Ginger, *I* would, and I would feel horribly guilty about not being as fair as possible!
It's a sickness...
I use Togl to track work projects, and it's useful to know how MUCH I'm working on a particular project, or section of project.
But you have to remember to HIT THE START BUTTON. Which is why I leave it open in a tab all day long; it stares at me, and I remember (mostly) to use it when I switch gears, or get a glass of tea and decide I have to clean the fridge, NOW, before I can possibly write anymore.
Okay, so I met this week with a buddy of mine who is wanting to start his t-shirt business. He's doing great; got a mentorship with a friend of ours who is also allowing him to use his shop during off hours. But he basically needs moved along in the process; he finds the various registrations and whatnot daunting. I have no fear regarding these things, so I put together a list of resources for him. You guys might be interested as well.
Legal advice on starting your new business, with a full 50 step checklist: [link]
Small business administration: lots of good info from the government here; for us I've selected their women-owned small business program. [link]
Service corps of retired executives. SCORE is a great organization that hooks you up with a retired businessperson in your field who can help walk you through many different aspects of your business, from startup to marketing to raising capital. I met with them in Santa Fe and they were fabulous, really friendly and unintimidating and helpful. [link]
Small business development centers: Also based out of the sba, like SCORE. The Indiana one I linked for my friend has specialty programs for minorities and women, but I've linked the general site here. You'll want to find your local. [link]
You'll also want to check with your secretary of state's office, for info, for registration requirements, and for your local legislation.
I can't remember if someone has suggested this (not sure if it needs a BS consensus), but I think that we should have a link in the header to a page of Buffista businesses, or to a bookmark on the Links page. Each link could have a one line description of the business.
Agreed. I totally forgot about that portion of the discussion in the glow of the shiny new thread.
And Vortex, do you by chance know anyone with a PR firm in DC? It's not for me, but for a local political issue (development of the Hine Middle School property). I used to have a great contact, but that company left town.
I'd like to make a referral to a community group that needs to get its voice heard.
Bonny, let me ask around.
Bonny, insent to your profile addy.
Thanks for that legal checklist, Liese! I'm happy that I was able to go through it muttering, yes, yes, N/A, yes.
Guys, I already have a nibble for an editing job! I don't wanna jinx it by blabbing too much about it, and it's truly just a nibble and I have to send in samples and such...but it's reputable, and I made it past the first hurdle without official publishing experience! I'm so jazzed!!
Yeah, that's why checklists are so awesome. It was helpful to my buddy, too, because he's super linear (a math guy) and he was further along the path than he was thinking he was.
