Doing Business in India? Why would I do that?

How about considering that India is the second-most populous country IN THE WORLD with about 1.18 billion people. Talk about 'market potential'. The other reason to consider this is that they speak English there! Finally - how would you like to learn about this market and how to do business there from the comfort and privacy of your own home?

If you have an Internet connection, and for a modest $35 registration fee, you can!

Details below;

This webinar will present the following topics:

• Due diligence when selecting a reseller or
• other business partner in India.
• Getting paid by an Indian customer
• Setting up an R&D operation in India:
• dos and don’ts of alternative approaches
• Setting up your own operation in India: legal and accounting issues, audits, tax breaks, and more.

Presented by Dr. Shan Nair, Co-founder, Nair & Co.


Date, Time & Location:
Webinar - April 28th, 2010 from 10:00 am to 11:30 am CST

Price & Registration: $35
Register online at www.texastrade.org

This opportunity is brought to you by the INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTER located at the University of Texas, San Antonio and part of the Southwest Texas Border Region SBDC Network.

Senator Snowe calls for funding for job-creating programs

Apr 23, 2010 (Congressional Documents and Publications/ContentWorks via COMTEX) --

Washington, D.C. -

At a Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship hearing yesterday afternoon regarding the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Fiscal Year 2011 budget, Ranking Member Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) expressed her concern that the SBA's core, job-creating programs are slated for flat-funding under President Obama's Fiscal Year 2011 budget. At the same time, Senator Snowe pledged to work with SBA Administrator Karen Mills to ensure that her agency has the tools necessary to help America's nearly 30 million small businesses, including passage of a broad small business jobs package.

"A strong and well-funded SBA represents a prudent investment in America's economic future," said Ranking Member Snowe. "I am very concerned that although the Administration's proposal would provide a 15 percent increase to the SBA's budget, none of the additional funds have been directed to the SBA's core, non-credit programs, including Women's Business Centers, Veterans Business Centers, Small Business Development Centers, SCORE, and the HUBZone program."

Senator Snowe continued, "At a time when small businesses are struggling to create jobs, it is more crucial than ever that the SBA invest any additional taxpayer dollars in the programs that have proven time and again to create jobs and help entrepreneurs succeed."

At the same hearing, Senator Snowe also reiterated her call for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to bring a small business jobs bill to the Senate Floor without delay, as he had promised prior to the Easter recess. She urged the Leader to include provisions from the Small Business Job Creation Act of 2010 (S. 3103), which Senator Snowe introduced on March 10, 2010, is based in large part on several bipartisan bills that have already been approved by the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Specifically, that legislation includes critical enhancements to the SBA's lending programs, such as an increase in the loan limits for the SBA's 7(a) and 504 loans from $2 million to $5 million and for the SBA's microloans from $35,000 to $50,000, as well as an expansion and enhancement of export financing and assistance for small businesses. The bill also contains a five-year extension of small business expensing; a complete exclusion on capital gains attributable to small business stock held for five years; a Job Impact Statement for every major piece of legislation; and critical funding for the Small Business Development Centers.

Start-Up Business Advice Provided for Entrepreneurs
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Thursday, April 22, 2010, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., ET

WASHINGTON – The SBA’s Web Chat will highlight assistance to entrepreneurs who want to start a business, and need to know the right strategies to have in place to achieve success. Participants can learn what it takes to start a business, where to go for information and assistance, why they need a business plan, how to get funding and the truth about the “free money” myth.

WHO: Barry McKinley, an experienced SCORE Counselor at Orange County California SCORE will host the April Web chat on “Small Business Start-Up -- Ask the Expert.” McKinley will answer questions about what first steps to take to start a business, and how and when to get a small business idea off the ground.
In addition, participants can learn about the resources available to help set up a business.

WHAT: SBA’s Web chat series, providing small business owners with an opportunity to discuss relevant business issues online with experts, industry leaders and successful entrepreneurs. Chat participants will have direct, real-time access to the Web chats via questions they submit online in advance and during the live session, with instant answers.

WHEN: April 22, 2010, 1 p.m. ET
McKinley will answer questions for one hour.

HOW: Participants can join the live Web chat by going online to www.sba.gov, and clicking “Online Business Chat.” Web chat participants may post questions before the April 22nd chat by visiting http://web.sba.gov/livemeeting/Apr10 and posting their questions online.

Contact: Cecelia Taylor (202)401-3059
SBA Advisory Number: MA10-05
# # #

SBA Offers Free Webinar Series to Help Small Business Owners Get Fiscally Fit
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Recognizes National Financial Literacy Month
April 2010

WHAT: The U.S. Small Business Administration will host a Webinar series in recognition of National Financial Literacy Month. Topics will highlight the importance of financial education and the opportunity to learn practical money skills and financial wellness. Participants will learn basic money management and financial skills for today's business world.


