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Small Business Loans

This regularly-updated guide gives an overview of funding resources available to small business owners in Arizona. Arizona Microcredit Initiative Microloans Overview Arizona Microcredit Initiative (AMI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that empowers underserved entrepreneurs to start or expand businesses…

Instagram for Small Businesses

Social media is a vital part of reaching out to customers on an online platform, especially Instagram for small businesses. Here the AMI...

A Key to Business Expansion: Small Business Upskilling

Upskilling is the idea that the people in a business, whether that be the business owner or employees, will learn new material and skills which will improve their productivity in the workplace. Therefore, upskilling is crucial to business expansion because they will be able to accomplish a wider…

Building Customer Relationships - Promotion Strategies

To effectively expand your follower base and, consequently, your business, prioritize nurturing customer relationships. Consider what incentives would compel individuals to engage with your business and how you can foster meaningful connections with your customers. Implementing strategies such as…

Networking 101

An Introduction to the What, Why, and How of Entrepreneurial Networking What is Networking and Why Should I Do It? AMI exists to make an impact, and it was with that enthusiasm that I marched into a local networking event for small business owners. I was nervous, to be sure – it’s not easy going…

Business Mission Statement and Vision Statement

Setting the foundations for the purpose of your operations. Overview Business mission statements and vision statements are short descriptions of a business or organization that articulates the goals, objectives, and values of an organization; this is an important tool for making decisions and plans…

A/B Testing

Learn how you can test two different advertisements to see which one is the most effective in obtaining consumers. --- COMING SOON ---...

Supplier Scorecard

Choosing a supplier is a critical step for any business. Our Supplier Selection Analysis guide breaks down how to compare suppliers and...

How To: Website Building With Wix

Wix is a user-friendly way to build a professional website for your business. In this video tutorial, our staff walks you through website...

Why Conduct Market Research?

The goal of doing market research is to equip yourself with the information you need to make informed business decisions about start-up, innovation, growth, and the 4 P's: Product: Improve your product or service based on findings about what your customers really want and need. Focus on things like…

5 Ps of Marketing Explained

In this video tutorial, our staff walks you through the 5 P's of Marketing so that you can effectively market your business. Arizona Microcredit Initiative (AMI) has consulting and microloan support for yourself and your business. If you have any more questions, you can schedule an appointment…

Achieving Nonprofit Status

Most nonprofits are 501(c)(3) organizations, which means they are formed for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational...

Small Business Accounting 101

An essential part of your business plan is being able to calculate your net income by identifying your business's revenue and expenses. These may include revenues, expenses, gains, losses, and net income. Revenues This is income generated from normal business activities over a period of time. This…

Small Business Registration | How To Register A Small Business

Having a business idea is a great first step to eventually creating what may become a full-fledged business. But in order to get there, you must first take the steps to ensure you abide by all the legal concerns. In this blog post, we will teach you how to register a small business and we will go…

Business Process Improvement (BPI)

The continual practice of reinventing an organization’s routines with the aim of improving efficiency. How to Implement BPI Start Small BPI is a marathon, not a sprint. Trying to improve too many processes at once will likely lead to management and/or employee burnout. Instead, observe some of the…

Small Business Grant Funding

Grants are usually funds given from one entity to another, a grantor to a recipient, through an application process. Some grant awards...

Building Your Business.. And Making a Plan

The Business Model Canvas is a simple, effective tool to create a plan for your business, no matter which stage you are in. It will help you describe, design, assess, and change your business model. By creating a simple one-page document covering your business's critical aspects, you can become…

Small Business Insurance

Small business insurance is any business insurance policy, singular or packaged, designed to protect you from the unexpected costs of...