The NCE Newsletter

May 3, 2012

Tax Mistakes That Small Businesses Make

Filed under: Uncategorized — Blogger @ 10:54 pm

It’s advisable for a small business owner to hire a tax professional rather than attempt to file taxes themselves. Don’t bother looking to the IRS for help or relief; it’s up to you to make sure your taxes are accurate and filed on time. Here are a few of the common mistakes small business owners make during tax season.

Filing taxes yourself

Don’t hire a friend or try to file taxes yourself. If you’re running a small business then filing taxes is best left to professionals. We suggest you hire a CPA for peace of mind and a guarantee your taxes are filed correctly.

Don’t get overexcited about a refund

Your objective is to receive a small refund from your taxes. Be wary of receiving a large refund check from the IRS. A large refund means that you’ve given the IRS interest-free money.

Employee gifts

Giving too many gifts to your employees can boomerang on you when you file taxes. Unfortunately the IRS only allows you to deduct up to twenty five dollars worth of gifts per year, per employee. So anything over that is a nondeductible expense.

Know what’s deductible

This is the perfect reason to hire a tax professional. Too many small business owners miss deductible expenses during the year. Use common sense when you make a purchase. Even talking business over dinner with friends can be a deductible expense.

Never throw away receipts

The easiest thing to do is to create a tax journal for this purpose. Write on the receipt the purpose of the purchase, who you were with, and save it. If the IRS asks any questions you’ll be able to answer them out of your tax journal.

Comments (0)

February 27, 2012

Small Business and Taxes in 2012

Filed under: Uncategorized — Blogger @ 8:30 pm

As a general rule, Republicans are against raising taxes while Democrats are in favor. Under our current Democratic Congress and Presidency, taxes have become more complicated for small business owners, and will continue on the current trend if Barack Obama is elected for a second term. Consider the following trends to be the norm if a Republican president is not nominated in 2012.

Complexity of taxation is on the rise.

The United States tax system grows more complex with the addition of new tax rules in 2012 as other governments around the world are reforming. Unfortunately this turns the foreign capital back elsewhere. Small business companies in the United States will have to rely on President Obama’s recent loan incentives for now if they’re looking for startup money.

The impact of lower tax rates.

There is much less incentive recently to avoid the penalties imposed by the IRS due to the low interst rates on small businesses. If you are a limited liability company paying income tax on a share of business profits you’ll end up paying less estimated tax on the personal return. Though this could result on a penalty of three percent for underpayment, the amount is small next to the value of retaining money that could be used for cash flow.

Unemployment taxes rising on employers.

Employers for about half the states will be paying higher FUTA taxes. As most states borrowed from the federal government to pay unemploymet benefits, and have yet to pay it back, the business owner is sharing the burden of the bill. Expect problems with FUTA liability credits because of this.

Extension of some business tax rules.

Many of the Bush era tax rules have expired at the end of 2011. Small business owners may see favorable extentions through 2012 as there is bipartisan support for small business tax relief in Congress.

States are desperate for fresh revenue.

As federal support for states wanes local governments are searching for creative ways to raise money. Unfortunately more and more states are taking risks with gambling institutions and legalizing marijuana. While deregulating these vices brings in quick revenue, it will drain small businesses in time.

Health care remains uncertain.

By June of 2012 the fate of the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act will be decided. The biggest incentive for small business owners under “Obamacare” is the creation of a small business tax to help pay for employee heath care coverage. Most politicians agree that the plan will fail. Small business owners are hesitant to sign up, and must still comply with current laws in the meantime.

More tax audits are being handed out to business owners.

State and federal tax disputes are rising. The Department of Labor and the IRS are continuing to use popular audits on owners and handing out tax disputes to tie down corporate excecutives. The sharing of information is becoming more frustrating as the tax code becomes more complex year after year. Small business owners are being forced to keep their books cleaner this year while dealing with stricter regulations.

Comments (0)

January 27, 2012

Writing Help for Business Owners

Filed under: Uncategorized — Blogger @ 1:18 am

If you’re doing an extensive amount of writing for your business then consider adapting these tools and tricks into your writing process. They will freshen up the process immediately and are common among famous writers in every field.

