1. Find a mentor. Find someone who knows how to work the system and guide you though the process. This is a case where who you know is more important than what you know.

2. Contact the Small Business Administration (SBA). This government agency exists to provide information, assistance, and help small businesses grow and prosper. Public and private organizations partner with the SBA. These agencies can helpful resources to entrepreneurs including information on Federal Assistance programs and grants. The SBA is not a lender, but assists small businesses in finding funding.

3. Join your local Chamber of Commerce and network with the members. You will make valuable contacts who can steer you in the right direction. You may find small business owners who have “been there, done that” and can hand you a road map. (Click here to find your local Chamber of Commerce.)

To use the free conference call feature, set up a group of users by clicking on their names in your contact list on the left. You can also create an impromptu conference call by adding people to the call once it has started. You will get a message to either end the current call, or add a user to the call.

Skype allows users to make free conference calls worldwide. If your associates and colleagues are not on Skype yet, you can purchase a subscription for unlimited usage to North America for only$2.99 a month. You do not need to have a video camera to use the audio portion of Skype, so don’t let that intimidate you. I do not use my webcam during trainings because it is distracting to the client and I would rather the client focus on the screen. Skype has a screen sharing feature where one user can share his screen with the other and both callers can collaborate.

Skype is the best known of the VOIP systems. The Skype service is free. You will need either a headset or a mic and speakers. I use Skype with many of my consulting clients. The service is free between Skype users – even international calls are free. There is a screen sharing feature so you can show the person you are talking with whatever you want on your screen – websites, tutorials, photos, whatever. May businesses are going to VOIP systems because of the reduced cost and efficiency.

Skype is fun for personal use, too. If you have a webcam integrated, you can see the other person on your screen. It can be kind of creepy at first, but once you get the whole family on Skype, it gets fun.

If you cancel your landline plan, which is an average of $48, you can save $576 a year. Skype and other VOIP systems do not have 911 capabilities, so keep that in mind. Click here to check out Skype and see if it will help you save money on your phone bill.

In a recent study by Printer.com, the University of Wisconsin Green Bay asked all of the staff and faculty to switch the default font on all their printers. After making the change, the school is expected to save between $5,000 and $10,000 on printer ink cartridges. What is the name of the winning font? Century Gothic.

Printer.com tested various common fonts and their research shows that Century Gothic uses 30% less ink than fonts like New Times Roman, Arial, and Sans Serif.

In your never-ending quest to reduce operating costs and increase your bottom line, pay attention to your use of printer ink cartridges. Consider switching to Century Gothic. I have already changed my default font in both WORD and Excel, so we shall see how it works out.

Read the full article on Printer.com:

Some card companies pay you back for using their card when you purchase merchandise or services. Rewards can be points, free gift cards, discounts at specific retailers, plane tickets, or merchandise.

To take advantage of business credit card rewards, you’ll need to do some detective work. Look closely at your statement and cardholder agreement and find out if you are earning rewards. The rewards can come in many shapes and sizes:

1) Cash back applied to your balance. (The most attractive option.)

2) A check mailed to you monthly or quarterly.

3) Gift cards. You can do several things with gift cards including give them as gifts, use them yourself for merchandise, or sell them on eBay or Amazon. Gift cards typically sell on eBay and Amazon for 90-95% of the face value.

So pay attention to your business credit card rewards and use them to your advantage.

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