Looking for ways to expand or enhance your business acumen? There are plenty of options for support and advice from companies whose business it is to keep you in business. Continuing your education is a great idea. Even if your schedule is busy, you can always find quick tips in magazines, online and by reaching out into your local community.

Reading a magazine is a refreshing way to discover information without having to be in front of a computer screen.  While on the train or waiting at an airport, pick up a copy of Inc. Magazine, “The Magazine for Growing Companies”.  Also referred to as “The Small Business Bible”, Inc. Magazine uses real life examples of business strategies, case studies, successes and failures to highlight real world solutions. The current issue features Paul Graham whose company, Y Combinator, is a hybrid venture capital fund and business school that funds and advises early-stage businesses.  Another article captures and compares the inner workings at Google and Microsoft.   

Toolkit.com is an online business owners toolkit offering “total know how” for small businesses.  We’ve recommended this site in previous blogs, but they’ve revamped and improved their site recently which makes it even better.  News stories and links direct you to the latest developments affecting small businesses.  The 200 free business documents, templates, checklists and official government forms make it easy for you to access those items from one place.

Your nearby college or university can also be a great resource.  Business and economics departments often conduct public outreach.  In Chicago, DePaul University’s Entrepreneurship Program at the Coleman Entrepreneurship Center offers consulting services, educational programs and resources for students and entrepreneurs throughout the city in the various stages of what they term the “Entrepreneurial Quest®”.

And if you want a good laugh to relieve you after your studies, read “Every Piece of Start Up Advice Is a Lie Including Mine” , an enlightening blog entry from one of Y Combinator’s participant entrepreneurs, Tony Right. 

The arrival of hot weather this year coincided with the summer solstice, a rare coincidence!  Usually we don’t have to wait until the end of June for warmth.  Now that it’s finally here why not make the most of it?   Whether you are determined to be productive or in need of rejuvenation, doing what you want for free is the best way to spend the hot summer days.  Here are several recommendations from the staff at The Suites Collection for free deals near our business centers.

Celebrate the 4th of July on Millennium Park’s Great Lawn at the Grant Park Music Festival’s first-ever Independence Day concert at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion.  The lively event begins at 1:30 p.m. and will include readings of the Declaration of Independence and other patriotic speeches.  Music performances of ragtime, country music and turn-of-the-century waltzes will be performed by the Northside Southpaws, a Chicago mandolin/guitar duo.  Navy Pier’s fireworks display starts at 10:15 p.m. on the 4^th.  This is not to be confused with the official Grant Park fireworks display which will be held on the 3^rd of July.  The fireworks are a spectacular display of over 5,000 aerial devices and shells.  Festivities kick off at 7:30 p.m. on July 3^rd with a performance by the Grant Park Orchestra at the Petrillo Music Shell and the fireworks display beginning at 9:30 p.m. 

During the long winter, we so often forgo a proper lunch break and stay inside to keep warm.  Now that outside temperatures are inviting, we prefer to step out of the office for our lunch hour and enjoy free downtown tours and museums.  Take a free 45-minute tour of the exhibition A Conversation with Chicago: Contemporary Sculptures from China led by members of the Millennium Park staff and learn more about this spectacular art, never before seen in the United States.  On any given day, choose to explore nature, science, history or culture at one of the city’s Museum Free Days. 

If you are busy being a worker bee this summer, there are great “Summer School” freebies to help increase your business acumen.  Free online business classes available through the US Small Business Association include:

- Small Business Primer: Guide to Starting a Business

- How to Prepare a Business Plan

- Franchising Basics

- Technology 101: A Small Business Guide

The city that never sleeps is keeping busy this summer with, “Chicago Business Works”, seminars hosted by the Chicago Department of Business Affairs.  Now in its third year, this series of free seminars connects entrepreneurs and new business owners with exhibitors who service small businesses, other business owners and government leaders.  Events are free and registration is not required. 

Summer seminar dates:

- June 25 – Harry S. Truman College, 1145 W. Wilson

- September 10 – Harlold Washington College, 30 E. Lake St.

Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. followed by a speaking program, workshops and exhibitors. 

We’d love to find out about any other great deals out there.  Please contact us with your suggestions.  Have a great summer!  

So far in 2009, we’ve seen multiple displays of support for banks, large manufacturers and home owners struggling with the economy.  Thankfully, there is now a push to help small businesses and entrepreneurs get access to much needed funds.  The banks have taken their financial stress tests, why not take yours?  If you find your small business is in need of cash or a line of credit, there are great options out there if you know where to look and whom to ask. 

