Readers have voted and here are the results of what’s been going around the small business wire as we step into March.
While there’s a lot of great information out there about sharpening your business plans and maintaining a focus on cash flow, the Small Business Administration’s budget is going to be tightened.
This means that if you’re in the neighborhood for an SBA-type loan sometime soon, the competition may become quite fierce for these small business loans.
This week, readers enjoyed articles like this. They even retweeted our own podcast a few times. Many thanks for that.
If you’re a small business owner out there, these articles may be for you.
Countdown: March 4th, 2011
#5: Obama Proposes Belt-Tightening for SBA (via WSJ)
President Obama’s fiscal 2012 budget proposes a cut in requested SBA funds, about 45% less than what it received in 2010. These loans seem to go like hotcakes. A dip in supply could drastically change how small business owners approach SBA help in the near future.
#4: How to Test a Brilliant Business Idea (via AE OPEN Forum)
Readers enjoyed this article that lists a handful of axioms to test against your business model. The tests explore a balance between dreaming big, being too greedy, and truly checking whether or not your heart is in it for the win.
#3: The New Leadership (via Results.com)
Brute force may not be enough! Readers enjoyed the insights brought by this article as it hones in on how “agility,” focus, and project management are a few key factors that strengthen the leaders of tomorrow.
#2: 10 Business Model Pivots to Improve Cash Flow (via AE OPEN Forum)
Readers enjoyed reading about the ten business plan “pivots” that they can make to maximize cash flow, regardless of what industry they’re in. In these tougher times, do you agree?
#1: FC Radio 001 | Introduction to Debt Financing
Our followers retweeted the very first episode of our podcast series. As we ramp up the series with some more basic topics of financing, we’d like to get your feedback on how the show can better serve YOU—the small business owner.
There’s plenty of 2011 left to go.
As our readers enjoy inspiring articles on how they can maximize the effectiveness of their small business cash flow, they also explored what leadership qualities are favored in 2011 and beyond. Given, there was the ominous sign of tough times to come with SBA funding cuts, that did not stop our followers from continuing to improve their small business savvy.
Have a great weekend and stay tuned for next week’s Countdown. If you haven’t, follow @fairwayamerica on Twitter for the latest small business finance articles and mention or re-tweet to cast your vote on next week’s Countdown articles.
Until next time.
