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How to Determine The Selling Price of a Business
How much should you sell your business for? Here are several business valuation methods to help set a selling price for the business
How to Avoid Online Shopping Pitfalls
Trying to do you holiday shopping at the same time you're running a business is tough! Here are a few quick tips to avoid online shopping pitfalls as the holiday season begins.
3 Simple Ways to Finance a Start-Up Business
Looking for money to fund a new business? Here are three simple places you can look for startup capital.
Grants for Small Business Owners
Can you really get a grant to run your business? While they do actually exist, grants are not easily obtained. Here are facts about the government grants and where you can go to look for them.
Watch Out For Uneven Income
Learn how to deal with fluctuating sales in income in your small business.
Business Disasters Hidden in the Fine Print
Whether it's your merchant account agreement, insurance policy, or bank loan, the fine print may contain more than you bargained for. Here's why you should read every last letter of the fine print in any document you sign for your business.
Cut Expenses to Increase Profits
Most business owners think that in order to improve their business or reach that next level, they have to raise revenue. And, while raising revenue is a great way to improve your business, it is not the only way. Here's how managing spending and cutting costs can have a big impact on your bottom line.
5 Simple Ways to Save Money and the Environment
Pulling ahead of the competition in today's economy requires a lean, focused organization that makes customers feel good about doing business with you. Here are five things you can do to reduce your costs while helping the environment at the same time.
3 New Rules for Getting Business Financing
If you were looking for money for your business last year, you probably didn't find many banks willing to give you a loan. This year things aren't much different, but if you know the rules the banks are playing by, your chances of getting financing will be much better.
9 Sources of Business Financing
Looking for funding for your business? There are a wide variety of sources available, depending on your needs. Here's an overview of the most common types of business financing.
Business Startup Cost Calculator
Do you know how much money you need to get your business started and run it until it becomes profitable? Use our startup cost calculator to figure it out.
Choosing a Payroll Service Provider
When payday rolls around employees automatically assume they will not only be paid but be paid the correct amount. An easy way to ensure everyone is receiving payment and the IRS is not on your back is a payroll service. Use these tips to evaluate and choose a payroll service provider.
Choosing a Credit Card for Your Business
There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a credit card for your small business. Ask yourself these questions to help select a small business credit card.
How to Estimate Sales
Accurately estimating sales as a new business is difficult. You have no history to review and it's easy to overlook expenses when you're just starting up. Here's where you can look for reliable data to build your initial estimates upon.
6 Steps for Surviving the Recession
How does a struggling business make it through, and not just survive but actually grow during this difficult time? It all comes down to the decisions you make right now, today. Here are six steps you should take now to come out of the recession stronger than when you entered it.
Doing Good Deals in a Bad Year
Want to sell your business, but nobody's interested in buying in this economy? There are ways to get a business sold even now, or at least be ready to have it sell as soon as the economy starts its trek out of the dumps. Here's what you need to be doing now >>
Increase Your Buying Power with a Purchasing Co-Op
Small businesses that struggle with the costs of goods they need to do business, making it hard to compete with larger companies. Find out how purchasing co-ops can help small businesses save money and get tips on how to start a purchasing co-op.
3 Reasons to Love a Bad Economy
The recession is bad for a lot of reasons, but there are some really good things that can come out of it too - especially if you're in business. Here's how Jay Abraham, author of The Sticking Point Solution, says you can increase your success right now.
401(k) Strategies for Lean Times
While the financial crisis certainly proves that you can't rely on a 401(k) to make all your dreams come true, it is still a solid, flexible way to maximize the value of your savings. And a little rethinking can make it a more reliable foundation for retirement. Read these tips on how to invest your 401(k) in an excerpt from Where to Put Your Money NOW.
Ten Tips on Where to Put Your Money NOW
Now that the panic is over, and a nice chunk of your savings likely depleted by the economic woes of the past year, figuring out just where to invest what's left is the big question. Here are ten tips on how to handle your investments from this point forward.
Cost-Cutting Ways for Your Business to Survive and Thrive
Whether your business is facing challenges during this tough economy or is doing just fine, the more you can trim off your business expenses, the better off you’ll be. Here are some easy, simple ways to save money in today’s economic environment.
The Small Business Outlook for 2009
To gain better insight into the effects of the recession on small and home businesses, we ran a survey last month to find out how business owners think their businesses will do this year compared to last year. Here's what we learned about about how small businesses view the recession, how they are coping with it, and how they think the government should help.
Very Last Minute Tax Tips for Small Business Owners
The April 15th deadline for sole proprietors, as well as calendar-year partnerships and limited liability companies (LLCs), to file their 2008 income tax returns is fast approaching. Use these tips to avoid penalties and save tax dollars.