This week the U.S. Small Business Association introduced a terrific resource for small business owners looking to strengthen their cash flow.  America’s Recovery Capital (ARC) loans are available to established, viable, for-profit businesses that need short-term help.  The best part is that ARC loans are interest-free to the borrower, 100 percent guaranteed by the SBA and have no SBA fees associated with them.

Kiva, a successful international micro-lending website, launched their US lending program this month.  Through partners like Accion USA, Kiva raises money from individual donors to fund diverse small business initiatives. American entrepreneurs who are finding funding through kiva.com include graphic designers, computer technicians and communications specialists.

Local resources also abound for small business owners.  At The Suites Collection, we have a special package for entrepreneurs on a budget.  Our “Start-Up Special” provides you with a full time private office in Chicago’s central business district or River North for under $1000 per month.  The low monthly price includes telephone, voice mail, high speed internet and on-site administrative personnel.   These offices are move-in ready so schedule a tour today and be in business tomorrow.

Another local business resource, SCORE, will host their next small business financing workshop on June 25^th.  Sign up to attend the class held at 500 W. Madison and learn about various ways you can finance your business through angel investors, banks and venture capitalists.  This practical workshop teaches you about the documents you’ll need for the different types of funding and there will be a banker available to go over other specific criteria.  There are plenty of people with resources willing to lend a hand.  Take the time to pursue these various revenue streams, and you will likely find one that benefits you. 

New Document Review Room at Theatre District Business Center

If you are experiencing a bit of “down time” right now, you can still find ways to save or make money.  Grow your business by applying innovative strategies to develop core areas like staffing, technology and marketing.  We are taking our own advice at The Suites Collection this year and are keeping busy while instituting improvements to virtually every area of our company. 

42" Panasonic HDTVs are now located in each center.

Offering new technology and upgrading our facilities is an important way we demonstrate our commitment to our tenants’ work environment.  42” HDTVs, new office furniture and personalized artwork have been installed at each location.  Recent renovations at Theater District Business Center include new wall paper, paint and carpet and a document review room a capacity of 36.  The spacious fully furnished work space expands our ability to serve attorneys working nearby at Daley Center, State of Illinois Building, City Hall, the County Buildings and Chicago Title & Trust Center as they provide due diligence services for their clients.

Employing experienced administrative professionals has always been a core component of our business model.  We recently increased the continuity of service in these crucial positions by training all staff in the unique procedures at each location.  Because all employees are now able to accommodate particular services at each center, we can provide our tenants seamless support while strengthening our own internal flexibility.

Our "chicagooffices" profile on Twitter.com

Refreshing our marketing campaign this year has meant expansion into new avenues, such as social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.com as well as reliable “old school” forms of advertising like installing new exterior signage on each center’s building.  Whether prospects are at home or in our busy neighborhoods, we want to make sure we’re reaching those potential clients. 

We all want our businesses to succeed no matter what outside factors determine.  When the climate improves, we want to be ready and not need to waste time catching up.  It feels good to take stock and give yourself a pat on the back after a job well done.  This especially counts if the job was completed during difficult circumstances.  If you’ve been working hard this year and are feeling proud, maybe it’s time to take that next step and secure an office of your own.  We also encourage you to seek some well-deserved recognition by entering the contest for Entrepreneur Magazine’s “2009 Entrepreneur of the Year Award” contest.  Good luck!

Even if right now isn’t the best time to make a long term commitment, you can still position your company wisely in anticipation of future successes. We all look forward to the day that this economy settles down. Until then, you should secure short term solutions for your business. Who doesn’t want flexibility and convenience? Working with The Suites Collection business centers will get you both. We offer three great solutions to protect your business now and provide for it in the future.

Choose from the following packages to fit your needs:

Start-Up Special

• Private full time office for your new enterprise or your company’s first foray into the Chicago market.
• Choose from several fully furnished all priced under $1000 per month.
• Telephone, voice mail and high speed internet connection included.
• Professional Administrative staff on site to support you.
• Offices are move-in ready so schedule a tour today and be in business tomorrow.

Flexible Office

• Ideal for mobile professionals who can work anywhere but occasionally need privacy and security.
• For $300 a month you receive up to 16 hours of private meeting or office space in our center. 
• Includes high speed internet and flexible accessibility anytime Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm.
• Additional onsite services include use of copier, fax and secretarial support. 
• Mail and delivery receipt is also available. 
• Takes only 24 hours to get started.  Arrangements can be made via telephone, email or in person.

Corporate Identity & Virtual Office

• “Locate” your business at one of our centers for $200 a month.
• Perfect for the home based professional or any company desiring a Chicago presence.
• You are provided with our prestigious business address, dedicated phone number and voicemail.
• A receptionist will answer your calls using your business name.
• 24 hour voice mail access, mail receipt and building signage, if desired. 
• For client meetings, you can rent our conference rooms as needed.
• Takes only 24 hours to get started.  Arrangements can be made via telephone, email or in person. 

