Archives: December 2006

SBA Loans for Home-Based Businesses

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on December 28

Getting financing for a new venture is never easy, and finding funding for a home-based sole proprietorship business is even harder. But the Small Business Administration (SBA) has made it...

Learning to Listen

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on December 27

As small business owners, we often find ourselves more on "transmit" than "receive." That means we can miss important aspects of what's going on around us. Effective listening isn't easy:...

Paying Yourself

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on December 26

As a small business owner, deciding what to pay yourself can be a tricky question. You don't want to give yourself so much that you cripple your company or so...

Do You Really Want to Raise Venture Capital?

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on December 25

You think your small business has the potential to become a leader in its segment and experience tremendous growth. You also keep hearing about these young entrepreneurs who raise ridiculous...

Is a Business Loan Taxable Income?

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on December 21

Understanding and interpreting business tax law is a daunting task. First of all, what is "business income"? Basically, if the income has anything to do with your business, whether or...

Credit Lines vs. Credit Cards

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on December 19

Both lines of credit and borrowing money on your credit cards can be effective ways to finance small-business operations. Both are revolving, and charge interest only on outstanding balances. And...

Benefits of Tax Accounts

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on December 18

Self-employed individuals and owners of pass-through entities (in which the owner, not the business is taxed) should use a "tax account" to accumulate funds for federal and state income taxes....

What to Consider Before Choosing a Location

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on December 17

Choosing the right location for your small business is an important step for success. Here are some things to keep in mind when selecting your spot: • Find out if...

If You're Making Money, Do You Need a Business Plan?

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on December 14

When Tom Sherburne started manufacturing composite kayaking helmets, he didn't think he needed a business plan. His Auburn, Ala.-based helmet business, Shred Ready, began as an offshoot of his kayaking...

Learn Regional History 101 Before You Go Abroad

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on December 13

Going overseas to sell your product or brand is a far cry from taking a vacation. Even so, learning as much as you can about a country's culture and history...

Can a Business Plan Hold You Back?

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on December 12

When an industry is constantly evolving, successful entrepreneurs roll with the trends. Just ask Tony Zoccoli, founder of Nine O'Clock New Media, a Web-development and creative-services firm based in Fremont,...

Beware of Tax Scams

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on December 11

The IRS announced the "Dirty Dozen" Tax Scams for 2006. New to this year's list is the "zero wages" scam, in which taxpayers filed "corrected" Form 1099s or Form 4852...

Controlling Click Fraud

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on December 10

Click fraud is a growing problem for businesses of all sizes that rely on online advertising to drive traffic and sales leads to their Web sites. With the increasing sophistication...

How Do I Find the Right Branding Company?

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on December 07

The companies that create branding and identity are often difficult to distinguish from graphic design firms. How can I find and decide on the right company to help me brand...

Finding a Point Person While Selling Abroad

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on December 06

New potential business opportunities are popping up in areas of the world that were once off limits. Our company, Mechtronix Systems of Montreal, has made successful inroads into countries like...

Boost Your Sales by Accepting Credit Cards

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on December 05

Accepting credit cards is becoming a must for entrepreneurs and small businesses in today's business environment. There are numerous social, demographic, and technological factors combining to make plastic the payment...

Setting Up Your New Business for Tax Time

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on December 04

It's never too early to start thinking about how to reduce your tax burden. Startups are especially poised to make decisions that can help save them time and money on...

When Selling Abroad, Start Slowly

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on December 03

American companies are aggressive—sometimes too aggressive. Meetings are often brief, to the point, and focused on a particular problem or agenda item. While this approach may work well back at...