A controversial new law in California expands the online sales tax and places the burden on the affiliate sales industry. As state governments scramble to balance their budgets in the wake of the Great Recession, some are enacting controversial legislation, which may do more harm than good. I wrote about state efforts to plug budget holes recently and many of my concerns are coming to fruition. On June 15, California’s assembly and senate passed Assembly Bill 28, which was enacted into law … [Read more...]
Is Now A Good Time To Consider An IPO?
If your company operates in the technology, energy, health care, or biotech sectors it might be time to consider an IPO. As we get deeper into second half of 2011, many companies are taking a closer look at their capital-raising strategies. Some are expressing interest in an Initial Public Offering (IPO) of their securities. Whether or not your company should seriously consider an IPO and whether it is appropriate to pursue one is for a future article. I want to address whether or not now is a … [Read more...]
Use Customer Referral Programs To Grow Sales
Customer referral programs are one of the most effective marketing tactics--and it's free, too. Here's how to take advantage. The most effective types of marketing programs that exist are those that cost nothing, or next to nothing, and are proven to work. It’s almost as good as having a cash printing machine. While most marketing techniques don't fall into this category, there is one which does: customer referrals. The term referral is sometimes used interchangeably with viral marketing, … [Read more...]
Don’t Be Afraid To Empower Your Employees
Are you micromanaging your employees to the point where they are scared to make a decision? It's time to change Empower your employees. My wife and I had dinner recently at a Thai restaurant close to our home. The place was absolutely packed—a testament to the quality of the food and the low prices. When the exasperated waitress brought our check it totaled $27.02—tax and tip automatically included. I seldom carry cash but I just happened to have $27 on me. I told the waitress that I could give … [Read more...]
Unlock The Secret Of Resonance Versus Profitability
Mike Periu explores the trade-off between resonance versus profitability. I recently had dinner with a good friend whom I hadn’t seen in 18 months. A fellow entrepreneur, he surprised me with the news that he had started a new company in the energy sector, far different than has previous company in technology. After speaking at length about the transition and the challenges of his previous venture, it was clear to me that this transition was a perfect example of a concept I had analyzed … [Read more...]
If you’re a small business owner working out of your home, you need to get out
If you're a small business owner working out of your home, you need to get out. Here's why. The Small Business Owner Next Door When you picture small business owners, what do you envision? If you envisioned a solo entrepreneur operating out of their home then you are right. The United States Bureau of the Census sent surveys to 2.3 million business owners across the country as part of the official “Survey of Business Owners.” As the data from this survey is processed, the Census Bureau will … [Read more...]
Are Interest Rates Heading Up?
Interest Rates Heading Up is no good for businesses or consumers, but often they're inevitable. Here's how you can prepare. As the U.S. economy navigates a toxic mix of sluggish growth, high unemployment, rising inflation and trillion dollar budget deficits, increases in interest rates are a real possibility. Increasing rates are exactly what we don’t need. As interest rates go up, both consumers and businesses tend to spend less. People already in debt must divert money budgeted for other … [Read more...]
The ROI Of Daily Deals Takes Another Hit
New research systematically reviews daily deals from the point of view of the small business owner. The ROI Of Daily Deals Takes Another Hit. If there is one business trend that can officially be labeled as saturated in 2011, it is the rise of “daily deals” websites. Companies like Groupon, LivingSocial, Bloomspot, AppSumo, Gilt Man, Travelzoo, BuyWithMe and many, many others use different variations of the daily-deal model in an attempt to secure sales for their customers. Most of these … [Read more...]
What The End Of Quantitative Easing 2 Means For Your Business
How will the end of the $600 billion economic stimulus package affect your business? The end of June 2011 marks the conclusion of the $600 billion economic stimulus program known as “Quantitative Easing 2” or “QE2.” It’s called “2” because it represents the second round of quantitative easing undertaken by the Federal Reserve after the financial crisis spurred by the collapse of Lehman Brothers. Before discussing what the implications are for your business, it’s important to understand what … [Read more...]
How The Federal Reserve Sets Interest Rates
Interest rates can determine if your business sinks or swims. Here's how the Federal Reserve determines them. Almost every person, company and government entity in the U.S. owes money to someone. According to the Federal Reserve, we currently owe—in aggregate—nearly $55 trillion. Just like consumers and governments, businesses use debt to finance day-to-day expenses and long-term investments. Non-financial business debt represents approximately $11 trillion of this total. This massive level … [Read more...]
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