Coworking Labs Blog is Back

After a 5 month break, our coworking project blog – Coworking Labs- is back.We started actively posting on the site againlast week.

Our research focus for the next year is on the future of work, with an emphasis on the growing role independent workers and micro-businesses are playing inthe economy.

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Tags: Back, Coworking Labs

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011 Small Business No Comments

The reaction to the Chancellor’s 2010 Budget

The Forum of Private Business (FPB)

While the Forum of Private Business was critical over the Chancellor’s lack of long-term planning for small businesses, it believes there are some measures that are sure to benefit these firms directly.

The Forum’s Chief Executive, Phil Orford explains why the FPB is reserving judgement on the potential impact the Budget will have on small firms.

‘While we’re sceptical of the motives behind some of the measures announced in the Budget, coming so soon before a general election, there are some reasons to celebrate.

‘We had asked the Chancellor to clarify and extend the Time to Pay scheme as it can be a lifeline for many small firms struggling with cash flow difficulties, so its extension for another four or five years will be welcomed,’ he said.

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Wednesday, July 13th, 2011 Small Business No Comments

10 Step Process For Starting Up A New Business

If you are thinking of starting up a new business, here are ten crucial steps that should be taken in this order to assure a successful launch,

1. Determine your Target Market and its size
2. Run the numbers to test financial viability
3. Get a name and register the domain name
4. Register the business entity with the State
5. Write a business plan and cover all business issues
6. Select a site for the business negotiate a lease
7. Calculate start-up capital needed and go get a loan
9. Calculate revenue needed to be profitable
9. Shore up your skills with a board of advisers
10,Put a launch plan together and go for it

Tags: Business, New Business

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011 Small Business No Comments

Google Offers Expands … in “Limited Quantities”

Smart move by Google here. The Google Offers program has expanded to New York City and the San Francisco/Oakland areas — see Greg Sterling’s Search Engine Land article for full details. But a couple weeks ago, Google changed how it presents the offers — and that presentation is carrying through to the new cities.

In the early days of Google Offers, when it first launched in Portland, the offer email would indicate how many were available, like this:

But Google stopped showing an exact count back on June 23rd. All the Portland offers since then, and the new offers today in New York City and the Bay Area, all simply say “limited quantity available,” like this:

From a pure marketing perspective, it’s smart to create a sense of urgency to get people to purchase the offer.

Tha

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Tags: Google Offers, Offers

Tuesday, July 12th, 2011 Small Business No Comments

Small Biz Tip: Businesses to Start Now: Arts

The Small Business tips today discuss businesses in the art industry to start NOW!

  1. Photography: Weddings, graduations, senior portraits, head shots, and more. Photographers are always in need. If you have a great camera and a good artistic, eye, start your own photography business.
  2. Interior Design: Use your artistic talents and skill to start an interior design business. Take a few classes if you want to brush up on the latest trends. Start on your own home, then use those pictures as an example for your portfolio.
  3. Home Entertainment Designer: Many homes are starting to install home entertainment systems. Research popular models and designs and start a business of your own.
  4. Take your creative hobbies and turn them into art.

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Tags: Now, Start Now

Tuesday, July 12th, 2011 Small Business No Comments

WinWeb Publishes UK Quarterly SME Performance Report Infographic

Our UK SME Performance Report for Q2 in 2011 is out and includes key indicators for GDP, inflation, SME challenges, SME performance, SME size comparisons, entrepreneurial index and many more.

(To see the infographic bigger, just click on the image!)

Share your thoughts and comments with us on our Facebook Page.

Tags entrepreneurial index, GDP, Inflation, SME Performance, uk, WinWeb

Tags: Performance Report, Report, Sme Performance, Sme Performance Report

Monday, July 11th, 2011 Small Business No Comments