Virtual Entrepreneur:

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama on Feb. 16, 2009. It is massive, not only in dollar amount ($787 billion), but also in length (781 pages, single-spaced).
The legislation represents about $1 billion of tax and appropriation benefits per page.

Here are 10 of the surprising, little known opportunities for businesses buried within this massive legislation:

1. Extension of bonus depreciation. The federal stimulus package extends last year’s 50-percent write-off of the cost of depreciable property for capital expenditures. Wisconsin businesses can extend this temporary benefit for capital expenditure incurred in 2009.

2. New Market Tax Credits. Available New Markets Tax Credits are increased to $5 billion for 2009 and 2010. Wisconsin developers, who have the opportunity to receive allocations for qualified projects, will enjoy an economic boost to projects during the current challenging economy.

3. Creation of renewable energy grants. In recognition of the recent constriction in the market for production and investment tax credits, Congress is allowing for-profit taxpayers that place in service a wide variety of renewable energy facilities to receive a grant from the Treasury Department in lieu of claiming a production or investment tax credit for those facilities. The grant will be equal to a percentage of the taxpayer’s basis in depreciable tangible personal and real property (not including buildings) that is used as an integral part of the facility. This grant opportunity should serve to provide a significant financial boost to qualified renewable energy projects in Wisconsin.

4. Creation of credit for investment in advanced energy property. Congress authorized $2.3 billion in tax credits for certain advanced energy property. The credit will be equal to 30 percent of a taxpayer’s basis in certain depreciable tangible personal or real property (excluding buildings) related to any project that re-equips, expands or establishes a manufacturing facility for the production related to various identified renewable energy resources. This represents an exciting opportunity for Wisconsin suppliers of component parts for renewable energy products.

5. Increase in the amount of energy conservation bonds from $2.4 billion to $3.2 billion. This increase in a financing source should serve to mitigate the current restrictive lending practices that apply to qualified energy projects.

More here.

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Financial Post:

The recession has become the consuming priority for small business owners, who don’t have the clout to lobby government for billion-dollar bailouts. But help is out there. Just look at this press release that was received the other day at my friend’s uncle’s cousin’s barber shop. (If only they had included a phone number or return address):

There’s help for recession — weary small businesses! Niagara Falls entrepreneur Columbus D. Pression is launching a trade show to motivate and invigorate Canadian business owners.

“Recessions aren’t just about layoffs, panic and despair,” Mr. Pression says. “There are also opportunities in pharmaceuticals, used cars, collection agencies, counselling services for financial advisors and so much more. It’s all in your attitude. Recession World will persuade worried entrepreneurs that their empty glass is half full.”

Recession World will tour Canada for 10 weeks beginning on Feb. 29, taking place in under-booked arenas, an innovative trade show targeting small business. “This is the last growth market in Canada,” he says. “Look at what this slowdown is doing to General Motors and Magna. Now more than ever, it’s clear that any business can be a small business.” More.

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24-7PressRelease:

Small business owners are increasingly pressed to find creative ways to cope with the economic downturn and some are doing so by turning regular store customers into passive income producers. By acquiring a Business Associate license from DubLi.com, the next “eBay”, business owners are able to quickly turn their customers into an army of online shoppers who, through viral expansion, create a substantial recurring revenue stream for the owner.

Store and small business owners aren’t alone. Dentists, doctors, chiropractors and other medical professionals with private practices are also following suit by giving their patients free DubLi shopping credits as a way of thanking patients for their business. When the patient uses the shopping credit he/she becomes the “customer” of the doctor, who then receives a monthly commission on the patients’ online shopping purchases. Thereafter, when the patient tells a friend about DubLi, both the patient and the friend are rewarded with free shopping credits from DubLi, and the friend becomes the customer of the doctor. DubLi’s “tell-a-friend” feature produces a rapid, viral expansion of the licensees’ customer base. Within a year, 100 original DubLi shoppers can easily grow to over 10,000 through the viral expansion process. DubLi online shoppers generate an average income of 75 cents per customer per month for the DubLi licensee.

Since the North American launch of DubLi.com, a popular reverse-auction site first born in Europe, marketers have seen the tremendous potential DubLi creates for residual income and wealth building by allowing individuals to obtain a license to “own” part of DubLi’s online customer base. Based on the recent growth of DubLi Europe, experts have projected that more than 100 Americans will become DubLi millionaires by 2010.

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EzineArticles.com:

If you have been considering a new business venture, it is worth noting that while many businesses are having a tough time now, there is one type of business that is doing well.

