There must be other small business owners...

[Phentex]

the group on the old board wasn't very active but I hoped it would improve.

Anyone?

[hlthe2b]

1. Yes. in the "smallest" of ways.... I didn't know this group existed...

If it is retained, I hope others might find it as well.

[Phentex]

5. It's possible we'll graduate to Big Business Owners...

Fat Cats, Wall Street Hogs and other groups DU loves to hate. For now, we have this group.

[salin]

10. Same here.

I'm not a small business owner, but started up a non-profit. I think my next career move will be starting a small for profit business. Think this could be a good place to learn.

[Skinner]

2. I am one.

I hope it improves, too.

[Phentex]

6. But..but...

your company has t-shirts and bumper stickers. How small can it be?

[ccinamon]

3. Micro Business Owner here

...did you know that the SBA/IRS defines a "small business" as anyone making LESS than 7 MILLION dollars and has less than 250 employees?

I don't know about you, but those defs define a medium biz to me!

It's just me, me, and me running a business.

I check this group every few days....the lack of knowledge about this group has been it's biggest problem.

[Phentex]

7. Cough Cough...

I'd say that means there are a heckava lot of small businesses out there/here!

Business owners are usually very busy people. Still, it's nice to bounce ideas off each other.

[SouthernLiberal]

4. I'm not a small business owner.... yet

But I will be soon! The planning is taking a long time, but we want to do it right.

[Phentex]

8. Planning is very important...

but the cliche is true: you can't plan for everything that's going to come up.

Good that you are taking your time and gathering all your info first.

[sybylla]

9. I used to check in on the old forum fairly regularly

But then I got too busy last fall. I agree with you. I hope it picks back up again. I'm just starting a small consulting type enterprise and may have a few questions for our DU small biz experts.

[Tumbulu]

11. I farm and sell my products via a mail order business

not even an internet one.

Really small business. No employees, only some sporadic part time help.

[greyl]

12. Here! Branding, web development & hosting, and multimedia graphics.

Soooo happy to be out from under having a boss - been about 5 years now.
2 employees so far, consisting of both owners. It's great to love your co-worker.

[Capitalocracy]

16. Tell me about your branding business

I'm trying to start a small business in translation, transcripts, captions, and subtitles, but I have no idea how to get the word out and I'm looking for someone that can help me do so (gradually, considering the fact that my budget is very low to start)

My site is www.subscriptorium.com

[greyl]

17. I'll be PMing you. :) nt

[honeylady]

13. I have two small businesses

One a honey business and the other a vacation rental. So far I'm doing okay in this economy. I'm always afraid though to think too far into the future, as everything might just go to shit.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

14. Will be one soon (small, woman-owned business). Will be launching next month.

[Phentex]

23. So, how's it going so far?

Any updates?

[Bonhomme Richard]

15. I have had my business for 11 years now.

Have to tell you that things are tight but I am throwing as much at the wall as I can.
As most of you know it's not easy.

[OneGrassRoot]

18. I tried to invigorate the old forum, too...

I'm especially interested in worker-owned cooperative models.

But, yes, I'm currently a small business owner at Wishadoo, with hopefully a few spin-off ventures from that launching fairly soon.

[grantcart]

36. Are you actually an owner at Wishadoo?

BTW I think your efforts are among the finest at DU.

[OneGrassRoot]

38. I am Wishadoo...lol.

Me, myself and I. Yes, I'm the founder and admin of the site. My dream is for it to evolve into being a member-owned social network.

Thank you, grantcart!

[grantcart]

39. Most interesting. Even more impressed. BTW are you familar with the theologian

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and his understanding of the "noösphere"

[OneGrassRoot]

40. I'm not familiar, but I just searched...

and shall be reading about both this afternoon. Very, VERY interesting. It resonates tremendously.

Many thanks, grantcart.

[grantcart]

41. It is rather on point to what you are doing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noosphere

For Teilhard, the noosphere emerges through and is constituted by the interaction of human minds. The noosphere has grown in step with the organization of the human mass in relation to itself as it populates the Earth. As mankind organizes itself in more complex social networks, the higher the noosphere will grow in awareness. This concept extends Teilhard's Law of Complexity/Consciousness, the law describing the nature of evolution in the universe. Teilhard argued the noosphere is growing towards an even greater integration and unification, culminating in the Omega Point, which he saw as the goal of history. The goal of history, then, is an apex of thought/consciousness.