Estimating Capital Needs for a New Start-Up
Planning to start a business? You're probably wondering just how much money you're going to need to get it off the ground. The simple answer is - well, it's not simple. You can, however, get an estimate of what you'll need. Here's how >>
10 Tips for Trimming Your Small Business IT Budget
Most small businesses spend a significant amount of money on technology covering everything from printers to phone lines and web site fees. Here are 10 ways you can reduce those expenses while actually improving the quality of your IT services and equipment.
9 Ways to Keep Cash Flowing in Your Business
Cash flow is a problem that plagues every small office from time to time. On paper you look like you're doing very well. But your creditors are breathing down your neck and you're always playing catch up. What can you do about it? Here are some tips help keep your cash flow in the positive.
Recession Pricing Do's and Don'ts
Pricing during an economic downturn or recession is tricky. Too often, companies simply cut prices to attract more sales. The right pricing, however, can help a company compete and even thrive during difficult economic times. Here are some pricing do's and don'ts for a recession.
4 Common Pricing Strategies and Why They Fail
Businesses set their prices based on a variety of criteria, but even the most carefully thought out pricing strategy may still leave money on the table. Here are four common pricing strategies and the reasons why they don't work.
Why Aren't You Earning More?
Your business is profitable -- you get your bills paid on time and have enough cash to buy the supplies you need. But at the end of the month, you've barely got enough left to pay yourself. It's a common problem among independent professionals. Here are several things you can do to increase your income without putting even more hours into your business.
The Last Chance Millionaire Book Excerpt
As baby boomers begin to approach retirement, many are panicking that their nest egg just isn't going to see them through their golden years. But it's not too late to secure your future, says author of The Last Chance Millionaire. Read an excerpt from the book here.
Protect Your Business Against Credit Card Fraud
If you sell online or over the telephone, most of your sales are probably credit card transactions. Don't let credit card fraud turn your holiday sales season into a nightmare. Use these tips to spot fraudulent orders before it's too late >>
The Best Investment Advice I Ever Received (Book Excerpt)
Have you ever wondered how Warren Buffett made so much money in the stock market? Find out in this excerpt from The Best Investment Advice I Ever Received, a collection of quick and practical tips and sound financial strategies from America’s most successful investors and business leaders.
Money Sense for the Home Business Owner
The first years as a business owner can be a struggle, particularly in the area of finance and cash flow. By gaining knowledge and mastery in the following five areas, you will position yourself to not only survive, but thrive as an entrepreneur. Read more >>
Selling Your Business
You've built your business from a small operation to a thriving success. But now that you're nearing retirement age, you're ready to turn the reins over to someone else. What if you don't have a family member to transfer the business to? How are current and future economic conditions going to affect your ability to sell? Find out here >>
The Ten Tools of Profitable Revenue Growth
Make revenue growth everyone's business! Lead your company to profitable revenue growth with these tools, reprinted from Profitable Growth Is Everyone's Business by Ram Charan. Read more >>
How to Make Money in Commercial Real Estate
You want to start investing in commercial real estate. But how do you avoid the money pits and find the true gems? In this article from the author of Confessions of a Real Estate Entrepreneur, get advice on what to do before you make your first purchase.
Selling Your Business?
Are you planning to sell your business? Business brokers can help you set the right selling price for your business and help you find a buyer. Read more about how business brokers can help you.
What's Your Business Model?
If you have enough clients to keep you busy, you must be making a good living, right? Well, not necessarily. Some of the busiest professionals around aren't earning enough to pay their bills. On the other hand, there are some who have plenty of time on their hands but also earn quite a bit of money. The difference in the two groups is their business models. Read more >>
7 Cash Flow Secrets Your Accountant Never Told You
Looking for ways to boost your cash flow? Here are seven recommendations for cash strapped small businesses.
How To Sell A Business For All Its Worth
Business owners work hard for many years building a successful business. To sell a business for all it's worth, business brokers commonly recommend these 10 steps.
How to Get Paid What You're Worth
Clients and consultants alike usually dread fee discussions. Here are six strategies to help you preserve your profit margins and your client relationships as you work through pricing discussions. Read more >>
Get Paid Sooner
Are you having trouble collecting from your customers? This list of best practices will help you collect money that's owed to you.
More Ways To Get Paid Sooner
It doesn't matter how much money you make on paper. What matters is what you collect. Here are tips to smooth your cash flow when you sell to the government or to large corporations.
Should You Pass Down the Family Business?
Passing a business down to the next generation is more often than not, unsuccessful. In fact, statistics show that only one-third of all family businesses are successfully transferred to the next generation and only 13% are transferred onto the third generation. Consider these points before passing your family business down to your heirs.
Business Owners and Divorce: a Painful Combination
Business owners are often in for a double whammy when going through a divorce, finding both themselves, and their business, on the hook financially. Here's what to do if you own a business and find yourself facing a divorce. Details >>
10 Mistakes That Reduce Profitability
Are you finding it hard to keep your business in the black? Then you might be making one or more of these 10 bottom line mistakes that have a negative impact on your bottom line.
