Go to BusinessPlanMaster.com

Did a friend forward this newsletter to you?
Get your own subscription HERE.

Cast Your Opinion Here

Painting Contractor -- Your Business Plan

A painting contracting business hasn't always been glamorous, but in today's market, it is bound to be profitable. People will be fixing up, not buying; remodeling, not getting new stuff.

So this is a timely addition to our business plan library.

It includes nice sections on competition and background of the business, and even has limited projections.

It is from Cal State University, the Sid Craig School of Business

Read full article here.

Greensborough - Winston Salem Angel Investor Conference in March

A lot of people with investment money burning holes in their pockets will visit a region long thirsty for startup capital in March, as Wake Forest University and the Piedmont Angel Network host the area's first major angel investor conference.

About two dozen angel funds based from Charlottesville, Va., to Miami are expected to attend the Angel Capital Association Southeast conference March 27 and 28 at Wake Forest's Graylyn Conference Center.

Ex-Googlers use their fortunes to hunt for the next Google

Chris Sacca, the former WiFi guru at Google, made a fortune as the company's stock soared. Now he is using his money to hunt for the next Google.

Sacca, 32, left the Internet search company this month for a new career as a venture capitalist. He joins a growing number of Google millionaires hoping to parlay their newfound wealth into even greater riches by bankrolling technology start-ups.

Get more info here

Angel investors see opportunity in credit crunch

“It’s a fine time to look for angel funding,” says Jeffrey Sohl, director of the University of New Hampshire’s Centre for Venture Research, which is tracking increased angel interest in recession-proof industries like software, healthcare services, medical technology, online social networks and alternative energy. “What you need to do is get investor-ready. Know what the angels look for.”

Read full article here

Too Good to Miss

As any journalism student will tell you, if you want to learn how to write, read the Wall Street Journal. It is written by the most outstanding writers in the country.

The online version is free. And news coverage is pretty good.

Even better, the Small Business Journal constantly carries several dozen great sections and articles -- everything from tipping to financing.

Click here for more information

VC's New Math:
Does Less = More?

Mr. Thiel, the former CEO of online-payment company PayPal, is making waves in Silicon Valley with an investment strategy that differs significantly from the traditional approach. His company invests only modest amounts of money, sometimes just a few hundred thousand dollars, and focuses on entrepreneurs Mr. Thiel and his partners often know personally. He also takes an uncharacteristically hands-off approach to company management.

Read the story here

Women are Outraged by SBA Action

Frustration with the Small Business Administration has turned to outrage among backers of a long-delayed program that would funnel more federal contracts to small companies owned by women.

Seven years ago, Congress ordered the SBA to draft guidelines so federal agencies could meet the goal of awarding 5% of federal small-business contracts to female owners -- a goal set by law in 1994. Last week, the SBA proposed a rule to implement the program and was criticized by those who said the guideline would be too restrictive.

Read full article here

CIT Group is Top Lender for Women and Minorities

CIT Group Inc. a leading global commercial finance company, today announced that CIT Small Business Lending Corporation was ranked the number one Small Business Administration (SBA) 7(a) volume lender for the fifth consecutive year to women, veteran and minority-owned businesses.

Read full article here

"My favorite thing is to go where I've never been."
Diane Arbus, Photographer