Learn How to Touch Type

The biggest and most important step for anyone who wants to make writing easier is learning to write without looking at the keyboard. It builds confidence, saves time and strain, and makes writing enjoyable. A variety of apps are now available and I would suggest downloading one right away. It only takes about a month or so if you practice an hour a day and it’s guaranteed to be a great investment in your time.

Buy a Mechanical Keyboard

The trend in tech is working it’s way toward paper thin keyboards, but real writers look to the past for the best ones to write with. A mechanical keyboard offers the most immediate solution to you if your sick of writing and an often overlooked tool. You might remember them; they sport loud clicky switches with big responsive keys, and are angled to offer a comfortable position for your wrists. Stress on the fingers and wrists come quick if you type anything lengthy.The most famous is the IBM model M, easily purchased on eBay for a few dollars. If you want to get fancy there are plenty of reasons to get excited. Das Keyboard, Ducky, RealForce all offer keyboards with quiet and loud switches for Windows and Mac. Make sure you pick up a good leather palm rest with it and get the real feeling of writing on a computer.

Use a Minimalistic Word Processor

Writing can be dull and uninspiring with most word processors. If you’re sick of looking at Microsoft Word then it’s time for an upgrade. With all the menus and rulers littering Word it’s hard to concentrate on the task at hand. Ditch all that and download a word processor with a minimalistic interface that offers full screen support, such as Scrivener or WriteRoom. This essentially turns your screen into a blank page and in effect forces you to concentrate. After that, it’s up to you.

Write From Start to Finish

This can become a big problem with writing content for the internet. There are all sorts of openings to jump around the text, play with formatting, and even surf the web instead of writing.

When you start don’t stop, and don’t put yourself in a position to be interrupted. Usually business owners update their content in the office while continually being interrupted by phone calls and meetings. The best way to write successfully is from start to finish. It’s easier to spot weak points in the writing when you work this way. You can feel the bad rhythms in the work which makes it easier to re-write. The goal of every writer is to work successfully in one sitting without re-writing. People get frustrated because they think this process happens naturally. It doesn’t; it takes a lot of practice. When you pick up on this good writer’s habit, it makes the work seem more cohesive and enjoyable. Nothing is worse for a piece then writing a little, getting up, then coming back, etc. You will get into the habit of looking for a distraction instead of writing.

Develop a Style

Find a style you like to write in and stick with it. Over time, you’ll naturally refine your style which will encourage you to write more. Writer’s tend to be too afraid of writing in their own voice because they’re afraid of what people will think. The ironic thing is that reader’s rarely scrutinize writing that has heart. Why? Because even if they don’t like it, they respect it. If you think writing is hard, think about all the people who are so intimidated by writing that they never write one word. A lot of people don’t write but like to read because they admire writing, like information, etc. The fact that you do write, and are searching for ways to become a better writer, is an encouraging thing. If you fake it, all is lost. Be an individual and find a style. Don’t scan the internet looking to riff off someone else’s style either. Instead, be real and develop a style through practice.

Work at the Same Time Everyday

A lot of owners with small business blogs only write once a week. Unfortunately, it’s hard to become a writer if you work that infrequently. Most writers agree the best time to write is in the morning. This is when the magic happens. Your mind will automatically fill itself with content when you sit down at a particular time to write. The mind most likely generates this content while you sleep in anticipation of the day’s work. Brainstorming can work really well at night for ideas and points of entry, but the mental energy required to write most likely won’t be there after a long day. If you’re a business owner chances are that you write in your office sometime in the afternoon, perhaps before or after lunch. The afternoon is perhaps the worst time to write anything. Routines are somehow easier to keep in the morning when the mind is fresh, so if you’re having a problem writing sit down and get it out of the way or it will haunt you all day.

Comments (0)

December 16, 2011

Books for Small Business Owner’s and Entrepreneurs This Holiday Season

Filed under: Uncategorized — Blogger @ 6:41 pm

If you’re looking for a good present for a small business owner this holiday season, or interested in a good read yourself, then take a look at the five books below.

