NYC Business Solutions

UPCOMING SEMINAR: Learn How to Increase Business Profits

Mon, 13 May 2013 17:35:39 -0400

Are you an entrepreneur, running a small business, or a large corporation and looking to increase your profits?

We can help!

The NYC Business Solutions Queens Center is hosting a seminar next week to teach you how to access funds & programs to grow your business.

In this seminar you’ll learn about accessing city & federal loan programs; MWBE Certification; training grants to enter new markets, increase profitability, retain employees, and become more efficient in operations; and more.

DATE: Wednesday, May 22, 2013

TIME: 2 - 4 p.m.

LOCATION: One Flushing, 39-01 Main Street, Suite 511, Flushing, NY 11354

RSVP: lcambridge@nycbusiness-solutions.com or (718) 577-2134

FEATURED PRESENTERS:

Man-Li Kuo Lin, SBA, ‘How SBA Can Help Your Business’
Lloyd Cambridge, NYC Business Solutions, ‘Overview of NYC Business Solutions Services’
Rashi Kumar, NYC Dept. of Small Business Services, ‘Employee Training Grant Program’
Winnie Zhou, Director of Compu21, ‘Overview of Training Solutions’

NYC Dept. of Small Business Services Commissioner Robert Walsh...

Fri, 10 May 2013 17:36:00 -0400

NYC Dept. of Small Business Services Commissioner Robert Walsh and Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) Commissioner Katherine Oliver visited Gotham Sound & Communications today to discuss how the City is helping small media and entertainment businesses grow and remain competitive.

Gotham Sound – one of the only businesses in NYC to focus solely on sound – provides rental, sales, and repair services of sound equipment to film and television productions of all sizes in NYC (including “The Bourne Legacy” and “Project Runway”). Currently, the sound equipment industry is undergoing a major shift from analog to digital distribution. To stay competitive and continue to attract productions to NYC, Gotham Sound needs to train its staff on new sound equipment.

The City is helping Gotham Sound through the “Made in NY” Media Employee Training (MET) grant program, which covers 70% of training costs. They will receive a $22,545.01 grant to train 13 employees how to operate, customize, and instruct clients on the new digital sound gear.

Cash Flow is Critical! Good cash management is extremely important in all businesses but especially...

Fri, 10 May 2013 14:51:00 -0400

Cash Flow is Critical!

Good cash management is extremely important in all businesses but especially crucial for small businesses. As a small business owner, your goal is to make sure more cash enters the business than goes out. Sounds simple but it’s not always easy.

The success of your business depends in large part on your ability to monitor cash flow and ensure there’s always enough cash on hand to meet the business’ obligations like payroll, rent, and other important expenses. Regularly assessing your cash flow and employing some useful strategies can help you make certain your business has a positive net cash position.

A business’ net cash position is determined by the following equation: cash inflow – cash outflow = net cash position. Essentially, the revenue coming into your business minus the business’ expenses equals the company’s cash flow. As the driver of your business, it is your responsibility to manage both sides of this equation.

How do you influence your business’ cash inflow or revenue?

One strategy is to decrease the average collection period of your receivables. Ask your customers for all or part of their payments upfront or give discounts to those customers that pay on time. Even with merchant fees, credit card sales are a great example of immediately bringing cash into the business.

Keep track of your business expenses

While watching your receivables can have a positive impact on your cash inflow or revenue, cash outflow corresponds directly to your company’s expenses. An operating budget is the ideal way to track expenses. You should scrutinize your spending and make sure you spend only on those things that have a positive impact on your business.

Additional strategies

Other ideas that help keep cash in the business include maintaining low inventories and leasing equipment instead of buying outright. Most importantly, make sure you regularly evaluate your processes and tasks to ensure they are as efficient and cost-effective as possible. It could be as simple as making sure you turn off your lights, equipment, and computers when not in use.

