If you’ve been following our blog over the past year, you may have noticed a few changes lately, mainly we’ve had fewer updates. Well if you didn’t know already, this is due to the launch of Grasshopper Group.

Over the past seven years we’ve gone from GotVMail to Grasshopper, launched Chargify and are releasing our newest product, Spreadable in the next few months. There’s been a lot going on and basically we needed to create a better structure. That’s where Grasshopper Group comes in.

Grasshopper Group is the parent company of Grasshopper, Chargify, Spreadable and any other products we develop in the future. Grasshopper Group will be where we focus our entrepreneurial efforts, allowing our products to improve, evolve and be the best in their respective industries.

What does the mean for Grasshopper?

The only difference is we will have more time to focus on making sure our virtual phone system has everything that you need to make your small business successful.

What does the mean for the Grasslands blog?

Grasslands will still be providing you with great information on using the Grasshopper virtual phone system and running a small business. We will however be focusing less on the general entrepreneurship content that we have been providing as this will be moving over the Grasshopper Group, so be sure to check it out.

We are very excited about all of the great things happening around here and hope you are too! We really do appreciate all of the great feedback and kind words we’ve received from our customers, fans and friends.

So what’s the point? The point is that Word of Mouth will be crucial to the success of your start up (And remember it’s FREE marketing). As you may know, Grasshopper Group’s mission is to create products and services that are necessary to your success as entrepreneurs. This is exactly why we have done two things to help you become a WOM rock star

Read the entire post over at Grasshopper Group

In today’s economy, it’s important to make your business seem like number one. That means as a small 1-5 person business, you need to look and sound as professional as the big guys. An 800 number can not only help you sound bigger but can also make life easier for everyone. Here are seven reasons your small business should have an 800 number:

1. An 800 number centralizes your business. Even if your employees are located in five different states, you still only need one number.

2. It’s easier for customers to remember your number, especially when you use vanity numbers (think 1-800-Flowers).

3. Customers are more likely to call an 800 number simply because it’s free!

4. You own your 800 number. Change businesses, locations, etc…the number is still yours.

5. They are easily transferable. Your business has grown tenfold and you need a bigger phone system but you don’t want to have to change your number. Good news, you don’t have to! Take it with you.

6. Every number comes with a flexible plan based on your need for minutes and features. Just want to reserve a number? For $9.95 a month you can get the number you want and hold onto it.

7. 800 numbers provide you with a variety of helpful features like call forwarding, voicemail, and unlimited extensions. As your business grows, so does your phone system.

An 800 number is a valuable asset and can give your small business the professional look and feel it needs. Have more questions? Check out our FAQ or call customer support 24/7at 1-800-820-8210.

Scott Miller of The Bee, guest posts over on Grasshopper Group. He provides some great advice on starting a business using the lessons he has learned over the years. Here’s an excerpt:

It’s Easy to Quit

In the early stages of a new venture, it seems that more things go wrong than go right. Its easy to get discouraged with lack of progress, software bugs, and slow customer adoption. Its even easier to quit and give up. However, its been my experience, that when things look the worst, there usually is some encouraging sign. Whether its a new customer, a new product release, or a successful marketing campaign, these wins need to be celebrated to keep morale up.

Read the entire post over at Grasshopper Group.

Enter the B corporation (or “Benefit Corporation.”) It’s a new legal structure that designates a business as “socially responsible.” Unlike a standard S or C corporation, B corporations exist to codify explicit commitments to societal stakeholders.

Origins

The B corporation is a relatively new development. Created in 2006, the entity was first conceptualized by Pennsylvania firm B Lab. Essentially, the B corporation was envisioned as a way for any company to codify and advertise its commitment to “socially responsible” business practices. Becoming a B corporation occurs only after a lengthy certification process during which companies are evaluated on social and environmental matters.

As B Lab’s “sneak peek” indicates, large companies are made to fill out a 26 page assessment containing questions pertinent to corporate governance, employee compensation, energy usage, manufacturing practices, charitable giving and more.

