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In today’s economic environment, banks are no longer able to lend money to small businesses as they have in the past. Banks are absolutely flooded with applications from consumers and businesses, and at the same time they are facing record defaults on their existing lending. This leaves the banks with a mountain of applicants and a shrinking reserve of money to lend. Businesses that used to qualify are being instantly denied. it’s just the plain truth. Fortunately we can help!

Cash Flow Plus has allied with a company that can assist you with obtaining funds for your business needs almost immediately! For more information or to request a free funding analysis, visit the main page of our web site and click on the link for Unsecured Business Loans and Lines of Credit.

Summer vacation…we eagerly anticipate it all year long, but before you know it, the back-to-school sales are beginning and kids have glum looks on their faces. There’s one place, though, where the learning environment is in full-swing during every season of the year and smiles grace the faces of children and adults – our merchant of the month, Educate & Celebrate!

With locations in Waldorf and Prince Frederick, Educate & Celebrate specializes in selling quality educational materials for use at home and in the classroom, including books, flash cards, stickers, bulletin board sets, games, interactive whiteboard software for smart boards, and children’s classic literature.  For older students, Educate & Celebrate offers Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) preparation materials as well as the books recommended for preparing for the Advanced Placement (AP) examinations that earn students college credit while still in high school.   They also stock the summer required reading materials for both Calvert and Charles Counties and a host of materials for Sunday schools, preschools, and daycare centers.

Educate & Celebrate is the brainchild of Laurie Uherek of Huntingtown, Maryland.  Raised among a family of teachers, Laurie learned early in life that the quality of the educational materials is a vital part of ensuring a solid education for a child.  Her hometown hosted an educational store that stoked her desire to start her own business providing educational materials and supplies.  “There’s nothing better to sell than something that stimulates educating a child,” Laurie says. Entering her 20^th year in business this October, Laurie has fulfilled her lifelong dream of owning such a store – and she owns two of them! The Prince Frederick store, established in October of 1991, offers a wide variety of items for family shoppers, while the Waldorf store, which opened in 2002, is geared toward teachers.

In addition to educational materials, Educate & Celebrate also sells school and preschool furniture, desks, chairs, mats, cots, chalk and white boards, overhead projectors, and learning carpets for classrooms.  They also feature educational and specialty toys and games that inspire critical thinking and stimulate the mind and encourage creativity.  For budding scientists, there are chemistry kits, erector sets, and DNA kits, too. Each year, Laurie attends the international toy fair in New York City to find unique or award-winning toys that compliment their market and who they serve.  They carry some licensed products (Thomas the Tank Engine and Calico Critters, to name a few), but Laurie enjoys offering unique products that can’t be found in the larger chain stores.

Laurie lives in Huntingtown with her husband and two children and takes pride in involving herself and her business in the community.  Educate & Celebrate partners with groups to help support causes, like autism awareness, the United Way, and the DARE program.  Laurie serves as Vice Chair of Calvert Memorial Hospital and is also very involved in the arts as the treasurer of Ann Marie Gardens, a sculpture garden and arts center in Solomons Island.  “Giving back to the community is what keeps me motivated and connected to the community,” Laurie says.

Join the staff at Educate & Celebrate on Friday, August 20^th for an open-house.  Each store will be open from 9am-9pm offering free gifts with purchase, hourly drawings, refreshments, and a chance to win $500 in merchandise as a grand prize for the day.

Educate & Celebrate’s two locations are open Monday –Thursday from 10 AM to 8 PM, Friday and Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM, and Sunday from 12 to 4 PM.

Prince Frederick location: Calvert Village Marketplace, 122 West Dares Beach Road

Waldorf location: St. Charles Towne Plaza, 1300 Smallwood Drive West

Each month we try to introduce our merchant of the month with a catchy scenario or couple of sentences that set the stage for what we are going to tell you about them. This month, we’re going to be short and sweet, and once you read more, you’ll understand.  Ready? Here goes:

Got dirt??  If you do, then you will definitely want to contact our Merchant of the Month!  Mid-Atlantic Power Washing, Inc., of Annapolis, Maryland, is poised and ready to remove the dirt and grime from the exterior of your home, deck, sidewalks, place of business, parking area, motor fleet, boat – you name it, they can wash it.  Mid-Atlantic specializes in commercial and residential pressure washing using both hot and cold water and chemicals that are gentle on the environment.