The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi

A favorite book among Japanese business men and a fascinating look into the mind of Japan’s greatest folk hero. Musashi’s treatise on strategy has been applied to every aspect of Japanese society. American entrepreneurs will appreciate these insights from the orient, as they are useful in business and everyday life. Mushsahi’s philosohy was that of winning, at any cost, over your opponent. He explains his hard fought principles on winning throughout the book and brings the reader closer to understanding Mushashi’s secret to success; there isn’t one. If you do business with the Japanese then this is a must read. Good for anyone else looking for something exotic and interesting.

A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn

If you’ve never read an American history book then now is the time. With all the turmoil going on in the country right now, it’s time to get the facts straight. Regarded as one of the most important history books ever written, Howard Zinn’s People’s History gives you a dense yet exciting journey through American history from the perspective of the people. This runner up for the National Book award is important reading for anyone who wants to understand businessess role in the founding of America. The text reads more like a novel then a boring history book, which makes it a great gift and an informative one.

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

The story of a young architect who starts his career with nothing and rises to become one of the most powerful and important people in America. If you’re an entrepreneur looking for inspiration you will find it and more in Ayn Rand’s classic about independence and endurance in the face of adversity. Howard Roark’s journey through America takes him from the slums to the creation of entire towns. A terrific story that reads like a political thriller. There aren’t a lot of good books out there that tell a business story with such excitement and power. If you’re in business and want and inspiring read this holiday season, then pick up the Fountainhead.

The 48 Laws of Power By Robert Greene

One of the most empowering books you will ever read. Something like a history book and a philosophy text, the 48 laws presented are essential lessons that every small businessman must now. Examples of the lessons you will learn are ‘Win through your actions’, never through argument’, ‘Use absence to increase respect and honor’, and ‘Master the art of timing’. You will feel a lot smarter and more powerful after reading this one. Get it for you or for someone who lives in a very competitive world. After reading this one you will have a better understanding of how successful people tick, and by the end you will have a firm understanding on what it takes to become successful yourself.

Economics In One Lesson by Henry Hazlitt

If you haven’t read a book on economics yet then this is the perfect one to start with. A slim book, yet packet important content on free market economics. The principles are set up simply, then expound into important lessons for businessman and consumer alike. There’s a lot of talk about the economy from everyone in the country. Empower yourself and understand what exactly is going on by reading this classic text on economics. Finding the right segway into this topic is important, and this is the perfect book to do it.

Comments (0)

November 7, 2011

Message to #Occupy: Get A Job!

Filed under: Unemployment — Blogger @ 3:59 am

Consider these jobs as an opportunity into the white collar working world. Honorable entry level jobs are not hard to find. If you’re changing fields, or need a side job to help boost your small business, then consider taking a temporary position in one of the occupations mentioned below. These jobs pay well, provide the important benefits you’re looking for, and require no experience. Wearing casual office attire every day does wonders for your self esteem, and working in step with motivated individuals will help you quickly forget the current recession. If the job requires a certain level of experience, they will train you for free. These common positions are available in every city across America. The best part is you don’t even need to hit the streets blind to find a job in these fields; there are listings every morning on sites like Craigslist and Indeed. Good Luck!

Personal Assistant

Learn what it takes to be successful first hand through assisting a businessperson daily. A personal assistant is responsible for scheduling and meetings, correspondence, daily management, and note taking. The job can differ greatly depending on who you’re working for. This presents an opportunity for you to choose the type of business you want to assist. For instance, if you’re interested in writing for a magazine in the future, you can personally assist the senior copywriter of an advertising agency and learn the trade through experience. A lot of people think a personal assistant fetches coffee and picks up pens at Office Max, but this limited view of the job is misleading. Personal assistants have a strong hand in the important day to day decisions of rich and powerful people. Surround yourself with the successful and you instantly become a success.

Department Store

Department stores are a great place for young people to get back in the swing of the working world. Plus, these jobs can sometimes turn into careers. Young girls starting out at a make-up counter have become internationally known cosmetic artists. Cashiers have become buyers for first-class stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdales. Entry level wages at your local department store start higher than you think. The environment of commerce and season driven style is sure to boost your drive, especially around the holidays. Think about it; tools, electronics, domestic, men’s and women’s fashion, sporting goods, shoes, and eyeglasses. There’s sure to be a department for you.

