New York SBDC Research Network

Building good financial credit is important. It can affect your ability to make large purchases and qualify for a loan or mortgage. Learn more about credit: How Credit Works Why Credit Scores Matter Build a Better Credit Report General Credit Tips

The U. S. bankruptcy system is designed to recover funds for creditors while giving bankrupt small businesses an opportunity for a “fresh start.” While a fresh start is a goal of the system, little analysis has been done to evaluate the ability of small firms to reset and thrive after bankruptcy. This paper attempts to fill that gap. The research finds that 2.6 percent of firms filed for bankruptcy within the previous seven years, that they are comparable to other firms in terms of cash flow and firm size, and that they have a 24 percent higher likelihood of being denied a loan and are charged interest rates that are 1 percent higher than those charged other firms. The research summary can be found HERE . Should you need further information, please feel free to contact Brian Headd at (202) 205-6533 or advocacy@sba.gov.

The press release read: "Through a partnership among GSA, the U.S. Government Printing Office, and Google, 100 of the most popular government publications are now available to download for free online. This partnership will allow for greater access to these documents and contribute to an open and transparent government. As more documents become available online, it will eventually reduce the number of documents that GSA’s Federal Citizen Information Center prints while reducing costs and the environmental impact." Sounds great! So I decided to check it out at pueblo.gpo.gov/FreePubs.php . I should note that one can order almost any of the physical items and receive them in one to three weeks, rather than writing to Pueblo, Colorado, like I used to. First couple categories, Cars and Consumer Action Handbook, each had only one item, but one could click on the link and make a PDF. But several areas had no such link. Under Small Business was Diversifying Your Workforce, with no

WASHINGTON – In the chaos following a disaster, impaired judgment can lead to poor decisions. Those lapses of confidence can impact the ability of business owners to successfully manage the recovery process. How does a business owner take positive steps ensure that his or her business remains resilient through a disaster situation that could destroy the company? Join Agility Recovery Solutions and the U.S. Small Business Administration on Tuesday, April 19, for a discussion on developing the capacity to become a more resilient leader during a free, online webinar led by former FEMA Administrator David Paulison. During the hour-long webinar, Paulison – a nationally recognized leader in emergency and disaster preparedness, response and recovery, will talk about obstacles to clear-headed leadership, and will share tips based on his own experience on avoiding errors that lead to failure in the midst of trying to rebuild after a disaster. SBA has partnered with Agility Recovery Solutions

Several of President Obama’s open government initiative data websites are scheduled to go dark in May due to lack of funding. Funding will run out on April 20 for IT Dashboard; Data.gov , which provides enhanced access to publicly available federal datasets; and Paymentaccuracy.gov , which tracks improper payments from government programs. Other open government public data sites scheduled to go dark after July 30 are USASpending.gov , which provides detailed information on federal contracts, and Apps.gov , a site that tracks how federal agencies use free web applications. More information about the proposed cuts is available here.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Small businesses seeking to grow their businesses and create jobs through exporting can turn to new, free educational videos created through a partnership between the U.S. Small Business Administration, Inc. Magazine and AT&T. Through the public-private partnership, a series of video modules has been developed to inspire and encourage American small businesses to actively pursue exporting and to educate them on how to do so. “Winning the future means supporting small businesses that want to grow and create jobs through exporting,” said SBA Administrator Karen Mills. “SBA is very pleased to have partnered with Inc. Magazine and AT&T in the production and distribution of this video series, which will help small firms that are new to exporting or looking for new markets to sell their goods and services.” The video series, Take Your Business Global, features five main topics that guide small businesses through the process of exporting: Getting Started in Exporti

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has a number of podcasts available to assist small and medium sized companies. While their topics range from marketing and sales, human resources, and the technology that you employ to keep your business functioning smoothly; they also have a number of podcasts to assist you in exporting: Intellectual Property Rights: Protecting and Enforcing Your IPR in Foreign Markets Where Will Your Next Customer Come From? Look Around the World Competing in the Global Market: SBA’s International Trade Programs Exporting to Russia Exporting to Uganda Exporting to Bahrain Exporting to Cameroon