3 Things You Should Know About Small Business: Nov. 28

But, of course, relocating is a pain in the neck, which means the benefits must outweigh the costs. Cohan notes there are six elements to decide whether relocating is the right thing to do: pillar companies or large companies that may have customers for your business; universities, which can offer a great source of intellectual property and talent; human capital including a full range of talent from C-level executives to salespeople to marketers; access to investment capital; mentoring programs and finally, values.

"Silicon Valley has a unique set of values that guide the way people behave -- it bets on ideas that will disrupt the way the world works, it pushes people to give back without expectation of short-term gain, and it rewards intellectual humility," Cohan writes. "Such values may be critical to your venture's prospects for success. One entrepreneur who relocated to Palo Alto told me that in London -- where he came from - it is very difficult to meet with people who have capital or valuable advice and those masters of the universe only help if they see an immediate short-term benefit for themselves. This helped prompt him to leave London."

3. Intersect Fund offers disaster loans to businesses that don't qualify for SBA loans. The Intersect Fund, a New Jersey-based nonprofit microlender, is offering disaster-relief loans to New Jersey businesses that have been affected by Hurricane Sandy. The loans are targeted at businesses that don't qualify for SBA Disaster Loans.

Qualifying businesses must be located in New Jersey and have sustained physical damage during the storm or its aftermath. Businesses can use the funds for things like replenishing spoiled or damaged inventory, making repairs to equipment and leasehold improvements or to replace awnings or signage.

The fund will distribute a maximum of $15,000 at an interest rate of 5% for up to 36 months. There are no application fees or prepayment penalties. Most loan applications will be approved within three days. Applications are available online or by phone at (800) 840-1900.

Founded by students at Rutgers University, the Intersect Fund provide business training, coaching and microloans to minority and low-income business owners in Northern and Central New Jersey.

-- Written by Laurie Kulikowski in New York.