College University

College institutions don’t just offer campus positions to students. Anyone is welcome to apply for terrific jobs at the most prestigious schools in the country. You would be surprised at the availability of jobs at your local universities or community colleges. For those of you with an entrepreneur’s spirit, there is a world of information waiting for you after work. Learn something on the side while making a respectable wage in an inspiring environment. The types of jobs at a school or university are diverse, and it’s fun sometimes to go back to school. This time they’ll pay you.

Night Auditor

Amicable and always in top form, the night auditor is an important pillar holding respectable hotels up in high esteem. Hotel desks are the gateway all weary and excited travelers must pass through before hitting the sack, or hitting the bar. Most auditors handle the responsibilities of the front desk agent and some duties of the accounting department, as well as work alongside other nighttime employees. Functions include check-in and check-out, reservations, responding to guest complaints, coordinating housekeeping requests, and handling any emergencies that may arise. Night auditors are also responsible for balancing the guest ledgers for the accounting department, so you can pick up some important accounting skills, too. It sounds like a lot, and it is, but night auditors get paid very well, especially in large hotel chains like Hilton. If you’re on the dodge, some places will even put you up monthly for a slashed rate.

File Clerk

Clerical workers make up one of the largest occupational groups in the United States for good reasons. Join the stays quo; you’ll be glad you did on payday. Any person can be gainfully employed as a clerk full-time with benefits, anywhere in the country. This class of workers grow significantly over the years. Common responsibilities of clerical workers include administrative responsibilities, record keeping, filing, and staffing service counters. Law offices downtown are usually in need of good clerks, as well as medical offices and courthouses. If you’re lucky, your city even has a unionized clerical local you can become a part of. There’s strength in numbers, so get with the program.

Optometry Assistant

Similar to a dental assistant, without the necessity of trade schooling. Work in a cool and quiet atmosphere selling an important medical product, without the stress of a doctor’s office. An optometry assistant performs administrative and clinical support to the optometrist and the technician. After all the free training you’ll get with this one, couple up at a trade school that offers certifications for optometry assistants. You can boost your pay scale significantly with little investment. Technology in eyeglass lenses is getting more advanced, and sunglasses are big business right now. Optometry shops are opening every day and need charming people to show them through the shop. This charming person could be you.

English Tutor

Don’t forget one of the most important skills you’re equipped with; English! Language agencies around America are always looking for good individuals to teach English. Motivate yourself by sharing in the motivation of others. Families from every culture on Earth move to America for the opportunities that we might take for granted. Their first important step here is learning our native English. Help people enter the workplace with the confidence of the English language in their pocket. Language agencies are always looking for good people to sign onto their team. These agencies train you to communicate with foreigners and actually find a job for you. Saying no to this one is hard; you’ve been training for it your whole life.

Medical Billing

The complicated system of medical insurance has given rise to a large class of employed people that communicate between the medical office and the insurance company. If you’re interested in the medical field, you have the opportunity to choose what type of medical office you want to work in, and learn all about it day to day. At this job you take command of the billing cycle in the office. Some claims can take several months to settle, others in just a few days. This is mostly an administrative position, with the advantages of a higher pay scale and more prestige. You will experience the responsibility of reporting on medical records to the largest insurance companies in the world and communicating incidentals to doctors in the group. This entry level job will train you in the complicated process of medical billing that the market is willing to pay well for.

Getting back into the workplace seems like a moral and ethical problem to a lot of angry young people right now. But the highest ideal in life is making money, and these suggestions are a good way to get you on the fast track to doing just that.