A Marine for Life
Robert T. Kiyosaki, best-selling author of the "Rich Dad" series, and former Marine gunship pilot during the Vietnam War, explained how his worldwide success as a financial leader stemmed from his Marine Corps experience in a recent interview.
Watch Out for "Corporation Sole" Tax Scam
The Internal Revenue Service has issued a consumer alert advising taxpayers to be wary of promoters offering a tax evasion scheme that misuses "Corporation Sole" laws. Promoters of the scheme misrepresent state and federal laws intended only for bona-fide churches, religious institutions and church leaders. Read more >>
10 Ideas to Keep Cash Flowing
How do you keep the cash flowing on an even keel through your business? How can you get cash sooner and keep more of it longer? Here are 10 ways you can keep more cash available for a longer time.
IRS Warns of Tax Scams
In an update of an annual consumer alert, the Internal Revenue Service urges taxpayers to avoid falling victim to one of the "Dirty Dozen" tax scams and a variety of other schemes. Details >>
Facts About Tax Debt Schemes
The IRS has issued a consumer alert advising taxpayers to beware of promoters' claims that tax debts can be settled for "pennies on the dollar" through the Offer in Compromise Program. Read more >>
Selling Your Business: Tax Impact
As the seller of a business, you are likely at a disadvantage. The buyer has probably bought several businesses before and knows a great deal about the process, while this may be the first time you've sold a business. Before you sign on the dotted line, be sure you've considered these tax implications.
How To Get the Most Money When You Sell Your Business
If you are planning to sell your business you need to evaluate your company as a potential buyer might. Consider these 10 critical areas for increasing the sales value of your business.
What's Your Time Really Worth?
You know your time is valuable, but do you know what it's actually worth? Just how much does a 5 minute interruption or a 3 minute phone call cost you? Find out with this calculator.
Money Saving Tips for Print Managers
Many print managers neglect to do some of the easy things that can add up to significant cost savings annually. Below are a few tips for saving money on print jobs, which might be old hat to some, but vital to remember. Read more >>
Small Business Collection Strategies That Work
Coping with ever-increasing costs is one thing--making sure you get all the money that's due you from customers or clients is another. Here are a few tried and true collection strategies, straight from the businesses that use them.
What Businesses Are Considered Risks For Merchant Accounts
If you're hoping to establish a merchant account so you can accept credit card sales, you may be concerned about the application and approval process. Learn what constitutes credit card risk and what other factors merchant companies take into consideration.
Don't Wait for Tax Time
Business coach C.J. Hayden advises those with a small business have a financial plan that is checked on a monthly basis, problems corrected immediately. Entrepreneurs tend to take risks and be optimistic, keeping them from looking at their financials until tax time.
Beware of Office Supply Scams!
You've been around the block too many times to fall for the old story about how you can beat the price increases by buying now. But what about your staff? Here's what you need to tell them about office supply scams.
Are You Profitable?
How do you determine on a regular basis whether or not you're showing a profit? Learn how to figure your break-even point and break-even margins so you know where you stand!
Cash Flow Drought
Every business hits slow spells once in a while that take a toll on cash flow. Find out how to survive the drought without killing your credit!
Legal Reach
The long arm of the law got a little longer this spring for people who participate in Internet discussion groups. Find out why speaking your mind on the Internet could be very costly. Click here.
Minimize Law Suits and Legal Fees
Just because you're right doesn't mean you won't get sued. You can, however, minimize the financial impact.
Save on Travel Expenses
If cab fares are breaking your budget, a little advance planning could save you big money.
When the Customer Won't Pay
What can you do when a customer refuses to pay? First, learn what not to do, then read these tips on how to collect that bill legally and as quickly as possible.
Seller Beware
Learn how to avoid collection problems before they come up.
Elevator Speeches That Get Attention
Raising money? Raise interest from investors by perfecting your elevator speech. Here's how.
50 Overlooked Deductions
It's that dreaded time of year again... Tax Time! Before you make out your check to Uncle Sam, read this excerpt from the Ernst & Young Tax Guide 2000 to make sure you aren't missing out on these easily overlooked deductions!
Avoid the hobby trap
Are you really in business or is it a hobby? The answer affects the deductibility of expenses
Tax-deductible Vacation?
Well, it's the next best thing. Find out how to get Uncle Sam to foot part of the bill for a mini-vacation.
Start-Up Cost Pitfall
Important tax tip: start the business before you spend a lot for equipment and supplies. Here's why.
Evaluating Credit Card Processing Companies
Third-party credit card processing providers will accept even homebased and mail order businesses. But their fees vary widely. Here's how to evaluate the third party providers.
How to Avoid 25 Common Errors
No one wants to make mistakes on their tax returns. Mistakes can be costly and frustrating. Be sure to read these common errors.
Older Articles
Looking for some of our older articles? Although these are a little outdated, they still have interesting tips and view points about business finances and money management. Click to view our finance archives.