Small Business Resources
Is your small business ADA compliant?
This morning I attended a conference at the beautiful San Francisco City Hall, which focused on ADA (American Disabilities Act) Compliance for small businesses. Did you know that since 2002, over 400 small businesses in San Francisco have been sued for noncompliance with ADA and state regulations, and that the […]
Jul 14, 2015 – Small Business Advising And Mentoring • Small Business Resources •
Crowdfunding & Small Business: CircleUp and Episencial
Access to capital is one of the biggest obstacles that many small businesses face. We see the frustration that entrepreneurs go through when their companies are growing, yet they can’t get more money to fund that growth. I read an article recently about a company (not in the PCV network) that felt similar growing pains, […]
Jul 14, 2015 – Small Business Loans • Small Business Resources •
Tell the President Which Regulations Are Hurting Your Small Business
In January 2011, the President directed all executive agencies to undertake an unprecedented government-wide review of regulations on the books, in order to figure out what is working and what is not, and where appropriate, to streamline or eliminate ineffective, overly burdensome, and outdated rules. Over two dozen agencies responded with regulatory reform plans, listing […]
Jul 14, 2015 – Small Business Advising And Mentoring • Small Business Resources •
Social Entrepreneurs in Action
Last Wednesday InSight visited Hub Ventures, a new startup accelerator for social entrepreneurs located in downtown San Francisco. There we joined a packed house to watch as seven companies presented their “pitch” to potential investors at Hub Venture’s Demo Day. Each of the seven companies had eight minutes to sell their businesses in hopes of […]
Jul 14, 2015 – Small Business Loans • Small Business Resources •
Small Business Tax Break Approved by SF Board of Supervisors
This Tuesday, the SF Board of Supervisors approved new rules stating that small businesses in San Francisco that create new jobs or give their existing employees a raise or increase in hours will get a break on their payroll tax. Mayor Lee is expected to sign this legislation into law, which would be effective for […]
Jul 14, 2015 – Small Business Loans • Small Business Resources •
A case for manufacturing in the USA
When Sonja Zozula and Jerry Anderson founded LightSaver Technologies three years ago, everyone told them that they should manufacture their emergency lights for homeowners in China. After two years of outsourcing to Chinese factories, Sonja and Jerry shifted production back to the US. The owners admit that having their products manufactured just 30 miles from […]
Jul 14, 2015 – Small Business Advising And Mentoring • Small Business Resources •
Inside the (restless, curious and eager) minds of great entrepreneurs
There are some traits inherent to great entrepreneurs like creativity, tolerance for risk and the desire for achievement that can, unfortunately, not be taught. However, when Saras Sarasvathy, still a Carnegie Mellon graduate student at the time, sought to discover how the minds of accomplished entrepreneurs worked, she uncovered some tips that less experienced entrepreneurs […]
Jul 14, 2015 – Small Business Advising And Mentoring • Small Business Resources •
In Case You Missed It: Equity 101 with PCV and Working Solutions
At this week’s Access to Capital we discussed equity – what it is, who needs it and where to find it. We were lucky enough to have a very diverse panel, which included Ariel Jaduszliwer from PCV’s investment fund, Ryan Farr, owner of 4505 Meats and Scott Smith, a lawyer at Hanson Bridgett where the […]
Jul 14, 2015 – Small Business Loans • Small Business Resources •
Business Advice from the Fancy Food Show
For those who may not know, the Fancy Food Show is the largest specialty food and beverage event in North America. Attendees can discover almost 200,000 food and beverage products from 2,400 exhibitors from 80 countries and regions. Jane Applegate, President and CEO of the Applegate Group, says, “At the Fancy Foods Show, you see […]
Jul 14, 2015 – Small Business Advising And Mentoring • Small Business Resources •
5 Counterintuitive Habits of Successful Entrepreneurs
Some food for thought over the weekend: There’s something different about entrepreneurs whose startups take off and those whose just sputter along – beginning with how they begin. They think “small” rather than search for a “big idea” They use the start-up phase to take risks and experiment rather than be cautious They realize that […]
Jul 14, 2015 – Small Business Advising And Mentoring • Small Business Resources •
Ending SF’s Payroll Tax: The Winners and Losers
Eileen Hassi, owner of Ritual Coffee Roasters (who just showcased in PCV’s Annual Marketplace on June 6th), was shocked when she received a bill for almost $4,000 in payroll taxes for 2006, her first full year in business. At the time, she had only $11,000 in her bank account and couldn’t pay the tax on […]
Jul 14, 2015 – Small Business Advising And Mentoring • Small Business Loans • Small Business Resources •
Health Impact Bonds to Replace Health Care Services?
In their report entitled “Impact Investing in Sources of Health,” Maria Hernandez and S. Len Syme, researchers at UC Berkeley and Rick Brush from Collective Health, LLC, explore the possibility of using an impact investing vehicle, namely Health Impact Bonds, to improve health outcomes in a cost-effective and sustainable way. Over the past couple of […]