Planning and awareness are critical to cash management. Regularly monitoring your business’ sources and uses of cash will allow you to notice opportunities to be leveraged and challenges to be avoided.

Mary Ellen Smyth is the Center Director of NYC Business Solutions, Staten Island. If you have a question or comment for Mary Ellen, drop her a note below. And, please share this blog entry with your colleagues on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, e-mail, and your favorite social media sites.

Discount to Attend Indie Retailer Conference in NYC on May 20

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:36:04 -0400

The 2013 Independent Retailer Conference will take place May 20 in NYC at the Scholastic Auditorium, with a full day of retail rich knowledge, support and opportunities.

This one-day, action-packed event offers retailers and community leaders the chance to engage, learn and connect with retail experts, industry leaders, service providers and like-minded entrepreneurs.

As a thank you for being a supporter of small businesses, we are thrilled to offer you a discount of 50% to this conference. Simply use code NYCBUSINESS and register for the Independent Retailer Conference here.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the new “I Shop NY” campaign, as well as attend panels and presentations on topics such as:

Insight on gaining press for your store
Incorporating technology on a small biz scale
Making a profit on an indie budget
Identifying marketing tips on a dime
Understanding email marketing for retailers
Much, much more!

All presentations will include takeaway tools that attendees can bring back to their businesses. Other event freebies and fun giveaways include business cards from MOO.com, a trip to Las Vegas for one lucky winner from the ASD Trade Show, and more.

Additionally, attendees can meet representatives from a select group of sponsors that are truly indie-minded, including Snap Retail, ShopKeep POS, Kabbage, Walk.by, MOO.com, and conference host, the Retail Council of New York State.

Check out the entire line up of speakers and presentations here.

NYC Business Solutions will be there and hope to see you as well!

For more information, visit www.indieretailerconference.com.

Did you know? A SWOT analysis can help you to mitigate and eliminate threats to your business, and...

Wed, 08 May 2013 12:58:00 -0400

Did you know? A SWOT analysis can help you to mitigate and eliminate threats to your business, and discover opportunities.

SWOT is an acronym for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. It is a valuable technique that you can use for understanding your business strengths and weaknesses, and for detecting both the opportunities open to your business and the threats you may face.

This thoughtful exercise can help you plan a competitive business strategy.

Business Strengths:

Consider your strengths from an internal perspective, as well as from the angle of your customers. Think about your strengths as they relate to your competitors.

What do you do better, faster, cheaper than your competition?
What unique costs competitive resources can you pull upon, that your competition is unable to?
What do most people in your market see or perceive as your strengths?
What is the added value and unique selling proposition for your product/service?

Business Weaknesses:

Are there weaknesses that you are not aware of? Are your competitors doing any better than you?

What could your business do better?
What are customers in your market likely to see as weaknesses?
What negatively impacts your sales?

Business Opportunities:

Those factors tend to be in the future; for instance, think of, technological innovation, changes in government policy related to your business, lifestyle changes, partnerships, new markets, major contracts, etc…

What interesting trends in your industry are you aware of or anticipating?
What opportunities can you unearth for your business?

Business Threats:

What specific obstacles does your business face; political, legislative, and environmental, employment market, technology, etc…?
What are your competitors doing differently in the market place?
Are quality standards changing in your space?
Are you experiencing cash-flow problems?

SWOT analysis is an additional powerful instrument at your disposal for understanding your business and facilitates decision making to keep your competitive edge.

Christian Damiba is the Center Director of NYC Business Solutions, Upper Manhattan. If you have comments or questions for him, please drop him a note in the comment section below! And, don’t forget to share this post with your network via Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, etc.

If you or a woman you know is interested in starting or...

Mon, 06 May 2013 14:36:31 -0400

If you or a woman you know is interested in starting or expanding their business, check out Women’s Initiative for Self-Employment’s free 90-minute ‘My Business Action Plan’ workshop. For more information about the program and classes in New York, contact Melissa Wylie at (917) 836-2977.

Want to open your own business but don't know where to start?

