In the past, government regulations only allowed entrepreneurs and budding business owners to raise equity funds from accredited investors with over $1,000,000 in assets. Furthermore, advertising was prohibited and you had to have a “substantial existing relationship” with the investor. This made it extremely hard to get the funding necessary to bring a product to market – it was nearly impossible for an average person to raise capital.

The November 2011 JOBS Act includes a provision that legalizes equity crowdfunding, reversing these outdates laws. But the SEC has yet to instate these crowdfunding regulations. Of course, you can always participate in contribution crowdfunding through sites like Kickstarter.com but until the SEC regulations are released, there’s a loophole for equity crowdfunding you should know about.

• You can raise capital through legal equity crowdfunding today – up to $5 million.
• You can use general advertising
• You don’t have to have audited financials
• Your investors don’t have to be existing friends – you can draw in potential investors from your Facebook and LinkedIn networks
•  Your investors only have to have over $75,000 in assets (excluding their home and vehicles) and should have a net worth of at least $150,000
• All investors must be CA residents
•  The company must be a legal CA entity (and not an LLC) with at least 80% of its assets, revenues and expenditures in/from CA

Crowdfunding is more important today than ever before. Last year, the number of accredited Angel Investors dropped 12% to under 125,000. Of that, less than 50% say they plan on actively investing in the next year – and those remaining investments will almost always go to a friend of the investor.

This lost investor money can be regained through crowdfunding. According to Leonhardt, 74% of people making over $75,000 will invest an average of $2,300 in companies through crowdfunding this year. And getting initial funds through crowdfunding is a great way to validate your business concept before you seek Series funding.

Want to learn more or get started crowdfunding your business? Check out the resources below, and don’t forget to sign up for future events at Real Office Centers.

Crowdfunding for-profit businesses: crowdfunder.com

Crowdfunding for non-profits and social enterprise companies: www.KooDooZ.com and www.WhenYouWish.com

The post Crowdfunding in California: What You Need to Know to Raise Capital appeared first on Real Office Centers.

The growing number of start-ups, incubators, crowd funding platforms and collaborative ventures demonstrate the health of our entrepreneurial human race and the rapid growth of freelancing and flextime opportunities have changed the workplace forever. Companies and employees are less tied to their locations and able to search a broader, national scale for opportunities and find the “right fit”, instead of the “right now”.  Considering a move to another city in search of work, to start your own business or even just to improve your scenery involves some simple analyzing of basic criteria you will need to factor, as highlighted by Forbes in a recent article. Along with the economic opportunities, the cost of living and access to good schools (if you are raising a family) some other basic criteria failed to make the consideration list but are just as important as access to more money and a superior education.

First there is the temperature to consider, not just the physical thermometer but the community and activities. Your business and ethical ideals should align with your communities, if you like the hustle and bustle of the city don’t move to a rural town aiming to “spice things up”.  Drastic changes even in physical temperature can be catastrophic and shocking to the system and your productivity. The climate of a community dictates your comfort level, the viability of business and best opportunities for growth. Investigating the highs and lows prior to selecting a location is a fundamental part of such calculated decision.

Accessibility is equally essential. Being able to move easily around the city or town for visitors and residents is critical. Living or working in a labyrinth will neither satisfy friends, family nor potential clients. Making certain there are plenty of ways into and out of your city is a key ingredient to settling down in a new town or expanding your business to alternate locations. Opportunities for growth and prospects of entertaining activities must also be on the map.  After all, a lifestyle is often associated with a place, making certain that the type of entertainment for play is accessible is equally important.

Forbes magazine featured a list of the top ten cities where people are moving to statistically, most of which have a population growth of about 20,000 residents in the last year.  While Riverside, California did make the list, San Diego, and surrounding Southern California areas continue steady growth instead of a nomadic spike. This great migration may not be a permanent change for many considering the popularity of “job jumping”, however the mobile workforce of today can truly plant their roots wherever the climate bests suits them. Notably, according to the Farmer’s Almanac, San Diego is one of the top ten best climates in America and historically is the birthplace of the golden state of California.  For those of us in San Diego the secret of our success is based on balance, we play just as hard as we work, the climate is always accommodating, accessibility is effortless, and the individual communities are diverse with endless opportunities for just about anyone not afraid to wear shades, because in Southern California, our future is that bright, and most of us aren’t going anywhere.

The post The great migration of job hunters and what it means for San Diego appeared first on Real Office Centers.

