Lynn, Owner of OK Wings (Oklahoma City)
- Roy Sisco, Owner of Seminole Ford (Seminole)
- Brian A. Smejkal, Owner of Bubble Town Express Car Wash (Sand Springs)
Oklahoma City Business Woman Named National Small Business Person of the YearMay 20, 2009 -- An Oklahoma City small business owner who battled a brain tumor and overcame challenges generated by 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina to lead her environmental remediation firm to success was recently named National Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
"Jeanna Sellmeyer is a perfect example of the grit and determination it takes to become a highly successful entrepreneur in America today," says SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills. "Hers is a story of beating the odds and coming back on top, surviving daunting obstacles to lead her environmental remediation firm and its 100 employees to a leadership position in her industry."
SBA Expands Eligibility for 7(a) Loans to Spur Recovery Opportunities for Small BusinessesMay 13, 2009 -- More small businesses will be eligible for U.S. Small Business Administration-backed loans, meaning greater access to much-needed capital in this tough economy, as a result of a temporary alternate size standard for the agency's largest lending program.
SBA’s alternate size standard for its 7(a) loan program lasts from now through Sept. 30, 2010. As a result of the temporary change, more than 70,000 additional small businesses – including auto and RV dealerships, auto industry suppliers and others – could be eligible to apply for SBA 7(a) loan. Tulsa Metro Chamber Honors Small BusinessesMay 12, 2009 -- The Journal Record reports emerging entrepreneurs and small businesses received a pat on the back recently at the Tulsa Metro Chamber’s annual Small Business Awards luncheon.
The chamber presented awards in a variety of categories including Women in Business Champion and Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Tulsa Entrepreneur Center Now OpenMay 4, 2009 - The Tulsa World reports the Collaboratorium, a downtown Tulsa resource center for entrepreneurs, is officially open and accepting applications.
The center will provide entrepreneurs with office space at a discounted price, shared conference rooms, business coaching opportunities, connections to entrepreneurial networks and access to other resources, reports the World. Cherokee Nation Micro-Enterprise Program Jump Starts Small BusinessesApril 28, 2009 -- For those who have longed for the opportunity to venture out on their own and be inventive with a new and independent business, the Cherokee Nation now has funding available to help make those dreams happen.
The tribe’s Small Business Assistance Center (SBAC) has money available in its Micro-Enterprise Development Fund to lend to tribal citizens who may be interested in establishing a small business but might not otherwise be eligible for traditional lending. 2008 Oklahoma Small Business Incubator Certification Program Annual Report Available for DownloadApril 17, 2009 -- Incubators vary in the way they deliver their services, in their organizational structure and in the types of clients they serve.
Incubators have differing goals, including diversifying rural economies, providing employment for and increasing wealth of depressed inner cities, and transferring technology from universities and major corporations. Incubator clients are often at the forefront of developing new and innovative technologies - creating products and services that improve the quality of our lives in communities around the world.
 Oklahoma Small Business Incubator Certification Program: Annual Report 2008
Edmond Named One of the Best Small Cities for Startups by BusinessWeekApril 15, 2009 – BusinessWeek recently named Edmond one of the Best Small Cities for Startups.
The city with a population of over 80,000 and a labor force of over 44,000 has 38 small businesses per 1,000 people according to BusinessWeek. |
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Service Provider Database
 Break-Even Sales Analysis Tool Every business owner should know how much revenue is needed to pay all business costs and leave a fair profit return. Profit is determined by the company's cost structure and sales volume over the course of one year. This tool figures how much business you'll need to conduct to turn a profit.
How Price Changes Impact Profit How much business can you lose from price increases and still meet gross profit goals? This tool calculates that as well as how much gross profit will be left after you've paid for the goods and services needed to operate. Business ResourcesMashable Social Media Guide lists the top 10 social networks for entrepreneurs. Each helps entrepreneurs succeed by providing them with the guidance, tools and resources they need to setup their company and gain exposure.
Entrepreneurship.org is one-stop shopping for entrepreneurs. Current topics range from a tutorial on the basic principles of equity funding and dilution to IdeaCrossing, a free online resource that helps entrepreneurs identify sources of human and financial capital.
Oklahoma Small Business Development Centers
Family-Owned Business Institute helps family businesses succeed and grow from generation to generation by offering programs and services that address their unique needs.
United States Postal Service (USPS) - the USPS has Small Business Specialists that can help you find cost-effective shippers for international and domestic mailings, design your next direct-mail piece, organize and maintain your customer mailing lists, provide customized postage, and more. All services are free. Contact: Marva Courtney, Small Business Specialist, USPS Oklahoma District, marva.courtney@usps.gov, 405-553-6122.
Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits offers a no-cost/low-cost training program designed to promote transparency and efficiency in nonprofit organizations.
Oklahoma Career & Technology Education (CareerTech)
Women's Business Center (REI)
Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance
Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education
Oklahoma Department of Transportation
Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma (REI)
Oklahoma Employment Security Commission Occupational Licensing Handbook
Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
Trade Talk, a free online publication to help small businesses pursue international trade opportunities. To sign up, visit www.ustr.gov and click on "Receive USTR e-mail updates" on the right side of the home page. Rob Garibay: Entrepreneurial Coaching(Reprinted with Permission from Rob Garibay and the Norman Transcript)
 Rob Garibay is a licensed business coach. In a series of articles, Garibay gives a quick tour of the entrepreneur ladder as well as offering business tips for successful entrepreneurs.
Rob Garibay: Entrepreneurial Coaching Online Videos for EntrepreneursDelivering Success, an online video-on-demand resource of successful entrepreneurs, is a nationwide cosponsorship with the U.S. SBA and the Postal Service to provide small business owners with invaluable information through video interviews that are both accessible and convenient for entrepreneurs. The Delivering Success video interviews, online at www.sba.gov/deliveringsuccess, chronicle the experiences of successful entrepreneurs from around the country, offering guidance and sharing insight on the road to success. The video interviews provide key information on the ingredients of small business success, including an overview of business basics, resources to help with business plan development, small business friendly financing, business promotion, and planning & research.
One-Stop Shop for Federal FormsBusiness.gov, the official business link to the U.S. government, provides federal form searches so visitors may quickly find and download U.S. federal tax forms and guides.The Business.gov site saves businesses time and money in locating the forms and guidance they need as well as searching the government for compliance resources. Failure to comply with employer tax requirements and reporting may result in fines, legal action, or business closure. |
