Original text

By Laura Fowler and Susan Littleton

 

By Pete Carvell 

Recently, I’ve heard from several different people that they think business startups have been declining. Is it true, I wondered?

To answer the question, I did some research, checking with two well-respected sources: The Kauffman Index of Startup Activity and Inc. magazine, along with metrics compiled by SCORE nationwide from its annual Client Engagement Survey conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

While it is true that the rate of entrepreneurship remains below that of the 1970s, when it began a three-decade decline, we are now seeing a more positive picture beginning

by: Pete Carvell

On February 9, the SCORE Austin chapter held its annual social event at the Balcones Country Club to review progress over the past last year and recognize those volunteers who have made outstanding contributions to help small businesses, both aspiring entrepreneurs and those already in business.

The chapter mentored over 3,500 clients through face to face mentoring, workshops and cyber counseling. SCORE helped start 440 new businesses and create 544 new jobs in the area and increased the number of volunteers to more than 60, which is an all time high. This has allowed

Military veteran and long-time SCORE Austin client launches new business in Kyle

Damon Fogley, a decorated U.S. Army captain who served in Iraq, recently celebrated the opening of his new franchise business in Kyle, Texas. Seventy-five people, including SCORE Austin mentor Teri Moreno, attended the ribbon cutting ceremony of JDog Junk Removal & Hauling on October 28th, 2016.

Knowing he wanted to own his own business, Damon worked early on with SCORE Austin’s Celia Bell to identify the right franchise opportunity. Damon decided that the right fit for him was JDog, an American-owned, veteran

Through meetings with mentors and courses this month, SCORE Austin will focus on helping its clients plan for the new year, which can propel a small business forward on a clear path. Before diving into the planning process, however, business owners should first consider what information and documents to gather to ensure success.

Here’s a checklist:

1. Conduct a competitive analysis among similar businesses using their websites as a guide. What are they promoting? What is their brand positioning and messaging? How are you different?
2. Review your firm’s products and/or services. What is

By Brian Kieley, SCORE Mentor

Keeping accurate financial records is an important part of running a small business, as is finding the right payment partner. Many small business owners are realizing that business credit cards are one of the most useful tools in organizing accounts and maintaining financial efficiency.

Here are four ways in which a business credit card can be effective:

They help you keep track of your business expenses

In the rush of business, keeping track of expenses can fall through the cracks. In just one day, a small business owner might buy office supplies with

By Brian Kieley

Every company needs to get paid, whether it’s with cash or by accepting payment cards like Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. Selecting the right partner to help you manage payments, however, can come with some pricing and service surprises.

The role of a payment services provider

There are many companies, including some banks, that have built businesses processing payments on behalf of merchants, big and small. These processing companies are called “merchant acquirers” and they sit between you, as the merchant, and the payment networks. 

At a minimum

There are champions among us –champions who have known the highest levels of success in the world of business as well as the painful lessons of failure. They know the frustration of trying to remain relevant in an ever-changing world and now have the wisdom that comes from those valuable experiences.

They belong to a group who focuses on “paying it forward” by teaching the next generation of business owners how to find success. The name of that group is SCORE, a nonprofit organization funded by the Small Business Administration (SBA).  There are 11,000 SCORE mentors across the country who

SCORE Austin helped Blue Paw grow and win

AUSTIN, Texas {October 12, 2016} – Blue Paw Energy Service, LLC is just the latest Austin small business to benefit from the business counseling and mentorship of SCORE Austin, a non-profit resource partner of the Small Business Administration.

Blue Paw Energy Service has been awarded Entrepreneur of the Year by two government groups: the Austin Mayor’s Committee on People with Disability Employment and the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities. 

Blue Paw Energy Service is a deaf-owned and operated company that offers a variety of energy

By Simple Dollar

Keeping efficient financial records is an important element in running any small business. To do so, more and more small business owners are realizing that business credit cards are a useful tool for organizing accounts and maintaining financial efficiency.

In fact, here are four ways in which a business credit card can be effective for your small business:

1. They help keep better track of business expenses

In just one day, a small business owner might buy office supplies with cash, pay an electricity bill with a check and use a personal credit card to take a client to dinner.

At

By: Buck Hollister

The need for a business tax consultant and attorney in Austin

Why do you need a business tax consultant and attorney in Austin? There are two professionals every successful business will need early on: a CPA and a lawyer.

The reasons for hiring a CPA include:

• Helping you plan out projected financial statements showing how much money your business strategies will cost to execute and at what point you may need external debt or equity financing, manage budgets and value the price per each unit of equity interest (e.g., share for corporation, membership interest for limited