August 2014
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 IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT 
The Edge Connection's phone numbers have changed
Our new number is: 470-578-3228
We're pleased to announce that, courtesy of Kennesaw State University, The Edge Connection's phone system has been upgraded. As a result, phone numbers have changed slightly. The last four digits of our phone numbers remain the same, but the first six digits of all of our numbers is now 470-578-xxxx. We appreciate your patience as we transition through the upgrade.

The Patty Wagon is a full service mobile kitchen that is able to handle any event, at any venue, especially those that lack kitchen facilities. Owner Dan Silverio states "Having a mobile kitchen allows us to take our product to the crowds." Items on The Patty Wagons menu include a variety of burgers, baked beans, cole slaw, potato salad and several other delicious treats. The Patty Wagon will be scheduled several days a week around the Atlanta area for lunch and dinner service as well as attending fairs and festivals throughout the state of Georgia.  In addition, they offer catering for special events such as reunions, weddings, corporate picnics, or any other special event you can think of. 

 


Contact The Patty Wagon Today!

Online: https://www.pattywagonatl.com

Phone: 770.633.4483

Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/PattyWagonATL

 Dollar$ and $ense

Paying the "Boss"


In the early days it can be very tempting to pour all your profits back into your business without a thought for your own financial needs. But by being sensible and paying yourself a salary based on what you need to keep your own personal finances in shape and separate from your business is essential.  

Remember, there are no set formulas for setting your own salary. The best way to go about finding the right salary amount is to know your business. For a small start-up company that hasn't quite found its footing, that may mean going with less. In this case it may be that your salary amounts to what's left over after operation costs are met and bills are paid. For a small business that's shown a consistent profit, you may take a percentage of those profits, or you may set your salary according to the accepted standards for your industry and position.  This gives new meaning to the phrase, "paying the cost to be the boss". 

 


 **Take a startup deduction on taxes**


The expenses you rack up while preparing to start a business can be used as a tax deduction!  You can deduct up to $5,000 of research and development and start-up costs.  Check with your accountant for what qualifies. 
 
 5 Reasons Your Business Credit Scores Don't Get You the Credit You Need

 

 

 

When you apply for a new credit line or request a credit limit increase for your business, suppliers, creditors and lenders want to see how your company has handled its existing credit obligations in the past. This enables them to determine if they should approve your request and to help determine what terms they should offer. Credit scores and ratings, and other types of information - such as financials, payment history and credit diversity - all play a role in the strength of your business credit reports and scores.   Read More


Need help improving or developing your personal or business credit? The Edge Connection can help! Call 770-499-3228 for details.

 
15 Things Successful Entrepreneurs Do Every Day
 

The most effective entrepreneurs view themselves as assets. They continually invest in themselves and in their future through continuing education and self-improvement.

If you want to become a better entrepreneur and successfully grow your business, dedicate time and energy to improve your daily habits.


 

Here are 15 things many business influencers make time for in their busy schedules. 


 


WHY WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS ARE HAPPIER THAN MALE ENTREPRENEURS

 

There's a lot being said out there about the state of women in this country. The gender gap is alive and well when it comes to salary, confidence, happiness, and the number of women in the C-suite and science. Women aren't as happy as they were in the 1970s, research has shown, and their happiness relative to that of men has taken a nosedive.

But it's not all doom and gloom. A recent study shows there's one career path in which women's perceived happiness is greater than men's: entrepreneurship.

One out of every 10 women in the U.S. today is starting or running her own business, according to a that came out in June. More than a third of those women want to expand their business beyond five employees.

 

 Click Here to Learn More 
You'll Never Guess Where Female 
Entrepreneurship Is On The Rise 

 

Georgia is known for its peaches, sweet tea and hot weather. However, it has some lesser-known advantages. You might not have guessed it, but the state is quickly becoming a haven for female entrepreneurs.

 

From 1997 to 2014, Georgia has experienced more growth in women-owned business than any other state, with the percentage of businesses owned by women skyrocketing 118 percent, according to new information from Expert Market. The company recently put together an infographic that breaks down the ratio of female-to-male entrepreneurship state by state.

Georgia also ranks No. 5 overall in states most populated by female entrepreneurs. Why, you ask? Expert Market has a few theories.

