TMCnet News
StartupNation's First Annual ''Home-Based 100'' Ranking to Recognize Top Home-Based Business OwnersBIRMINGHAM, Mich. --(Business Wire)-- StartupNation, the leading online content and community resource for entrepreneurs, today launched the "StartupNation Home-Based 100," the first-ever ranking of the best performing home-based businesses in America. Joining StartupNation in this effort is Microsoft Office Live, which provides a suite of online software and services designed to help small business owners take, promote and manage their businesses online. "The Fortune 500 and the Inc. 500 recognize a fraction of the U.S. business market, whereas home-based businesses represent over half of all businesses," said Rich Sloan, co-founder of StartupNation and one of the country's leading small business experts. "It is time to address this gap and to acknowledge the home-based business, an often-overlooked but extremely important and robust part of the American economy." Home-based businesses that wish to be considered for the Top 100 ranking may submit their business profile at www.StartupNation.com/hb100, with results to be announced in October. The Home-Based 100 will recognize and rank the most successful home-based businesses in the country based on the past three years of financial performance and proof that they are based at home. In addition, home-based businesses may also enter to be considered as winners in various "Top 10" categories, including themes like Boomers back in Business, Greenest, and Most Slacker-Friendly businesses, regardless of size or stage. According to the Small Business Administration, home-based companies provide $530 billion in annual revenue for the U.S. economy and represent fifty percent (50%) of all businesses in the United States. More than 19 million entrepreneurs currently run a business from home. The StartupNation Home-Based 100 is hosted in a novel online environment, called "Sun City," that offers aspiring entrepreneurs, as well as those who already own home-based businesses, the opportunity to tap a wide variety of resources to help them start or grow their home-based businesses. To add to the experience, visitors to Sun City will be able to enter "instant-win" games for a chance to win more than $50,000 in prizes - including Microsoft software and Southwest Airlines tickets - designed to benefit small business owners. "Home-based businesses are a growing and vital force in the U.S. economy, and the Home-Based 100 will be the definitive voice for recognizing and encouraging home-based business success," said Michael Schultz, U.S. marketing lead for Microsoft Office Live. "Many of today's leading companies, including Microsoft, claim 'home' as their birthplace, and we are proud to join with StartupNation to recognize the future of entrepreneurship." In addition to Microsoft Office Live, Southwest Airlines and other leading brands will sponsor the StartupNation Home-Based 100. |