Many people think down economic times are a time to run away from business ventures. The real thing you should be doing is to learn about the business opportunities that are coming about because of the economic situation and learn how to make the most out of them.

What’s Happening in the Business World?

If you have had your eyes open, you probably have a pretty good idea of the type of thing that is going on in the business world. There are a lot of businesses that are being forced to close their doors because of the financial situation.

The thing to keep in mind is that while it is sad that these businesses have to close their doors, there could be an opportunity in this. When businesses close up shop, they rarely have been able to completely move their entire inventory. Instead, they have plenty of inventory left that ends up at a liquidation center.

The job of the liquidation center is to then move all those items at a quick price.

Liquidation Centers Have Their Hands Full

With the influx of businesses that are going out of business there are more and more loads of liquidation goods coming into their centers to be sold. While you may only think this is good business for the liquidation center, it also can mean great business for you. Read more.

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Entrepreneur.com:

Business Overview
Two things make starting a singles-only event promotion business a safe bet in terms of the potential for success and profitability—a 50 percent divorce rate, and people choosing to stay single much longer than in decades past. Lots of people in their, 20s, 30s, 40s and even older–are still looking for Mr. or Mrs. Right. The result is a whole bunch of single people looking to meet other singles for fun, friendship, and maybe even love. Plan and host singles events such as pub nights, group outings to concerts and sporting events, local and international travel destinations, bingo nights, Saturday morning wilderness hikes, and Thursday night potluck dinners. Providing the events are unique, fun, and exciting, word will spread fast, precluding any need of costly advertising and promotion once the business is established.

The Market
Singles of all ages, ethnic groups and religions.

Needed Equipment
Desktop computer with the usual office suite and desktop publishing software to create flyers and a website.

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Idea Marketers:

Whether you’re working from home because you’re a single mom trying to make ends meet or you’re a married mom hoping to use a few spare hours each week to add to the household income, chances are good that you don’t want to spend $100,000 to open a small business. In fact, it’s probably just as likely that you don’t even have that $100,000 to invest on a small business. Though finding a franchise opportunity that doesn’t cost the family’s whole retirement savings can sometimes seem like a hopeless endeavor, here are some small business franchises that are built for a work at home mom and don’t cost an arm and a leg.

Creation Carpets & Flooring of America
The general problem with owning a retail carpet business is that they cost so much. Between the price of renting or leasing shop space, hiring staff, and purchasing and storing warehouses full of rolled up carpet stock, it’s a far pricier business than any ordinary person has the finances for. Creation Carpets & Flooring of America, however, has changed all that. By compiling books of carpet and floor samples instead of housing acres of carpets in a warehouse, Creation Carpets & Flooring of America franchise owners are able to run their businesses from home, visit their clients at their residences, and simply order the carpet or floor that each client wants. Overhead is next to nil, and the convenience factor is through the roof. 41 independent dealers are already proving the successfulness of this business model, and with full training available to new franchisees, the franchisor is looking for people who want to get into business for themselves in the next 6 months.

Press-A-Print
Profiting from the advertising industry has never been so easy or cheap. One of the greatest ways for businesses to advertise their name and services is by printing their logo on promotional materials like T-shirts and pens, which is precisely the kind of work that Press-A-Print franchisees do for their clients. Given a wide array of training in areas of marketing, general business operation, and the like, franchisees are prepared to begin a fully functional promotional product printing business on behalf of their clients. Equipped with a specialized Press-A-Print machine that can push out 100-500 printed products each hour with almost no overhead, franchisees work from home and start making profit almost immediately.

The Back Rubber… read it here.

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Washington Post Blogs:

The U.S. government is the world’s largest purchaser of goods and services so it’s no wonder that many small businesses aim to fatten their bottom lines by landing a lucrative federal contract.

At least 23 percent of federal agencies’ spending must go to small firms. Women-owned businesses have landed a surprisingly small percentage of government contracts, currently receiving about 3.4 percent, or $11 billion, out of the $400 billion in contracts awarded annually. Congress mandated that women-owned firms should garner at least 5 percent, but that goal has never been met.

Lawmakers and the administration have been feuding for years over a strategy to help more women win more contracts from the federal government, but a new private-sector initiative is aiming to close the gap while the differences fester.

American Express OPEN partnered with public policy group Women Impacting Public Policy to launch the Give Me Five initiative last month.

The national program has been designed to educate women business owners on how to apply for and secure federal procurement opportunities. Read more.

