1. Go to networking and other community events From a chamber of commerce business card exchange, to a town fair—going out and directly meeting new people is hands down the most effective way to spread the word about a small business. Some business cards, a nice smile, and a confident hand shake are all…
Knowing what the client wants is the key factor to success in any type of business. News media, government agencies and political candidates need to know what the public thinks. Associations need to know what their members want. Large companies need to measure the attitudes of their employees. The best way to find this…
Businesses face many pitfalls and challenges every day. Many small businesses are not prepared to meet some of these situations, resulting in lost time and resources. A few of these pitfalls are: Insurance Workers’ Compensation Disaster Planning Taxes Security and Records Keeping Independent Contractor or Employee? Employer Liability for an Employee’s Bad Acts…
A trademark is a brand name. A trademark or service mark includes any word, name, symbol, device, or any combination, used or intended to be used to identify and distinguish the goods/services of one seller or provider from those of others, and to indicate the source of the goods/services. COPYRIGHT vs. TRADEMARK vs. PATENT…
Our brains and bodies react to dissatisfaction, unhappiness, anxiety, stress, anger, and threats in the same way, and to a greater or lesser degree, depending on the intensity (immediacy) of the actual or perceived situation. The brain’s warning center sands a “squish” of chemicals that cause the body to prepare to run, fight, or…
Eligibility Requirements To be eligible, a firm must be at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more women, and primarily managed by one or more women. The women must be U.S. citizens. The firm must be “small” in its primary industry in accordance with SBA’s size standards for that industry. In order for…
Mark Gimein has an important story today about Prosper, which is required reading for anybody — myself included — who has some hope about peer-to-peer lending helping to disintermediate banks and get credit flowing again to individuals and small businesses. Prosper was one of the first companies to market in the peer-to-peer space, and…
Many people have turned to bankruptcy as a solution to their financial situation. Whether to stop a foreclosure on a house, a repossession of a car or a wage garnishment, bankruptcy can provide a fresh start and allow you to rebuild your credit and get back on a healthy financial footing. Although it may…
Trusts can be established for a wide variety of purposes, and some types of trusts have more than one name. This issue provides brief descriptions of 50 trusts. The use of trusts has increased during the last 30 years as taxpayers attempt to nurture and preserve financial wealth for their spouses, children, and grandchildren. …
One of the most common leadership development questions that I hear from executives is, “Why does succession planning feel like such a waste of time?” I do a lot of work on executive coaching and succession with my good friend, Jim Moore. Jim is the former CLO of three major companies. Here are some…