 
Archive for Uncategorized – Page 2
Save $10 at http://www.corpnet.com with the following Corpnet Coupon Code Promo Code: COUPON CODE: “search-10d” …This coupon code promo code is valid for all corpnet incorporation services, LLC filings, trademark searching and trademark registration.
Small business owners don’t have the luxury of passing duties off to department managers. The success of your business depends on your ability to wear all the multiple hats needed to keep the wheels of your business turning. At times, the dizzying pace needed can turn even the most capable person into an overwhelmed entrepreneur wearing too many hats. Whether you see the diversity of responsibility as a blessing or a curse, you’ve got to set a plan for success. 1. Identify your separate responsibilities. The first step is simply distinguishing all the varied aspects of your business that you’re currently managing. This includes both income-generating tasks (sales, business development, or whatever service you provide) as well as operational ones (accounting, customer service, etc.). Effective goal setting is key to success in any business, and you should set individual goals for each aspect of your business. 2. Make time to work on your business (not just in your business). When you’re a small business owner, it’s all too easy to get lost in the daily grind of your business (working “in” your business) and put off strategic, long-term planning (working “on” your business). If you find yourself in this situation, you’ll need to dedicate time in your calendar each week to consider your business and market trends, think about potential opportunities and do some long-term positioning. Stay disciplined: You’d never put off a meeting with an important client, so don’t flake on this critical strategizing time, either. 3. Bring on help. When resources are tight, small business owners usually try to fill the gaps themselves. Each business has its own economic reality that’s got to be factored into any hiring decision; however, by and large, many business owners end up wearing multiple hats because they wait too long to hire additional staff. Yes, labor is usually one of the higher costs in the budget, but skimping on staff can have a detrimental effect on your business’ ability to grow, support customers and take advantage of new opportunities. Before looking to bring on help, you should sit down and objectively assess your own strengths and weakness. What areas of your business do you love? Where do you need more discipline and development? By identifying your areas of weakness, you can see where you could best get assistance from another (whether that’s a full-time employee, part-time employee, contractor or temporary agency). When hiring as a small business owner, it’s always best to try to maximize your own strengths and fill in gaps for your weaknesses, rather than just hire for what you’d consider “lower wage” work. 4. Empower those around you to do more. When you’ve been used to running your business on your own, it can be difficult to relinquish control of day-to-day details. But it’s critical to let go. Successful business leaders don’t micromanage what everyone else is doing. Rather, they empower people around them to do their jobs. Make sure you’re giving your contractors and employees the freedom to make decisions (even make mistakes and correct the mistakes themselves). In the long run, you’ll have a wiser, more confident, more effective and more capable workforce. And you’ll be able to focus on the strategic aspects of your business. 5. Always stay close to the customer! No matter how big your business gets and how much staff you bring on, I always advise business owners to stay as close to their customers as possible. This means two key areas: sales and customer service. Talking to customers one-on-one is the best way to truly take the pulse of the market, customer needs and how your company is doing. And helping customers is probably why you started your business in the first place, right? Most importantly, don’t forget to embrace all the many hats you wear in your business. Because one thing is for sure; you’ll never get bored! Original Content written by Nellie Akalp for SmallBizTrends.com. Categories Business Tools, Choosing A Business Structure, Legal Tips, Running A Small Business, Starting a Business, Startup, Uncategorized, Women In Business
Comments (0)
Whether you’re considering starting your own business, or your business is already in full swing, the start of fall is a perfect time to take stock of what needs to get done–because, believe it or not, the New Year is right around the corner. What to think about if you’re considering starting a business: For those of you dreaming of starting your own business one day, now’s the perfect time to focus on turning those aspirations into reality. More entrepreneurs are coming into their own as business owners. And that’s a good thing. After all, small businesses are the backbone of our economy. According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), small firms are responsible for generating 64 percent of net new jobs over the past 15 years. And our economy could use more jobs right about now. Fall is a great time to start putting a plan in motion to launch a new business for 2012. You’ve got three months to create your business plan, assemble whatever resources you need, and research your legal and tax obligations for starting a business. As an entrepreneur myself, I understand that legal paperwork doesn’t always rank high on the priority list. But getting your legal ducks in a row will help you grow more smoothly, avoid legal pitfalls in the coming years, and yes, maybe even help you save money on taxes. Here’s a quick rundown of the laws and regulations you need to consider for your startup or small business. Read More→
Categories Business Tools, Choosing A Business Structure, Legal Tips, Running A Small Business, Starting a Business, Startup, Uncategorized, Women In Business
Comments (1)  In Part 1 of this series, we discussed some of the lessons that small businesses and entrepreneurs can learn from the career of former Apple CEO Steve Jobs. His career illustrates many important examples that any small business owner can benefit from.Here are three more: Read More→
Categories Business Tools, Marketing Your Business, Running A Small Business, Starting a Business, Uncategorized
Comments (1)
Categories Business Tools, Marketing Your Business, Running A Small Business, Starting a Business, Uncategorized
Comments (3)
 caption Whether you’re the next big thing in social gaming or organic knitwear, each startup eventually faces the same gnawing questions: How should I legally structure my business? Should I form an LLC or an S-Corp? What about an S-Corp vs. a C-Corp? These questions are only natural. After all, the legal and financial ramifications are significant.
