Archives: April 2006

10 Ways to Resolve Landlord-Tenant Disputes

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on April 28

Once you have decided to become a landlord, you will need to be prepared for disputes that will inevitably arise with your new tenants. Being prepared will help you avoid...

Keeping Your Business on the Creative Edge

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on April 27

Fostering creativity isn't as difficult as you think, but like anything, you still have to work at it if you really want to excel. Here are some suggestions for getting...

Five Ways to Pay Off Your Mortgage Loan Faster

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on April 25

Most homeowners would love nothing more than not to have to put that mortgage check in the mail every month. But trying to pay off your mortgage ahead of schedule...

Automobile Expense Deductions

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on April 25

Automobile expenses are one of the major tax deductions for small businesses, and making the right choice on how to deduct vehicle expenses can save you hundreds of tax dollars....

How an Employer of Record Can Help with Benefits

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on April 24

Your early-stage company may not be able to afford an HR department, benefits, and many other pieces of today's employment puzzle, but you can hire them all. Instead of a...

Where to Incorporate Your Business

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on April 21

There is no law that says you have to incorporate in the state in which you plan to do business. Up until a few years ago, incorporating in Delaware had...

Make Yourself Known

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on April 20

Here are some ideas for making your company more visible in your local community: 1. Create an advisory board representative of your customers, even if they're kids, and publicize it....

Is Franchising Right For You?

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on April 19

Franchising is a formidable force in today's economy. The International Franchise Assn. reports that there are more than 760,000 franchised businesses in the U.S. today, accounting for nearly $1.53 trillion,...

Setting Your Product's Price

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on April 18

Selling a product or service at the right price is one of the fundamental decisions every business has to make. Most businesses establish a selling price by determining: 1. The...

Outlining a Business Plan

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on April 17

What is most important in a business plan? First, here is what a standard business plan should cover: 1. The company (its legal formation, history, and ownership) 2. What it...

Key Compensation Components

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on April 14

Compensation has become a far more complicated issue than just deciding how much to pay your employees. In addition to salary, employers must consider many other components -- 401(k) plans,...

Establishing Business Continuity with Mobile Workers

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on April 13

As employees become increasingly more mobile, small businesses need to develop a clear strategy for managing remote access to data. E-mail isn't always effective. These days it's easier than ever...

Key Business Loan Issues

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on April 12

When you start a business, you generally have two ways to raise capital: loans and equity contributions. There are some obvious disadvantages to loans. They require you, for example, to...

Charge It

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on April 11

Many customers love to pay with plastic, and accepting credit cards can sometimes be the difference between making or losing a sale. Credit card services are competitive, so shop around...

Make the Most of Your Family Business Meeting

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on April 10

Family meetings differ from other business or advisory meetings, and therefore require extra attention to ensure they run smoothly. Here are some guidelines from David Lansky for maximizing the success...

Finding the Structure that Suits You

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on April 07

When deciding on which form of business will best serve your purposes, you should take into account the following factors: 1. Your own personal assets and liabilities 2. Your existing...

Before Buying a Business

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on April 06

When contemplating purchasing a business, you have some major issues to sort through, including: Type of Deal. What kind of deal will it be -- purchasing the assets of the...

Leasing Commercial Real Estate

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on April 05

If you have never rented commercial space before, there are a few things you need to know before you sign. First, there's no standard lease agreement. Each lease is different...

Marketing on a Shoestring Budget

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on April 04

For entrepreneurs, creative thinking can be an important and effective marketing tool. Always be on the lookout for innovative and inexpensive ways to promote your business. Use new combinations of...

What Do Your E-Mails Say About You?

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on April 03

As someone who receives and sends a couple hundred e-mails a day, I'm constantly amazed at how poorly written and unprofessional most business e-mails are. Every day, fellow entrepreneurs send...