YOUR FREE CREDIT REPORTS

If you want to look at your credit report from the three primary reporting agencies, you can now do so by visiting this website: http://www.annualcreditreport.com/

You will need to follow the instructions carefully, making sure that you don't click, check mark, or otherwise accept anything for a fee unless you want to purchase it though. For example, the reporting agencies will NOT give you your actual credit score for free. They consider that a proprietary calculation that the agency will charge for showing to you.

They will also try to sell other services, ranging from credit alerts to credit monitoring to identity theft protection, so you will need to just click the 'No, thanks' button, if you only want your free credit reports.

You may do this on an annual basis, and it's a good idea. When you print out your report, check for errors. If you find an error, you'll need to follow the instructions to fix the error with the reporting agency. Those instructions will print along with your credit information.

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This blog post by Chris Wathen was also published in his Linton, Indiana based Greene County Daily World blog entitled, "Riddle Me This".

Quickbooks & Your Business

I saw information on a local seminar earlier today, which I thought may be of use to many small business owners: The Community Learning Center is hosting an "Introduction to Quickbooks" workshop to introduce attendees to the many features of the Quickbooks bookkeeping program.

I can't say enough great things about Quickbooks. This is a very powerful and useful program for your small business. It will not only take away a lot of frustration around tax time, but will also allow you to actively manage your business; and being PRO-active is always better that being merely RE-active in business.

So, if your bookkeeping system consists of a shoebox, STOP! Instead, try this seminar on October 28th from 6:30-8:30PM to see how Quickbooks may help you in your business.
The cost is only $10, but the registration deadline is soon: October 24th.

For more information, including other offerings, see http://www.clcinfo.org/greene_schedule.php

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This blog post by Chris Wathen was also published in his Linton, Indiana based Greene County Daily World blog entitled, "Riddle Me This".

GCBPC: Only About a Week Left!

The deadline for submissions to the 1st Annual Greene County Business Plan Competition is quickly coming to an end -- October 15th to be exact.

For rules and resources, please see http://www.magiccoalcity.blogspot.com/

Good luck to everyone submitting!

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This blog post by Chris Wathen was also published in his Linton, Indiana based Greene County Daily World blog entitled, "Riddle Me This".

Starting a Specialty Food Business

Ever dream about starting your own business? If you own a small farm now, would like to add additional income?

Beginning or experienced entrepreneurs, as well as current farmers, may be interested in an upcoming seminar on October 9th at Apple Hill Orchard in nearby Bruceville, Indiana (about 5 miles north of Vincennes). Attendees will learn about beginning a specialty food or food ingredient business in Indiana.

The workshop costs only $75 per registrant, and it is sponsored by Purdue University's Department of Agricultural Economics & Department of Food Science, the Southeastern Indiana Small Business Development Center, and the Indiana State Department of Health.

For more information, including how to register, the brochure for this workshop may be seen here: http://www.foodsci.purdue.edu/Outreach/feep/brochure.pdf

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This blog post by Chris Wathen was also published in his Linton, Indiana based Greene County Daily World blog entitled, "Riddle Me This".