California may have a bad rap, other states think we are flaky and materialistic, we all have blonde hair, blue eyes, have had some plastic surgery and we must know George Clooney personally. It’s a peculiar stereotype and besides those people that actually know George Clooney, completely false.  Secretly everyone wants to live here, and unless you live here in California, won’t ever admit it. California is the melting pot of the nation, the diversity of culture and ethnicity is globally represented.  We are all very different and all on the same page. We are trendsetters and tree huggers and not afraid of controversy. Legally it’s miraculous we can all agree on a single thing as a state, and are quite used to rulings being made, over-turned, and re-instated. Hot button issues are what we deal with head on, and all of us know someone afflicted by the rulings regarding gay marriage, medical marijuana and especially immigration.

California and Mexico have been involved in a soap opera style of affair for the last 25 years and have not been able to work out the kinks in the relationship as of yet. One fact is certain, without the labor the Mexican immigrants provide we would not be such a “Golden” State. In San Diego day laborers from Mexico keep the economy running.  Politicians in California have historically held radically differing positions on how best to share the border and share resources. From granting amnesty by the thousands to deportations and arrests, we continue to accept and deny responsibility of establishing a “working agreement” at least, the issue is quite complex.

Last week, the California State Assembly voted on and approved a bill (AB 1401) that allows “non-citizens” to sit on a jury in trial cases. Our Sixth Amendment relating to trial proceedings, guarantees the right to a “speedy trial”, a public trial, and ensures judgment by a “jury of one’s peers”. The Hispanic and Latino population in the state of California is currently at 39% and growing, which means at least 4 members of any given jury in our state should be represented in a jury box. Additionally, Latinos exercise their participation in our government and are responsible for one in every five votes.  Politicians are very aware of this number and have effectively “danced” around the immigration issue and its details for 3 decades.

If you have ever sat on a jury you are painfully aware that it is your civic duty, and if you have been in the courtroom as a defendant in front of a jury you can only hope your peers will be present.  Being a “citizen” means different things to different people, but we can all agree it takes involvement, effort and contribution.  There is a lot to learn by sitting on a jury, about the law and the legal process.  Most people moan at the site of a “Jury Duty” notice in the mail and concoct ways they can “get out of it”, and we are already citizens.  There are arguably many opportunities we have as US citizens; it’s the obligations we despise, like taxes and jury duty. Protecting our freedom and rights are the pillars of the legal system, claiming who “we” are in California is as simple as putting it to the voters who choose to be involved and exercise those muscles called “rights”.  

The post Facing your peers? appeared first on Real Office Centers.

Managing your media image has become a priority for every business owner, and should be if it is not already. Social media is an integral part of our corporate culture today, yet the line between personal and business social media is a gray area, where does one begin and the other end?  As a business owner there is no escaping your social media identity and presence, fail at this and there are no second glances.  The general public has become personally involved with the businesses they choose.  The public interaction and interest with corporations has peaked to new levels and the demand for quality information is an insatiable hunger.

Most companies Marketing Directors are now also Social Media Managers, Special Event Coordinators, or expected to be professional writers. Advertising isn’t what it used to be, print ads are no longer part of our budgeted items to which we have no way of tracking actual effectiveness, thank goodness.  With greater control, greater reach of our audience and image, comes greater responsibility. It is critical that close attention is paid to these platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest and our own website and its blogs, which is really no longer an “optional” on corporate websites. The situation has become even trickier when Marketing Managers are trying to become “Jack or Jacqueline’s of all trades, masters of none.”

There are three keys in developing, designing and strategizing a Social Media identity and plan. The first step is understanding, not only what each of the social network platforms focus is but also their capabilities and readership. For example, a Twitter account is ideal for Press Releases, breaking news, current Special Event Information.  Keep it short, sweet, and current.  Pinterest is a strictly visually stimulated site, so pictures should be high quality, relevant and interesting to your readers, it would not be appropriate to post embarrassing company party photos on a pin board!

Organizing the information you want to relay is equally important. Determining what goes on a site, what goes where and what will be the response are all important factors in being organized and prepared, both invaluable traits a business should convey. Organizing information is not everyone’s forte, neither is customer service or quality assurance, yet all of these are important elements. Professional writing is mandatory and inexpensive and worth every penny. Hiring someone who specializes in customer service for your team is not different than hiring a graphic designer; they are professionals in their field that are invaluable to a business and its clientele.

