Archives: September 2006

Are Your Discussions with Your Lawyer Confidential?

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on September 29

The short answer is yes. The general rule is that when you consult with an attorney for advice about a legal problem or engage a lawyer to represent you in...

Tips on Factoring

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on September 28

Factoring is a way to turn your accounts receivable into cash by selling them to a finance company called a factor. Though it can be expensive, it may fuel your...

Suing a Customer for Nonpayment

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on September 27

If you find yourself in the unfortunate but common situation where a customer or client has not paid you for services rendered or for merchandise already delivered, you have several...

Conserving Capital

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on September 26

To conserve capital, start by knowing what drives your business. Determine your primary business of units sold, customers, average order, hours billed, etc. Next, determine your pricing by calculating the...

Keeping Family Business Meetings Productive

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on September 25

Keeping business meetings productive is always challenging, but for family businesses the task can be even more daunting. Here are some suggestions to make sure the next family business meeting...

Picking the Perfect Name for Your Corporation

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on September 22

It is a good idea to start the process with several choices for your corporate name before beginning research to determine whether the corporate name you have selected is available....

They're Hired -- Now What?

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on September 21

People join organizations for a variety of reasons. They may be attracted to the company's reputation, the pay, the boss, the type of work, or even the location. But why...

Alternatives to Selling Your Business

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on September 20

The choice to sell a business often arises from pressures beyond the owner's control. Family responsibilities, partner disputes, lagging prices, and product or market shifts can all take a toll...

R&D on the Go

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on September 19

As a small-business owner, you can do research and development every time you have a conversation with a client. This reconnaissance should be part of your ongoing sales efforts, because...

Define Who Will Buy Your Product for a Premium Price

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on September 18

One of the greatest challenges a business owner or manager faces is selling the company's product for the highest amount of money. Frankly, it is easier to sell a product...

Successful Cash-Flow Management

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on September 15

Cash management is ultimately about cash flow—and very few small businesses are awash in cash. Even successful, growing companies are vulnerable to cash-flow problems because they tend to add employees...

Budgeting Isn't Just for Beginners

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on September 14

Scorecards and dashboards are popular measurement tools because they reveal the budget issues within a company. While budgeting isn't just for beginners, most people are beginners at budgeting. Budget both...

It's Not Just About Appeasing Lenders

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on September 13

Small-business owners are often seized by a vision and driven to see it through. Yet a vivid image in the mind's eye is a sketchy road map at best. Creating...

Two Fast and Effective Sources for Gap Financing

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on September 12

The opportunity of a lifetime has landed at your feet. It will make your company. All those long days and sleepless nights will pay off. But there is one problem:...

The Spark of Leadership

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on September 11

A great leader has a spark that ignites others to do their best work. Over the years, I have found four qualities common among inspirational leaders: courage, honesty, an infectious...

Cut Through the Clutter

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on September 08

The daily avalanche of live and electronic information is a huge challenge for people who don't have effective tools for cutting it down to the essentials. Ignoring incoming information for...

A Trusted Adviser

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on September 07

Highly effective leaders trust advisors to help them explore new ideas and discover critical solutions. The candor, talent, expertise, and heart of those we choose will help illuminate our blind...

Preparing for a Tax Audit

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on September 06

Preparing for an audit is sort of like preparing for a test in school: The IRS informs you of which sections of your tax return the agency wants to examine,...

Refresh Your Perspective

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on September 05

The pace of life today demands that we constantly stay in motion. It doesn't encourage us to take time to gain perspective on the key puzzles and opportunities we have...

Why Can't You Host Your Own Web Site?

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on September 01

Many businesses can and do host their own Web sites. In order to host your own site, however, you need to make special arrangements with an Internet service provider (ISP),...