Got traction? What investors expect before giving you a dime. What Investors Really Want To See Before Writing A Check Many entrepreneurs confuse a good idea with a good business; they aren't the same thing. Investors know this and spend a great deal of time evaluating potential investments to ensure that they are putting their money behind a good businenss, not just something that sounds great on paper. For all of their experience, this is still a very difficult distinction to make and most … [Read more...]
Obamacare Sticker Shock: Are You Ready to Pay Double?
Obamacare will make health insurance premiums skyrocket. Start preparing now. The Patient Protection and Affordability Care Act, known as Obamacare, is about to enter the next phase of implementation this year. Despite the fact that we are only months away from significant changes to how we access health insurance, millions of people, especially small-business owners, aren’t clear about what the ramifications will be when it comes time to renew or purchase health insurance policies in the fall … [Read more...]
East Coast Small businesse Split On Prospects for 2013
Small businesses are evenly split on their prospects for 2013. Cautious optimism is best. As 2013 goes into full swing, small businesses on the east coast are communicating a mixed message when it comes to feeling out how this year will go for them. ORC International conducted a survey of small businesses on behalf of TD Bank for companies with annual revenues of no more than $5 million on the east coast, from Maine to Florida. The responses indicate that: 49 percent of owners are … [Read more...]
Eurobeef Horse Meat Scandal Offers Risk Management Lessons
Risk Management Lessons: The horse meat scandal in Europe illustrates the risks of blindly trusting what your suppliers tell you. European businesses are currently going through a massive scandal that has affected millions of people, billions of dollars and thousands of companies. It turns out that some meat packers have been saving money by buying horse meat and mixing it with beef. Schools, hospitals, institutions, cafeterias across the continent are suffering the consequences. This type … [Read more...]
Is Dollar Cost Averaging The Best Way To Buy Stocks?
Dollar cost averaging may not be the most efficient, but its the best way to buy stocks Small-business owners who don’t have all of their wealth tied up in their businesses usually prefer to take an active role managing their own investments. Over the long-term, prudent equity (stock) investments provide solid returns that beat inflation and other investment alternatives. When it comes to actually buying the shares, significant research has shown that the most efficient way is to buy them in … [Read more...]
Do We Have What It Takes For A Free Trade Deal With Europe?
The President set a bold goal of Free Trade Deal With Europe in his SOTU. Is it doable? During his State of the Union, President Obama mentioned his interest in securing a Free Trade Deal With Europe. With approximately $4.5 trillion in trade taking place between the U.S. and the EU annually, a free trade agreement could have a significant impact on U.S. exports. A modest 10 percent boost in trade would yield nearly half a trillion dollars in additional goods and services being traded. That’s … [Read more...]
Simple Tax Error Could Cost You Thousands
The IRS denied David and Veronda Durden a $25,000 deduction. You won't believe why. The devil is in the details is the lesson from David and Veronda Durden who were denied a $25,000+ deduction on their tax returns for a charitable contribution they made to their church. Why? Because of a simple technicality, A Simple Tax Error. The IRS disallowed the deduction, increasing their tax liability by thousands of dollars, because the proof they had confirming the donation didn’t meet all of the IRS’ … [Read more...]
Unclaimed Property? Obscure Law Could Expose Your Business to an Audit
Don't miss these upcoming deadlines for filing unclaimed property reports. Small-business compliance with unclaimed property laws, known as escheat laws, isn't usually at the top of the list of most owners' concerns. But failing to address unclaimed property can lead to audits, interest and penalties. When a customer leaves a deposit and never returns, or you issue a refund to clients via check that they never cash, you can’t just keep the money. Escheat laws require you to report that money … [Read more...]
Successful Startups: A View from the Trenches
Sometimes the best lessons of business success come from the trenches. What does it really take to build a successful startup? Entrepreneurs aren’t always able to genuine identify the factors behind their success. Sometimes the real magic happens in the trenches beyond the purview of the founder. Yevgeniy Brikman has worked “in the trenches” of two successful startups—LinkedIn and TripAdvisor—and based on those experiences has developed his own insights for startup success. Brikman presented … [Read more...]
Are You Ready for the Sharing Economy?
The ownership society is giving way to the sharing economy. Position your company now. The pride of ownership used to be something that parents taught their children. But it appears that Generation Y consumers aren’t particularly interested in ownership as much as they are in consumption. The idea of enjoying the benefits of something without the responsibilities of ownership has given rise to the “sharing economy” and your company needs to adapt to this new reality. Over the past decade … [Read more...]
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