5 Reasons for Small Businesses to Give Thanks

If you are a glass-half-empty type, you might find it easy to be depressed at the current state of the small business. Sure, the economy is suffering, business credit is hard to come by, taxes are high and unemployment is even higher. However, I believe most small business owners and entrepreneurs are the glass-half-full types. So let’s pause and take a moment to ponder the top five things small businesses can be thankful for:

5. The Internet and social media. From Facebook to Twitter to eBay to email marketing, the Internet is the small businesses best friend! The Internet has made it possible for small companies to sell their products and services around the world and to inexpensively market to millions of people at once. The web also makes it easy to get the information you need to make your business successful – not to mention network with your peers for advice and support. 4. It’s easier than ever to hire new workers. Small businesses that are hiring have access to better, more qualified workers than at any other time in memory. And many of these exemplary employees are happy to work for reasonable wages. 3. New financing options. Traditional bank loans and venture capital may be hard to come by these days, but we’ve also seen the emergence of innovative new ways to raise money. Small business grants and microloans, for example, are increasing in importance and availability. Angel investors are also taking on new importance. Perhaps even more important, if you can land a loan, interest rates continue to remain at historic lows. 2. Small is the new large. Revolutionary changes in technology – including the increasing consumerization of business tech, the rise of cloud computing, and Software as a Service (SaaS) are dramatically cutting the cost of equipping a business and building a computing infrastructure. Best of all, these trends seem tailor-made for the needs of small businesses – especially startups – not saddled with the legacy systems that can hinder many older, larger companies. 1. America. Small business owners like to moan about overregulation, taxes, and other problems. Those are all very real issues. But compared to most other countries, the good old USA still represents a unique combination of freedom; relatively low taxes and non-intrusive regulations; a skilled, diverse workforce; an entrepreneurial culture with unlimited opportunities; rich and varied sources of capital; and a transparent and consistent business culture maintained by rule of law, not connections, bribery, and influence. Really, where else would you want to run your small business? Icing on the cake: You are your own boss! The best part of running a small company has always been that you’re in business for yourself, not someone else.

So go ahead, take Friday off – the boss won’t mind. (Taken from AllBusiness.com a business resource website.)

Glendale City Councilmember Ara Najarian is joining Laura Friedman in Montrose for the Northern Glendale Area community meeting at the Sparr Heights Community Center on Wednesday, Nov. 28 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be a time for questions and answers at the end of address. Take this opportunity to bring the questions or concerns that you have regarding the North Glendale area so that we can begin a discussion regarding them.

Don’t forget: For only $99 you can become a chamber member or renew an outdated membership. Becoming a member ensures your business listing in our 2012-13 directory and a listing in our online digital directory – great resources used by many people in the community.

Upcoming Events:
Tree lighting ceremony and White Friday on Nov. 23 at the corner of Oceanview Boulevard and Honolulu Avenue. Many stores will be “whiting out” the sales tax on items, offering special promotions, hosting open houses or offering complimentary goodies – just look for the snowflake to find participating stores. At 5 p.m. there will be real snow for the kids to play in and at 7 p.m. the tree lighting ceremony begins.

Small Business Saturday on Nov. 24. Shop local business to support local economy.

Councilmembers Ara Najarian and Laura Friedman speaking in Montrose on Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Sparr Heights Community Center, 1613 Glencoe Way, Glendale 91208.

36th Annual Montrose Glendale Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. on Honolulu Avenue.

December business mixer on Wednesday, Dec. 5 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Polkatots, 2200 Honolulu. Ave.,,Montrose.

  melinda clarke