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Showing posts from February 5, 2012

Small Business, Big Business, "It's all Business" BOSS

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BOSS Ladies and Gentlemen: Pack your bags, because this will be the event of the year at the Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference May 2012 in Chicago.  We have some special networking events planned for you, so make sure to RSVP here and save $100 using code BSSNTW.  Register at  Black Enterprise . Click to Watch Last Year's Black Enterprise Conference + Expo  

Finding Your Pot of Gold By Aundrea Y. Wilcox

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A few weeks ago, my sister posted one of the funniest Facebook status updates I’ve read in a long time. She said: “I followed this rainbow for my pot of gold and it took me to work! Hmmm!” Do you need capital to startup a business or expand your existing business? Where will you get the money? The days of zero-down loans are pretty much gone, and if you’re thinking of getting a grant to start a business or expand, you’re out of touch with reality. Most grant programs require matching funds and they’re rarely geared to for-profit businesses anyway. So where does this leave you? First look within. Whatever your capital needs, you should expect to put on the table a minimum 20% of what is needed from your own pocket before asking family and friends for their loot to go into business for yourself. It should be no surprise to learn that about 60 percent of small business financing comes from commercial banks. It also should be no surprise that today’s lending standards are much t

A Day In Their Life: Kozi and Kyra Kyles

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Sister Duo Give Tips on Running a Business with Family and Friends By Lenora Houseworth So, you’re thinking about going into business with your sister or best girlfriend, are you? The idea of spinning your dream into a successful venture with your BFF sounds good, but are you actually prepared for the journey that lies ahead? One set of Chicago-based sisters Kyra and Kozi Kyles prove you can indeed go into business with your sibling or best friend, and have fun while doing it. As creators, writers, and producers of the comical sci-fi web series “Human Resources” starring puppets, the Kyles sisters are breaking new ground humorously addressing touchy workplace issues in the recession-era with the online project released under their entertainment company Myth Lab Entertainment, Inc. “It is definitely based on our work experience,” said Kozi, who came up with the idea for the show based off her experience surviving a company layoff earlier in her career. “What stood out to me was the po