Need a Business

You've decided to start a new business. Congratulations! Where do you go from here? Do you hire a business lawyer or do you need an accountant? An accountant will certainly help you with your taxes when you are ready to do so. But how do you decide what kind of entity you should be? You've heard of limited liability companies, but you're not sure this works for your business. Everyone seems to have an S-corp. Is this what you need? What you really need is to find a good business lawyer. A good business lawyer will help you understand the myriad decisions you will need to make for your business and will help you to start off on the right track. Depending on the type of business you have and the number of investors in your business, you will need to talk with a business lawyer about entity formation, copyright or trademarks, insurance and other ways to protect your personal assets. The money you invest in a good business lawyer at the beginning of your business, will save you significant money down the line. Here are a few ways a business lawyer can help you: 1. Entity Formation. In California, we like to advise our new business owners to form an LLC - a limited liability company (unless this is not available for your type of business, such as a licensed contractor). The main reason is simple: experience shows that most small businesses will not hold annual meetings and keep minutes. Failure to keep up corporate formalities as a corporation can have devastating effects. A creditor can "pierce the corporate veil" and a court could find you personally liable for the corporation's liabilities. With an LLC, the failure to have meetings and keep minutes is not considered a reason to pierce the corporate veil in an LLC. A good business attorney will talk with you about the type of entity right for your business and assist with setting up the company correctly. globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale 2. Trademarks. If you work hard to come up with a name or design a logo, don't you want to protect it? By filing for a trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, you can protect that name or logo. And a business lawyer will help you to understand the important of doing this first - rather than waiting until you have established your business. The worst thing you can do is spend a lot of money marketing your brand, just to find someone else has registered that name - or a similar name before you. 3. Contracts. Contracts for each small business is a must. Some people feel that they can download contracts from a website, but do you know who wrote the contract? Do you know who it was written for? What state law applies? It is not a good idea to start your business with a contract from the internet. Let a good business lawyer prepare the contract you need for your business. Intellectual Property. Is your business a media, design, or another type of creative business? If so, you will find it much easier to deal with trademarks and copyright protection registrations if you have a lawyer. Even if your attorney does not normally handle intellectual property, they will have referrals for you so you can find the right intellectual property specialist for your business. Normally, these will be people the lawyer has worked with before and can recommend based on prior experience. 4. Insurance. Insurance is required for a business, but it is not enough. You need to have a business entity to protect your home and personal assets. Hiring an attorney for your small business may not seem to be a requirement if you're not facing any legal battles. This is not true! You want an attorney who is familiar with you and your business, so if you do end up in a legal mess, they'll be able to smooth it out. Hopefully, before it ends up in court. 5. DBA. Some people use a DBA for their business name. This is good to have and a business attorney can help you with the filings required. It is crucial for new business owners to hire a good business lawyer to assist them in setting up their business. You want your business to be successful, so be sure to start off with the advice of someone who understands what your business needs.

