Page 4 shop online at www.broadcasteronline.com January 18, 2011 DAVE SAYS: Keeping new business simple Dear Dave, My husband is a landscaper who works for the state. He has his technical license and wants to start a business doing private work as well. What advice would you give to someone just starting out in this field? Amy Dear Amy, First, I’d check to see if there are any additional licenses required for doing that kind of work in your state and the cities in which you’ll be operating. You want to make sure you’re starting off on the right foot with any authorities or governing boards. The next thing I’d advise is to keep it simple. There’s no reason to run out and incorporate or anything like that. It’s a service business, so print up some cards and start thinking about a basic OFFICE HOURS Monday through Friday 8:00am to 12:30pm and 1:30pm to 5:00pm 201 W. Cherry St., Vermillion, SD 57069 • 605-624-2695 www.broadcasteronline.com • www.plaintalk.net one- or two-page website. Then, once you land some jobs, post tons of pictures of his work. Before and after shots are great sales tools in his industry, so you’ll need to really show off his talents. Of course, no one will know you’re out there or online unless you really talk up the business with people. And I’m not just talking about homeowners and businesses. You guys need to approach anyone who may be a potential lead—real estate agents, builders, bankers, architects and anyone else who touches a piece of real estate. When we built our house, the architect recommended the landscaper. So, try to figure out all the connectivity points you can. Then, stay in touch, and buy them lots of coffee and doughnuts! —Dave Not a luxury these days Dear Dave, We had just started your plan and saved $1,000 for our baby emergency fund when our laptop computer died. We do all of our finances online, including budgeting and banking. Should we dip into the emergency fund to replace the computer? Erin Dear Erin, Yes, I think you should. Computers used to be considered a luxury, but today many people find themselves in your exact situation. They use computers not as toys or just to surf the web, but to help run their households and organize their lives and finances on a daily basis. Now, upgrading at this point to the biggest, baddest, coolest thing on the planet is a no-no. That kind of thing is what we call a “want.” There’s a difference between a “want” and a “need.” So, you need stay calm and go find a good basic computer that will take care of your online needs. Trust me, you can get a good new laptop for about $300. That way, you can take care of your computing while only putting a small, temporary dent in your emergency fund! —Dave Can the loans be forgiven? Dear Dave, I’m 36, and I’ve been placed on permanent disability due to primary progressive mul- www.broadcasteronline.com Southeast Entrepreneurial Resource Program Professional Development Series Spring 2011 January 25 – 6:30pm – 9:00pm “Feasibility of the Business” – Lisa Bryan & Steve Howe “This seminar will assist entrepreneurs in the identification of entrepreneurial opportunities and strategies and the role of personal factors (including creativity). The focus will be on recognizing opportunities and preparing the feasibility analysis for a new or existing venture.” February 22 – 6:30pm – 9:00pm “Business Planning” – Mark Slade “This seminar focuses on the components, the process and understanding the business plan writing process. Building the entrepreneurial team and the acquisition and management of financial resources are emphasized along with venture growth, harvest strategies, and valuation.” March 29 – 6:30pm – 9:00pm “Financing Options for your Business” – Vonnie Barnett “This seminar will explore a variety of funding alternatives, including self-funding, angel funding, venture capital, grants, conventional loans, and special loan programs specifically for small businesses.” April 26 – 6:30 – 9:00pm “Preparing to Launch the Business” – Lisa Bryan & Dustin Pratt This seminar will provide the participants with the tools to launch their business venture. We will focus on the elevator pitch, accessing capital, bootstrapping, utilizing social media to market your business, and business plan competitions. H ow to register: Participants will receive one continuing education credit for attending all four sessions. The total cost for all four sessions is $10.00. The sessions will be held at the Vermillion Chamber of Commerce & Development Company conference room, located at 116 Market Street. For more information & to register for the seminars, please contact Lisa Bryan at mailto:lisa.bryan@usd.edu or by phone- 605-677-5565. Or visit the USD website at: https://aceware.usd.edu/ShowSchedule.awp?~~GROUP~COMED~Community+Education PRECISION PAINTING A17407 tiple sclerosis. Is there a possibility I could petition to have my student loans forgiven? Do you believe this is an issue of conscience? Janelle Dear Janelle, No, I don’t think it’s an issue of conscience. If you’ve been officially and medically diagnosed with this disease, and you’ve also been declared permanently disabled, then federally insured student loans can, and should, be forgiven. I’ll tell you ahead of time that it’s going to take a lot of work—regardless of the reason—to get a request like this through the system. You’ll be swimming in red tape for a while, but having the loans forgiven is only fair considering your condition and situation. God bless you, Janelle. —Dave * For more financial help, please visit daveramsey.com. INTERIOR • EXTERIOR COMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL Quality Workmanship, Reasonable Rates Since 1983 CLINT TUCKER • 624-4621 Patricia Curry: 605-661-2860 Andy Curry: 605-261-1202 Archie Dunham: 605-366-4625 www.dunhamcompany.com $5,000 CASH TO BUYER AT CLOSE EXTENDED TO JAN. 2011 Open House Sun Jan. 23 • 2-3pm 1704 Arnold Palmer Lane - $224,900 SELLER SAYS “BRING ALL OFFERS!” 4 bedrooms 3 bath ranch. Open concept, living room w/firepl, slider to patio. Kitchen appliances stay. Master w/roomy walk in closet, large mst bath w/ double sinks. Main fl laundry. L level finish: huge family rm, 2 bedrms w/egress, full bath. 3 stall heated garage w/epoxy finish floor. 3rd stall set for tandem 4th stall, pad poured. 207 W. 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