Comments (0)

October 13, 2011

Information Websites for Small Business Owners – Get Blog Articles, Videos, and Education About the Economy

Filed under: Uncategorized — Blogger @ 10:09 pm

The current trend in the Republican GOP debates is a firm understanding of the economy. With the Wall Street occupation in New York and the bleak political debates on mainstream media, small business owners are wondering all the time what the future holds for them. Now is the time to get educated. The best part about education today is that you can get it for free on the internet. You just gotta know where to look! These websites will help the small-business owner educate themselves to the current changes in our nation’s economy, fast and free. I encourage you to find more of these terrific sites yourself, even though these few will keep you busy for quite a while.

Ludwig von Mises Institute

http://mises.org/

The Ludwig von Mises Institute is an Austrian libertarian academic organization engaged in research and scholarship in the fields of economics, philosophy and political economy. Its scholarship is inspired by the work of Austrian School economist Ludwig von Mises and is funded entirely through private donations. Enjoy videos and blogs from the most well known economic celebrities around the world. A small business owner can keep themselves actively educated for a while with the wealth of knowledge contained on this site. Get familiar with the current economic trends from the perspective of economists around the world.

WikiLeaks

http://wikileaks.org

WikiLeaks is an international non-profit organization that publishes submissions of private, secret, and classified media from anonymous news sources, leaks, and whistleblowers. Operated with a small team by the Scandalous Julian Assange, this site gives you free access to important cables and videos of our government’s activities at home and abroad. You owe it to yourself to discover how government really operates with our important tax payer dollars. At times startling, at times predictable, these candid resources are available to the American public for the first time through this important non-profit organization.

The Khan Academy

http://www.khanacademy.org/

The Khan Academy is a non-profit educational organization, created in 2006 by educator Salman Khan, a graduate of MIT. With the stated mission of providing a high quality education to anyone, anywhere, the website supplies a free online collection of more than 2,600 micro lectures via video tutorials stored on YouTube teaching mathematics, history, finance, physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, economics and computer science. Small business owners who want to continue their education on-line for free are using this important website every day. The history, economics, and mathematic courses will be especially popular with small business owners. As it becomes increasingly harder for entrepreneurs to break away for their important businesses, on-line classes are becoming more and more popular. Take advantage of one of the best and stand on the knowledge of the Khan Academy.

The United States Government

http://www.usa.gov/

Welcome to the official web portal of the United States Government. If you’re looking to find out what your country can do for you, this is a good place to start. The site is designed to improve the public’s interaction with the U.S. government by quickly directing website visitors to the services or information they are seeking. USA.gov links to every federal agency and to state, local, and tribal governments, and is the most comprehensive site in and about the U.S. government. If you’re a small business owner who is wondering the current regulations of loans, information on the Federal Reserve, or the status of stimulus plans, they can all be found through here. You can also enjoy books and information printed by the Government and mailed to your home for free. Government has a bigger hand in the role of small business in America than it used to. Stay informed of the current practices of the state and keep your small business in the loop.

Comments (0)

September 11, 2011

Cool Small Business Start-Ups On The Cheap

Filed under: Uncategorized — Blogger @ 7:36 pm

Here are ten great ideas to start a part-time small business with limited experience and little cash. These businesses can be started up in no time, in any town across the county, with great results. If you’re looking to delve into the world of small business, but aren’t the most business-minded person, then these cool start-ups might give you an idea of the types of possibilities available to you.

Handyman

Homeowners are trying to find handymen like never before, and they’re hard to find. Home improvement projects are expensive, and homeowners with little know how and a lot of work needed are dying to come across the jack-of-all-trades. If you have the know-how and the tools, you can establish a great small business and run it as a sole proprietorship. If going solo isn’t your thing, you can connect yourself with the many handyman franchise operations around the country.

Amazon Book Seller

Like books? You can make a very decent living selling used books on Amazon.com. If you have a car and a computer then you can start making money off Amazon book sales in as little as a few days. The hook is to search through thrift stores, garage sales, and flea markets for great books and re-sell them at a higher margin on Amazon to people looking for those particular books. You need to know your authors and publishers well for this type of start-up. What separates to successful Amazon bookseller from the rest is this simple fact. For example, a boring law book can be picked up at a yard sale for a quarter and sold to a law student online for up to two hundred dollars. It happens every day!

