Collecting Money in a Bad Economy

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July 16, 2008
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NEWS  THIS WEEK'S TOP STORY Collecting Money in a Bad Economy Yes, it's harder now, particularly for small companies with limited resources. We offer a practical guide to collections

Inside: This Week in SmallBiz How do you get customers to pay on time? What do you do if they don't? And how do you determine if you'll spend more time and money tracking down a debtor than the payment is actually worth? With the help of industry veterans, we review tried-and-true practices and take a look at newer services, to offer a practical guide to collections. We also offer advice on marketing in tough times. Then we take a look at the shifts in the venture-backed IPO market. Finally, we continue our call for nominations for our Best Entrepreneurs 25 and Under roundup. --Nick Leiber SEND FEEDBACK  |  E-MAIL A FRIEND  |  GET RSS  |  NEWSLETTERS

MORE SMALLBIZ NEWS SALES & MARKETING Five Don'ts for Marketing in Tough Times As counterintuitive as it might sound, avoid discounting. Our columnist offers advice on positioning your company to survive and thrive SALES & MARKETING Convincing Consumers Your Food is Safe Blue Horizon Organic Seafood is working to stand out in a product category that has a bad rap. It expects sales to triple this year EXECUTIVE'S JOURNAL Lessons from Virgin's U.S. Brand Builder For Frances Farrow, the central trick is to see the business from the customer's perspective and respond to the customer's needs SMALL BUSINESS FINANCING IPOs: Are They DOA? Venture-backed initial public offerings have been declining, and as VCs make more demands, entrepreneurs have been looking at alternatives SMART ANSWERS Nurturing a Healthy Investment Community It'll be hard to replicate Silicon Valley, but there are ways to encourage VCs and angel investors to invest more in the businesses in your area GROWTH STRATEGIES For Growth, What Matters Most? Part II In the second of a three-part series, columnist Christine Comaford offers her advice on managing the money part of the successful business equation   SMALLBIZ SLIDE SHOWS SMALL BIZ Richard Branson's U.S. Brands Since starting his first business at age 16—a magazine called Student—Sir Richard Branson has gone on to create the $23 billion Virgin Group of 200 companies SMALL BIZ Slide Show: Fresh Entrepreneurs Welcome to our ongoing series profiling startups from across the country. We'll be asking for your suggestions and adding profiles on a regular basis   SMALLBIZ PODCASTS Green Business Ideas Biologist Glenn Croston talks about the green business ideas he came up with while researching his new book, "75 Green Businesses You Can Start to Make Money and Make a Difference"   SMALLBIZ SPECIAL REPORTS Branding Franchising Raising Capital The ABCs of Business Plans Best U.S. Entrepreneurs 25 and Under   SMALL BUSINESS INFORMATION CENTER Getting Started Business Plans Buying/Selling a Business Researching Your Target Market Incorporate a Business -- In 10 Minutes Franchising Request Franchise Information Find Franchises for Sale by Industry Directory of Franchises Franchises That Let You Work at Home Raising Capital Finance & Accounting How to Raise Money for Your Business Loans Funding Your Startup with Credit Cards Legal Legal Advice Choosing a Business Structure Protecting Your Intellectual Property Contracts Operations Build a Better Company -- In One Month How to Buy Smart for Your Business Consulting Keep Your Books in Order Management & HR Hiring Advice A Guide to 401(k) Plans Employment Guide Consulting Sales, Marketing, & Customer Service How to Jump-Start Your Sales Sales & Marketing 101 Research Crafting an Effective Marketing Plan Doing Business Online How to Start an Online Business 21 Ways to Boost Your Online Presence Internet & E-Commerce Technology Home-Based Businesses Legally Establishing a Home-Based Business Financing Tips 10 Ways to Grow Home-Based Business Basics Technology Internet & E-Commerce Research Sales & Marketing Hardware, Software & More Material provided by: AllBusiness.com | Buyer Zone | Entrepreneur.com | Franchise Solutions | Salary.com | Smart Online SMALLBIZ  BUSINESS DIRECTORY Need Help? Find experts in your area in: Accounting Advertising and Marketing E-Mail Marketing Legal Services Public Relations Search Engine Marketing Web Design Web Marketing Web Hosting  BW MALL   SPONSORED LINKS Unlock Your Employees' Performance Potential  Discover 4 proven ways to tap into and manage the full potential of every employee. FREE eGuide. Financial Management Resource Center  Register For SAP’s FM Resource Center. Optimize Working Capital Accelerate Cash Flow Improve Returns. Helping Others Excel–Become a High Impact Coach  Executive and organizational coaches help others reach new heights–Contact Columbia University Today Buy a link now! This newsletter is a FREE service provided by BusinessWeek.com. To sign up for other newsletters, cancel delivery, change delivery options or change your e-mail address, please go to our Newsletter Preferences page. If you need other assistance, please contact Customer Service or contact: Wanda Cooper BusinessWeek Customer Rights Communications Data Services 1995 G Avenue Red Oak, IA 51566 Phone: 1-800-635-1200 View our corporate privacy policy here. To learn more about how BusinessWeek.com applies this policy, you can contact our Marketing Department. Copyright 2008, by The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved. Terms of Use | Privacy Notice

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