Once you’ve decided on the business you want to open, your next decision should be how your company will be structured. The entity structures you have to consider are sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, and limited liability company (LLC). Whichever structure you choose will be a defining factor in the way you operate your business, so it is important to weigh your options very carefully. Click here for a comprehensive comparison of the different entities. To help you choose, here are some of the things that you should consider: • The nature and size of your business. • How much control you want to have. • The degree of structure you want to have. • Whether the business will be vulnerable to lawsuits. • Expected profit (or loss) of the business. • Whether you need to reinvest earnings into the business. • Your need to access cash for yourself out of the business. • The tax implications of the different structures. Following are brief summaries of the different business ownerships structures. The majority of small businesses begin as sole proprietorships, owned by one person, usually the individual who has day-to-day responsibilities for running the business. Sole proprietors own all assets of the business and any profits it earns. They are also solely responsible for any of the company’s liabilities or debts. In the eyes of the law and the public, a sole proprietor is one in the same with the business. In a partnership, two or more people share ownership of a single business, and the law does not distinguish between the business and its owners. The partners should have a legal agreement that clearly states how decisions will be made, profits will be shared, and disputes will be resolved. It should also delineate how future partners will be admitted to the partnership, how partners can be bought out, and what steps will be taken to dissolve the partnership when needed. The partners also must determine how much time and capital each will contribute to the business. There is a very important difference between a corporation and either a sole proprietorship or a partnership. By law, a corporation chartered by the state in which it is headquartered is considered a unique entity, separate and apart from its owners. A corporation can be taxed, it can be sued, and it can enter into contractual agreements. The personal assets of the owners are protected under this structure. The owners are a corporation’s shareholders, who elect a board of directors to oversee major policies and decisions. As a separate entity, the corporation does not dissolve when ownership changes, but can continue through stock transfers. Limited Liability Company (LLC) The LLC is a relatively new type of hybrid business structure that is now permissible in most states. It is designed to combine the limited liability features of a corporation and the tax efficiencies and operational flexibility of a partnership. Formation is more complex and formal than that of a general partnership, but less so than that of a corporation. As with a corporation, the personal assets of the owners are protected. The LLC owners are members, who usually determine the duration of the company when the organization papers are filed. The time limit can be continued by a vote of the members at the time of expiration. As you can see, there are many differences among the major forms of ownership. It is a good idea to discuss your needs with an accountant and attorney who can advise you on which structure is best suited for your needs. Hot VideosVideo: LLC vs. S Corporation
Categories
| ||
|
Home | Site Map | About Us | Contact Us | Press | Affiliates | Privacy | Legal | Guarantee
CorpNet ® is a document filing service and CANNOT provide you with legal, tax, or
financial advice.
Copyright ©2011 CorpNet, Incorporated. All rights reserved. CorpNet ® and CorpNet.com ® are all Trademarks of CorpNet, Incorporated. |
Maintaining a healthy 