The assessment includes multiple choice questions and also some open-ended questions calling for 2-3 sentence responses. A company’s mission statement, for instance, is evaluated for social commitments and promises. Whether a company has been fined in the last three years, whether employees receive a “living wage” and whether its products “promote the arts, sciences or the advancement of knowledge” are other items weighted by the B corporation assessment criteria.

Not every business needs to fill out the entire assessment, however. As B Lab explains, “a manufacturing company answers more questions on their environmental footprint than a service company” and the assessment changes based on company size. In any case, the purpose of the assessment is to “distinguish good companies from good marketing.” Companies qualify for B corporation status if a minimum score of 80 (out of 200) is achieved. Re-certification occurs every two years thereafter.

Differences Between S & C Corporations

As noted, the other long-standing corporate entities differ mainly in terms of taxation and corporate formalities. While S corporations feature flow-through taxation, C corporations involve a corporate income tax in addition to the personal income taxes of the owners. S corporations are also limited in how many foreign shareholders they can have. C corporations have no such limits. Accountants and tax attorneys frequently advise prospective business owners on which entity is best suited to their unique corporate needs.

As of yet, B corporations lack an official tax status distinguishing them from S or C corporations. In fact, B corporations are not yet a full replacement of those long-time entities. Reportedly, however, efforts are underway to change that. The Christian-Science Monitor reported that B Lab founders proposed taxing B corporations at lower rates to Obama administration officials in 2009 to encourage more widespread adoption.

Life as a B corporation also involves obligations to stakeholders outside the company, including community and environmental organizations. Each state and corporate entity has its own unique legal framework that must be agreed to before a company is B corporation certified. At minimum, every B corporation must amend its governing documents to “redefine the best interests of the corporation to include the consideration of employees, consumers, the community and the environment.” Additionally, businesses wishing to remain B corporations are required to pay yearly licensing fees to B Lab. Finally, the amended documents must be officially recognized and filed with your Secretary of State.

Popularity

Despite the unproven and still-evolving nature of the B corporation, the concept is rapidly catching on. According to B Lab, there are currently over 300 B corporations which earn more than $1.1 billion in annual revenue across 54 different industries. B Lab maintains a frequently updated list of every company currently certified as a B corporation. The cause won a major victory in April 2010, when Maryland became the first state to formally recognize B corporations as official entities. Vermont followed suit in June, becoming the second.

In an OutdoorNews.com press release, it was clarified that “qualified shareholders can sue a for-benefit corporation for failing to produce” the various social benefits provided for in the charter. Nor do Maryland and Vermont figure to be standing alone for very long, as it appears lawmakers in New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Colorado, Washington and Oregon have “significant interest” in passing B corp legislation. Meanwhile, Philadelphia has taken the lead by becoming the first city to offer tax incentives to B corporations and already houses 41 of them, according to SustainGenuity.

The Future

It remains to be seen whether the B corporation has staying power or becomes a passing fad. Early adoption is impressive for an entity that is barely four years old. In all likelihood, the future of the B corporation will depend on how well it withstand legal scrutiny. Some experts have pointed out that it could be difficult to uphold a B corporation’s ambitious and far-reaching charter in court. Assuming such fears fail to materialize, the B corp could be here to stay.

In today’s society, people are working less in the office and therefore the need for a virtual phone system is growing. One industry where this is especially true is Real Estate. Based on feedback from customers in the real estate business, here are a few ways Grasshopper can help:

1) Informational Extensions

You can give your clients information they need without even talking to them! When a client calls an 800 number listed outside a property they’re interested in, they can hear specific information about the property, including housing details, address, and contact information.

2) Call Routing Extensions

In any industry involving sales, it’s important that customers never hear a busy signal or wait on hold too long. It’s also important in Real Estate that your employees get an equal number of incoming sales calls. Call Routing Extensions make this happen. Call routing extensions can help ensure that all of the agents in the office get an equal number of calls and your customers don’t become frustrated by your phone service.