House/Pet/Babysitter

Times are tough. Get back to the basics and pick up a ton of extra cash sitting in for someone while they’re away. In a post 9/11 economy more Americans are concerned about security for their loved ones. Take advantage of this. You need nothing for this start-up; only trustworthiness and reliability. This job also affords you the opportunity to work on studying another start-up while your sitting around waiting for your clients to return. If you have little cash and not many skills, this could be a gateway to more lucrative opportunities.

Word Processing Service

All you need for this one is a laptop, and if you want to go all out, a good mechanical keyboard. Businesses, students, law firms and more are always in need of professional typing services. If you have the discipline and typing skills them you can supplement your income from home, the library, or anywhere you choose. Put up a craigslist add and you will be surprised at how many responses coming in from professional businesses and the like. Write your own rates and build an impressive resume with respectable clients. You can double your income by adding resume or report writing to your services.

Bed and Breakfast/Small-Inn

If you have a stately home or simply a charming one, you can open your doors to travelers from all over the world looking for that special bed and breakfast experience. This is good for couples looking to pay off a mortgage, or retired people who don’t have many visitors and like the extra income. Turn those empty rooms into cash and get the thrill of meeting interesting people from all over. No cash is required for this start-up, but you must be a charming host, be able to cook, and don’t mind cleaning up after strangers.

Mobile Auto Tune-Ups

If you’ve got the skills and a small truck or van you can offer a mobile automotive service in your area that is more then likely to succeed. People are getting more wary of taking their cars to garages with the increasing prices mechanics are charging for more complicated modern cars. Take advantage and offer basic services like oil changes and tire rotation on the cheap. If you have a garage at home, you can slowly build a customer base and continue on by doing more complicated repairs from home. Everyone loves an honest mechanic that will drive to them and save the day.

Domestic Services

As couples, parents, and even singles are more busy working, those with domestic skills can capitalize on this and take care of people’s home needs. The income you can earn delivering groceries or doing laundry is more impressive then you might think. A car will be required for this job, but that’s it. This is important work, and the more skill you have around the house, the more services you can offer. Getting a gig cleaning a multi-million dollar house is easier to land then might think, and people pay well for a dependable person that can get things done.

Light Trash Hauling

All you need is a pick-up truck and a little muscle to start a successful trash hauling business. People need this service for a variety of reasons. Old furniture, trash, and lawn waste pile up, and specialists will charge a steep fee to clean up after themselves. Offer the service for cheap and watch the money pile up. You can also turn around extra profit by taking in old furniture and scrap metal for cash. This is dirty work, though, and not for the faint. If you have some pep in your step and are looking to come up quick then flyer yourself out and take the calls. You can pick up extra side work to as you meet with homeowners, lawn care services, etc.

Computer Repair

If you grew up on the cusp of the information age and have been working with computers for a while then chances are you know how to fix most people’s computer problems. If you can change out a light bulb then you can change a hard drive, and get paid handsomely. Older folks who get computers to stay in touch with their kids make almost no attempt to learn anything about software. Start a mobile service and help these folks get connected. Computer problems drive people crazy. They feel powerless to these emerging technologies when things go wrong. Set their minds at ease and make great profits. Most people are hesitant to take their computers to a repair shop because they’re afraid to even disconnect the cables from the back of the tower. Mobilize your service and swoop in to save the day. Computers aren’t going anywhere, and the skills required to fix them are getting more complicated. Take advantage of your previous know how and get into this lucrative game.

Auto Detailing

Another tired but true way to make a dollar. Americans are still in love with their cars, and like to keep them clean, as long as it’s someone else doing the work. A full detail to a new Cadillac starts at one hundred dollars and goes up from there. Two hours max for a job; you do the math. A simple trailer hitch, a pressurized water pump, and miscallanious car cleaning things is all that’s required to start a successful detailing business. The added advantage to this start-up; getting a list of clientele with hot cars that want them detailed every month. With around twenty loyal clients that drive expensive cars, you can put a killer small business under your belt in around five months. When you get enough clients you can expand this business easily.

