The truth is that SCORE, just like many other non-profit organizations, rely on individuals and companies for help throughout the year. Through partnerships and affiliations, grants are received, donations are made and yes, even the SBA in SCORE’s case funds the massive undertaking of SCORE’s mission to the tune of millions of dollars per year.

However, each and every year, the need for giving by these organizations are surpassed by funds received. This economy for instance, has made it extremely difficult for many non-profits to raise money, and this is unsettling.

It is for this reason that non-profits and not-for-profit organizations must expand their fund-raising efforts to include referral-based incentive income (RBIC).

RBIC programs are normally offered by companies who offer referral programs. Through the use of Internet-based technology, major corporations like Amazon, Intuit and many others, can pay a referral fee when someone buys due to your organization’s referral.

In the case of the Orange County NY Chapter of SCORE, they have made arrangements to get 50% of the first month’s premiums for a suite of Internet tools and resources offered by a company named Global Virtual Opportunities. These tools are needed by business owners everywhere. Their low-cost, high quality and effective use of the tools, appeal to business owners. This makes it easy for small business owners to register and utilize these easy to use tools.

The longer the small business owner utilizes these tools to promote their business, the better result the business owner gets, and the longer they’ll continue to use the tools. GVO will pay SCORE a portion of the monthly fee as long as the business owner uses the service.

Can you imagine how well fund-raising would work for your organization if you referred a high-end product or service by a third party, that continues to grow as more of your referrals take advantage of the RBIC?

RBIC can generate thousands of dollars in monthly, recurring revenue. This is a win-win-win scenario because in this case, your organization would win, the business owner (or consumer) would win, and the company being referred would win as well.

There are thousands of companies offering referral-based incentive income for your organization. The terminology can be termed “affiliate program”, “incentive program”, or “referral program” .

The internet now makes it easier for your organization to raise funds. Technology allows it to track everything faster, easier and more accurately than any other time in the past.

Look into different products and services that companies are offering, that are of value to your target market. Then, become an affiliate or representative of the company. It’s free to do, and it will not tie up any of your resources in fulfillment, customer support, or inventory.

If you are a business owner, and would like to take advantage of some great promotional tools that will help you grow your business, please visit orangescore.gogvo.com. If you take advantage of GVO’s Internet Marketing services, the Orange County NY Chapter of SCORE will receive $44.95 per person that registers and pays in full in the month of February. They have a $1 trial for you to see how their services fit your needs.

SCORE does not normally promote one company over another. Therefore, here are other companies, you can register with that will provide similar services. SCORE will not receive a referral incentive for any of the following companies: www.aeWeber.com (email marketing system), www.LiveStream.com (video hosting), www.GoToMeeting.com (web conferencing).

As a non-profit organization, it is your duty to look for new ways to fund yourselves. Offering someone else’s reliable, quality services, at no cost to you seems like a viable way to do it.

They are looking for a well-thought out plan.  What will the business do?  Who will own it, manage it?  Does the person (or persons) have necessary knowledge and experience to make the business successful?  Where will it be?

Be as thorough as possible. Lenders need to know what you are thinking about prospective customers, pricing of the product or service, etc.  How will this business make a profit?  Will it make enough to pay expenses and also pay back a loan?

Lenders are looking for a plan that makes sense.  Something feasible.  The narrative needs to agree with the Cash Flow – the words should paint the same picture as the numbers. 

Make sure your name and contact information is on the plan.  Sounds simple, but many forget.

If a plan is not funded by a lender, please ask why.  Lenders can share good advice that may help you remedy a situation.

When you apply for a loan, inquire regarding the length of time the average approval process takes.  And, second question:  how long does it take to receive loan proceeds after an approval.

By Charlene Finerty, owner www.PlansAndProfits.com

Some people are perpetually late — late for meetings, late for church, late for the car appointment. Sometimes late works. Depends on the situation.

Dentists’ staff call to remind and some charge for no-shows or cancellations within 48 hours of an appointment. Dentists are very good at keeping their promise. If we don’t show — they have no income — yet have staff and overhead.

Some people set appointments with consultants and never show up. Most people who can’t tell time very well drop off the radar when the consultant requests a retainer and signed contract before the initial meeting. It seems people who have difficulty committing funds have trouble honoring the agreed-upon appointment. They are probably not totally committed to the project.

The quick call, “I will be 10 minutes late,” or “I’m lost, I’ll be there soon,” or “the car won’t start” are honorable and perfectly understandable. Things happen and knowing where the client is allows a quick adjustment to fill the delay.

