You Need to Be Creative in How You Introduce Yourself How do you want someone to remember you? Sometimes you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. Here are 14 ways to be memorable. How many times have we heard it? First impressions count. We all want that first impression to be […]
The decision to change the name of your business should never be taken lightly. A positive brand identity that customers associate with quality, reliability and value is a powerful thing that can take years to build, even in a small market. On the other hand, a brand identity that no longer fits your business or […]
WASHINGTON — President Obama will propose in his 2017 budget new rules that would make it easier for small businesses to join together to form 401(k) retirement plans for their workers, even if the businesses are in different industries, administration officials said Monday. The officials said that the proposal, if accepted by the Republican-led Congress, […]
Just as the holiday shopping season neared, a toy company, Rokenbok Education, was navigating a nightmare situation: Its database files had been infected by malware. Online criminals had encrypted company files, making them unusable, and were demanding a hefty ransom to unlock the data. Rokenbok, a California-based company that uses building blocks and even robotics […]
Of the scores of items that VCs review, the one that they often care most about — after a solid business plan, of course — is intellectual property (IP). It’s a startup’s most valuable asset, and the companies that bake IP protection into their businesses from the start make for more attractive investments. But IP is more […]
There are many qualities that make a good business, but what about a “good” entrepreneur? Most businesses are doomed to fail. You’ve undoubtedly heard anecdotes in your own life about “good” businesses that ended up going under, and conversely, anecdotes of “bad” businesses (with shoddy ideas, poor infrastructure, etc.) that ended up making it. What’s […]
Whether you just completed your initial business plan or are looking to expand your growing small business, finding adequate funding under the right terms is an important part of setting yourself up for success. While a visit to the loan department at your local bank can get you the money you are seeking, there may […]
Listen to these 100 podcasts and you will become wiser, smarter, and better at business and life. Podcasting is a great way to learn and be inspired. It’s a new use of technology that hearkens back to the original social medium, storytelling. If you have an interest in entrepreneurship, tech, leadership, business, creativity, or just learning and […]
Small business owners have several options to choose from when it comes to retirement planning. Traditional or Roth IRAs can provide a good start to saving for retirement, but successful business owners often need a plan that allows them to defer much larger amounts on an annual basis. SEP-IRAs were introduced as a way to […]
A savings incentive match plan for employees (SIMPLE IRA) allows employees and employers to contribute to an IRA-based plan that is set up for an employees’ benefit. With a SIMPLE IRA, employees can defer a portion of their pay, known as salary deferral or salary reduction contributions. The employer makes either a matching or non-elective […]