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Small Businesses Should Prepare for Health Care Reform in 2013

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Finance expert Mike Periu on how Businesses Should Prepare for Health Care Reform in 2013 for upcoming requirements to employee benefits when Health Care Reform goes into effect in 2014. 2013 is the last year small-business owners have to prepare for the health care reform law, which requires certain businesses to provide health insurance to their employees. Beginning in 2014, companies with 50 or more full-time employees must provide adequate health insurance. Failure to do so will result in a … [Read more...]

Business Model Innovation Is a Key Driver of Financial Success

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Finance expert Mike Periu on how creative thinking in business models can make your company's success soar. Amancio Ortega is one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world, growing his clothing manufacturing and fashion company Inditex (owner of Zara boutiques) from zero to over $20 billion in annual revenues. With a personal fortune now in excess of $37 billion, he is the second richest man in Europe and one of the wealthiest in the world. The key driver of Ortega's success, according … [Read more...]

U.S. Holiday Sales Fall Flat

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Finance expert Mike Periu on the low retail numbers for this year's holiday shopping season. U.S. Holiday Sales Retail sales during the holiday season ending December 25th grew at a mediocre 0.7 percent compared to the same period last year, according to MasterCard Advisors SpendingPulse, the data tracking and analysis division of MasterCard. This is one-third of the the growth rate experienced in 2011 which was in itself a disappointing year. Some analysts believe that retailers should be … [Read more...]

2013 Resolutions for Small Businesses

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Finance expert Mike Periu on the top six Resolutions for Small Businesses owners are making for 2013. NerdWallet, an online credit card comparison website, surveyed small-business owners asking them to share their New Year's resolutions. If you are still thinking about what to strive for in 2013, you can get some inspiration from your fellow business owners' goals. The 2013 resolutions fall into 6 categories: Attracting, training and retaining talented employees Improving office … [Read more...]

How Divorced Couples Can Still Make Their Business Succeed

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Finance expert Mike Periu on how the end of a marriage doesn't necessarily mean the end of a business partnership, Divorced Couples can still make their business succeed. According to the Bureau of the Census, there are approximately 3.7 million businesses that are owned by husband and wife teams. With approximately half of first-time marriages ending in divorce, there is a high likelihood that a couple who build a business together may not build a life together. The obvious advice is to part … [Read more...]

Types of Data the Government Can Access Without a Warrant or Advance Notice

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Finance expert Mike Periu on the surprising information Data the Government Can Access without a warrant. Many small-business owners are embracing new technologies to manage confidential business and personal information. This has many benefits, but privacy isn't one of them. Beyond security risks, many new types of information storage aren't covered by existing privacy and consumer protection laws. As a result, the information can be accessed by government and law enforcement officials without … [Read more...]

Fortune 500 companies are supporting small businesses

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Finance expert Mike Periu on a variety of ways that many Fortune 500 companies are supporting small businesses. Big Companies Spending to Support Small Businesses Small business has been in the spotlight recently and this is starting to payoff in many ways. Most recently several Fortune 500 companies have launched campaigns to publicly support small business growth through various programs. Sam's Club, owned by Walmart, is offering $1,000 of free merchandise to 102 companies selected by SCORE, … [Read more...]

Use These Strategies to Reduce Your Income Taxes

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Finance expert Mike Periu on strategies to implement now Reduce Your Income Taxes. Small-business owners still have time to implement several strategies that will reduce their 2012 income tax liability. The catch is that they must be put into place before the new year. Consider the following opportunities: Accelerate income. Given the near-certainty of income tax increases beginning with the 2013 year, small-business owners that use cash-basis reporting should try their best to invoice … [Read more...]

The Best Business Books of 2012

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Finance expert Mike Periu on the best business books of 2012 chosen by leaders in their field of expertise. Strategy+Business, the blog for consulting firm Booz & Company, recently announced the winners of its annual best business books competition. Unlike other lists, these books aren't selected based on sales or by popular vote; instead experts in the chosen category choose the winners. The categories themselves vary from year to year depending on what's timely or particularly … [Read more...]