America’s SBDC Blog

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Makers of the World’s Most Comfortable Shirt – #SBDC Client Showcase

February 2, 2019
Butter Cloth ShirtButter Cloth (buttercloth.com | @Buttercloth1)
Countdown to the 2019 Client Showcase: #11

SBDC: Los Angeles SBDC Network, Long Beach SBDC Service Center (LongBeachSBDC.org)
SBDC Advisors: Joseph Jackson and Ed Von Leffern.

Danh Tran has always had a ferocious curiosity about fabrics and garment construction. Born in Vietnam, he grew up working in his family’s small tailor shop, making his own clothes by the time he was ten years old.

As a boy he dreamed of coming to America to become a famous fashion designer. Danh is proof that dreams really do come true. In 1994, his family immigrated to California. (more…)

America’s #SBDC Client Showcase – 12 Days Till the Event

February 1, 2019

America’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) are excited to announce the Client Showcase and Reception is back again this year! The following clients will be joining us on Capitol Hill on February 12th:

– California, Butter Cloth
Showcase Invitation– Florida, Atlantic Models, Inc.
– Kentucky, Nymbl Systems
– Maryland, Jordan Research and Development, LLC
– Michigan, Inductive Intelligence LLC
– New York, DogSpot
– Oklahoma, Whites Energy Services, LLC
– South Carolina, Extremiti3D
– Virginia, Port City Brewing Company
– Washington, FLEXHIBIT
– West Virginia, JesterLine (more…)

Employee Handouts: A Workplace Requirement You May Not be Aware of – but Should Be!

January 24, 2019
By ComplyRight –

Employee Handouts GuideDid you know you must distribute certain handouts to employees? This may be news to many small business employers, but it shouldn’t be because ignoring this responsibility carries some pretty hefty fines.

Along with year-long labor law posting compliance, you’re also required by federal, state and local laws to provide written notices under specific circumstances. It’s an additional compliance requirement that is more easily managed with the right resources.

What You Need to Know About Handouts

If this is the first time you’re hearing about employee handouts, here are some quick facts to get you up to speed: (more…)

Market Data Multiples – Things to Consider in Business Valuation

January 14, 2019
By Shawn Hyde, International Society of Business Appraisers (ISBA) –

Business valuationI had a conversation with an SBDC consultant recently, about transaction databases and how to best utilize an analysis of that data when valuing a business. She suggested I share this information with her colleagues in the America’s SBDC network, so here it is.

There are several different databases, each maintained by different organizations, that track transactions of privately held businesses — the prices they sold for as well as various other financial metrics for each transaction. The idea behind these databases is that one could analyze transactions of similar businesses that have sold, in order to identify an indication of value for a business. But there is more to it than simply pulling up the data for the applicable SIC or NAICS code and calculating the average or median of the data provided. (more…)

How to Help Your Small Business Recover After the Holidays

January 7, 2019
By Connor Wilson –

Small business meetingEvery year, businesses the world over spend a significant amount of time and money ramping up for the holiday season, and then, just like that, it’s over. As quickly as Halloween seemingly rolled into Thanksgiving, the New Year is here, and the holiday rush is a mere memory. But what about your business efforts? After weeks, if not months, of running at max strength, what do you do once the inevitable Q1 lull hits?

As you close out 2018 and dig your feet into 2019, it’s important to address the unique needs of this slower period, and in doing so, prepare your business for not only the first quarter, but for the rest of the year. Not sure where to start? Here are six tips to help you decelerate business and make the most of down time. (more…)