3) Voice mail Features

Being out of the office a lot it’s important you don’t miss an important message. The great thing about using Grasshopper is that you can have your messages delivered to you no matter where you are. Your voice mails will be emailed to you (along with an MP3) and with the new read your voice mail feature, you can read your message without every having to listen to it. With Grasshopper, you can always check your voice mail when you need it.

Get more information on how Grasshopper can help with your real estate company or check out our full list of features.

Starting a new business can be a turbulent undertaking. For one thing, there are no guarantees of success. Businesses fail every single day, and plenty of entrepreneurs come away with nothing to show for months or years of hard-fought effort. The idea of sacrificing a steady salary for an uncertain, hoped-for payday also tends to provoke anxiety.

While some are undeterred by these obstacles, others opt to play it safe and scrap their business plans altogether. Below are six of the most prevailing reasons why people are afraid to start businesses (and whether they make sense.)

1. The Economy

Some of the most common fears about starting businesses relate to how “the economy” is doing. If the economy is in a lull, many would be entrepreneurs assume that now must necessarily be the wrong time to get started. This belief is reinforced by nay-saying politicians and journalists who exaggerate even the very worst economic news.

Remember, though, that there is no single entity called “the economy.” What is loosely referred to as the economy is really just the vast, interconnected web of buyers and sellers accommodating each other through the market and price system. Moreover, there are two sides to every transaction. While some sectors of the economy may be hurting (such as finance and housing today), those on the other side of the affected transaction (like foreclosure specialists and storage facilities) could be thriving.

2. Uncertainty

Another fear that stops entrepreneurs from getting started is the uncertainty inherent in owning a business. Unlike a salaried job, business ownership provides no immediate or guaranteed pay. Income, if any, is commensurate with the company’s sales or profits. If you have grown accustomed to being paid on a regular schedule regardless of outcome, trading that in for the uncertainty of business ownership can feel like a leap of faith. It is entirely legitimate to wonder if your business will be capable of providing for you or your family.

That said, there is a flip side to the uncertainty. If and when your business does produce an income, no boss or employer can take it away. Never again will you have to plead for a raise or demonstrate why you “deserve” more. In business, your income is entirely determined by what you produce and/or sell.

3. Indecision

Others have reservations because they are undecided about what type of business to start. More often than not, these are people who know they want to be self-employed, but not in what capacity. This, too, can be a legitimate fear to have. If you currently work in a steady career, it is not enough to simply “go into business.” In order to credibly go off on your own, you must be confident about what kind of business you will open. You must also have the skills and expertise to succeed in that business.

Current or previous jobs are a good reference point. If you currently work for an accounting firm, starting your own is perfectly reasonable. Deciding to abruptly change course and buy an Alaskan crab fishing boat might warrant more scrutiny.

4. Debt

Debt can constitute a serious obstacle to entrepreneurship. If you are saddled with student loans or credit card bills, it will be difficult to obtain any start-up financing you might need. In severe instances (such as if your wages are being garnished), any income your business produces will go directly to your creditors anyway.

Needless to say, concern about your pre-existing debt is a completely defensible reason to fear starting a business. Rather than trying to juggle both at once, focus squarely on repaying all of your debts first. Once your financial slate is wiped clean, you can move on to business ownership with a clear mind.

5. Family Obligations

Financial concerns are not the only reason people fear starting businesses. The early years of a new company can be incredibly taxing, and some fear having little time to spend with their families. After all, everyone gets the same 24 hours in a day. There is only so much of yourself to go around, and if you’re putting in ten or twelve hour days at work, there is no way to also spend that time at home. (Unless you have a home office, that is.)

It may truthfully be that family time is a deal-breaker for you. On the other hand, don’t be too quick to relinquish your ambitions. Discuss with your spouse whether arrangements or sacrifices can be made for the early days of your company.