Your Business

Businesses, like many things in life, fall into two general categories: successful businesses and those that are not so successful. The successful ones grow profitably, generate cash flow, show increased value over time and operate smoothly. Those "other" kinds of businesses...don't do any of these things and usually fail. Here are 15 ways to make sure that your business fails....or conversely, things not to do. 1. No priority on marketing. Many times the most successful businesses don't have the best products or services. What they do have is good marketing...and they make it a priority. In difficult economic times many businesses cut the marketing budget first. That is a mistake. If your business isn't pursuing many channels of marketing, then it is at risk. 2. You do not have a detailed cash flow budget and projections. Cash flow is not a function of your bank statement. Many small businesses look at their bank accounts...if there is money there...they're OK. Cash flow and profits are not the same...and the primary reason that businesses fail is that they run out of cash.. It is essential to know how much cash you have, and how much you will need in the near and mid-term. Anticipate the unanticipated, use multiple scenarios, plan for a variety of circumstances...all of these things and more can go into your cash flow projections to make sure that you are ready for anything. 3. You run your business by the seat of your pants. Businesses that last cultivate talent....not rely on the owners/founders. Successful businesses have documented processes and systems in place that help the business run smoothly and grow with or without the presence of the owners or a single key person. 4. Your business is not differentiated. If you offer the same product at the same price as other businesses you likely won't last long. You need something to differentiate yourself from the pack...even in a small way. Your advantage could include people, product leadership, great operations, or other unique factors...from the supply side of the business to the service you offer customers. Find that uniqueness, capitalize on it and you're ahead of the pack. 5. Your customer service is poor. Most businesses won't admit to having bad customer service, however many do. In the current marketplace word of mouth is the internet...and bad customer service stories are all over it. It is crucial to understand your customer's expectations and measure up. It is critical for your employees to "make the difference" by taking opportunities to turn service around. The key is training and standards and most of all....communication! globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale globalyachtsforsale 6. Your business lacks focus. Know who you are. Small business owners have an entrepreneurial spirit which frequently means lots of things going at the same time. Successful businesses are focused. Understand what you do, where it fits in the marketplace and stay with it. Your customers will repay your efforts by understanding your business and parting with their cold hard cash! 7. You have the wrong people. Your most important asset is your people and having them in the right jobs. If you don't have the systems to train, recruit and retain your good people...and get rid of the poor performers your business is in trouble. 8. You spend money on things that don't move the business forward. If you have defined your mission, your customer base and have an understanding of your business, you know where to spend your money. Many businesses spend their cash on things that make someone feel good, but don't move the business forward. Take stock and review your expenses frequently....making sure that you use all of your financial resources on things that are important to your business and that you eliminate unnecessary and unproductive expenses. 9. You don't communicate your mission or purpose. If your mission and strategy is all in your head...it isn't doing anyone any good. Your employees are allies and can implement your strategies on a day to day basis. You will be surprised at the contribution your employees will make if you let them in on the "secret". They will find things you missed and contribute ideas you never thought of. 10. Your fixed costs are unnecessarily high. There are always ways to reduce fixed costs.. Thanks to technology and outsourcing, you can cut many of the costs you assumed were unavoidable. 11. You have the wrong attitude. Businesses fail everyday because the owner's ego and desire for status gets in the way of business. Control is not the be-all-end-all for business. Be a leader and recognize talent. Place your emphasis on the bottom line rather than your ego. 12. You don't live by the numbers. Measure the key indicators of your business. Pick a number of indicators that really mean something to you and live and die by the metrics. These measurements will be different for every business...but changes in the metrics that you follow indicate something that needs your attention...and now. 13. Your business has no control over its' environment. To be successful you need some control over your vendors or customer...not face excessive government regulations, not have excessive competition or be in an industry that is easily entered. If all of these factors are in your favor...you could be golden. If they are all working against you, you could be in lots of trouble. Take stock of these forces and determine your place. 14. Your cash flow is upside down. If you revenue comes in only after you have put in lots of cash you are constantly at risk for significant loss. Your risk is heightened by the revenue cycle. Companies like this don't usually go the distance. 15. Your crystal ball doesn't "do" revenues. Understanding the cash flow, budgets and the metrics of your business help you understand that putting certain dollars in the business yields certain revenues. While all businesses occasionally face uncertain revenue streams, the survivors in business have plans in place to deal with these variations...and can predict their revenues within an acceptable margin. Your Ouija board should consist of reports and evaluations of your business done with meticulous frequency.