WHEN: April 7, 2010


WHO: Learn to build wealth and not debt from some of the industry leaders on financial education and entrepreneurship. Webinar presenters and topics include:


Topic: The Importance of Financial Education in the Workplace
Wednesday, April 7 at 11:00 a.m.

Becky MacDicken, Financial Education Specialist
Pennsylvania Office of Financial Education



Topic: Basic Banking/Financial Tips for Small Business
Wednesday, April 7 at 3:00 p.m.

Luke Reynolds, Chief of the Outreach & Program Development Section
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection Community Affairs
Branch, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)



HOW: For free visual and audio access to the Webinar go to

www.ReadyTalk.com
Click "join a meeting" and enter access code 3761101
Then dial 866-740-1260 and enter access code 3761101 (plus the #
key).

System Requirements:

Windows, Mac, Linux and Solaris operating systems
Internet Explorer, Safari and Firefox Web browsers
Separate telephone line needed for the audio portion

Veterans Business Outreach Center - Position Opportunity

The new Region III Veterans Business Outreach Center (administered by the Pennsylvania SBDC and serving Pennsylvania; Delaware; Washington, DC; Maryland; Virginia; and West Virginia) is seeking a seasoned business consultant for the Program Director's position. Application reviews will begin April 19. The Pennsylvania SBDC is asking for your assistance to fill this important position by publicizing it far and wide. Please click here for the position announcement.

The Veterans' Business Outreach Center, Region III, is located in the heart of Pittsburgh at Robert Morris University's downtown campus in the Adult and Continuing Education Building at 600 Fifth Avenue.

One of only five VBOCs in the nation, it offers one-to-one business counseling, mentoring, workshops, discussion groups, networking opportunities, and entrepreneurial courses to all veterans, current military personnel and spouses, and pre- and post-deployed members of the National Guard and Reserve Forces who are interested in entrepreneurship.

This program is funded in part by the Small Business Administration to serve as a clearinghouse of business and technical assistance for those interested in starting or growing a business. Utilizing Small Business Administration resource partners such as the Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), and others throughout the region, the VBOC is able to assist individuals through each phase of their business development.

All counseling is free.

Calling All Inventors!!

A Message from Deb Hess, Executive Director of the Minnesota Inventor's Congress;

Greetings from the Minnesota Inventors Congress. If you aren't ready to test market your idea this year, there are still many other great reasons to attend the expo:

• Inventing Success Workshops
• Custom Invention Plans
• networking
• 3M Visiting Wizards
• USPTO presentation
• the Minnesota Student Inventors Congress exhibit, and many, many more.

CLICK HERE for the Registration and information booklet, including schedule of events.

If you are unable to open the attachment please visit our website at:
www.minnesotainventorscongress.org
and click on the "Invention & Idea Show" banner that is front and center of our home page.

Please take a few minutes to enjoy a special segment created by Our Story Productions about the MIC: http://bit.ly/micourstory

We are excited to announce a new competition for inventor exhibitors this year. Along with our traditional judging we will also be offering, to the first 75 exhibitors who are registered by May 14, 2010, the opportunity to participate in the MIC Jump$tart Competition.

• 1st Stage - you will have the opportunity to pitch your product, first in a written format.
• 2nd Stage - the top 25 will be selected to present a live pitch on stage, Saturday, June 12th at the expo, to a panel of 3 judges.
• 3rd Stage - the top 5 will compete in the final round.

The first place winner will receive $1,000.00 in services that will advance your invention through the product development process. The second place winner will receive $500.00 in services that will advance your invention through the product development process.

Complete details will be provided to each of the qualified inventor exhibitors.
Sponsored by: Malco Design and Deliver Group. Website: www.malcod2group.com Additional sponsorship packages are available for this event. Call or email Deb Hess for details.

Here's to Inventing Success - The most important investment an inventor can make is to learn how successful inventors develop marketable products!
Best regards,
Deb Hess
Executive Director
deb@minnesotainventorscongress.org
www.minnesotainventorscongress.org
Minnesota Inventors Congress
235 S Mill Street, P O Box 71
Redwood Falls MN 56283
507.627.2344 Office * 800.468.3681 Toll Free * 507.637.4082 Fax

Health Care Reform Web Chat

The Web Chat occurred on Wed. March 31st at 7pm, and some MnSBDC clients have asked if there is a taped copy they can review since they couldn't make the event work with their schedule.

The event is currently (as of April 2, 2010) archived on the Health, Human Services website at this location;

www.hhs.gov/live

By clicking on the above link, it should take you directly to the taped copy of the Web Chat.

SBA 2010 SOPs

The SBA has a rolling list of SOPs they issue for their programs. Check it out to stay up-to-date with all the SBA program changes.

Click Here to go to the SBA 2010 SOP webpage.

Here's a shortened URL address to take you there;

http://bit.ly/SBA_2010_SOPs