Dec 8, 2011

How to Find, and Win, Small-Biz Competitions

[caption id="attachment_393" align="alignright" width="362" caption="Winning"]

[/caption] Although equity financing and small-business lending remain the best options for long-term funding, small-business owners interested in an infusion of cash should consider entering competitions. Somebody has to win them, so why not you? A Variety of Opportunities In a January 2010 Forbes.com article¹, Maureen Farrell highlighted some of the competitions that are available. It’s not too late to find out which one you’d like to enter in 2012. To see a bigger list of business competitions, check out the slide show on Forbes.com². Go Local Just as small businesses help their local economies, the impact of small-business competitions may be equally localized. So, search your district, county, or city websites and resources for contests. As an added advantage, small-business owners will typically find less competition and greater rewards among their neighborhood contests. Best of Finally, if you’re looking for instant funding and gratification, submit your small business to one of the many “Business of the Year” awards. Search for awards in your industry area—“Best of” apparel, internet technology, or advertising, for example—and take a chance at gaining increased publicity for your growing company. Embrace the competitive spirit that makes you a successful entrepreneur, and supplement your small-business sales with contest prizes and awards. A little competition never hurt anybody, right? For more information, visit: 1. “The Biggest Small-Business Competitions” 2. “In Depth: 15 Small-Business Contests”