When Doug Mellinger was a student at Syracuse University in the 1980s, there were almost no programs specifically for students bent on owning their own companies. In fact, he created the college’s first major in entrepreneurship and helped found the Young Entrepreneurs’ Organization, www.eonetwork.org, just so he wouldn’t feel so alone.

“You could count college entrepreneurial programs on one hand in those days,” says Mellinger, now a 42-year-old serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Foundation Source, www.foundationsource.com, a technology company serving philanthropic foundations that’s based in Fairfield, Conn.

A decade later, YEO (now called The Entrepreneurs’ Organization) boasted 10,000 members around the world, and some of its early members had gone on to spark a creative technology revolution that would change the world. “That early movement led to the growth and acceptance of young people in business that boomed during the 1990s. Today, people in their 20s and even teens who own businesses are very accepted, but that wasn’t true before,” Mellinger notes.

Along with that newfound acceptance, young entrepreneurs today enjoy networking groups, educational programs, and competitions aimed at supporting and encouraging their efforts. Here are some resources that can help youthful entrepreneurs get started:

Read Full Article from BusinessWeek Online

Experts urge small business owners to “brand” their businesses with a logo and a set of consistent marketing materials. But they rarely explain the reasons behind this advice. Below are some of some of the benefits of having a professionally designed logo and identity system.

1. To look “bigger.”

2. To increase your chance of getting venture capital or selling a business.

3. To attract more clients. Some clients look for a well-defined company, and “look and feel” may be one of their criteria in making a purchasing decision.

4. To brand yourself.

5. To convey that you are established.

6. To give clients a sense of stability.

7. To be more memorable.

8. To explain your company name.

9. To endear your company name to your clients.

10. To explain an unusual line of business.

11. To show what practices differentiate you from your competition.

12. To stand out in your field.

13. To comply with expectations.

14. To show your commitment and for the sense of personal pride it will add to your practice. In other words, do it for yourself.

These benefits will boost your business and your confidence, so start thinking about developing a logo and identity as soon as possible. [Read Details of each benefit from BusinessWeek]