Robert Hardesty founded Mid-Atlantic Power Washing in 2001 after demonstrating his skill with a pressure washer while performing power-washing tasks on an occasional basis.  Since then, the business has grown from a one-man operation in Southern Maryland to a crew of 12 pressure washers, two foremen, a fleet of eight vehicles, and a support staff that keeps things running behind the scenes. Mid-Atlantic now serves customers all over Anne Arundel, Calvert, Prince Georges, and Howard counties from its headquarters on Lee Street in Annapolis.

In addition to routine pressure-washing jobs like homes, patios, commercial buildings, sidewalks, and parking areas, Mid-Atlantic cleans gutters and washes and stains decks and fences, too.  They also help beautify the environment by removing graffiti.  “Pressure washing actually forces the graffiti into the brick,” Rob says.  Mid-Atlantic uses techniques that pull the graffiti out of the material and restore it to its unmarred condition. They also bring their own water to every job.

One of the most unique aspects of Mid-Atlantic’s process is that they perform wastewater recovery to prevent runoff from reaching the Chesapeake Bay and other waterways. The impact of wastewater recovery is key when cleaning commercial areas, as the build-up of substances like grease, oil, and chemicals on parking surfaces can be significant.  Mid-Atlantic also has a crew available to respond 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for emergency situations like truck fires and oil and hydraulic fluid spills.

For residential customers, Rob recommends pressure-washing of decks every two to three years.  He also notes that any type of siding can be pressure-washed: vinyl, aluminum, composite – even cedar siding, which can be stained and re-sealed after a good wash. If you are preparing your home for sale or rent, Mid-Atlantic can help you beautify your property – they work frequently with realtors and property management companies doing just that.  The average house washing is typically about $300 but depends on the square footage and height of the house; for businesses, the square footage sets the cost.

Mid-Atlantic Power Washing operates Monday through Friday and on weekends as well.  Call Rob for a free estimate and be sure to mention that you heard about Mid-Atlantic by reading the Cash Flow Plus newsletter – you’ll receive 15% off any service for the month of July!

Mid-Atlantic Power Washing Inc.  (410)266-6866  www.mid-atlanticpowerwashing.com

Many families take to the beaches of Maryland and Delaware for their summer vacations.  Last month, we featured one of our merchants whose business is right on the way to Assateague Island.  This month, we are focusing on a merchant along the beach-bound path who embodies a Maryland summer tradition that rivals steamed crabs: fresh, crisp, and healthy vegetables and fruits!  As you travel to or from the Eastern Shore, be sure to stop at our Merchant of the Month, Mill Creek Farms.

Located at mile marker 55 of westbound Route 50, one mile south of the Route 404 and Route 50 junction in Maryland, Mill Creek Farms offers a tremendous assortment of produce and the plants that you need to make your yard beautiful from spring to fall. Dick Roberts and his family have been serving customers at his market for 30 years, and Dick himself has been in the produce business for 45 years.  During the spring, you’ll find bedding plants, annuals, vegetable plants, hanging baskets, and, of course, early season produce.  Summer brings a large selection of local produce, including corn, cantaloupes, watermelon, tomatoes, peaches, and more! Come fall, they’re stocked with mums, gourds, cornstalks, pumpkins, and late season produce.

In addition to fresh produce, Mill Creek Farms also stocks a wide assortment of Amish products from Northern Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, including pies, cakes, and cookies that are fresh every day.  Other popular items include double-yolk eggs and Amish sodas, too.  You will also find pickles, jams, jellies, spices, noodles, nuts, candies, and honey.  The store is air-conditioned, too, and you can grab a cold drink for the road while you’re stocking up on fresh goodies!

Mill Creek Farms is open seven days a week, 8 AM to 7 PM (sometimes later on weekends) from Memorial Day to Labor Day; in the spring and from Labor Day to late October, hours are 9 AM to 6 PM every day of the week. If you mention that you read about them here, you’ll get something special!

