When it comes to bidding on government contracts, it truly is a man’s world. The vast majority of business, particularly small sized ones, are owned and operated by males, which means the handful of female small business owners that exist are forced to compete with men of power and influence for lucrative government jobs. The federal government set a goal of awarding 5% of contracts to businesses run by women, but they’ve never even come close to reaching this tiny figure. Some have accused the federal government of dragging its feet with respect to this issue. Politicians often praise small businesses as the backbone of the U.S. economy, yet their rhetoric doesn’t match their actual efforts. Businesses owned by women and racial/ethnic minorities have always faced inequity to varying degrees within the public and private sectors, although the federal government tries to set an example by creating programs to benefit these companies directly. These existing programs are all well and good, so long as they receive the attention they deserve. Thus far, the fed’s enthusiasm has been lackluster at best.

Hopefully, this unfortunate state of affairs will change for the better as a new set of guidelines pertaining to contracts and women owned businesses is close to approval by the Small Business Association. Basically, these rules stipulate that certain contracts will be set aside for female business owners exclusively, so men won’t get a chance to bid on them. This may encourage healthy and fair competition among business women, and it will surely boost the government’s dismal statistics. Supporters are praising this as a long awaited blessing and pointing out that many female entrepreneurs will collaborate rather than try to one up each other. The spirit of shared struggle, coupled with an unwavering commitment to succeed could foster lasting partnerships that turns rivals into colleagues.

This announcement is not without its critics, naturally. Opponents state that this is tantamount to the type of discrimination it is designed to counteract. Government quota systems have always been controversial and often draw fire from right leaning citizens and advocacy groups. Nevertheless, we suggest our female readers take advantage of this opportunity because it will definitely boost your revenue. Be forewarned: there is a ton of paperwork involved. But receiving a government contract usually leads to more of the same, so once you get past the first hurdles, you should be able to develop a mutually beneficially relationship with the SBA. For more information about this and any other government grants, contracts, and benefits, visit the Small Business Association’s website: http://www.sba.gov/

As everyone’s well aware, times are pretty tough right now. Many small business owners are currently taking out high interest loans just to cover their basic expenses such as payroll and inventory. Most are being forced to make hard decisions and reevaluate their priorities because there aren’t enough funds to go around.

Luckily, small business owners in California can take advantage of an outstanding incentive program announced today. Verizon, one of the largest and most dependable telecommunications providers in the nation, will now offer free high speed internet services for one year to California companies that sign up for the total business bundle with a 3 year contract. The package includes a super fast connection with access to WiFi hotspots, unlimited nationwide calling, 25 MB of data storage, and 24 hour technical support. Verizon’s generous deal is designed to lower the costs associated with an everyday necessity—using the internet. Almost all small businesses rely on the internet to some degree, so this plan will definitely come in handy. For internet only retailers, Verizon’s program is truly a godsend.

If you own a small business, you already know that paying a monthly internet bill is an unwelcome expense in this recession. To give you an idea of how much money you could save by capitalizing on this venture, consider the following figures. Verizon’s 3 Mbps broadband connection normally costs $59.99 per month, not including applicable state taxes. Multiply that number times 12, and you’re looking at an annual cost of over $720! Think about the other ways you could use that extra cash. You could buy a new PC, pay an employee’s benefits, start an advertising campaign, or invest other types of equipment. The possibilities are endless. For more information about this promotion or Verizon’s additional small business resources, visit their website at your earliest convenience. You can save even more by ordering from their website, so be sure to complete the transaction online for the maximum discount. This isn’t the only promotion Verizon is currently running and small business owners in other states may discover useful products on the site as well. Californians need to act fast, though, because this offer expires on August 21st, 2010. If anyone out there signs up for this service, please let us know!

Talk of franchising may sound like wishful thinking to those suffering from the repercussions of the Great Recession, but according a Los Angeles Times article, the number of small businesses branching out is actually on the rise. Contrary to popular belief, franchising can be a cost effective way to expand your scope that does not require bearing the burden of financing the entire venture on your own. If you’d like to open more stores without having to pay for them or deal with the day to day operations of running them, then franchising might be the right decision for your company.

As long as you have a successful business model already in the works, then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t consider growing in this manner. There are a lot of misconceptions about franchising, though, so we thought it would be a good idea to go over some basic information to try and help you decide if this is something your business could benefit from. Franchising is not the same thing as opening up new branches of your store. As a franchiser, you would only be selling the franchisee the rights to market your products and services, use your logo, etc. There is usually a large, onetime fee paid by the franchisee along with a monthly stipend, which means you will continue to profit from this undertaking after the initial transaction. While the franchisee will be using your brand, essentially, they must agree to the terms you dictate at all times, so you can ensure that they are abiding by your guidelines. That way you don’t have to worry about them damaging your reputation or other similar concerns.

Many businesses find franchising easier than developing a chain on their own because franchisers do not have to bother with staffing new stores, inventory, or anything else you’d normally associate with maintaining the company. Additionally, you are more likely to develop a positive relationship with franchisees than regular employees. The franchisee has to make a substantial investment in the business, which means they have a huge stake in its success. A typical employee does not have this kind of direct motivation or commitment to achievement.

If you are the one who is considering buying a franchise store, then you will have a different set of concerns. You should do extensive research on the company you want to work with because you will be dependent on their overall performance. You want to get involved in a competitive industry with a recognizable name brand and discover a location that allows your store to thrive. The goal of franchising is fostering a mutually beneficial partnership, so you need to make certain that you can live with the stipulations in any agreement before singing it. Remember that owning a franchise store is not the same thing as being your own boss. You will not have the kind of freedom that an independent entrepreneur enjoys. Still, you should be able to capitalize on an existing company’s reputation without having to worry about building your own customer base. State and municipal governments have laws on the books when it comes to franchising, and meeting with a business law specialist is to your advantage. Your local bank is available to discuss your financing options should you be in need of a loan.

No matter which side of the franchising equation you find yourself on, we hope you’ve found this discussion helpful. Franchising may not be the best move at the moment, but it’s certainly something to consider in terms of your long term development plan.