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Entrepreneur.com:

Entrepreneurs often live with the hope that if they build it, customers will come. But in today’s economy, it takes a lot more than hope to get people to purchase your products or services: New business-building practices are a must if you want to expand.

Another necessary element is a clear-cut plan for growth. But many entrepreneurs get obsessed with creating the perfect plan. Or they never get around to putting one together. Crafting a plan is necessary, quick and effective. And we can show you how to do it. The following seven steps should take you no more than four hours to complete-a small price to pay for a tremendous upside.

The result? A road map that will infuse new energy, enthusiasm and vision into your company’s growth plans. So let’s get started.

Step 1: Focus on your core product. A very successful e-newsletter entrepreneur has built his business around this mantra: “Prospects buy when they trust your value is applicable to them and believe your company is stable.” This strong position allows him to constantly check up on the services and value he’s providing his customers. Keep this statement in mind as we go through the rest of the seven steps, because internalizing this mantra is the key to a solid plan.

It’s common in small, service businesses that the entrepreneur feels he or she must do everything the “big guys” do to compete. The truth is, small-business owners can really never compete in the same way. So it’s essential for small businesses to differentiate themselves by focusing on the unique capabilities and core products they bring to prospects. Specialization is the entrepreneur’s greatest asset.

Step 2: Keep your pitch simple. The last time you asked someone at a party what their company does, did you get a clear, concise response? Or did your eyes glaze over by the time they got to the end of their explanation? My guess is, it was probably the latter. Now imagine that same pitch being presented to prospects who don’t have a glass of wine in their hands to distract them! It’s not a pretty picture.

What every company needs is a simple “elevator pitch.” That’s a short, concise message that can communicate your message to a prospect in 30 seconds or less. It explains the value your product or service provides so the prospect understands why it’s applicable to them.

Try this little exercise to test your pitch clarity quotient. Ask someone who doesn’t know what you do to listen to your pitch. Explain what your company does, and watch for signs of fatigue-eyes watering, lids getting heavy, and so on. Of course, you may have the perfect pitch. But if you don’t, you’ll recognize it right away from verbal and physical responses.

More steps here.

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PRLog.Org:

No matter what type of business product or service you choose to participate in, there is one and only one starting point.

The only place to be starting your new home business is, in your mind, more importantly your mindset.

It is imperative for you to know the Who, What, Where, When and Why’s when considering starting up a home based business. No matter what type of venture you may choose, if you cannot answer the five W’s you will greatly hinder your chances of success dramatically.

Ask yourself these questions:

WHO. Who are you doing this for? Is it for personal gain and notoriety, family obligations or maybe to help a friend in need. If you do not clearly know and understand who you are doing this for, you will have a very difficult time maintaining the motivation to achieve the level of success you desire.

WHAT. Do you clearly know what is you that want to achieve? Is it to attain financial independence? Contributing to your retirement plans? Is it to put a down payment on a new house? Do you want to be able to quit your job, or do you just want to be able to purchase those big ticket items you have always yearned for?

It is crucial to know exactly what it is you wish to achieve. You have to be able to close your eyes and picture in your mind, down to the finest detail, what your life would be like once you achieve success. If you don’t truly know what it is that you want, it is almost guaranteed that you are not going to get it.

Achieving success comes from knowing precisely what it is you want. Then next step is to set goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time based, better known as S.M.A.R.T. goals. To learn more about goal setting just do a quick search on your favorite search engine, there is a great deal of information available.

WHERE. Research is the key here. There are countless ways and places to set up a home business on the internet. What is most important here is to keep a level head and an open mind while doing your research to determine your chosen field.

Sales pages are finely tuned to trigger impulses and emotions to get you to buy now, this very second. Fight those urges to click that order button, step away from your computer for a moment if you have to.

Take the time to actually study what is being offered. How much is it going to cost you? Is it a one off, monthly or yearly cost? What is the actual product or service that you are receiving, and is there something else out there that may better serve your needs.

It is highly recommended that you never hit the order button on your first visit. Take a look around and do some comparison shopping, or window shopping if you will. If the original offer was the best you can always return and purchase at a later time.

* Remember that the first offer you see may not always be the best in value for your dollar. The internet is extremely competitive. Take the time to check around.