Utilizing the social media platform is validation that you exist in today’s technologically savvy world. This is no different than the “dotcom” boom, when if you did not have a website, the legitimacy of your business was doubted. By taking advantage of the many free sites that you can contribute to, establish an image on or create a “buzz” on, it would be foolish and archaic not to embrace the vast opportunity. The most important thing is to save your virtual face and always show your best profile side. Outsourcing, interning, or even hiring a team of professionals to create, manage, organize and design your virtual image is now a requirement. Looking within your company there may also be social media “junkies” willing to contribute to the team as well. 

The dialogue of the virtual office world we live in includes  SEO rankings, Facebook “likes”, Subscribers, Tweets, RSS feeds, Blogs, Google rankings, You-tube promotions, all of which occur on a daily basis. News travels on the internet , approximately 20mb-50mb per second, managing the information about you and your company doesn’t take lighting speed,  just time, focus, accuracy and effort and of course professionalism.

The post Saving your Virtual face appeared first on Real Office Centers.

Moderated by DigitalLA’s Kevin Winston, the panel included five experts in the Digital Mom industry:

• Leila Pirina – “Chief Mom Officer” at Artkive, an iOS app that stores and organizes your child’s artwork, giving you the option to compile it into a book. Artkive has over 100,000 users and within the first week of launch, was close behind Google apps and Dropbox in downloads. “We’ve disrupted the fridge door model,” says Leila.
• Jina Park – President/CEO of PLUSH trade show and plushlittlebaby.com, a consumer trade show for luxury baby products.
• Valeska Jacques – Co-founder of Rivvid and Founder of New Era Moms. Rivvid is a program that turns YouTube videos into educational games, while New Era Moms is a web show that features what Valeska calls “Mompreneurs.”
• Jimmy Hutcheson – Owner of BestMomsTV.com, an investor-backed video-heavy mom blog.
• Colleen Phelan – Senior Director of Product at IconApps, which recently launched an organizational app called Intuition+ Mom’s Personal Assistant.

The event covered a range of topics, including monetization plans, how to find app developers, networking with corporations, and social media best practices. Here are some of the takeaways:

• Gain social media followers and an audience by building relationships with product manufacturers and having them promote you on their social networks.
• Maintain a consistent social media voice by selecting 3 adjectives you want to convey and sticking to them.
• Build an app where there is evidence of a strong need in the marketplace. Colleen Phelan says this is why her app has been downloaded 400,000 times.
• Getting your product featured on a Mommy Blog has to happen naturally; start an open dialogue with bloggers that you respect.
• When building an app for moms, make sure it’s kid safe, easy to use, and requires little time – moms are busy people.
• The Digital Mom industry is wider than you think. Moms will get involved in any kid-oriented product. There are many males in the industry too – in fact, over half the audience was men!

Catch more great events at Real Office Centers by checking out our calendar.

The post “Digital Moms” Share Their Expertise appeared first on Real Office Centers.

Most companies Marketing Directors are now also Social Media Managers, Special Event Coordinators, or expected to be professional writers. Advertising isn’t what it used to be, print ads are no longer part of our budgeted items to which we have no way of tracking actual effectiveness, thank goodness.  With greater control, greater reach of our audience and image, comes greater responsibility. It is critical that close attention is paid to these platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest and our own website and its blogs, which is really no longer an “optional” on corporate websites. The situation has become even trickier when Marketing Managers are trying to become “Jack or Jacqueline’s of all trades, masters of none.”

There are three keys in developing, designing and strategizing a Social Media identity and plan. The first step is understanding, not only what each of the social network platforms focus is but also their capabilities and readership. For example, a Twitter account is ideal for Press Releases, breaking news, current Special Event Information.  Keep it short, sweet, and current.  Pinterest is a strictly visually stimulated site, so pictures should be high quality, relevant and interesting to your readers, it would not be appropriate to post embarrassing company party photos on a pin board!

Organizing the information you want to relay is equally important. Determining what goes on a site, what goes where and what will be the response are all important factors in being organized and prepared, both invaluable traits a business should convey. Organizing information is not everyone’s forte, neither is customer service or quality assurance, yet all of these are important elements. Professional writing is mandatory and inexpensive and worth every penny. Hiring someone who specializes in customer service for your team is not different than hiring a graphic designer; they are professionals in their field that are invaluable to a business and its clientele.

