Small Biz Advice

Satellite training sites give entrepreneurship agency a boostRestricted Content

April 14, 2012
Hayleigh Colombo
Participation at Business Ownership Initiative-led training sessions is up nearly 30 percent so far this year as more Hoosiers start businesses of their own. Executive Director Julie Grice is looking for more counselors and money.
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WOJTOWICZ: Temporary program helps refinance commercial mortgages

February 24, 2012
Jean Wojtowicz
A recent study from Credit Suisse found that over $15 billion of small commercial mortgages (under $5 million) are coming due in the next few years.
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Extras help small firms boost business

January 14, 2012
Andrea Muirragui Davis
Small businesses like KnowSweat Workouts increasingly are adding products and services to keep revenue flowing during tight economic times.
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WOJTOWICZ: Do homework before meeting business lender

December 19, 2011
Jean Wojtowicz
Prepare to talk in detail about your business, the plans you are making and the reasons for expanding before you show the banker the facts and figures.
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WOJTOWICZ: Character always counts—even in loan decisions

September 23, 2011
Jean Wojtowicz
During these difficult times, small-business lenders are looking harder at intangibles—including a borrower’s character.
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WOJTOWICZ: Missed tax payments could affect business loans

July 1, 2011
Jean Wojtowicz
Property tax billing and collection were at their most confusing during the recession, when businesses were experiencing lost revenue, poor projections and, in general, toughing it out as best they could.
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WOJTOWICZ: Relief available for firms with falling real estate values

June 3, 2011
Jean Wojtowicz
New law allows banks to refinance existing real estate and equipment debt through the U.S. Small Business Administration 504 loan program.
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SHEPHERD: Credit cards hurting too many businessesRestricted Content

May 21, 2011
Connie Shepherd
Expensive personal credit undermines credit scores and ultimately the odds of more traditional lending.
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Indianapolis tech experts talk about the local industryRestricted Content

April 9, 2011
In a question-and-answer forum, leaders weigh in on topics ranging from tech transfer to the future of Aprimo.
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Business Ownership Initiative hires executive director

February 15, 2011
Sean Morrison
Julie Grice, a 10-year veteran of the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce and former business owner, began her tenure as executive director of the not-for-profit Business Ownership Initiative of Indiana on Sunday.
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WOJTOWICZ: How to lay your hands on working capital

December 6, 2010
Jean Wojtowicz
Small-business owners looking for working capital would be well-served to do their research in advance and can ask their bankers about several approaches, including financing based on assets.
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INSIDE DISH: Irvington favorite breaks off slice for Greenwood

December 3, 2010
Mason King
Jockamo Watch
                           VideoThe owners of Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza had seen other local eateries sink after expanding. They weighed many risks before pulling the trigger.
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Twitter tool winner of Startup Weekend event

November 15, 2010
The winner, StatsSquared, now will compete against other winners from cities worldwide in an online contest for the overall top prize.
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Latest Startup Weekend offers twist for entrepreneurs

November 9, 2010
Scott Olson
Unlike past events in Indianapolis, this one features a panel of judges who will select a winning business idea, enabling a team to compete in a global online contest against other winners from cities worldwide.
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WOJTOWICZ: Be careful when locking in low loan rate

August 27, 2010
Jean Wojtowicz
This may be a golden opportunity for small-business owners to lock in a low rate to finance expansion. But make sure you understand the loan agreement.
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LEADING QUESTIONS: Small-biz tips from finance whiz

May 26, 2010
Mason King
Wojtowicz_WatchVideoJean Wojtowicz, whose firm has helped fund more than 1,200 Indiana companies, recommends the "front-page test," looking seriously at expanding, and pulling the trigger quickly on toxic employees.
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LEADING QUESTIONS: Small biz whiz talks taking risks

May 5, 2010
Mason King
LQ_Ball_WatchVideoMarketing pro Lorraine Ball suggests a test for when it's time to ditch the corporate gig, plus tips for networking and public speaking.
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McCLANAHAN: Does e-mail boost or bust productivity?

April 9, 2010
CJ McClanahan
The more I deal with e-mail, the more I believe that, despite these extremely valuable benefits, e-mail is hurting our ability to effectively grow our businesses.
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MARKETING: Do you know what keeps your customer up at night?Restricted Content

December 26, 2009
Lorraine Ball
As the year winds down, it is a great time to think about your marketing plan and budget for 2010. For small-business owners, this is particularly important, because we do not have the marketing budgets of large firms.
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WOJTOWICZ: Is it time to buy rather than lease space?Restricted Content

November 28, 2009
Jean Wojtowicz
Buying a building for your business is still possible in a tight lending market, but bankers will review real estate purchases carefully.
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LEADERSHIP: Use objective measures to evaluate employeesRestricted Content

October 24, 2009
CJ McClanahan
To improve the productivity of your management team, it’s critical to have an objective plan for measuring performance. That means clear job descriptions, goals, and key performance indicators to track progress.
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MARKETING: Why Discount Tire gets my vote, again and againRestricted Content

August 29, 2009
Lorraine Ball
There are plenty of “low-tech” companies exploring ways to build social media into their marketing strategies with outstanding results.
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WOJTOWICZ: Stimulus is expanding small-biz lendingRestricted Content

July 27, 2009
Jean Wojtowicz
The economic stimulus package allocated $375 million to the U.S. Small Business Administration so it could offer more generous terms to small-business borrowers.
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Blogging is no longer optional for entrepreneursRestricted Content

April 27, 2009
Lorraine Ball
In 2009, blogging is not optional. If you have a business, you must have a Web site. If you have a Web site, you must have a blog!
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A post-stimulus survival guideRestricted Content

March 9, 2009
Mickey Maurer
Instead of waiting around for the state to save your business, plan strategically to survive.
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  1. Great article Anthony. Glad IMS is finally being run like a business and not a personal check book to finance the "Vision".

    Things are looking up but 15 years of scorched earth won't be fixed overnight. Unfortunately the TV ratings are still poor and that won't change anytime soon with the brilliant 10 year contract signed under the former regime.

  2. Brett not sure why you wonder what he said in his quote. "''I would like to jump in a time machine, go back to 1995, and tell the owners and Tony George not to split,'' Franchitti said. ''As soon as my time machine is done, I know where I'm going.''"

    Pretty clear, he would love to go back and tell TG and the team owners not to split.

    I am not sure there is anyone who wanted the split, and I don't think there is anyone who would not like to go back and prevent the split. But, as has been discussed ad nauseum, without the split carts management by team owners would have run all of ow racing into bankruptcy. If cart had such a wonderful product, then losing IMS would not have forced it into bankruptcy. If NASCAR lost Daytona or Charlotte, it would not fail like cart did.

    Truth,

    So you predicted that cart would go into bankruptcy and cease to exist while Indycar would continue on? I missed that prediction.

  3. I want to live in a city that has a garage structure to be proud of for it's innovating design!

  4. Well written Anthony. I think the toughest thing for the Hulmans and true of any family company is that reality was getting more complex than could be handled by the family. Almost any family owned business must realize that or die. Tough decisions, but ones that had to be made.

    I don't like the wall signage, but in this era of sports marketing it is almost required. Many folks cringed at advertising at Assembly Hall and Hinkle fieldhouse, but times and finances change.

    Thanks also for reminding us the other blue chip sponsors IMS has picked up.

  5. Not to mention how it would improve the view from the offices of the AUL building. Do you remember when Circle Center had a contest for the best roof design after the mall was completed? Great opportunity here...

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