Last week our local bicycle industry appeared to be doing quite well, according to this month’s cover story in the Oregonian, which we also wrote about here. But this morning’s New York Times features this piece, entitled “A Surge in Bicyclists Appears to Be Waiting.” The article discusses the sudden “grim reality” of the bicycle industry, which is experiencing a rapid fall in sales following the industry’s “summer of [its] dreams.” (more…)
Apparently Oregon’s Business Energy Tax Credit, which is one of a multitude of tax incentives drawing companies to the state (see a list in this previous post), is proving to be more popular and generous than anticipated. The ease of qualifying for, and receiving, the tax credit has pushed the number of applicants to 4,000, as noted in yesterday’s Oregonian, which ran this story about the companies that are benefiting, calling the credit “the state’s fastest growing tax shelter.” (more…)
For those of you who also follow Portland’s start-up scene, the Leftbank project on the east side has been receiving press throughout the year, and recently received more coverage from the Portland Tribune here. The project is intriguing for it’s objective — to house under one roof a group of creative, design and sustainable businesses, which are the types of businesses that already make up a large segment of Portland start-ups. Included among those businesses are bicycle companies, which have also been heavily featured (more…)
Occasionally we drop by the Kauffman Foundation’s site to see what’s the news at one of the centers of American entrepreneurialism (maybe an overstatement, but it’s very important). Their site is packed full of useful information for the entrepreneurial-minded. We were pleasantly surprised to see on their front page this article about the Foundation’s recent $10 million investment to cultivate innovation-friendly law, policy and legal scholarship. Investment in this area is crucial; the law is notoriously slow to catch up, especially so when applied to innovative industries and 2.0 (more…)
Next month’s cover story in Oregon Business Magazine is about the recent growth of Oregon’s bicycle industry. It’s great to see an industry so resilient — and prosperous — despite the floundering economy. So add Oregon’s bicycle industry to the handful of growth industries that make this area so unique, like green tech, outdoor apparel, design, and microbrewing, among others. As these industries grow, expect to see smaller companies sprout up around the main players, providing complementary products and services. (more…)
Of the many challenges that face start-ups, one is assembling a network of advisors to assist in achieving the company’s goals. Fortunately for Portland area companies, there is a strong entrepreneurial community that plays that role. Think of groups such as OEN, OTBC, Oregonstartups.com or even OECDD, not to mention the wealth of Internet resources. On a national level, the federal Small Business Administration (SBA) plays a significant role in providing financing to start-ups, as we wrote (more…)
Sometimes it can be hard to keep up with the green business wave sweeping over Oregon. In the wake of last week’s news about foreign solar companies choosing the Portland area for their American headquarters, we wrote a post about the various tax incentives, and other reasons, that green companies are attracted to this area. Apparently the news is spreading: the Wall Street Journal recently published this article on more renewable businesses choosing to locate in the Portland area.
While browsing through earth2tech’s daily roundup of headlines for green startups we came across a couple of stories about startups receiving “Series A funding,” which made us think about the many ways to finance new businesses. Getting an idea from A to Z requires money, often from an outside source (if you can get any these days). Outside money typically comes in the form of bank loans, a sale of securities (often called a “private placement of securities”), venture capital or government (more…)
With the national economy in the dumps, and Oregon as a whole not doing much better, one of the lone hot areas for entrepreneurs, especially in the Portland area, appears to be in starting up so-called green businesses. There is no exact definition for a green business, but there are certain characteristics that seem to indicate some companies are more conscious about the environment, saving energy and reducing waste than others. However you define this group of companies, a green wave of growth is happening in Oregon. Outside businesses are choosing to locate here and new businesses are opening their doors.
Choosing an entity should be one of the first decisions you’ll make when starting up your new business. It may seem easy to skip this step, and instead forge ahead as a sole proprietor, but this rarely makes sense. An entity protects your personal assets from your company’s creditors, and your company’s assets from your personal creditors. Moreover, creating an entity allows you to establish an independent credit history for your new business, and protect your new business’s property (including intellectual property).