After 45 years in the produce business, Dick told us that he’s ready to retire and spend more time where he winters in Key Largo, Florida.  He’s offering the business for sale.  If you are interested in finding out more about this opportunity, or know someone who is interested in purchasing a thriving business, please contact Dick at 410-820-2323 or contact us at Cash Flow Plus and we’ll put you in touch with him.

Mill Creek Farms, Wye Mills, MD (Mile Marker 55 on Westbound Route 50) 410-820-2323

Cash Flow Plus is excited to announce that we can now provide next-day funding for your credit card transactions! We can also provide you with one consolidated statement for all Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express transactions. In the past, American Express transactions always arrived on a separate statement. Now you can see those transactions in the same place as the others – no more separate statements to wade through every month!

For more information, give us a call at 877-876-3791.

Ah, the month of May…the weather continues to warm, the school year is winding down, summer vacation beckons, and Memorial Day weekend officially opens the summer season at the beach.  If your summer includes a trip to Ocean City or Assateague Island, be sure to schedule a stop at the Assateague Market, our merchant of the month!

Located on Stephen Decatur Highway/Route 611 in Berlin, Maryland, not too far from eastbound Route 50, Assateague Market is a one-stop-shop for everything that you need for the beach or a seaside camping vacation. In addition to groceries, the market carries camping and fishing supplies (including bait and tackle), beer, wine, ice, toiletries, and household supplies.  You can also find firewood for your campsite, kites, everything you need for the beach, RV and boating supplies (limited stock available), and souvenirs.  There’s even a deli where you can get fresh food made to order such as super-stuffed subs, personal-sized pizzas, coffee, fountain sodas, and hand-dipped ice cream. Assateague Market is also a gas station – fill your car or camper’s gas tank or exchange your propane tank while you’re there.

Jerry, the owner of Assateague Market, purchased the store seven years ago after having owned and operated stores on the Ocean City boardwalk. His fiancée Lisa manages the market, and they have both called Ocean City home for 27 years. Lisa likes to stock as many “made in the USA” items as she can, and she tries to support the community by featuring locally-made items in the store. While a lot of their customers are campers and vacationers who pass through, they also serve many regular locals and day trippers, too.  Many customers return year after year, and Lisa and Jerry welcome them back.  “My fear is that Mom and Pop-type stores are becoming extinct. Our customers support us, Mom and Pop, they are amazing! We have the most wonderful customers! ” Lisa says.  Customer service is #1 at Assateague Market!

Assateague Market is open from April 15 to October 31.  During the peak summer season from Memorial Day to Labor Day, hours are 7 AM to 10 PM, sometimes to 11 PM to service campers’ needs. During the spring and fall the hours are a bit shorter.  If you stop in during the month of May, be sure to mention this article to receive 20% off any souvenir or deli order!

Assateague Market, Route 611/Stephen Decatur Highway, Berlin, MD   410-641-3380

In a struggling economy, sometimes the small local businesses suffer the most. While it might seem like you can get a better deal on some purchases by ordering online from larger companies, it will help you and your community in the long run if you choose to shop with local merchants.  Here are some reasons to buy local:

• Shopping locally helps keep money in the local economy—money spent in locally-owned businesses has up to three times the impact on the community as money spent at corporate chains.
• Shopping locally keeps non-chain shops flourishing, which increases the diversity of the community.
• Local businesses offer a more refined expertise and base of knowledge about their product than large chain stores.
• Local ownership means that important decisions are made locally by people who live in the community and who will feel the impact of those decisions.
• Independent area businesses pay more local and state taxes than do mega-corporations, keeping the tax flow community-based.
• Supporting local businesses by shopping locally helps fund and maintain jobs in the area, preventing outsourcing and the outflow of economic wealth.
• Local stores are a place to socialize!
• Local businesses compete with one another for business, which gives shoppers many options.
• A healthy local shopping district brings in more local businesses, which grows the local economy.
• Local business owners are more invested in their communities than large chain stores.
• Thriving local shops reduce fuel requirements and eliminate the monopoly and high pricing of supermarkets.

*Source: blogcatalog.com

At Cash Flow Plus, we are constantly searching for products and services that will enhance the efficiency of your business.  One such system is a computerized point of sale (POS) system for the retail and restaurant industries. By combining POS computerized cash registers with bar code scanners, inventory control software and wireless handheld inventory tracking devices, you can measurably increase control of your business while cutting costs and increasing profits.

