Small Biz Columnists

WOJTOWICZ: Prepare, then apply for small-business loan

March 4, 2013
Jean Wojtowicz
To write (or refresh) your mission statement, think about what you do, how you do it and why you want to do it.
More

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.
More

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.
More

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.
More

Here's a must-do checklist for personnel managersRestricted Content

May 25, 2009
Tom Phillips
If you are a human resources professional, now is an excellent time for you to assess the human resource function in your company.
More

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!
More

How to innovate your way out of this recessionRestricted Content

February 23, 2009
CJ McClanahan
It doesn't matter what industry you are in or how well you have prepared--we will all be affected by what has taken place in the financial markets over the past several months.
More

Have a plan to motivate and keep key employeesRestricted Content

December 29, 2008
Eric Manterfield
The success of many closely held businesses is dependent on their key employees. These employees may not be family members and probably will never be owners of the business. Nevertheless, their efforts help increase the value of the business.
More

To survive lean times ahead, small businesses must plan nowRestricted Content

November 24, 2008
David Clegg
Small businesses should plan for the worst while being attuned to what is happening in their industries, and to their customers.
More

Lean companies have best chance to surviveRestricted Content

November 24, 2008
Jean Wojtowicz
Make your business look as attractive as possible to your banker because you are competing for financing with other small businesses.
More
Sponsored by
ADVERTISEMENT

facebook - twitter on Facebook & Twitter

Follow on TwitterFollow IBJ on Facebook:
Follow on TwitterFollow IBJ's Tweets on these topics:
 
Subscribe to IBJ
  1. In my opinion the estridge companies are crooks. They filed bankruptcy on their 'track housing' side of the business two weeks before they closed on one of my clients' homes. When my client first interviewed Estridge as a builder 6 months before, they specifically ASKED about the solvency of their business, knowing that some builders were struggling. Estridge truly misrepresented their financial situation at that time. I suppose I am more unhappy with the whole system than I am with the builder because what the heck==you can file bankruptcy on 'track homes' but still keep building and make money off of 'custom built' homes??? How ridiculous! They are all homes. How can a company be allowed to bilk thousands of dollars from their subcontractors but still be allowed to build houses?? they should have been made to pay back all their unpaid contractors before being allowed to profit from building any more houses! This alone makes them and the system crooks in my eyes. I would never build an estridge home and I would not recommend for my clients either. If they were truly 'bankrupt' how could they afford to keep building homes anyway??? The whole system needs fixed.

  2. I live a couple blocks east of the Angie's campus and my house is assessed for ~$160,000. If I could get that amount, let alone $384,000 (a 140% bonus), I'd sell in a minute. Either Angie's stockholders just got fleeced, or Angie's is getting about a 58% discount on their property taxes, if these properties are actually worth what they paid Mr. Oesterle for them. Which do you think is the case?

  3. Perhaps the IMA board is really to blame! They agreed to hire Charles. They can't seemingly find donors among themselves, or bring in new blood that will support the museums operating budget with an expanded museum and money to provide curators with something to do (ie buy art). The headlines of disarray at the museum and mass firings are hurting the reputation of the museum for some time to come. If people on the board had misgivings, perhaps they shpuld have more forcefully opposed efforts that they have seemingly been unable to fund, like expansion and the costs it has created!

  4. See, I told u Indyman and Dipsicle....this 8 days is overkill. It's barely worth a weekend....great job Tony George! Your dream has been fulfilled....he fans want the I r l back. Thats how good it was.....and that sucked.

  5. I have been in training for a short time now but right off I can see that safety and quality are the number one issues, my experience as of late has been a positive one, the employees along with Jeff the plant manager and the operation supervisor as well as the engineers are a highly motivated group of people, what an asset for the area to have and for company's in need of a quality metal products.

ADVERTISEMENT