The sale of social-media pioneer Digg at a fraction of its previous value holds some important lessons for small businesses. Lessons from Digg Technology and business headlines were recently dominated by the somewhat shocking story that social media pioneer Digg had been sold for the paltry sum of $500,000. That headline wasn't entirely accurate, since it only represented the sale of some assets. The total price was closer to $16 million, which is still only a fraction of the $100 to $200 … [Read more...]
How Much Money Do You Really Need to Retire?
In Part 1 of our retirement guide, we show you how to easily calculate the amount of how much money do you really need to retire, no matter what your age. Determining how much money you need in order to have a decent retirement is one of the most written about topics in personal finance. For every article published there is an opinion or a rule of thumb that is put forth. While these opinions and rules might make for enjoyable reading, they don't help you answer a very simple yet very important … [Read more...]
Simple Math That Will Close Deals
Show your leads what their return on investment will be and you're likely to win more clients. Math That Will Close Deals. During any sales process, there is always a point in time when you need to discuss price. Hopefully you have previously discussed the general price range to make sure that you and your potential customer are at least within the same general range. But at some point you need to prepare the actual price quote. It’s at this critical point that many small-business owners fail … [Read more...]
Are Variable Annuities Right for Small-Business Owners?
If you haven't been pitched this investment before, chances are you will be soon. Besides growing your own company, what is the best investment a small-business owner can make? This is a simple question that lacks a simple answer. For owners who have most or all of their net worth tied up in their business, it’s important to take some of that value and invest it in something that carries a different risk profile. If you are in a stable, low-return business, then using some of that excess … [Read more...]
Loan Covenants: What Small Business Owners Need to Know
Small business loan Covenants come with conditions that are in place to protect both you and the bank's best interest. The terms of a business loan or line of credit are very different than those of personal loans. Many small businesses begin with a personal or business credit card to help manage their cash flow. But if things go well then a $25,000 or even a $50,000 card limit won’t be enough to give you the flexibility you need. When your business needs a $100,000 or a $1 million line of … [Read more...]
How a Small-Business Owner Should Interview a Financial Adviser
Many small-business owners are hesitant to engage a personal financial advisor. But here's why--and how--you should Interview a Financial Adviser. Many small-business owners have achieved success by taking a “hands-on” approach to running their companies. Having full control over your business’ operations gives peace of mind because after all, no one is going to care about your business like you do. But that attitude can actually lead to serious problems when it comes to managing your personal … [Read more...]
Should You Fund Your Startup With Convertible Debt?
Should your business offer its investors debt or equity in exchange for capital? The answer may be both. There are many ways for a nascent small business to acquire the money it needs to start operations and expand. By now, many owners realize that the traditional bank loan is the most difficult and least advantageous source of capital for many small businesses. They instead turn to venture capital firms or angel investors. When you finally find the right funding partner and shake hands on the … [Read more...]
Supreme Court’s Obamacare Ruling Has Small Businesses Divided
Experts on both sides of the issue weigh in on what the Affordable Care Act decision means for small-business owners. Mike Periu was quoted on "Supreme Court's Obamacare Ruling Has Small Businesses Divided" The U.S. Supreme Court's 5-to-4 decision put President Obama's health care reform to the test and found that legally its underpinning is strong. The ruling on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which came on June 28, was met with cheers by some, and objections from others. … [Read more...]
Why Small Business Owners Fall Prey to Investment Scams
In your search for retirement security, don't fall prey to Investment Scams. Plan ahead and set reasonable expectations for growth. Convicted Ponzi-schemer R. Allen Stanford was sentenced to 110 years in prison recently for perpetrating a financial fraud with estimated losses of $7 billion. The Stanford Financial Group offered “investors” the opportunity to invest large sums of money at a very high interest rate with a 100 percent principal protection guarantee. Not bad, eh? Unfortunately for … [Read more...]
Why Business Loans Are Getting Cheaper
The Federal Reserve releases its first quarter 2012 bank survey which helps gauge today's lending environment. Every quarter, the Federal Reserve conducts an extensive survey of lending officers at domestic banks and at the domestic branches of foreign banks operating in the U.S. The results of this survey provide key insight into what decision makers in the lending process are thinking and doing. The survey from the first quarter of 2012 has been released and the news is mixed. Lenders are … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 104
- 105
- 106
- 107
- 108
- …
- 134
- Next Page »