Archive for October, 2010

Legal preparation needed before starting a company

Friday, October 29th, 2010

Entrepreneurs who are forming a corporation need to make sure they acquire an adequate amount of legal counsel and documentation. In an a column for BusinessWeek, Charley Moore, founder and chairman of Rocket Lawyer, offers a list of legal steps that every small business should take. It is essential to plan how the company's assets [...]

Finding states that offer incentives for small businesses

Friday, October 29th, 2010

Entrepreneurs interested in filing an LLC should consider starting their company in a state that is catering to small businesses. Several states are offering startups incentives to open in their region in an attempt to boost the local economy. This is a great opportunity for entrepreneurs. Nolan Bushnell of Inc. magazine notes that the size [...]

A guide to establishing a retirement plan

Friday, October 29th, 2010

Entrepreneurs who have started an LLC, S-Corporation, C-Corporation or sole proprietorship can find retirement plan guidance on a website recently launched by the U.S. Department of Labor and the American Institute of Certified Public Accounts. The website, "Choosing A Retirement Solution for Your Small Business," introduces several retirement plan options, describing their various features and [...]

Key insurance options for small businesses

Friday, October 29th, 2010

Entrepreneurs who file an LLC have provided a substantial level of protection for their company, but they need to evaluate their other insurance needs as well. Each small business has different needs, but there are a host of insurance options that all business owners should consider. Business News Daily recently offered a comprehensive list of [...]

Cyber theft protection

Friday, October 29th, 2010

Cyber criminals often target small businesses, so entrepreneurs looking to start a corporation should be prepared to protect their company's information. Dennis Fisher, a security expert at Kaspersky Lab, told Business News Daily what business owners can do to protect bank account numbers and passwords from hackers. Fisher told the news source that "business owners [...]

Fashion industry startup opportunities

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

For entrepreneurs interested in forming a company in the fashion industry, there are several areas that are great for startups, writes Jeanette Mulvey of Business News Daily. One opportunity, runway coaching, requires minimal startup funds. For entrepreneurs with fashion show production experience, runway coaching allows them to instruct models on how to improve their runway [...]

Obama talks small business policies

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

President Barack Obama touted the steps taken and legislation passed by his administration to bolster small business growth while speaking at a manufacturing plant in Rhode Island recently. So far, the Obama administration has signed 16 tax breaks into law for small businesses as part of the Recovery Act and subsequent legislation, according to a [...]

Buy-sell agreements vital for co-owned businesses

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

When getting ready to start a corporation, it is important for entrepreneurs to have a plan for what to do when it is time to exit the business. Charlie Spence, an Edward Jones financial advisor, recently told the Huffington Post that at some point all business owners will exit their business. While the time of [...]

Business boosting technologies

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

Technology can be used as a strategic business advantage and, for entrepreneurs getting ready to start a corporation. Gartner, an information technology research and advisory company, recently compiled a list of the most promising technologies for 2011. Cloud computing services are increasingly becoming a business staple, providing business owners with IT services at reasonable costs. [...]

Getting approved for a commercial loan

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

For those looking to form an LLC and are in the market for a commercial loan, Associated Content contributor Tracy Jacobs recently compiled guidelines to help navigate the process. Because there are so many options, Jacobs first suggests talking with a lender to find out about the steps involved in getting a commercial loan, the [...]

Finding the first client

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

After filing an LLC, a startup is then faced with the task of finding clients. There is no "right" way to go about it, but trying a variety of different approaches will increase the company's chances for success. In a Wall Street Journal article, Sarah Needleman collected advice from entrepreneurs and academics on how to [...]

White House looking to aid women-owned small businesses

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

For women hoping to form an LLC or start a corporation, the White House recently announced that they will be putting special energy into promoting economic expansion and job growth for women. The Obama administration announced this week that the U.S. Small Business Administration loans are three to five times more likely to go to [...]

More small business owners vie for Congress seats

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

It seems that those involved in small businesses across the country aren't content with just starting an LLC or forming a company. Some are looking to also start a career in government. The National Federation of Independent Business interviewed more than 200 candidates and found that the next Congress and state legislatures could have more [...]

Tax breaks for small businesses

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

The newest round of small business tax cuts, signed into law in September, allow 4.5 million small businesses and individuals to increase the amount of investments they can write off, which is good news for those hoping to form an LLC or start a corporation. With the new legislation, more startup expenses can be deducted, [...]

How to prepare for supplier complications

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

When entrepreneurs get ready to start a company, it is important that they prepare for any future hangups, including the possibility of the company's supplier going out of business. Anne Field offers advice on how to prepare for complications with suppliers in an article on American Express' OPEN Forum. In order to protect the company, [...]

Website design advice

Wednesday, October 27th, 2010

Entrepreneurs who are getting ready to start a corporation should take time to build a strong website so that potential customers can learn about what their startup has to offer. Here are some tips on how to avoid common website mistakes. Although offering customer service online is cost-efficient, and a preferred option for finding answers [...]

How to secure email without encryption

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

As entrepreneurs get ready to file as an LLC and start a corporation, they exchange numerous emails that contain sensitive company information, from tax forms to human resources data. It is important for small business owners to take the time to secure their email. Many large corporations encrypt their emails, but encryption is very expensive [...]

Small businesses can benefit from professional tech support

Monday, October 25th, 2010

Just as seeking help when filing an LLC is important, professional expertise is key to establishing and protecting a company's technology framework. Finding an IT expert can lead to long-term savings, suggests Elsa Wenzel of Entrepreneur magazine. A recent survey conducted by the National Small Business Association shows that 43 percent of business owners spend [...]

Personalities a management team needs

Friday, October 22nd, 2010

As an entrepreneur gets ready to file an LLC, it is important to ensure that the company has a strong management team. There are key qualities that a management team should have, and small business owners should try to pick people who have the skills they lack themselves. Paul Maritz, the president and CEO of [...]

Tips for LLCs trying to woo retailers

Thursday, October 21st, 2010

Selling products to retailers can often be a challenge for business owners who have just formed an LLC. But there are steps entrepreneurs can take that will increase their chances of winning over large retailers. Eilene Zimmerman of the New York Times suggests starting small and local. If an entrepreneur approaches the management of a [...]