WHEN. Knowing when to launch your business is where many marketers fall short. Ensure that your business is completely ready to go. Test everything before your launch. Check your webpages for loading time, grammar and spelling. Do all the pages and links work properly? Test your newsletter. Does your autoresponder send the messages when they are supposed to go out? Are the messages formatted correctly? Do those links work? Is the payment and delivery system perfect? Read on…

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PR-Inside.com:

EWS is now accepting inquiries from those entrepreneurs (and ecopreneurs) who are interested in learning more about how they can benefit from this lucrative green business opportunity.

No one can predict the future, but you can prepare for it. By embarking on a new venture as an Affiliate with Environmental Waste Solutions (EWS), you will ensure that your financial future will sustain itself through down markets. Since 1974, EWS has been launching ecopreneurs into new green business opportunities with their proven business model. Located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, EWS is readily able to assist new Affiliates around the country with extensive training and consulting services, and will work closely with their Affiliates to partner with them through joint ventures as well to help fuel their success.

The goal at EWS is to assist companies in developing green business practices, and very few small businesses can also offer their Affiliates the potential for earning a six-figure income while doing well for the environment. ‘For reasons that are obvious, Affiliates have been succeeding in the business of waste removal. With more companies having to legally (albeit morally) comply with environmental laws as to how to not only dispose of their trash but how to limit excess that is filling up our landfills, people have become more creative in finding various waste disposal solutions while also cutting costs,’ states Darwyn Williams, President and Founder ‘We are only scratching the surface when it comes to green business opportunities available to us even in a down market.’ Read more.

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1888 Press Release:

Team members from ActionCOACH, the world’s number one business coaching firm, emphasized the importance of a business plan for owners of small-to-medium sized businesses. Founder and CEO of ActionCOACH, Brad Sugars, agrees and adds that there is also merit in remaining flexible and open to change.

Commenting on an article entitled, “Hamilton triumphs at incident-filled Monaco, Sugars said: “It was a flexible approach and the ability to capitalize on opportunity that drove Lewis Hamilton to victory in the 2008 Monaco Grand Prix. Along with the other drivers, Hamilton was battling a wet track when, on the fifth lap, he slid into a wall, puncturing his right rear tire, forcing him to take an unscheduled pit stop.”

“Quick thinking prompted McLaren to change from using extreme wet tires to intermediate tires to take full advantage of a track that was beginning to dry out. Hamilton was now in a prime position to take full advantage of a drying track. Even when, with 17 minutes to go, Hamilton’s lead had disappeared, he held on to seize victory and his sixth career win, restoring him to the top of the drivers’ standings.”

Sugars considers that business owners can learn a valuable lesson from Hamilton’s success. More.

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VOA News:

About a year ago, in the Baghdad neighborhood of Ghazaliyah, it was too dangerous for this man to work outside on the street. The neighborhood was a battleground for Shi’ite and Sunni militias.

Stores closed and streets were empty except for gunmen and the victims of sectarian killings.

In the past year, U.S. troops, U.S.-backed Iraqi volunteers, and Iraqi soldiers patrolling the streets have helped reduce the violence and stabilize the neighborhood.

The once prosperous area is filled with trash and sewage and lacks electricity. But that has not stopped this restaurant from opening or this barber from re-opening his barber shop.

He says the militias used to attack people but now everything is good. He wishes business was better but says people do not have much money.

Muthana Idan Kabul owns a tiny shop that serves tea in the Karkh area of Baghdad. He says during some of the worst violence in Karkh, insurgents stole his furniture and set his shop on fire. Today, people come here to catch up with friends, and of course, like this Iraqi policeman, to drink tea.

Kabul has received a $2,500 loan from the U.S. government to improve his business. Since 2003, the U.S. has given about $18-million in loans to small Iraqi businesses.

He says business is good and he hopes to open a bigger shop. He wants to buy new tables and chairs.

This small business owner works in Baghdad’s Green Zone, a safer area controlled by the U.S. military. For the past four years, he and his son have been selling souvenirs, mostly to U.S. troops. Read full article.

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Nextgov:

The Veterans Affairs Department wants to put companies owned by veterans at the top of the pecking order for agency contracting opportunities.

VA published a proposed rule change on Wednesday in the Federal Register that would establish a set-aside program for veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.

“Supporting service-disabled veterans who own businesses contributes significantly in restoring their quality of life while enhancing transition from active duty to civilian life,” the rule stated. “Such acquisitions maintain the socioeconomic well-being of the nation and carry out VA’s strategic goals.”

The proposed rule builds off a 2004 executive order issued by President Bush that mandated increased contracting and subcontracting opportunities for veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. More.

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