Community Home

Home

Welcome to a community of savvy business people and ideas. Make new connections with other business owners to share advice, experiences and information.

Join the Business on Main Community Today

Meet other small-business owners, share information and ideas, and watch your business grow. Click the register button to sign up.

Free Membership Perks!
Join now, and you’ll be entered for a chance to win a MiFi mobile hotspot with three free months of Sprint service. Click here to read the official rules.

When you join the Business on Main community, you can:

• Create your own small-business profile.
• Network with other business owners.
• Register your business so other members can find you.
• Search for other businesses and services and promote your own.
• Join groups and have discussions.
• Find quick answers to your small-business questions.

Join the Community:

Latest Discussions in the Community

TOPIC: New Business - should the boss be paid?

NAME: cathyknits2 Dec 25, 12:21 AM GMT 2009
Interesting question to think about. So often the owners do not dip into their financial resources and take any pay. What do you think about this? Should they pay themselves or not? Read Joseph Anthony's article: "How Much Should You Pay Yourself at a Startup?" http://businessonmain.msn.com/knowledgeexchange/articles/startingup.aspx?cp-documentid=19057353 After reading the article, have you changed your mind? Why? Or why not?
	Report Abuse

TOPIC: Taxes

NAME: ladymarigold Feb 9, 12:34 AM GMT 2010
Tax season is very close and as a Manager of any type of business you must be prepared even if you use an accountant or a tax service to present all your deduction claims. You should maintain a file all year keeping all receipts of purchases to improve your business, entertainment of clients, charitable donations, any and all things that can be claimed on your tax documents. Make sure if you go to a tax preparer to go to a reputable one should you have a problem with filing your taxes.
	Report Abuse

TOPIC: Interesting article about Entrepreneural Vets

NAME: QueenBee Jan 23, 04:40 PM GMT 2010
Being a part of a military family, I found this article here at Business on Main very interesting. Often times I wonder what my daughter and son-in-law plan to do once they leave the military. My son-in-law will most likely be a lifer and retire but my daughter may get out sooner to be a stay at home mom. However, I know her well enough to know she will soon get bored and wish she had some type of outlet. I never quite pictured her as the "entrepreneur type" (is there such a thing? lol) but this article made me think twice about her skills and abilities and just how well suited to a business endeavor she might actually be! http://businessonmain.msn.com/knowledgeexchange/articles/expert.aspx?cp-documentid=23265413 Anyone with prior military experience might be more suited to starting their own business or franchising than they may think!
	Report Abuse

TOPIC: Solar water heating.

NAME: ThomasML Oct 9, 06:16 PM GMT 2009
Is there a cost-effective solar water heatng system for roof mount?
	Report Abuse

TOPIC: Angel Network(s)

NAME: ts1959 Feb 7, 02:10 AM GMT 2010
I have a new business method for which I have a PPA. Could someone point me in the direction of an “angel network”, actively searching to invest in the right idea(s)? My hope is to get the method in front of the right audience. But, first- things- first.
	Report Abuse

TOPIC: Train Travel

NAME: DGCDesign Jan 29, 04:24 PM GMT 2010
At 15 (1965) we went from California to Oklahoma, we decided to go on the train. This to me at that age was going to be the most boring trip. It turned out to be exciting and such an adventure. The food, the people were so friendly, and the price was right. I have always wented to go on another long distance train ride, but wonder if it would be the same since over the years train travel has become more limited. The ease to walk around, eat in the coaches, full meals or just sandwich, playing cards or games in the observation car...and being able to stretch your legs walking thru the cars...Has anyone been on a train lately to travel and how is the food and train conditions?
	Report Abuse

TOPIC: Solicitors

NAME: VinylSigns Jan 27, 04:24 AM GMT 2010
Have you noticed how the solicitation calls and 'knock on the door sales men' have increased the past few months? Even though I am on the Do-Not-Call-List, I find an increasing number of often times questionable solicitations. Just tonight I had two incidents of solicitors knocking on my door wanting to sell me new windows and siding under the pretense of: "Pardon our noise, but one of your neighbors is getting new windows and siding installed" Out of principal I don't buy anything at the door or over the telephone. Apparently the community we live in doesn't allow just any solicitation. Solicitors are supposed to be registered with the village and wear and display a badge issued to them from the village. Of course I never remember to ask for this badge when facing a solicitor. I called my village on this ordinance and was told it is to protect the people in our fine city. When a solicitor registers with the village, they take down contact info, company info, etc just in case... What does your community do to protect you from solicitors? Or as a business owner: Are you aware of such city ordinances before you send out your sales people?
	Report Abuse

TOPIC: The power of one voice

NAME: cathyknits2 Feb 5, 08:31 PM GMT 2010
So often we neglect to speak up if we have something on our minds....maybe we have a comment that a business owner should hear about service or produce. But we hesitate because we really don't think our voice will be heard. I know, because I am one of those people. Diana Ransom has written a timely article in the Knowledge Exchange: "As Online Reviewers Grow, Businesses are Listening". Chris Brogan, the president of New Marketing Labs (in this article) says: "Small businesses should do what they can to meet the critics, hear their concerns [and] communicate any potential updates to their product or service that might improve the critic's opinion.". Here is a terrific opportunity to let your voice be heard, write a review - either positive or negative, let businesses know how you feel. Your voice, along with many others, will help businesses feel the consumer thermometer. Your review might just be the voice of change to a business! Give it a try!! http://businessonmain.msn.com/knowledgeexchange/articles/salesandmarketing.aspx?cp-documentid=22706275
	Report Abuse

TOPIC: Relinquishing some control

NAME: EXPERT: Randy Myers Jan 25, 02:09 PM GMT 2010
Over in the "Starting Up," group, Eve Tohmincloglu has started a nice little chat about revolutionary retailer Sy Syms' passing, and his reputation for paying attention to detail. The discussion got me to thinking about how hard it can be for small business owners to delegate responsibility--but how absolutely necessary it becomes if you want to grow beyond "small." Has anybody out there had an "ah ha" moment where they realized that their refusal to delegate was hurting their business more than it was helping? How did you work out the problem?
	Report Abuse

TOPIC: You Must Read This

NAME: EXPERT: Randy Myers Jan 25, 02:20 PM GMT 2010
I've just read about a fresh point of view on the old debate about whether it's better to fly solo or franchise when you're starting a business. It's here at Business on Main, and it's a fascinating story about some entrepreneurs who switched to franchise mode after having already established successful small businesses. To find out why, go to the "Knowledge Exchange" section here, click on "Adapt & Grow," and look for the article entitled "When the Little Guy Goes Big." I'm sure you'll find it interesting, even if you're not debating the franchise question for yourself.
	Report Abuse

Latest Groups in Community:

Newest Members in Community:

Get answers on the most pressing business issues.

Submit your questions to our community and experts.

You'll receive advice, tips and ideas from a variety of trusted resources to help you take care of business.

Play Episode

Watch original Web-only series