We offer flexible terms and a range of spaces to accommodate your changing priorities. Maybe you will start with a virtual office and allow your business to grow enough to require dedicated space. Or maybe life decisions take you out of town but you still want to connect with Chicago clients using our meeting spaces. The Suites Collection staff members are able to build long lasting relationships with our tenants because we support them where they are today, and then meet their needs for the future. We are rooting for your success, in the short and long term. Contact us so we can tell you more. Find out which plan works best for you today.

As we bask in the day’s warming sunshine, our minds wander to the entertaining outdoor activities available for those of us lucky enough to live or work in Chicago.  From fountains and festivals to outdoor concerts and markets, we Chicagoans know how to take advantage of the perks that come along in spring and summer.  It is with great pleasure that we present The Suites Collection’s annual installment of warm weather to-dos for our tenants and friends.  Mark your calendars, we’ll meet you there!

Listen to beautiful music while lounging in Chicago’s “front yard” at The Grant Park Music Festival. This series of free classical music under the stars runs June 11^th – August 16^th.  No advance purchase needed!  Lawn and general seating in the Pritzker Pavilion is free, or if you prefer to be in the reserved forward seating area, you can make arrangements here.  Grant Park also boasts Jazz Fest, Blues Fest, Taste of Chicago, Celtic Fest, Viva Chicago, and many others, so visit the Mayor’s Office of Special Events to find one to your liking.

Court House Executive Offices, located at 101 W. Grand, is just four blocks north of the picturesque Chicago River.  Catch the great riverside views from a $2 water taxi ride or indulge in a nice evening out with dinner and dancing while cruising along the river and Lake Michigan.  Pick the trip that’s right for you by reading Yelp reviews of Chicago River cruises. 

Another great way to enjoy the river is to Dine al fresco at Fulton’s on the River.  They are now featuring Happy Hour Monday through Friday from 4 – 6pm, where you can enjoy the new bar menu and half price signature snacks in the Murdoch Lounge. 

Across from Theatre District Business Center, Daley Plaza’s farmers market offers a wide selection of fresh and homemade fare for your impromptu casual lunch.  The market is held every Thursday from May 14^th to Oct 15^th, and is the perfect place to purchase produce, baked goods and flowers for a mid-day picnic.   There are plenty of grassy spots along the lake and river for grabbing a quick bite.  We prefer to enjoy our picnics in the tranquil courtyard at Tree Studios.  Won’t you join us?

Every day we make choices that propel us towards a dream or keep us standing still.  The path that leads us to that dream may be treacherous at times because taking risks can feel daunting.  Mitigate your risks by locating your office in an executive business center to save time and money.  If you have an independent start up, an established business with shifting needs or are looking for a great satellite location, The Suites Collection will provide you with extraordinary value.

In our industry, you will find business models ranging from “big box” office centers run by global conglomerates to independent operations with local owners, like us.  Fifteen years ago, Lee Dickson created one of the first ever independent executive suites operations in Chicago and she continues to lead our business today.  With three centers in River North and the North Loop, The Suites Collection is large enough to accommodate any office scenario you may require, but also small enough to give you personalized service and attention from our experienced staff of professionals.

If you are handling all of the day to day matters that come with running an office, this will take time away from your clients.  When circumstances change and you need to adjust, being locked in to long term commitments means you won’t be able to fit the new flexible model for success in this economy.  Our office centers can accommodate you as your space needs change throughout the year.  If you have a consultant in for a day, one of our conference rooms can be arranged.  If you schedule a working lunch hour with a client, we can handle the logistics for your meeting. 

Limiting your risks is a cornerstone of our business.   Our office environments are friendly and flexible and your arrangements with us can be as fluid as you need them to be.  Achieve your dreams without having to take a big leap.  Now is the right time!  Contact us for a tour of any of our offices.  We will start working for you today.

For more information on mitigating your risk read our other blogs on:

 What type of office space will fit your needs?

Workplace Flexibility

Shared Office Savings

Shared Office Networking

Shared Office: Legality

Current marketing buzz is all about “social media”.   Everyone touts the explosive popularity of websites like Twitter and Facebook as the next big way for small businesses to connect with customers.  Is this true or is it just hype created by self-described “social mavens” who want us to hire them for expensive consultation gigs?  In a contracting economy, experts agree you should increase marketing efforts and pursue all opportunities for visibility, but what can you do to turn the “followers” and “fans” on networking sites into paying customers? 