Mon, 06 May 2013 13:56:17 -0400

Eligible entrepreneurs can enroll in a free course at CUNY’s College of Staten Island and earn 3 college credits through CUNY CareerPATH.

Participants in the CUNY CareerPATH Entrepreneurship Program learn how to start-up and operate their own small business through an in-depth examination of the requirements, process and possible outcomes of starting a new business.

To apply, students must be:

At least 18 years old
A GED or high school graduate
Legally authorized to work in the U.S.
NOT currently enrolled in college

Applications for the summer and fall 2013 semesters are currently being accepted. To learn more about the program and how to enroll, please see the flyer.

Create a plan. Elevate your workforce. Win $125,000.

Fri, 03 May 2013 17:14:30 -0400

There’s a revenue engine lying dormant in your organization. The NYC Business Innovation Challenge invites you to create a plan that will give your workers a path to improving their skill bases, access to benefits, career prospects or economic opportunities.

When you invest in your employees, everybody wins. Maximize their value in a way that gives your organization a path to:

Higher Retention Rates
Higher Performance
Higher Revenues

Selected by a panel of expert judges (including Gregg Bishop, our Deputy Commissioner of Business Development), entrants with the most innovative plans will win a $25,000 cash prize to implement them. In addition, they’ll win workforce consulting from award-winning consultancy Next Street to assist with the implementation and ensure that the plans are scalable and sustainable over time.

The best of these plans will be named Grand Prize Winners and receive an additional $100,000 cash prize as well as recognition from New York City as top workforce innovators.

NYC Business Innovation Challenge is an initiative of NYCEDC with the support of Next Street.

To learn more and enter, visit: www.nycbic.com.

Learn How to Market Your Business Online

Thu, 02 May 2013 16:57:00 -0400

Do you want to learn how to move your business online, turn web visitors into customers and/or build your presence on major social media channels?

We can help!

The NYC Business Solutions Queens Center is hosting a seminar next week to teach you how to effectively market your business online using social media and search engines.

In this seminar you’ll learn how to launch your presence online; turn web visitors into customers; optimize your website for maximum exposure on search engines; and build your presence on major social media channels.

DATE: Thursday May 9th, 2013

TIME: 3 - 5 p.m.

LOCATION: NYC Business Solutions, Queens Center, 168-25 Jamaica Avenue 2nd Floor, Jamaica, NY 11432

RSVP: jmatthews@nycbusiness-solutions.com or 718-577-2140

FEATURED PRESENTER: Neal Rodriguez

Neal Rodriguez is an online marketer with a decade of helping iconic brands like Nielsen, AOL, Adweek, Donald Trump and others find their customers and brand advocates on the social media and the search engines. Neal has been featured on PBS’s Media Shift and the City University of New York. He is a contributor for the Huffington Post and Forbes.

Space is limited. To confirm a seat, please register ASAP!

"Perception Counts."

Wed, 01 May 2013 12:56:15 -0400

“Perception Counts.”

- Via NY Daily News: Face-lift on tap for storm-torn Beach 116th St. in Rockaway

The city plans to pump $500,000 into a vital shopping strip in Rockaway in an effort to overhaul blighted and storm-torn storefronts.

NYC Small Business Services Commissioner Robert Walsh said various city agencies are pitching in with planters, benches and better lighting to freshen up the strip.

“Perception counts,” said Walsh, who has worked with local merchants to push for additional sanitation clean-up crews and police presence in the area.

Walsh said his agency is also providing the fledgling local merchants association with a $75,000 grant to keep the momentum going.

NYCxDESIGNxLEARN with NYC Business Solutions

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:21:00 -0400

NYCxDESIGN, NYC’s inaugural citywide event to showcase and promote design of all disciplines, looks to create a platform for cultural and commercial opportunities, elevate established and emerging design practices and increase awareness of and appreciation for design by all audiences.

