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 Sharpen Your Business Skills at a New Website When you own a small business, you may need to know a little bit about a lot of things (to borrow from the lyrics of an old pop tune). You are a specialist about the products and services you offer, but you also need to become a generalist about the nitty-gritty issues of business management. And, no matter what level of business education you bring to the project, tapping into additional resources to assist you in running your business can often be extremely helpful. Wouldn’t it be nice if you had someone to turn to – an authoritative expert to answer your questions, or a chance to talk over your issues with other small business owners? Help like that is out there, free for the taking. Whether or not you are an American Express customer, you can access a wealth of information on the company’s site designed specifically for small business owners. The free resources and information on the OPEN Small Business Network® Website enable small business owners to easily connect with expert advice and even network with other small business owners. Widen Your World Entrepreneurs dedicate much of their time to the day-to-day operations of their businesses and need a quick and simple way to reach out for advice and information. A section of the OPEN Small Business Network Website, called “Connect with the Community,” provides valuable news and information that can help you run your business better. This section of the website includes such information as an explanation of the World Trade Center Business Recovery Grant Program for small businesses. There is also a list of small business organizations you may want to join. But perhaps the best feature is a chance for you to send your specific questions to the OPEN Network’s Small Business Advisor, Alice Breden, who will answer your specific question quickly. You can also access previous questions from small business owners and the expert answers they received in the archives. Another free resource on the OPEN Network Website is a service called Abuzz, which lets you start or join a discussion on a topic of interest to you in a bulletin board format and find out how other small business owners are dealing with the same issue. For example, one recent topic being discussed by small business owners involved finding quality workers. Abuzz includes discussions across more than 80 categories of business information. You can choose to register for any categories that most interest you, and you will be notified when new information on that topic is posted. This networking tool also enables members to view profiles that registered members write and post to the site. “Connect with the Community” also lets you research your suppliers or prospects with a convenient link to the Dun & Bradstreet Business Directory. Expand Your Knowledge The OPEN Network Website’s “Access Information” section contains fact-filled articles on key topics such as taxes. It also offers a number of interactive tools and online workshops to teach the business fundamentals of writing a business plan, marketing, managing receivables and collections, hiring new employees and preventing fraud. The site also provides specific exercises that enable small business owners to apply the information from these articles. For instance, you can practice what you learn by creating a business plan for a fictional company called “Bella’s Biscotti,” a company that hopes to sell its Italian cookies to gourmet shops in its region, and eventually across the country. And, in Addition… The OPEN Network’s website’s home page also provides links to American Express’s specific services to small business owners if you are interested. June 27, 2002
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| Copyright (c) 2000 American Express Company. All Rights Reserved. Users of this site agree to be bound by the terms of the American Express Web Site Rules and Regulations. View Web Site Rules and Regulations and trademarks and Privacy Statement of American Express. See Corporate Entities and Important Disclosures for additional information about the American Express entities who offer products and services on americanexpress.com. American Express Brokerage is offered by American Express Financial Advisors Inc., Member NASD and SIPC. American Express Company is separate from American Express Financial Advisors Inc. and is not a broker dealer. |
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