5 Reasons for Every Business

It's common for small business employees to wear a number of hats in the course of the average day, from tech support to customer service to office manager, and even finding time for the job they were hired to do. That's because small businesses need to make the most of the resources they have. Whether it's dealing with customers, technical issues, or other employees, it's important for everyone involved in a small business to know where they can find the resources they need to get the job done. Investing time and energy into any task that takes away from focusing on the core business simply cannot be tolerated in a successful small business. Every month small businesses devote countless hours to tasks that drain their precious resources. Time can't be wasted searching for the right file or form or updating PC software, for example. Investing in a server and creating a server-based network for the small business creates a number of efficiencies. A server changes the way that small businesses handle information by making small businesses more efficient in the way they communicate with partners and employees, collaborate on projects, and secure the information that is vital to the business. Here are five ways that buying that first server for the small business will increase efficiency and allow employees to concentrate on the core business. 1. Easier Access to Information Once a small business grows beyond more than one person or PC, the files and data that the business depends on can become more difficult to track. Peer-to-peer networks, which are popular among small businesses without a server, only work when all of the PCs are available and connected to the network. USB drives and Web-based e-mail are popular ways to transport and store data, but they present security risks and aren't an efficient way to find and share files. A server provides a centralized, secure repository for all of the important files that make small businesses go. Administrators can create, edit, and delete registered users of server-based networks to help control which users have access to the information. Applications that live on servers, and the information they contain, are available to users with accounts for those applications. Using secure remote access technologies like virtual private networks allows employees to access information from laptops when they aren't physically in the office. The ability to remotely connect to a server-based network means even a small business with one employee can benefit from using a server if they spend a lot of time on the road, visiting clients, or working from job sites. Gaining access to e-mail and information from mobile devices like a BlackBerry or Windows Phone requires a server to manage users and security. Small business employees need to quickly and easily locate the information they need regardless of their location. Introducing a server-based network keeps information organized and accessible to those who need it with more reliability and security than peer-to-peer networks and ad hoc methods of storing information. 2. Gain Control of E-Mail Having a server allows small businesses to create, use, and control e-mail addresses on their own domain, which gives even the smallest of businesses a more professional image than using a free e-mail service like Yahoo! or Hotmail. Small businesses can turn to a hosting provider to get e-mail using their domain name, but like any outsourcing relationship, that means giving up some amount of control. Buying a server and hosting e-mail lets small businesses control the creation of e-mail addresses, aliases, and distribution lists. This level of control makes it easier for e-mail to grow with the company. Even more important than the e-mail addresses is the e-mail data. Businesses of all sizes rely on e-mail for communication with employees, customers, partners, and suppliers. Maintaining control over all of those communications is not only convenient, but it has legal implications as well. slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot slot ewallet asianslot Business working in a number of industries, such as financial services and pharmaceuticals, are subject o industry and government regulations that require that they store electronic communications and make them available for legal proceedings when requested. In some instances, businesses that work with companies in these industries may be subject to these electronic discovery requirements as well. A server allows small businesses to maintain, archive, and search their electronic communications without relying on a third party to store and retrieve the information. This data portability is important for businesses with plans to grow or working in industries with compliance regulations. 3. Better Collaboration It's easier than ever for people to collaborate on projects, whether they're working with customers, partners, or co-workers. Thanks to a number of technologies, it's entirely possible - and not really unusual - for small businesses to be run by employees working from home offices that rarely see each other in person. E-mail is usually the method of choice for sharing documents like spreadsheets and presentation, but when it comes to collaborating on the creation of documents and files e-mail is possibly the most inefficient method of collaboration since the Pony Express. Rather than e-mailing documents back and forth and incorporating edits, a server-based document repository that allows users to check out documents, make and track edits, and even host team workspaces creates a more efficient method of collaboration. Microsoft SharePoint is one example of an application with a document repository. Windows SharePoint Services are included with Microsoft Small Business Server software. Small businesses that work with large files in industries like engineering, design, and media will find that a server-based repository for their CAD files, rich media designs, and audio and video files makes transporting the files easier because they're often too big for e-mail. A server-based repository makes collaboration more efficient whether the collaborators are across the hall or across the globe. By controlling the access and security, helping track the changes, and supplying a place on the network where collaborators can discuss ideas, a server allows collaboration to focus on the exchange of ideas and the creation of information, rather than the transporting, tracking, and storing of documents and files. 4. Centralized Data Protection Small businesses that use peer-to-peer networks to store and share information are relying on the security of individual PCs in the organization. Using a server-based network, on the other hand, provides a secure repository for information and helps keep the entire network secure. Data protection on a server-based network starts with user accounts, controlled by an administrator, that allow users to access the network, applications, and information. User accounts can be set to allow different levels of access, so users can only access the information they really need. Like PCs and laptops, servers need to be defended from malicious attack. But servers can also decide which PCs, laptops, and devices can access the network. Machines that don't meet the security bar set for the network can be denied access. Protecting the data on the server is important because it's often the most sensitive data in the business. Communications with customers, suppliers, and partners; information about products and services; and sensitive information about customers, including social security numbers, phone numbers, addresses, account numbers, and credit card information all need to be protected to help ensure the trust and loyalty of all parties involved. Putting this information on a secure server reduces the attack surface exposed to hackers and malware. Centralized information is easier to protect that data that's scattered among different PCs and storage devices. A server helps small businesses reduce their attack surface and protect their company's information by keeping it secure and available only to users who need to access it. 5. Easier IT Management For all of the ways computers and the Internet make it easier for small businesses to level the playing field and grow their business, PCs and laptops still require a lot of time and resources for maintenance. Smart small businesses recognize that to run efficiently and securely, their applications need to be up to date with patches and security fixes. Applications still need to be installed on new machines, for new employees, or rolled out as they are introduced; machines need to be scanned for malware and viruses; and tech support needs to be available when there are problems. All of these scenarios can be accomplished more efficiently with a server, especially when the small business doesn't have a full-time IT person. Consider the alternatives: desk-side visits for tech support and software installations, which take up valuable time and resources and increase downtime for affected employees, and relying on employees to conduct their own virus scans, and patch downloads and installations. A server-based network can allow applications, patches, and updates to be installed remotely by an administrator. It can also allow an administrator to remotely take control of a PC to fix technical problems or install software. Small businesses shouldn't be worried about uptime and PC maintenance because these tasks detract from the core business. Easier IT management using a server-based network allows small businesses to make the most of their technical support resources, decreases downtime, and increases the safety of the network and information. Summary Small businesses don't have the luxury of time or resources and need to make the most of what's available to them. Adding a server to a small business creates a number of efficiencies that help manage and secure the flow of information and help small businesses concentrate on the tasks that will make money and help grow the business.