NYC Business Solutions is collaborating with NYCxDESIGN to offer courses in every borough during the 12 days of events, scheduled from May 10 - 21.

NYCxDESIGNxLEARN courses offered by NYC Business Solutions include:

10 Steps to Starting Your Own Business: Join us to learn the steps you’ll need to take to start a business and how NYC Business Solutions can guide you through each step along the way. By the end of the 90-minute course, you will know how to develop a business plan, determine your legal structure, set up your bookkeeping, get permits and licenses, and obtain financing.

Small Business Digital Toolkit: Social Media Fundamentals: Join us to learn how to develop and manage an effective online strategy using web technologies and social media. By the end of this 3-hour course, you will know how to leverage social media platforms to build a digital brand that complements your physical brand and how to use digital tools, like e-commerce and online advertising, to amplify your business’s reach.

Small Business Digital Toolkit: Website Fundamentals: Join us to learn what you need to develop a website that best suits your business needs. We’ll guide you through how to use your website to build your brand and sell your products and services. You’ll also hear about the various steps involved with getting your website up and running.

To learn more or register for classes, visit http://nycxdesign.com/events.

"Thank you!"

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:59:28 -0400

“Thank you!”

- We’d like to thank all of you that took the time to submit a nomination for this year’s Neighborhood Achievement Awards. The deadline for submissions has passed, and we’ve received more than 200 nominations - an all-time high!

Stay tuned for the results later this spring.

Last Chance! Submit Your Nomination TODAY!

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:34:40 -0400

Last Chance! Submit Your Nomination TODAY!:

Submit your nominations now for the 2013 Neighborhood Achievement Awards - the deadline is today, Friday, April 26!

It's Throwback Thursday!

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:21:29 -0400

This Throwback Thursday, we’re highlighting winners of the 2009 Neighborhood Achievement Awards.

Jessamyn Rodriguez, Founder and CEO of Hot Bread Kitchen (Queens Small Business of the Year), received the Business Leader Award during this year’s American Dreamer Awards, part of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs’ Immigrant Heritage Week. They were also featured on American Express OPEN Forum earlier this month.

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter will lend her voice to help raise awareness about Goodwill’s mission of transforming lives through the power of work. Additionally, Goodwill is featured on Forbes.com in an article entitled “The Most Important Social Enterprise in 2013?”

And don’t forget, there’s only 2 Days Left to submit nominations for this year’s Neighborhood Achievement Awards. Nominate your favorite small business for the “Small Business of the Year” award by April 26, 2013.

Only 3 Days Left to Nominate a Small Business

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:14:21 -0400

New York City is home to thousands of unique small businesses. From the corner bodega to your favorite food cart, here’s your chance to nominate the small business that you love for The Small Business of the Year Award.

Nominate your favorite small business for the “Small Business of the Year” award by April 26, 2013.

“There is another $80 million dollars in the pipeline...

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:52:08 -0400

“There is another $80 million dollars in the pipeline — we’re waiting for approval from the federal government,” NYC Department of Small Business Services Commissioner Robert Walsh said.

He says it’s not too late for business owners to reach out for help and advises them to visit NYC.gov/sbs or one of the department’s business solution centers, located in each of the five boroughs.

“We are working with each and every business, whether it’s the coffee shop, the restaurant, the automobile place, to make that happen,” Walsh said.

Watch the full clip.

Last Chance to Register! Corporate Alliance Program Workshop

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:46:00 -0400

On Wednesday April 24^th, the Corporate Alliance Program will be hosting a Sustainability Practices workshop beginning at 9 a.m. (registration begins at 8:30 a.m. In this workshop, Corporate Alliance Partners (CAP) partners and industry experts review how small businesses can incorporate Sustainability Practices to become environmentally and socially responsible. Panelists that include Citi and Con Edison will discuss similarities and differences between their sustainability efforts, relative economic costs and impact on the environment, social well-being of employees and consumers, and other benefits related to sustainability practices.