Utilizing the social media platform is validation that you exist in today’s technologically savvy world. This is no different than the “dotcom” boom, when if you did not have a website, the legitimacy of your business was doubted. By taking advantage of the many free sites that you can contribute to, establish an image on or create a “buzz” on, it would be foolish and archaic not to embrace the vast opportunity. The most important thing is to save your virtual face and always show your best profile side. Outsourcing, interning, or even hiring a team of professionals to create, manage, organize and design your virtual image is now a requirement. Looking within your company there may also be social media “junkies” willing to contribute to the team as well. 

The dialogue of the virtual office world we live in includes  SEO rankings, Facebook “likes”, Subscribers, Tweets, RSS feeds, Blogs, Google rankings, You-tube promotions, all of which occur on a daily basis. News travels on the internet , approximately 20mb-50mb per second, managing the information about you and your company doesn’t take lighting speed,  just time, focus, accuracy and effort and of course professionalism. 

The post Saving your Virtual face: The new age of PR appeared first on Real Office Centers.

This was the message at Thursday night’s ROC Santa Monica event, “Business Rockstars Academy,” a three-hour panel hosted by Ken Rutkowski of Business Rockstars on KFWB News-Talk 980.

Los Angeles is now the 3^rd best city in the world to launch a business, said Ruthowski, with $847 million invested in LA companies last year alone. The city is home to 170 different Venture Capital firms and Angel Investors across many verticals, with a number of incubators, accelerators and ‘hackspaces,’ like Real Office Centers.

Some of the most successful of these Los Angeles entrepreneurs were at ROC to share their wisdom. Paula Abdul kicked off the night, talking about the importance of reinventing yourself – a process she has done four distinct times in her career. “It’s only difficult if you focus on the fact that you’re reinventing yourself,” the Lakers Girl-turned-entertainment queen explained. “I truly believe people are naturally multi-faceted.”

Steve Lehman, founder of Premiere Radio Networks, discussed strategies for tackling business obstacles. “When you hit a brick wall you don’t just bounce off and forget about it. You find a way to go over or around it,” Lehman said, as he explained how this mentality helped him turn $40,000 into $400 million in his career.

Next we heard from the man who created Atari, Chuck E. Cheese, and 25 other companies, Nolan Bushnell. Bushnell encouraged entrepreneurs to fail fast and “look for ideas with natural velocity.” The night also included talks from Nanxi Liu, a 22-year old with seven startups to her name, Marco Tempest an international techno-illusionist of TED fame, and many others.

What was the overall takeaway from Thursday’s Business Rockstars Academy? Be a change maker. While change may be “scary as hell,” being able to change – whether it’s to pivot your startup or quit your job to launch a company – is more important than being the biggest, the strongest, or the smartest.

Catch the next event at Real Office Centers by taking a look at our calendar. 

The post Business Rockstars Academy 5/2/2013 @ROC Santa Monica appeared first on Real Office Centers.

Most people are aware of the presence of biomedical research facilities in San Diego, which ranks 2^nd in the nation in the industry. Being an epicenter for Life Science education and innovation in the biotech industry has put San Diego on the map in a new way. This large metropolis is a “brain magnet”, and the only city in all of California to bear the distinguished honor of attracting, cultivating and representing genius. Attracting International businesses, offering flexible work schedules and locations, access to exceptional facilities, tools and resources are all specialties prevalent and accessible in San Diego.

What is it about San Diego that attract brains and beauty? There are a combination of factors that make San Diego the ideal place to work, the young inspired talent pool, the variety of funding opportunities, accessibility globally (transportation), the weather (of course) and now the center of attention for the largest biomedical federally packaged initiative ever.  Innovation clusters have risen up all throughout the country, talent pools are deep and competition is a positive motivator for solutions. San Diego is a unique location that has a diverse population, most of which are not afraid to flaunt their Mensa.

Partners and contributors of this huge undertaking include the Salk Institute in San Diego ($28 million), the Kavli Institute of UCSD ($4 million), and the Howard Hughes Institute in La Jolla ($30 million), collectively almost $100 million dollars from San Diego alone! New York is Wall Street, Detroit is Motor City, and San Diego is becoming a Medical Mecca.

The post San Diego’s BRAIN power: Get ready to put your nerd glasses and get out your pocket calculator appeared first on Real Office Centers.