Professional punctuality lacking

On the other side, almost everyone deals with a professional office that can’t tell time. A lawyer who billed her doctor for unreasonable hours spent in the waiting room proved a point. Yes, doctors deal with emergencies, and we happily sit when necessary being ever so thrilled we are not the emergency. But not every day. Some offices are great. Some always overbook — or in one case, the professional insists on incremental patient bookings 1½ hours before his planned arrival.

Technology one cure

As technology evolves, we make less in-person appointments and more phone appointments. Before, during and after a phone call, documentation can be flipped over the Internet. Entire projects can be done by mail, phone and Internet without meeting. Some even use webcams.

It is great when a phone-appointment client calls within one or two minutes before or after the scheduled time. It proves the caller is organized and respects the recipient of the call.

Charlene Maurer Finerty owns Plans and Profits, primarily a business plan writing service. She also presents workshops, teaches business plan writing and cleans up unorganized offices and backlogs. For more information, go to plansandprofits.com, call 343-1515 or e-mail charlene@plansandprofits.com.

Bartering moves into business: favors/arrangements/deals are generated at a networking event, at a restaurant, at curbside.

In business, it evolves into something with a searchable name at www.irs.gov. Who would have guessed? Some 287 search results today, one named “Bartering Tax Center.” This gets serious. In perpetuation, bartering arrangements include billions of dollars of goods and services.

Be sure to write it down

If bartering appeals to you, keep records. It’s required by Big Brother, and six months or six years later, memories dim, and attitudes might change from “loving it” to “hate you” when the “I don’t knows” start to proliferate. “I don’t know, but I think our company did a lot more for your business than yours did for mine.” “I don’t know, but I think you owe at least 100 hours, or at least $2,500.” “Oh, I don’t think it’s that much. I thought you owed me.” And — zoom — a nasty argument.

Brainstorm before you barter

If bartering appeals to you, study methods to track activity, read sales tax and federal and state income tax laws.

Brainstorm the idea with your bookkeeper/accountant; only then agree to barter. If you insist, develop a written buddy system and invoice each activity.

There are legitimate bartering companies/associations committed to matching and formally tracking barters for goods and services between parties who never met. They make money charging a percentage on transactions.

Is it cheaper than credit card transaction fees and interest on lines of credit if your side is owing dollars and doesn’t have cash? And, yes, expect a 1099-B tax form with a box devoted to bartering.

Maybe the fee is worth it for diversity and to keep tax records your office might fail to keep.

But I’d rather not, thank you, and do not recommend it. Bartering adds complications to any office and might create a collections problem. Instead, on predetermined dates, such as quarterly, or predetermined dollar amounts, like $1,000 or $9,000, or your comfort zone, exchange checks. Clean, neat and normal.

Charlene Maurer Finerty owns Plans and Profits, a business plan writing service. She also gives workshops, teaches business plan writing and cleans up unorganized offices and backlogs. Go to plansandprofits.com, call 343-1515 or e-mail charlene@plansandprofits.com.

Many banks are failing, merging, or being taken over.

The Fed is cutting rates and bailing out some of the largest companies in America.

GM’s stock value has shrunk from 52 billion dollars in 2000 down to 3.8 billion in 2008.

Homes are foreclosing in record numbers throught the United States.

So, the question is…with so much volitility, where do you invest your money right now?

I’m no financial guru, but I can tell you from experience, that the best investment right now is investing in your own business.

With so much happening right now, if you own your business, or are in sales, NOW is the time to start prospecting smarter.

Here are a few tips to get you going:

1) Review your existing advertising budget. See what’s working and what’s not working. Stop the strategies or ads that are not working, and invest that amount in something else more targeted to your market.

2) Review your advertising message. Whether you advertise on radio, cable, tv, newspaper, direct mail, internet, or anywhere else — you must ensure that the message is targeted to your market. You must ensure that for every dollar you invest in advertising, you maximize it by finding the message that works best for you. If your advertising is not producing results, stop throwing your money away. By the same token, ensure that you increase your budget for ads or media which is currently giving you excellent returns.

3) Go back to basics. Review your marketing plan and do the things that always worked for you.

4) Think outside the box. If going back to basics does not work, start thinking outside the box. Think of ways to get the message about your products or services. Discuss ideas with other business owners, your staff, industry magazines, etc.

5) Attend networking events. The more visible you are within your target market, the more effective your marketing will be.

6) Continue your education. If your business is stagnant right now, and nothing seems to be working, seek professional help, or purchase books, courses, and any information that will help you promote your business.

One place to get free information on ways to attract more customers is at www.HowToAttractCustomers.com. You will be able to download two workbooks that will give you many strategies to attract customers.

If you’d like to purchase a great course on Marketing on the Internet and creating a strong business foundation for your business, you can visit www.InternetMarketingMasteryWeekend.com.