Category Archives: Small Business

12.07.12
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Supporting small businesses and startups

 

“Thriving business builds a thriving community” is the motto the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce operates by.

Most companies join the Chamber because of our job creation and economic development mission. As we grow our economy, build stronger companies and increase our economic competitiveness, every business in our area benefits. As a result, many choose to get involved and “join our team.”

To build stronger companies and make it easier for them to do business – just like the Florida Innovation Hub at the University of Florida serves companies with a variety of services, connections and advantages – the Chamber serves in a similar capacity for the Gainesville area.

Small Business Support

To help small businesses thrive, the Chamber, which has served as “the voice of business” since 1924, offers members many programs and services:

  • Connections to various resources through one-on-one consultations
  • Workshops on pressing business issues in partnership with the Santa Fe College Center for Innovation and Economic Development
  • Speaker series on economic trends and business insights from industry experts
  • Extensive networking and community leadership opportunities
  • Industry Roundtables to identify needs specific to your industry
  • Insight on public policy issues that impact your business

Start-up Support

In addition to the programs and services above, we help foster the success of start-ups by creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem, providing:

  • Consultations on starting a company from experienced entrepreneurs
  • Small Entrepreneur Roundtable groups to connect entrepreneurs on critical business issues, while fostering a vibrant start-up community
  • Connections to the myriad of services and programs available to startups in the community

Just like you, we’re always pushing the envelope, improving our value in the marketplace and delivering results. If you aren’t one of the 1,200 companies that are already taking advantage of our programs and services, we invite you to learn more about the Chamber on our website at www.gainesvillechamber.com, or contact us at (352) 334-7100 to discover the many ways we can help your business thrive.

 

 

 

06.08.12
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Crowdfunding: A new financing option for entrepreneurs and investors

This year, Congress passed the Startup Act, which included a provision to allow a new financing option termed “crowdfunding.” This is an important new funding option for entrepreneurs that is a game-changer at a time when access to capital is a critical issue for job creation. I’ve posted the best two resources I’ve come across to give you background on this financing option. At the bottom is a link to http://www.CrowdFunder.com, so you can participate.

Colleen Taylor interviews Chance Barnett, Founder & CEO of Crowdfunder on the Crowndfund Act- http://youtu.be/48zBCHruu4Y

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Below is an infographic on crowdfunding:

Equity Crowdfunding - crowdfunder.com

Equity Crowdfunding – crowdfunder.com

04.05.12
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Small Business Survey In The News

Our Quarterly Small Business Index Survey was released to the media for the first time yesterday showing that small business owners are growing optimistic and nearly 40% are planning to hire in the next six months.  Our Florida Chamber Small Business Council is able to keep the pulse of issues facing small businseses through this survey.  This survey tool serves as a way to inform elected leaders and the media in Florida about the current state of small businesses.  We know that 4 of 5 new jobs will come from small businesses, so this information is critical to the policy development process in the Florida Capitol.

See below for a full copy of the report and what the media and leaders are saying about the results:

Please click here for a full copy of the results and analysis.

Please click here for results and analysis from the July 2011 survey.

Traditional News Coverage

Florida Trend Daily Pulse
Forty percent of Florida small business owners plan to hire

Jacksonville Business Journal
Small-business survey shows improving job outlook, yet most are still cautious

Southwest Florida News-Press
More Florida businesses planning to hire

Orlando Business Journal
Survey: Florida small businesses plan to increase hiring

South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Forty percent of small business owners plan to hire, Florida Chamber says

Lakeland Chamber of Commerce Blog
Florida Chamber’s Small Business Index Survey Highlights Positive Hiring, Business Health Trends

WSFL-TV
Forty percent of small business owners plan to hire, Florida Chamber says

Social Media Mentions

Florida Governor Rick Scott‏ Great News – nearly 40% of FL’s small business owners planning to hire more workers http://bit.ly/HhLGt1 #sayfie @FlChamber

FloridaGOP‏
RT @FLGovScott: Great News – nearly 40% of FL’s small business owners planning to hire more workers http://bit.ly/HhLGt1 #sayfie @FlChamber

RPOF Chairman Lenny Curry‏
RT @FLGovScott: Great News – nearly 40% of FL’s small business owners planning to hire more workers http://bit.ly/HhLGt1 #sayfie @FlChamber

Workforce Florida
RT  @FlChamber More FL small biz owners are optimistic and 40% plan to hire in next 6 months, says @FLChamber Small Biz Survey http://ow.ly/a4IqY #sayfie

2012 Tampa RNC Host Committee
RT @FlChamberMore FL small biz owners are optimistic and 40% plan to hire in next 6 months, says @FLChamber Small Biz Survey http://ow.ly/a4IqY #sayfie

Enterprise Florida
FLGovScott Great News – nearly 40% of FL’s small business owners planning to hire more workers http://bit.ly/HhLGt1 #sayfie @FlChamber

Facebook: Rick Scott shared a link
Florida Small Businesses are Open!

Rick Scott for Florida   – Optimistic Small Business Owners Plan to Hire More Floridians – Rick Scot
Over 40 other retweets and mentions
03.22.12
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What the JOBS Act Would Do

Small businesses are critical to Florida’s economy, and “tomorrow,” they are even more important because of increasing global competition. Most research and economic analysis shows that small businesses create a bulk of net new jobs, employ more than 50% of the workforce and account for approximately 1/3 of the difference between a strong economy and a weak economy.

The JOBS Act, being debated in Washington, offers a multi-faceted approach to support small businesses and the creation of new firms. Here are a few highlights:

  • “Crowdfunding”- Startups and small businesses could now file with the SEC and solicit investments from non-institutional investors (like you and me) on a small scale (up to 10% of annual income or $10,000- whichever is less) to help build their companies.
  • Raises cap on private shareholders from 500 to 2000- Currently, companies that grow quickly, hire more employees and make them shareholders, face a quick road to going public that may not be the best option for their long-term strategy or ability to create jobs. This part of the bill gives fast growing companies an avenue to stay a private company, while bringing in new top talent with shareholder privileges, if they aren’t ready to go public.
  • Make going public less burdensome- This part of the bill gives companies an easier and less costly route to going public by removing some of the regulations that large corporations face.
  • Allows companies to solicit their stock to the public- This offering creates more of a free market to help companies build capital but will rely on investors making smart, informed decisions.

If this bill passes, we will see if this legislation is the answer to a fundamentally changed capital market that will foster job creation.

03.15.12
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Fresh ideas needed to create more start-ups and grow small businesses

Business start-ups, small business growth and entrepreneurship are critically important to our economy.  In fact, they account for most net job growth in our state and country.

Beginning next week, the Florida Chamber Small Business Council will work with our state Department of Economic Opportunity (similar to a Dept. of Commerce in other states and federally) to identify and execute strategies to grow our economy through entrepreneurship and small business growth.  We will host the Small Business Stakeholders Forum at the Florida Chamber as the central way to build out the state’s 5-year economic development strategy as it relates to small business and entrepreneurship.

There are some things that the government can start doing, some things they can stop doing and many ways to rethink how Florida can improve its entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Now is the time to put forth the best ideas.  Please leave a comment, send me an email or contact me on Twitter (@TimGiuliani).