Companies that are actively involved with and in their communities by supporting local athletic teams, giving  discounts to locals, offer freebies to repeat business (car wash, gift cards, and punch cards) and are accessible to their community have a greater momentum rallying support within the communities they are located. In this way the relationship between company and client is symbiotic. Similar to a simple cup of coffee (or a gallon of gas if you don’t drink caffeine), you are going to make this purchase every day anyway and you have a choice where to go.  Value, service, cleanliness, efficiency and accessibility are all factors in supporting a business intentionally. The same criteria apply to a daily $4 purchase as to a larger financial decision. Making your business the obvious and right choice takes participation, getting to know your customers and clients, and what they care about.

The old adage “it takes a village to raise a child” can also be applied to raising your business.  By engaging with your community you are able to expand connections, create referrals, and generate “buzz” about your good deeds.  Not saying you have to brag, but proudly advertising your philanthropy is a badge of honor.  With platforms such as Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook your random acts of community kindness can be easily shared for free! When a business is looking at their advertising budget it no longer makes sense that these dollars go towards print media and are actually better purposed by investing in better business practices, environmental retrofitting, and by supporting and being involved in your local community.

Knowledge is power, so start by getting to know your community better. In San Diego, for example to city’s Planning Commission has community profiles and a wealth of other resources listed by area. Reiterating the importance of being involved and aptly stated on the City of San Diego’s website “community participation is equal to the quality of life”, working for or owning a business that is accountable, responsible and has the best interest in mind for their community is your nest egg, it’s what will keep your business alive during good and difficult times.

The post Finding unity between business and community: Your Office space and the community it serves appeared first on Real Office Centers.

Technology has dramatically changed the way we work and play. We are able to get more done in less time and connect with people on many levels via social networks, expanding our influence and contact pool every day. While telecommuting is still a widely debated work option, there is no denying that we all telecommute on some level.  Think about sitting in traffic, you are already working, planning your day and beginning to feel the stress of the time crunch, while dollars billow out of your tailpipe.

Getting it all done is a daily pressure we pile on ourselves, and being available all the time thanks to cell phones means there is not really a voicemail or answering machine option anymore. It has become increasingly more difficult to unplug. Yet something wonderful has sprung out of this technological madness and that is the ability to make choices with your time, how, where and when you want to work. With gas prices so high and housing costs elevated in desirable work areas (high income potential) the question of commuting has become more of a debatable issue for other than simply the obvious environmentalist approach, which is valid by itself. Wasted time, in anxiety riddled traffic and distracted drivers, gas money wasted no thank you!

Managing your time and work is your most important job.  We all want to work smarter not harder, right? Productivity levels often are dictated by the work environment, and are a personal preference. Depending on if you work better alone or with a group, your motivation and focus could be increased or decreased. Knowing what type of workspace and work environment you are most stimulated by is highly beneficial if you are an employee or an Entrepreneur.

Saving time by not commuting (at all or even part-time avoiding peak traffic times), working from home, and working out of a “remote” location is becoming more common.  “Remote location” doesn’t mean you are detached, in fact are in control of your business and hold the controls of the “remote” from virtually anywhere (let’s leave bathroom time out of it, nobody should be doing this).  While there does still seem to be a stigma about the term “remote location”, it should really not mean you work in Timbuktu, but are liberated from the requirement of sitting in the office from 9 to 5, and that are able to work anywhere anytime, and often do. Eliminating the commute and adding productivity in a smarter way justifies the need and demand for virtual office space.

Even having a “satellite” office in a desirable location is considered expansive and reflects well on even major corporations. Thinking about the term “satellite office” can conjure up images of NASA and G-suits. Companies know that having a satellite location means you have your sights set far off in order to see the “big picture” and are able to deal with your business on a “global” scale.

The benefits of working in a virtual office space are numerous, one of these is reliability. Think about working from a traditional office space or even a home office when problems arise. Life or death problems like  technical difficulties, phone systems and networks, building maintenance issues or even security responsibilities you need to call for help, which is expensive in time and labor costs, not to mention the stress.  Virtual office centers take care of all of that, so essentially you are able to have a team of support without the payroll, you have people for “that” problem.

Depending on the virtual office location, often times these offices are situated in high end real estate markets; there are opportunities to boost your productivity if you work alone or with people. Meeting people that share the office, networking or social opportunities, collaborative and co-working office space, or even a private room to close the door and focus undisturbed are all available by utilizing virtual office space. The virtual office space should be more than just an elite location, or a place to get your mail and field your calls, while it can be just that. A virtual office space should offer something more, a place to truly work smarter not harder. 

The post Work smarter not harder appeared first on Real Office Centers.