We hope that these small business start-ups motivated you and gave you some inspiration and ideas. Starting your own business is an exciting and rewarding experience. There’s nothing like the thrill of making it on your own steam, and watching profits steadily come in every month off a service you love to do. It’s the American Dream, and it’s at your fingertips. With a little get-up-and-go, you can have a successful small business, too.

~The NCE

Comments (0)

August 12, 2011

Tips for Saving In a Low Economy

Filed under: Uncategorized — Blogger @ 7:56 pm

A lot of people hate the thought of saving money, but with the right attitude, the reward of extra cash at the end of the month is worth it. Money is fantastic if you have the discipline to spend it wisely. Here are a few simple tips for saving money in a low economy.

Lessen Your Affairs: Driving all over town to see friends, get food, and run errands costs a lot economically; gasoline, time, and energy. You will be happier and save money if you simply manage your affairs tighter and forget about some of the activities you might find questionable.

Made in China: Consumer goods manufactured in Japan, Italy, and America are generally of a higher quality than goods made in China, but Chinese standards are still high, and products made there are available at low costs to American shoppers at any mall or Wal-Mart. Taking advantage of this will keep money in your wallet, and you get to take home the same merchandise anyways.

Ride a Bicycle: Riding a bicycle for economic reasons is becoming more popular as American’s see the advantages and benefits from this, even if you only manage to take your bike out around the neighborhood for quick errands. Starting a car up every time you have to go out becomes a quick drain on your finances. Figure out which activities and errands you can accomplish on a bicycle and go from there. Bicycles are fun and cheap to maintain. You can cover good distances and you will feel better about your health, too.

Prepare Your Own Food. Cooking is a little time consuming, but if you’re smart and organized about it you can save yourself a lot of money. Take one afternoon or evening out of the week and cook the entire week’s food right then. Get creative with tupperware and you will not have to take time and money out of your day or night again to get yourself something to eat.

Take a Bus To Work. Chances are, there’s a city bus that goes right past your house every morning that can take you straight to work. Look at your local routes to see if there are buses that accommodate your needs. If there’s a bus that will get you to work and back, take it. Bus passes are cheap and at the end of the month you will see a difference in your transportation costs.

Solar Power. Solar Power has never been a far out idea; it’s an easy and affordable addition to your home that will save you thousands of dollars a year in air conditioning and heating expenses. Solar panels can be installed out of sight on your roof, and you will enjoy the benefits when you open your next electric bill.

The Bottom Line: Cut Corners and Get Creative!

Saving money can be a lot of fun. Get creative in your everyday life, and don’t look at saving as being cheap or thrifty. There are really an endless amount of ways to save money in your daily life, you just have to look for them. Remember that your greatest resource in life is yourself!

Comments (0)

July 15, 2011

Secret Strategies For Small Business

Filed under: Business Success — Blogger @ 5:44 pm

The following strategies have been used in Asia for 2,000 years for business, politics, and military affairs. The small business owner will find them useful in their everyday dealings with competitive people. Even though markets change and new technology is being introduced to the small business owner every day, people rarely change. This constant has given the cunning business owner an edge in the marketplace and lets them compete on a larger scale.

