Business Top Guides

The best thing to do would be to start at an existing NFP that does the things you are interested in doing. Perhaps your contribution will make the existing location better rather than stretching already thin resources further. Moreover, you may find yourself in a position to actually take over the existing NFP as people move on frequently.

Teach people to read and write. There are lots of people in all walks of life that need to be able to read and write in order to further their education. You could charge by the hour or have a group setting of up to 10 people. Let the school district know that you are doing this and many parents of school age children who didn't know about this opportunity might sign up.

Which is the episode where Carol introduces Vicki on the Carol Burnett Show ? Pls help ! I’ve been dying to see that one !!

It is hard to find grants to start or expand a business — whether for a minority or not. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for a for-profit business.

Nonetheless, you can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov – these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support a for-profit venture.

Even if you buy books on "how to get grants" or list that supposedly has information on grants — all of them are mere rehash of what CFDA has, albeit packaged differently. But still the info is the same – hardly any grants for starting a for profit business.

Even SBA does NOT give out grants. From the SBA website http://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html

"The U.S. Small Business Administration does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses, although it does offer a wide variety of loan programs. (See http://www.sba.gov/financing for more information) While SBA does offer some grant programs, these are generally designed to expand and enhance organizations that provide small business management, technical, or financial assistance. These grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments."

Here is a listing of federal grants for small businesses. See if there is any available for individuals for starting a business — THERE'S NONE.
http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.BROWSE_BENEF_RPT.show

One grant for minorities is called Minority Business Opportunity Center (MBOC) #11.803 – but the objective is "To promote access to key decision makers in the public and private sectors , facilitate the brokering of contracts and financial transactions, and identify and coordinate local business resources to benefit minority business entrepreneurs." Applicants for this program are Federal, State or local government entities or quasi governmental entities, American Indian Tribes, colleges, universities, nonprofit organizations, and for project organizations.

Most of the federal grants are given to specific target groups with specific requirements (e.g. minority business owners involved in transportation related contracts emanating from DOT – Grant#20.905 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Short Term Lending Program

Grants are also often given to non profit groups or organizations involved in training or other similar activities (grant 59.043 Women's Business Ownership Assistance that are given to those who will create women's business center that will train women entrepreneurs

For private grants, you may want to check the Foundation Center's Foundation Grants for Individuals Online. It's a subscription based website ($9.95 per month) but their opening blurb only says that the database is ideal for "students, artists, academic researchers, libraries and financial aid offices." Entrepreneurs are apparently not one of them, so I take it they also don't have listings of private foundations who give grants to would-be entrepreneurs.

http://www.cfda.gov
http://www.grants.gov
http://gtionline.fdncenter.org
http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol66/grants.htm
http://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html

Yep!! This show is BETTER that therapy!!!

These skits showed what families are really like.

There is a silly cultural idea that Black people don't know how to run a business. My mother feels the same way. When we go into a Black business, if she receives bad service she never returns. When we go into a white business, if she receives bad service she simply complains about it to me, but continues to use the service.

Black people need to change the prevailing cultural ideas that hold us back. That's why Obama is such an inspiration to us – he can help to break the mental shackles that we so willingly bind upon ourselves.

First, I wouldn't buy into what you were told for one second. That information is well wrong and comes from an ignorant perspective.

Second, I'd get really clear about what your skills are and what kind of business you want to start. Research should be the foundation of any decision you make in regards to your business. The internet is a great resource for doing this kind of due diligence.

Then I'd start looking for opportunities on the web and locally. If you interested in franchises, you can find a bunch of websites that offer information on that. If you're interested in network marketing, the same is true. And there are many other things in between.

I'd also strongly consider taking a mentor…someone you know and trust who is successful in business (and especially in the industry/field you're looking to get into, if at all possible). It's helpful to have someone successful to learn from and to emulate.

Business has many rewards and many risks. I am a business owner and I understand that because I see it in my own business every day. The best thing I've done is prepare myself for these risks and rewards by buckling down and doing the research and then making the right choices.

I'd also recommend that you look into your financial situation as you're making this decision. Businesses need money to get off the ground. Most businesses fail due to a lack of cash flow. This is something to strongly consider & to do additional research on. There are many types of loans and grants available for people starting their own businesses. There are even government grants for this (which do not have to be paid back). I know that I have seen several specifically for African Americans, females, and other minorities/categories/etc.

So…in short…figure out your goals, figure out what you're good at and what you want your business centered around, and then study up on it big time!

You can be a huge success! Good luck!

Eunice was such an interesting character. She was like a crazed Lucille Ball when it came to performing arts. Amazes me how they all get us to buy into/invest in their characters and situations. Great acting!