6. No Benefits

Finally, other would-be entrepreneurs worry about what losing benefits, such as employer-provided health insurance or 401(k) contributions, will do to their overall finances. This, too, is a serious concern worth addressing. Perhaps you or a family member has a long-standing health condition. In such a scenario, a sudden lack of coverage could prove devastating.

Not every situation is so dire, however. Retirement accounts (including IRAs, Solo 401(k)s and self-employed pensions) can be opened and funded on your own without the help of any employer. It may also be possible to form a pool with other entrepreneurs and buy health insurance at lower group rates, which is essentially how large employers buy it.

Here at Grasshopper, we are all about trying to find new ways to help entrepreneurs succeed. However, one thing we’ve always believed in since day one is that creating buzz and WOM traffic for your brand is essential. It was crucial in getting Grasshopper off the ground and 7 years later is still a key to our success. In fact it’s so damn important to us that we have gone as far as to create a program to help you, our customers gain press!

To help share some wisdom about creating buzz we decided to partner with MassChallenge, another organization 100% devoted to supporting small business. MassChallenge and our Buzz Team have rallied some local experts together and are putting on a really interactive (and FREE) event for you guys next week.

The event will be MC’ed by our very own Ambassador of Buzz, Jonathan Kay and will include 4 short (10 minute) presentations followed by a Q & A with Jonathan. There will be tons of time to network and the event will be capped off by bringing all of the speakers on the stage for a panel. At this point all questions will come from the audience so really start to think about what information you want to learn from our “experts”! See below for topics, event details, and a link to register:

• Location: Microsoft NERD Center: One Memorial Drive Cambridge, MA

• Date: Wednesday, June 23rd

• Time: 6-9pm

• Speakers & Topics:

  - Jay Wilder – “How to Clone Yourself”

  - Michael Trojano – “How to Take your Brand from Interesting to Imperative”

  - David Hauser: “PR is Dead. Why Sales and Social Networking is Killing Traditional PR”

  - Kip Bodnar: “How to Use Creative Content to Jumpstart Your Business”

• Registration: http://buildbuzz.eventbrite.com/

Hope to see you there!

With National Entrepreneurs’ Day gaining momentum, David speaking at Big Omaha and few guest posts by Jonathan Kay, Grasshopper was all over the internet this past month, including an article in the Boston Globe. Check it out!

• Beyond the Pedway Interviews Grasshopper

  Tim Jahn interviews Grasshopper co-founder David Hauser and discusses Grasshopper, entrepreneurship and David got started. Watch the video or read the script at Beyond the Pedway.

• Big Omaha: Two minutes with David Hauser of Grasshopper

  Geoff Wood of Silicon Prairie talks about David Hauser recent presentation at Big Omaha 2010. Read his overview and watch the video of David’s presentation.

• Entrepreneurs: Can they bring prosperity?

  Boston.com talks with Grasshopper CEO and co-founder Siamak Taghaddos about Grasshopper, entrepreneurship and the National Entrepreneurs Day initiative. The article also offers some great statistics on entrepreneurship in the United States.

• A Day to Recognize Entrepreneurs: National Entrepreneurs Day!

  Jonathan Kay of Grasshopper talks about the importance of entrepreneurs and why we should have a holiday to celebrate them.  The company’s petition to have a National Entrepreneurs Day and how to get involved is talked about.


 

• 57 Ways to Market your Video

  The Entreprenette Gazette collects ideas from all different kinds of entrepreneurs on how to successfully market their company via video. The ideas range from what kind of content to include to what kind of design will target people.

• Word of Mouth – Old or New?

  Buzz Ambassador Jonathan Kay talks with The Mass Challenge about the importance of word-of-mouth marketing and how to go about it. He shares some of his personal stories about the non-traditional marketing idea and why it’s so successful.

• National Entrepreneurs’ Day – How did You Celebrate This Year?

  Adam talks about Grasshopper’s petition for a National Entrepreneurs Day and how to get involved. The most entrepreneurial country in the world definitely needs a holiday to celebrate these great people!