Collecting from customers that can’t or won’t pay you is one of the trickiest parts of running a small business. If you are too lenient you could go bankrupt; if you are too strict you could turn away good customers that just need a little flexibility; if you are too aggressive you could find yourself being sued by a Federal Agency or a State Attorney General. This last mistake – being too aggressive – could have dire consequences for your business. Both Federal and State government agencies … [Read more...]
2015 income “taxmageddon” breakdown
As IRS commissioner John Koskinen has publicly admitted, the 2014 tax year will be one of the most complicated and stressful to process in the history of the IRS. Last-minute changes to tax credits and deductions, new tax rules relating to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) and a reduced IRS budget will create a perfect storm of hot tax mess starting in January. Processing delays – even disappearing returns according to National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson – can be … [Read more...]
Margin Makeover for 2015
How profitable is your business? How do your profits compare to other companies in your industry? These are two questions that small business owners need to consider very carefully before jumping into 2015. Profitability can be measured in different ways but the basic measure is “net profit” which is calculated by subtracting all of your expenses including interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization from your revenues. Sageworks, a leading provider of risk management solutions to … [Read more...]
Choose a payroll strategy for 2015
Choosing how often to pay your employees can be just as important for your business as choosing how much to pay them. While at first it seems like a simple decision, there are a number of factors that can impact employee morale, payroll processing costs and compliance with state and federal regulations. As you prepare for 2015 let’s take a closer look at your different options for paying your people. Standard payroll periods There are four standard options for choosing pay periods: weekly, … [Read more...]
Should you lend money to your employees?
Nearly 38 million families make just enough money to cover their day-to-day expenses. When something unexpected happens that requires additional cash, they don’t have it and need to borrow it. Many of them turn to their employers for help especially if the money is needed immediately. What should you do? Do you make the loan or turn them down? Why lending money to your workers is a risky proposition While many small business owners are sympathetic to workers with a financial problem, an … [Read more...]
How to get the most yield on your business cash
One of the most painful experiences a business owner can go through right now is examining the interest they are earning on their cash. For the past six years interest rates have been at historic lows. A successful business owner with $1 million in a savings account would earn around $100 to $150 per month at current interest rates. The interest on $10 million wouldn’t even cover rent for a studio apartment in most cities! It’s extremely frustrating. Despite recent indications and measures … [Read more...]
How much equity should you give your employees?
Life is very expensive these days. A few decades ago earning a $100,000 salary provided for a very comfortable lifestyle with plenty left over for savings. Today, a $200,000 income in San Francisco, New York, Chicago or Miami provides at best a middle class lifestyle. The average sale price for an apartment in Manhattan is now nearly $1.7 million. The average monthly rent for a two bedroom apartment in San Francisco is nearly $3,900. The average car insurance premium in Miami is $264 per … [Read more...]
What to do when you disagree with your investors
Having a disagreement with your company’s investors is one of the most difficult challenges that any small business owner can face. It’s stressful, time-consuming and the stakes can be very high. It’s quite common to see the founders of successful businesses kicked out of their own companies due to disagreements with their funders. Like any challenge you face, it’s important to understand your options and take a careful, gradual approach to resolving the conflict as amicably and as quickly as … [Read more...]
The most profitable way to sell online
Alibaba, the Chinese e-commerce giant expects to facilitate the sale of $420 billion worth of goods this year, up from $170 billion in 2012. The company founded by Jack Ma in his apartment 15 years ago has become the largest online seller on earth, dwarfing companies like Amazon and eBay. Their main business – the Alibaba marketplace – connects small and medium sized businesses with buyers inside and outside of China. While Alibaba’s success is unique, the form part of a largely trend – namely … [Read more...]
Tax inversion: How incorporating abroad can lower your tax bill
The United States has one of the highest corporate income tax rates in the world. Multiple studies confirm that even if you take into account credits and deductions, the effective rate (what companies actually pay) continues to be among the highest. Corporate profits between $100,000 and $335,000 are taxed at a 39 percent rate, with higher profit levels taxed between 34 and 38 percent. Add state and local income taxes to the mix and a corporation could pay half of its profits in income taxes. … [Read more...]
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