A computerized POS system provides a significant advantage over conventional cash registers by allowing you to:

• Speed Customer Checkout: With a barcode scanner and computerized cash register, you can checkout a customer in half the time required with a conventional cash register.
• Increase Accuracy: Checkout is more accurate because the price of every item is specified in Cash Register Express.
• Reduce Theft: By using a computerized cash register, you can reduce theft by an average of 2½% because every piece of inventory in your business is monitored.
• Control Inventory Shrinkage: By comparing on-shelf inventory to your computerized reports, you can monitor breakage and non-theft inventory that “walks” out of your business, as well as track new items as they arrive. Computerizing reduce inventory shrinkage by up to an additional 2½%.
• Manage Inventory Levels:  Computerized inventory reports allow you to track trends and seasonal sales to order more efficiently.
• Monitor Your Margins: Inventory reports can help you recognize and stock more products that bring greater profits and fewer products that carry lower profits.
• Keep Track of Your Customers:  Your best customers are your present customers. Customized mailings based on computerized contact lists can help keep your customers coming back.

Want more information?  Give us a call!

With the arrival of spring, many people turn to the time-honored chore of spring cleaning. Out comes the vacuum, scrub brush, rags and polish to shake off the dust that accumulated over the winter and welcome the fresh air into the home.  Maybe, though, your home could use more than just a cleaning this spring? If you’re looking for a new look for any part of your home, consider new flooring from one of our featured merchants of the month!

Design Expo Flooring offers a wide variety of flooring products for your home, including carpet, 115 species of wood flooring, tile, laminate, slate, and natural stone. Owner George Mysior has been in the flooring business for 30 years, starting out with a carpet cleaning business, then opening Affordable Flooring and Home Services Inc. in 1980 after his customers encouraged him to go into installing carpet! Soon the company began installing other types of flooring as well.  George decided to enter the retail marketplace four years ago when he opened Design Expo Flooring locations in both Dunkirk and Edgewater, Maryland.  The showroom carries the largest selection of hardwood flooring in the area and features carpets by Shaw, Fabrica, Kane, and Southwind, among others – along with a staff of professionals to install them for you. “We have the finest installers in the area!” George says. Design Expo Flooring is offering a 10% discount to Cash Flow Plus readers for the month of April (excluding sale items).  Visit them at 10814 Town Center Boulevard in Dunkirk, or 64 Central Avenue in Edgewater.  Find them on the web at www.designexpofloors.com.

If you live closer to our nation’s capital, look no further for your flooring needs than the Home Flooring Center in Capitol Heights.  Ken and Amanda Storm own and operate the business and are ready to help you find the right floor for your home. Ken has been in the flooring business since 1980, working as a carpet installer before striking out on his own in 1989 to open the Home Flooring Center.  Amanda worked in the medical field before joining her husband to open the business. Home Flooring Center carries all types of flooring, including carpet, vinyl, laminate, hardwoods of many species, ceramic, and marble, and features carpets by Shaw, Kraus, and Mohawk, to name a few. They also offer floating cork floors specifically designed to reduce noise.  Their eight crews consist of skilled installers of carpet, ceramic, and hard surface installations, and their showroom is open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM and Saturday from 10 AM to 3 PM.  Visit the store at 9020 Edgeworth Drive in Capitol Heights and check out their web site at http://www.myhomeflooringcenter.com. For the month of April, Ken and Amanda are also offering Cash Flow Plus readers a 10% discount on regularly-priced items.

Cash Flow Plus strives to keep our merchants up to date on changes in the electronic payment processing industry.  One such change was recently announced, and by increasing your diligence when processing transactions, you will save your business money!  When processing a MasterCard transaction with a corporate or business credit card, issuing banks now require that you include the tax amount in the transaction. In the past, merchants were able to bypass this by simply pressing the “enter” key.  You will no longer be able to do this; however, by including the tax amount and processing the transaction properly, you will qualify for the lower rate and will not be downgraded. Visa transactions traditionally did not allow the merchant to bypass the tax amount entry.