University of La Verne SBDC Small Biz Blog

By Joshua Botello Transcript: In this video I’ll show how to get and use a resale certificate.  Im Josh from the University of LaVerne Small Business Development Center. Here at the SBDC we provide small business owners with free one on one consulting and business tip videos just like this one. So if you are new here, consider subscribing to our channel.  And check out the companion article and resources in the description below.  Many people who are looking to start selling retail products will eventually come across this issue. That’s why it is one of the most frequently asked questions we get about licenses and permits: How do I get a resale certificate?  So in this video I'll go into what a resale certificate is and how it’s different than a seller’s permit; how to get one and fill it out; and how to use it when purchasing products for resale. And check out the companion Article for all the resources in the description below  So what is a Resale Certificate?...

by Joshua Botello  We continue videos on social media marketing and this time we are delving into Instagram. Instagram is the photo-sharing site that is owned by Facebook. Instagram offers creative filters effects, live video, stories, and its own Youtube-like video platform IGTV. Businesses can take advantage of Instagram’s younger demographic to share photos, videos and engage with their audience. Instagram is primarily phone-based, so this entire how-to will be done through a smartphone. I'll show you how to set up an Instagram account, convert it to a business account and show you some business features. So grab your phone and let's dive into Instagram for Business.  Open Your Instagram Account The first thing I need to do is to preface this guide with this: you need to have your Itunes account up and running to download the app. That’s it. Ok? Ok. So let's go to the app store and search Instagram and click get to download the app. Since I just need to update it, I ca...

by Joshua Botello If you are starting a business and need some start up funding for you may feel limited in what is available for getting your business off the ground.  Traditionally a prospective business owner would create a business plan like we do here at the SBDC and that client would take it to a bank, angel investor or VC to get their venture funded. Unfortunately, because this method narrows your chances to a few major players, the likelihood of getting the capital you need diminishes when pitching to those few people.  Enter Crowdfunding.   What is Crowdfunding? What exactly is Crowdfunding? Crowdfunding is a way to raise the capital for your business or project through the collective efforts of family, friends and investors. The hallmark of crowdfunding is using small amounts from "the crowd" to invest enough collectively to fund the business. This is usually done through efforts in campaigns coordinated on social media and video media.  Don’t worry we...

JC Winsem, Inc. www.jcwinsem.com Jennifer Campbell is the Founder and owner of JC Winsem Inc., an online clothing store targeting girls and women 8-45 years old. “It is a modest company with a positive message. We want every woman to feel beautiful and good about who they are. We also incorporate eco-friendly and wrinkle free fabric items. We care about our environment and want to do our part,” Jennifer recounted.  Campbell had the idea and realized there weren’t any mainstream competitors in the market who target a positive message for females. Creating a positive impact in her community is a cornerstone of her business.  With no business experience and through a post on social media, Jennifer discovered a resource that was available for those who wanted to start a small business. Jennifer recalled how she came to the University of La Verne, “I lived in the area and realized there was a small business office that I saw passing by.”  Jennifer entered the office and imm...

by Joshua Botello Every business owner should build their business credit. Why? It gives the businesses access to loans and other capital instruments to keep their businesses financially afloat. Many new business owners have no idea how to build credit with their business and oftentimes business owners have personal credit issues themselves. While business credit is different from personal credit, many principles will be the same in building your business credit. In this article, you’ll discover the 5 simple and practical steps to building your business credit. Separate From Your Business I f you are just starting out, you want to make sure you are set up for success to build your business credit. How you do this is by separating you as an individual from the business. Why? You don’t want your business tied to your personal credit and how successful the business is should be based on the money the business makes, not your choices personally. You can easily set up a LLC or set up a corp...

By Joshua Botello Transcript: In this video, I’ll show how to keep your business running using Factoring.  I'm Josh from the University of La Verne Small Business Development Center. Here at the SBDC, we provide small business owners with free one on one consulting and business tip videos just like this one. So if you are new here, consider subscribing to our channel. Introduction If you are a business owner who extends terms for your customers to pay later, then you may have run into times where you run low on money to keep the business going. If you need cash quickly to run the business but are still waiting on your customers to pay their invoices, then a factor may be the one to help you out. In this video, I’ll explain what a factor is, how factoring works and the benefits of using a Factor. What is a Factor? So what is a factor? A factor is an intermediary lender who provides your business with working capital in order to keep it running.  The factor provides a short-term...

by Joshua Botello Picking a professional service provider like a lawyer, accountant, marketer, or IT service is such a confusing task. I mean they're all good, right? Not so fast! Picking the right professional for your business is similar to picking a partner for your business. Since you are going to be spending a lot of money on these services you want to make the right decision the first time. Your search may sound daunting but if you break it into these four steps, the process couldn't be easier. So let’s take a look at the 4 simple steps to pick your professional service provider. Start Your Search The first step to picking the right service provider is starting your search. Don’t know anybody? Check with friends and family first. These are the people who are closest to you and whose opinion you will trust most. Check with those who are business owners themselves, as those will be the ones who have similar needs to your own.  The next place to search is your local Chamber...

by Joshua Botello This article was originally published on LinkedIn here . If you are looking to start a business blog and platforms like WordPress.org look too complicated to start up, the built-in article tool for LinkedIn may be what you need. Not only is it easy to get started but you can reach your audience where they already are. Here is a quick guide to getting started with blogging on LinkedIn.  First things first The first thing is you will need to create your LinkedIn profile, but since you are reading this, you are already on LinkedIn. However, if you really need to know how to get started, here’s a quick refresher. Go to LinkedIn.com and click sign up. Enter your email. You are ideally going to use a business email or personal email if you don’t have a company one. Fill out all the information about you. This will be professionally useful when you start writing and this will establish your credibility when you publish articles. Once you have your profile c...