Customers interested in the event should register here. The exact Manhattan location of the meeting will be provided to customers upon registration confirmation.

For either NYC Teaming or the Corporate Alliance Program, please contact Daphne Emerson with any questions.

2012 Bronx Small Business of the Year

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:13:00 -0400

“The Oak Point Fresh Food Campus will address a vast and growing untapped demand for regional produce, furnish unprecedented access to wholesome foods for under-served communities, and capture economic value for the South Bronx, for NYS growers, and for NYC’s specialty food manufacturers and distributors.” — Steve Smith, Owner

For more than a decade, Steve Smith has been in the process of bringing together community members, developers, and environmental remediation consultants to transform the notorious Oak Point Property in Hunts Point from the City’s largest illegal dump site into an economic engine and healthy food resource for the South Bronx – and the City as a whole.

By the fall of 2011, Smith had nearly completed a $6 million clean-up of the site, paid over $3 million in taxes owed by previous owners, set aside land for a planned $7 million wildlife preserve at the water’s edge, and developed the site’s upland portions for a grocery wholesaler. He created over a hundred jobs in the process and began work on developing a long-sought regional food campus to bring local produce within reach of local store owners and residents. Over the coming years, the planned Oak Point Fresh Food Campus and a new Restaurant Depot facility will provide an estimated 450 new jobs.

2012 Queens Small Business of the Year Brooklyn Grange Farm Branches Out

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 17:23:00 -0400

Brooklyn Grange, winner of the 2012 Queens Small Business of the Year (part of the Neighborhood Achievement Awards), is branching out, setting up mini-farms, beehives and chicken coops all over city. Their expansion was recently documented by the New York Daily News.

Brooklyn Grange is currently the world’s largest rooftop farm, having sold over 35,000 pounds of vegetables, on its 40,000 square-foot flagship rooftop in Long Island City. This rooftop farm is fiscally sustainable, serves the New York City community, creates jobs, educates the public, and provides unmatched environmental benefits. Brooklyn Grange connects and educates NYC residents, especially youth, with a food system from which they are increasingly alienated. Brooklyn Grange is expanding to more rooftops around the City, with the newest location opening in spring of 2012 in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. This new location was partially supported by the NYC Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Infrastructure Grant Program. Since installing their flagship farm, Brooklyn Grange has expanded its business to include a second rooftop location at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, as well as egg-laying hens, a commercial apiary, and an educational non-profit arm: City Growers.

“We love this town and are constantly striving to actualize our vision of a greener and more sustainable New York City. By building and operating our rooftop farms, we can contribute to the overall health and quality of life of the community, bringing people together through green business and around good food.” -Ben Flanner, Brooklyn Grange Farm

2012 Entrepreneur of the Year Bronx Brewery making its mark across the state

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 17:03:00 -0400

The Bronx Brewery, winner of the 2012 Entrepreneur Award (part of the Neighborhood Achievement Awards) was recently featured in the New York Daily News.

One of three micro-brew operations in the borough, Bronx Brewery, has started offering their flagship Bronx Pale Ale in 16-ounce aluminum cans. Read the whole story here.

The Bronx Brewery is a craft brewery and distributor based in the South Bronx. It was launched in 2011 by a small team with two things in common: a maniacal focus on creating high-quality beer and a passion for the Bronx and New York City. Its traditionally-crafted ales use only premium and minimally-processed materials to create fresh, bold beer from a borough known for its own uniquely bold character. The team is enthused to bring a rich brewing tradition back to the Bronx and craft a beer that the people of the Bronx and New York City can be proud to call their own.

“The Bronx Brewery’s traditionally-crafted ales use only premium and minimally-processed materials to create fresh, bold beer from a borough known for its own uniquely bold character. [Our] team is enthused to bring a rich brewing tradition back to the Bronx and craft a beer that the people of the Bronx and New York City can be proud to call their own.” -Christopher Gallant and Damian Brown, The Bronx Brewery