NEO Biz Blog

Nominations Open For The 2012 Small Business Book Awards

2012-01-16T21:59:56-05:00

Business books are among the most-read non-fiction books around, and the major publishing houses continue to pump out great business books written by great authors.

Avid readers of business books now have an opportunity to nominate, show their support for, and vote on their favorite business books.

The Best Small Business Book Awards initiative is produced by Small Business Trends, a Cleveland area online publication, which along with its sister sites, serves over 4,000,000 small business owners, stakeholders and entrepreneurs annually. The site was founded by Anita Campbell, widely regarded as an authority on small business issues, in 2003.

Last year, nearly 200 books were nominated, and over 41,000 votes were cast by the small business community.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Go to the Small Business Book Awards website, see what's been nominated so far, and add a book or two of your own that you really liked about business.

Ohio Author Snags an Amazing Business Book Review

2011-12-24T16:07:29-05:00

Cleveland, Ohio franchise expert Joel Libava just released a new book targeting anyone thinking of starting a business in 2012.

It's titled, "Become a Franchise Owner! The Start-Up Guide to Lowering Risk, Making Money, and Owning What You Do"

And, it's starting to garner some amazing reviews from some of the top authorities in business.

From Small Business Trends;

"I’ve read books about franchising before, and one thing I’ve noticed is that they tend to support one line of thinking – their line. Become a Franchise Owner doesn’t do this. Libava tells it like it is even if it includes opinions that differ from his."

Ivana continues;

"Take this example of going to “Discovery Days.” He says 'I don’t recommend traveling to the franchise company’s headquarters unless you’re at a point in the process in which you feel that you have a good handle on the franchise concept and that you’re convinced that it’s the right fit for you and you for it.' But then he goes on to point out how some members of his industry disagree. 'They feel that if you’re invited to a Discovery Day, you should just go.'

Read the rest of this small business book review.

New Business Book Released By Cleveland Author

2011-12-05T22:03:45-05:00

Just in time for the New Year, a new business book just released by a Cleveland author, promises to help those that feel that they are in serious, "Career Pain."

_____________________________________________________

With more and more professionals looking for alternatives to traditional corporate employment, Joel Libava, "The Franchise King®” and the author of Become a Franchise Owner!: The Start-Up Guide to Lowering Risk, Making Money, and Owning What you Do (Wiley; Hardcover and e-book; December 2011; $21.95; 978-1-1180-9402-0) explains the joys and perils of the franchise model.

Libava, a Clevelander, offers straightforward, step-by-step tips and advice on how to properly (and carefully) research and select a franchise business. Through real-world examples, Libava also details what not to do when buying a franchise—errors that could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars if someone is finally forced to walk away from a failed business.

Libava and Become a Franchise Owner! offer the information and tools needed to take advantage of the franchise model, such as:

• Take a self-evaluation quiz in order to determine if you're franchise material

• Learn to assess your skill set and match your interests and aptitudes with an appropriate franchise

• Get tips on how to locate information about current industry trends, interview franchisors/franchisees, and how to discover hot franchise opportunities

• Learn the forty crucial questions to ask before buying a franchise

•Learn how to deal with lousy advice from “well-meaning” friends, relatives, and MBA’s

Go to the Become a Franchise Owner! book website for more information, and to see where you can buy it...

Why is the Cuyahoga County Library Allowing This?

2011-10-09T13:06:03-04:00

I ran across something really scary the other day. As I was scanning The Cleveland Plain Dealer, I noticed that the Mayfield Regional Library was holding some type of "Franchise Fest."

Since I'm in the franchise industry, and I live in Cleveland, I was curious as to who was putting this "Fest" on.

The Franchise Fest is being led by a ghost.

Boo!

There is no mention of the entity that's holding this "event."

It gets better; if you're interested in attending this Cleveland franchise event, you have to fill out a Cuyahoga County Libray form.

Then, when you hit submit-nothing. You get no name. You get no franchise company contact person. Nothing.

So, who's putting this event on?

More importantly, why would the Cuyahoga County Library allow someone to use County Facilities to host a business program and remain completely anonymous?

In this age of transparency, it's unacceptable.

I would never allow it.

I wonder if I could approach someone in the County Library system and ask them to host a "Meet the Author" event for my upcoming franchise book, and keep my name a secret....

But, why would I want to do that?

Cleveland Area Investor Seminar Being Held for Prospective Franchise Owners

2011-09-21T08:53:51-04:00

A Sport Clips Salon

(This is a sponsored post.)

Northeast Ohio residents interested in being their own bosses are going to have an opportunity presented to them on September 27th. This opportunity should fit in quite well with our sports-minded town....

Did you know that Sport Clips is the fastest-growing concept in the $60 billion hair care industry; they’ve doubled in size in just 4 years and currently have over 807 stores nationwide. They plan on opening more than 120 new stores across the US next year and have 1,000 open by 2013, if not by 2012.

Sport Clips is consistently ranked in Entrepreneur's 100 Top Franchises, as well as in their Top 50 Fastest Growing franchises. Wall Street Journal Start Ups ranked Sport Clips in their Top 25 Performers. We are on the Small Business Administration (SBA) top 25 franchisor list for loan payment performance.

They're hoping to expand their presence in Northeast Ohio, and that's the reason their holding a franchise information seminar here.

One reason for their growth is the fact that Sport Clips franchises look like no other hair care franchise, “sporting” large screen TVs tuned to sports channels in the lobby and at each cutting station. CEO Gordon Logan says that, “Clients get a unique, ‘just for guys’ haircutting experience in a fun, sports-themed environment.”

The meeting being held on Sept. 27th will provide information on Sport Clips’ plans for development in the Cleveland area. The seminar leader, Dick Mueller, Area Director of Ohio, will discuss Sport Clips as a franchise investment strategy and reasons why Sport Clips is growing in a down economy. The event is open to the members of the public interested in seeking exit strategies from the corporate world and in diversifying their financial portfolio.

If you’re seeking financial independence without corporate hassles, come to this seminar to learn a proven model for becoming your own boss; how to evaluate Sport Clips as a franchise investment; about the success of “semi-absentee ownership;” and how to finance a new business.

Date:

Tuesday, Sept. 27th Time: 7pm – 9pm

Location:

Courtyard By Marriott 5051 West Creek Road Independence, OH 44131

Since seating is limited, it is important to register for this no-cost event by calling 1-800-872-4247, ext. 240 or register online at:

http://www.ownasportclips.com/seminar

American Red Cross of Greater Cleveland Chooses BlueBridge Networks

2010-09-24T20:16:02-04:00

BlueBridge Networks LLC, a leading provider of business continuity services, announced today that the American Red Cross of Greater Cleveland has chosen BlueBridge Networks as one of their 45 Center's of Expertise (COE). Using BlueBridge Networks, the American Red Cross will have access to a robust portfolio that will allow them to continue business without interruptions to mission-critical data and processes. BlueBridge Networks has successfully architected, built, maintained, hosted and managed American Red Cross' disaster recovery and business continuity plans.

Headquartered in Cleveland, BlueBridge Networks, a leading provider of custom business continuity services, utilizes their premiere data centers collocation solutions and managed services.

http://www.bluebridgenetworks.com/