All Blog Posts (297)

There is a common misperception that only very large companies are capable of innovation. If you are small, there is just no way to be innovative. It’s too expensive, it’s too risky and it takes a lot of people. The truth, however, is that you got where you are today – an entrepreneur or small business owner – through creativity, risk-taking, team building…

One of the most asked and basic questions I have gotten over the years as a business consultant goes something like this: ‘How do I get my business set up and get all the licenses I need?’ That question is often followed up with a concern about taxes or payroll and the perceived difficulty in doing all of this. Since the regulations to set up and maintain a business are set by local, state and federal legislation, there is a perceived challenge is assuring compliance. After all, few people…

Join us this fall at the Columbus Metropolitan Library for classes to help start or grow your business!

All classes…

Information and technology (IT) industry continues to grow consistently which lets the organizations leverage essential resources for maximum performance in terms of system functionality, stable business environment and security. There are various new technologies, network systems, and storage solutions launched timely to support the key business needs like remote data access, safe storage of data storage, networking and server hosting.

Net Activity is pioneer service provider…

You surely have thought of new product ideas that stem from your everyday life. “My idea is the perfect solution for that problem,” you say to yourself. We all have ideas all the time for new products and better solutions than existing products offer. But few people act on those thoughts. Maybe it’s because you think it will be too hard or someone else must of thought of this before. Well, you are right: it will be hard, and someone may have thought of it already. But I’ve heard it said that…

The Columbus Metropolitan Library offers FREE two-hour business research classes in the computer training Loft on the 3rd floor of Main Library, 96 S Grant Ave, Columbus, Oh 43215.

You do not need to register for these FREE classes. The classes are led by a librarian from the Science, Business & News division. Classes are offered twice a month on a Thursday morning, and once a month on a Wednesday or Tuesday evening. Please see the class schedule flyers…

The Minority Business Enterprise of the Year Award Info

The “Minority Business Enterprise of the Year” Award will be presented annually to the eligible Minority or Female Business Enterprise that excels in their trade.



The City of Columbus, Equal Business Opportunity Office is seeking applicants to apply for the distinct…

Cathay Pacific airlines has added twice weekly 747 cargo flights from Hong Kong to Columbus.  This is great news for importers and exporters.  Air freight to and from China has just become faster and probably cheaper.   Also great news for the underused Columbus Richenbacker Airport.

Sometimes when you are importing you get hit delays.    Late vessel, Customs exam, or even a flat tire on the truck delivering your goods.   Recently, a customer had his worse case happen.   Wine in a temperature controlled container from Europe to the Port of New York with a final destination of Columbus was delayed two weeks. 

First was a weather delay.  The ship arrived on time but could not be unloaded for three days because of port congestion.   The bad weather backed up the…

US Customs is tagging importers continuous bonds if they have an old or bad address for the importer.   Now would be a good time to confirm the address US Customs has for your business is correct.    Contact your broker and ask for a Bond Query on their ABI system.  It only takes a few minutes.  

If the address returned by the query is incorrect or outdated your customs broker can easily update Customs.   It takes a…

Importers and Exporters are having all their cargo delayed.   

Importers are just now getting new shipments in because of the two week vacaction the Chinese take this time of year.    From Jan 31 to the middle of Feb. nothing moved in China.   Of course, even after everyone returned to work it took some time for the factories to gear back up & fill those orders.   Columbus should be seeing those imports arriving soon. 

The exporters have had troubles…

A continuous theme I hear from small company operators is a misunderstanding of their current financial picture. It’s understandable. Your focus is on driving sales and improving your company’s secret sauce. As long as there is money in the bank account and sales coming in, financials take a back seat.

One favorite pastime of mine is financial planning and analyzing financials, whether it be personal finances or companies. Since I enjoy this so much (yea, I know right) and have…

The Columbus Metropolitan Library offers FREE two-hour business research classes in the computer training Loft on the 3rd floor of Main Library, 96 S Grant Ave, Columbus, Oh 43215.

You do not need to register for these FREE classes. The classes are led by a librarian with over 20 years experience in business research. Classes are offered twice a month on a Thursday morning, and once a month on a Wednesday evening. Please see the class schedule flyers below.

If…

If you are like a lot of entrepreneurs, your email has become an unmanageable mess with a flurry of new emails pouring in every day. Promotional emails, marketing messages, new discounts from that store you visited that one time, and newsletters from a bevy of websites you visited a long time ago that promised you things like a "FREE GUIDE TO INCREASE REVENUE 10,000%" are all flooding into your inbox on a daily basis. Now don't get me wrong, maybe you want to get…

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The Business Information Class I is a FREE two-hour class on Thursdays from 9:30 to 11:30 or on Monday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00. in the Loft on the 3rd floor of Main Library, 96 S Grant Ave, Columbus, Oh 43215. This class is for startup entrepreneurs. You will learn how to use our catalog to find print and eBooks on writing a business plan, how to research an industry, and much more. Registration is not required. View our events calendar at…

The Ohio Development Services Agency is launching round two of the Ohio Incumbent Workforce Training Voucher Program

A pre-application is now available beginning September 4, 2013 for businesses who want financial help to train their current workforce. $27 million in grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications for the grant program will be accepted for review on…

Step Off Productions and Arris Productions just got the news that our film FRiEND is now featured on the Indiegogo home page!!! We didn't do this alone though. With help from our co-producers atSpook Show Entertainment and fans we…

Sometimes, a new business owner “bootstraps” it and ventures out to set up her corporation or limited liability company herself.  Not knowing any better, she files with the secretary of state (hopefully the proper forms) and receives a certificate in the mail.  The staff at the secretary of state’s office is not permitted to provide customers with any legal or accounting advice. 

A year or two later, flags start to go up as…