[mahina]

43. Super cool.

[amyrose2712]

19. I'm trying to start a home made candle business,

and advice posted here would be much appreciated.

[Phentex]

20. I have a friend who does this with her sister...

they started by making them for friends and then attending house parties. Gradually, they were able to open a virtual storefront. They go to local festivals and have been able to place their candles in many small shops. I think they started doing wedding candles, too.

One thing I like is they let you take back your holders and will refill them for you for less than the regular cost.

[OneGrassRoot]

29. Very cool. :) n/t

[OneGrassRoot]

28. And one of the things I want to do is work with a business like yours...

for an original candle product line.

If you have an interest, please PM me.

[fladem2006]

21. I'm in the accessories business....

I sell handbags (Miche bags) and a line of fashion jewelry. I sell through home parties and I make enough to support myself. Things have been a little quiet lately.

[Phentex]

24. Seems to always be a market for those items...

especially around the holidays.

[Cronkite]

22. I am in business services

I am an Advanced QuickBooks certified ProAdvisor. I work with local businesses helping them with their accounting systems. I don't do bookkeeping, tax work or payroll but focus on helping business do that for themselves. I concentrate on helping set up the accounting and training. I also do a lot of troubleshooting and repair work along with help in reporting and other managerial accounting services.

I really enjoy the work for many reasons. 1) I can help small business directly. 2) I am exposed to a wide variety of businesses. 3) The "problems" are like a big puzzle and fun/challenging to solve. 4)I am exposed to the problems facing small business.

[Phentex]

25. There is a huge need for this in the Atlanta area...

so I would imagine in other areas as well.

[Cronkite]

26. I enjoy the work.

I am marketing to CPA's primarily. They may be great accountants but that does not translate into knowing much about QuickBooks.

I'm concentrating on services not commonly offered by most Proadvisors and have certifications that less than 3% of all ProAdvisors have. I would really like to steer myself to the more technically challenging services and over time I will.

[Auggie]

27. Freelance creative

Advertising, Design, etc.

[Awknid]

44. Interior Designer here - corporate workplaces (offices) specialty

Creativity is a wonderful way to pass the day.

[Auggie]

46. It can be ...

can also be incredibly frustrating when working with clients. But that's small potatoes compared to what happens in an office situation. I agree -- it's a wonderful way to pass the day.

[GMR Transcription]

30. Small Business Owners and Enterprenuers

Hi,
Yes, I think if someone post good resources for the small businesses which can help them in the company location. Then, I really think that the activities here can be active enough.

[Phentex]

31. I have not found any except sweat equity...

we're too busy now to think about other resources.

What kind of business are you in? Are you looking for financial resources or other?

[grantcart]

32. signing in

[DrewDogan]

33. WOW

I just joined this site and I'm a little surprised that there are not more posts here. It seems like small business went out of business about a year ago (looking at the threads). Where is everyone?

[Phentex]

34. Maybe a couple of reasons...

business owners are very busy!

Also, from the sound of things around here, we don't pay our employees enough to live on, we don't pay taxes, and we are all rolling in dough.

Welcome!

[geardaddy]

35. Here.

I'm an independent contractor (technical writing). Currently without any projects, therefore no income.

What do you do?

[grantcart]

37. Had to say I forgot about the group and just remembered.

[Jetboy]

42. I am an aspiring entreprenuer.

I work at an auction house part time and sell stuff locally and on ebay. I have been making a lot of great connections in the business. I have a friend that works at the auction house too. We hope to one day work on our own business full time as the owners of the auction house will be retiring in the next few years.

My bosses are more like family to me but I love to work on my own business best. I would imagine that this board doesn't get much traffic due to most of us being far too busy to chat online much. Best of luck to all of the DUers in business and life!

[Awknid]

45. What do you auction?

[demwing]

47. Have an idea for a small business

selling prepared specialty foods at weekend Farmers Markets, but I'm new to the small business experience.

Looking for some advise on startup funding through small business loans, grants, etc. Startup costs less than 15K. Does anyone have any creative ideas?