Confuse your customer’s vision by making it appear something exists, even though it does not. It is difficult to pass this off to the very end however, so you must finally switch over and make sure something does come from nothing. Deception is what strategy is all about, and the small businessman must be cunning in every affair.
Demonstrate a friendly sincerity and lower the defenses of your rival, then secretly devise a strategy to knock them over. This engagement is useful for those who can think a few moves ahead. Hold back your true intentions to the last moment. Concealing a sword behind a smile is always effective when dealing with aggressive people on the showroom floor or in the office.
Depending on how business unfolds, there will be times when you must be resolved to incur damage. In such instances, you must secure a general victory in exchange for limited damage. Do not become flustered in the face of loss, but calmly discern what benefits can be drawn from it. The ancients called this ‘Sacrificing The Peach To Secure the Plumb’.
When a small business owner sees an opening, they must take advantage of it right away. Even if the opening is small, there is most likely some benefit to be gained. Take advantage of these benefits right away, and they will serve as small steps leading you to victory.
Be wary in hiring someone useful. The independent person will be difficult to manage and frustrating to put to use. However, the person who makes a living by relying on the strength of others will seek your assistance. Take advantage of such a person, and manage your opponents, instead of letting them control you.
Everything has a week spot. In life, some things seem so complex that it’s intimidating and confusing to approach. If you find the weak spot and apply pressure, your solution might be simpler then you imagined. Likewise, everyone has an Achilles’ heel. If you strike at that, your negotiations will go smoothly.
If your business has fallen into a stalemate, a good strategy is to reform bonds or attack in a close proximity. Never leap over a nearby endeavour to tackle one at a distance. A distant rival or partner may have different political goals, but you can temporarily join hands with customers or other small business in the area to accomplish your task.
Sometimes a person in a strong position has to be harsh with a weaker person to bring discipline and submission. This is a common strategy with owners and managers in business. When the stronger personality confronts the weaker they will naturally be able to make the latter submit. Always approach matters with a resolute attitude and you will make your opponents and employees obedient every time.
At times you must be modest. Rather then trying to be clever and acting boldly, be silent and refrain from action. Manifest cunning plans inside but not on the surface, and draw in your opponent. Remember, the essence of strategy is deception, and the small business owner is in the midst of those living for profit and gain daily.
Never underestimate your opponent. While you weave strategies of your own in the complex world of business, similar strategies are being unleashed against you and your business daily. Look directly into matters with an objective eye, and carefully apply the correct strategy in a given situation. See reality clearly, and never deceive yourself.

Comments (0)

June 28, 2011

Online Security For Small Business

Filed under: Business Success — Blogger @ 4:01 am

Online Security for Small Business

Many small business owners are unaware of how vulnerable their computers are to cyber security threats and stolen information. Unfortunately, not enough of these buisnesses are properly protecting their systems online. If you are using a personal computer and devices such as tablets and smartphones to run a business then you could be at serious risk to a cyber attack through your internet network or WiFi. Many of these attacks are assumed on the neglegence of the user, but following simple security procedures provides a secure system free from theft and failures.

The easiest way to secure your system is by using a stronger password. Be creative and use more than six characters. Always use mixed-case letters and include numbers and symbols. A cyber criminal is more likely to attack another target if your password is too difficult to crack or guess. Now that small business owners are utilizing tablets and cell phones, it’s just as important to install these strong passwords on personal devices, too.

If your business is larger, you might consider separating your home and business computers. Budgets are always a consideration, and it may seem to make more sense financially to consolidate devices and PCs for home and office use. A lot of small business owners are doing work like this, and it exposes you and your customers to significant risk. Consider having a dedicated work computer. The affordability of desktops makes having a dedicated business computer is a good investment in risk reduction.

With a healthy computer, always remember to check for the latest updates from Microsoft and Apple. The security updates from these developers are available weekly and install patches on your operating system if maleware or a virus is detected. These security updates also include e-mail protection that guard against spam and other threats. While most people are obsessed with security programs, viewing responsible content and updating the OS is enough to keep cyber criminals from accessing your system over the internet.

If you have employees using your system then it is very important to prevent access to websites that are likely to contain spyware, malware, and other Internet threats. Use the content filter that comes with your operating system to prevent them for accessing these sites. It is one of the easiest solutions for small business to cut off hackers from infecting their computers with these dangerous programs. An Internet use policy lets employes know what their responsibilities are when using a computer on company time. Most importantly, if your employees are downloading work related material it must still be scanned and treated as potentially dangerous software.

Cyber criminals can still gain access to your system through WiFi, and this is becoming an increasingly popular way to execute an attack on small business. Look into having a stronger encryption and make sure all of the default wireless passwords are changed. Hackers are thieves and they will park outside your business like any thief would in a van and steal credit cards, bank account numbers, and passwords on a laptop through your WiFi connection.

It’s difficult for state agencies to arrest and prosecute these savvy tech criminals, and they continue to grow in number and sophistication. Small business make for an easy target because more than half don’t have these simple security measures in place. Take the appropriate steps to secure your system and never again consider the loss of business if you were potentially hit by a cyber criminal.

Comments (0)

Older Posts »