 

 
 
The Edge Kitchen Recipe of the Month 

With school starting and life returning back to early morning routines for many families, making sure everyone has a healthy breakfast and lunch can become a challenge. Many Americans do not take the time to stop and eat a healthy meal. Hectic schedules making finding time to cook healthy meals difficult. Well, we have a solution! Start making time for you and your family with these easy to prepare, healthy meals. Very little cooking is required! 


This is a quick, easy way to prepare a delicious and healthy breakfast packed with protein and fiber for the entire family: 
1-2  hard boiled eggs (those with cholesterol issues should substitute with tofu )
1 apple cored and sliced with 2 tbsp of raw almond butter and a little bit of honey for sweetness (optional)
 2, 1-inch pieces of cheddar cheese with a cluster of grapes and a slice of bread 


Check out these great packable lunch ideas:
Midday meals can be so snooze-worthy... these three exciting options are delicious, nutritious, and a snap to pack. 
They're the best thing to happen to desk dwellers since sticky notes!

 

The Legal Side of Owning a Food Truck

In Start Your Own Food Truck Business, the staff at Entrepreneur Press and writer Rich Mintzer explain how you can get started in the mobile food industry, whether you want to own a food truck, cart, trailer, kiosk or other on-the-go food business. In this edited excerpt, the authors describe some of the licenses, permits, registrations and laws you'll need to be concerned about as a mobile food business owner.  Click Here To Learn More

 

We would like to extend our great appreciation to SoVerse for their in-kind support of The Edge Connection's websites and for working with our entrepreneurs to develop interactive, engaging e-commerce sites to position their businesses for success!  (SoVerse logo Attached) 

 

 

Many thanks to our 2014 Business Plan Competition sponsor, Dunn & Bradstreet Credibility Corp! The Edge Connection has partnered with Dunn & Bradstreet Credibility to provide support and training to our entrepreneurs to develop business credit profiles, an essential component to business development. To learn how The Edge Connection can you help with your business credit, call 470-578-3228. 
UPCOMING CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS
Mark Your Calendar For Innovative, Relevant,
and Inspiring Classes and Workshops!!

 

One on One Exploring Entrepreneurship with Jaime Fulsang
Our program manger Jaime Fulsang will be teaching one on one Exploring Entrepreneurship course during the month of August. Call 770-499-3228 to schedule an appointment!
Course Fee: $35

  

Plan for Profit- Analysis and Planning  
(Clients: $75 - $150 / Non-Clients: $250)
The business analysis and planning module guides you through various phases of your business by analyzing the direction your company is headed and measuring its potential for success. Through careful analysis participants will have a clear understanding of their businesses' purpose and goals and will develop the formal structure in which to support them. Clients may choose to take this class outside of the Plan for Profit track and become "Edge Certified in Business Analysis and Planning." (4 consecutive weeks / Mon & Wed, 6-9pm) 
Join Us August 4th at 6:00pm
8A (Hubzone) 
($15 includes lunch)

In order to help small, disadvantaged businesses compete in the marketplace, the SBA created the 8(a) Business Development Program. Tanzee Jones, Business Opportunity Specialist for the Small Business Administration will be joining us to lead an informative workshop on this helpful certification program. 

What is the 8(a) Business Development Program?

The 8(a) Business Development Program is a business assistance program for small disadvantaged businesses. The 8(a) Program offers a broad scope of assistance to firms that are owned and controlled at least 51% by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.

Join Us August 21 at 11:30am-1:30pm 
 
Wow! Business Branding 
Join us for this two-evening workshop with Kelly Green exploring how to build distinctiveness for your brand.  This workshop will cover "16 Ways to Make Your Competitors Wish They Were You" from the book "Where's Your WOW!" by Robyn Spizman and Rick Frishman. 
Join is August 23 at 9:00am-3:00pm

  
Inside the Vault Workshop: An Insider's Guide to Access to Capital
(Cost: $10)

Bill McDermott, founder and CEO of McDermott Financial Solutions, will give you an "Inside the Vault" experience by revealing the secrets of the banking industry to help you with loan preparation to access the capital you need to move your business forward.

After three decades working for both national and community banks, Bill uses his expert knowledge to assist small businesses with finding financing and working through problems with loan negotiations to help them grow and expand their businesses. He can help you get what you want out of your banking relationship by giving you the insiders advantage of knowing which banks are lending and how to break through barriers to expedite the process of acquiring the financial help your company needs.

Join us on September 18, 2014 6:00 pm-9:00pm. 

Sign Up Today

  

  

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Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
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