Unfortunately, there is not one clear answer to that question.  We do know that once your business joins a social media site, making continual updates is mandatory.  With all the work you do to attract online visitors, once they get to your page they’d better not find it “stale” or else they’ll click away and on to something else that will hold their attention.  “Fans” on Facebook and “followers” on Twitter need to feel like there is someone on the other side of the screen.  That’s how they’ll make that social connection with your brand and that’s how, hopefully, you’ll start making deals.

The first time you hear about a new website or a development in technology, you are often made to feel like you are already behind the times.  That is not necessarily true.  Each small business grows at it’s own pace and when you are ready for the next step; you will know.  Daily demands from current customers consume time and energy.  The majority of small businesses can’t afford to keep a marketing person or a computer programmer on staff.   When you are doing it all, you can’t do it all at once.

During the past year at The Suites Collection, we’ve managed to optimize our website for search engines, develop pay per click campaigns, generate this blog and post regularly on Craigslist.  We now know those initiatives simply laid the foundation for a basic internet marketing strategy.  Sometimes we wonder what happened to the old marketing “necessities” (Is anyone still using AOL?  Even MySpace is fading!), but gazing wistfully backwards is just not helpful.  Moving forward is the only way to stay relevant in this ever changing marketing environment. 

We will continue to blog about how The Suites Collection is expanding its online marketing strategy to include social media.   We’d love to hear about your endeavors and what you’ve experienced.  And if you haven’t yet tackled these new opportunities because you don’t know how to begin, here’s a fundamental guide to getting started on Twitter.

As access to the internet via laptops and cell phones becomes increasingly prevalent, we are now free to conduct our business from almost any location.  Mobility definitely has perks that increase flexibility and decrease the cost of traditional office expenses.  Yet, even with so much of our communication existing in cyber space, we should not escape the opportunity to build trust by giving clients a legitimate business address, phone number and a comfortable place to talk face-to-face.

The Suites Collection offers telecommuters a great way to establish a corporate identity by providing virtual offices at our three business centers.  For $200 a month, a virtual office gives you a prestigious address and 312 area-code phone number.  Your calls will be answered with your company name and forwarded to voice mail, which you will have access to 24 hours a day.  Mail and packages will be received for you during normal business hours and when the time comes to meet in person with clients or prospects, you can arrange for use of any of our conference facilities.  Establishing a virtual office with us also gives you access to our copy center, fax machine, scanner and administrative personnel.

When your office is mobile, the conferencing and meeting facilities at The Suites Collection are the perfect place to conduct professional meetings and give presentations.  All our rooms come furnished and equipped specifically to make your meetings as productive as possible.   Whether it’s an intimate small group discussion or an executive level conference in our rotunda board room, we can accommodate a range of meeting styles.

Click below to contact us for information on how to have one of our classic Chicago addresses on your business card.  As your company grows you may eventually require dedicated private office space, and as a virtual office client, we will be able to give you priority for our best available offices.  Let The Suites Collection be your corporate headquarters and support system.   We’ll handle things while you’re away!

Theatre District Business Center at 60 W. Randolph

Goodman Theatre Building across from Daley Plaza

Central Business District

Court House Executive Offices at 101 W. Grand

Site of Historic Grand Hotel on Clark Street

River North – West

Tree Studios at 4 E. Ohio

Unique studio offices in storied landmark building

River North – East

“I always tried to turn every disaster into an opportunity.” – John D. Rockefeller

Sometimes we need a push to point ourselves in a new direction.  The current economic climate is certainly giving us a big push right now!  While the financial crisis worsens, it’s easy to feel a loss of confidence and control.  But what we decide to do in the face of adversity and how we respond to perceived failures are actions that we actually do control.  When you find yourself surrounded by change and uncertainty, take time to listen to your instincts and follow your dreams.  Who better to invest in than yourself?  If starting your own business is something you’ve always wanted to do, The Suites Collection can help you find a place to make that dream come true.   

If you need a basic set up for your new business entity – our virtual office program provides you with a prestigious address in the Loop or River North and a professional receptionist to answer your calls.   Our flexible office program allows you part time use of a private office for meeting preparation or to connect with clients when you are between downtown appointments.   If you need full time dedicated space, a private office in any of our 3 convenient business centers can be arranged with furnishings, telephone and high speed internet service included.  To help you hit the ground running, our centers are equipped with additional services including use of copier, fax and secretarial support. 

 Our staff is constantly researching and reporting on trends we think will benefit our tenants.   Read more of our blog to find out about the small business incentives in the current stimulus plan, tax advice and recommendations for ways you can save on everything – from insurance to marketing to technology.  We are here to help your business grow and we look forward to meeting you and listening to your ideas.   Find out more about us by calling us at 312-994-2700 or schedule a tour today.

“What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise” – Oscar Wilde