Sunday/December/25 08:00 Filed in:
holidayWe want to wish all of our Friends a Merry Christmas! Hope you are enjoying the day with family and friends.
Wednesday/December/21 08:00 Filed in:
Social MediaSorry it's taken so long to announce the winner of the new iPad2...
But we want to say Congratulations to Mr. Raymond Couzens!!!!
We will be sending out the iPad 2 tomorrow for you. Congratulations again.
Have a Happy Holidays!Tags: facebook ipad2
Wednesday/December/21 08:00 Filed in:
tip of the dayLast year we hired someone to act as a consultant to our business. We treated her as an independent contractor, but we only recently learned that we were this person's only client last year, and our attorney says there's a possibility this person might be considered an employee of ours. Should we send the consultant a W-2 or a 1099 at this point?
Your attorney is 100-percent correct. Your consultant has failed one of the basic tests of independent contractor status--that the consultant has other clients. Without knowing more about the relationship, though, no one can say for sure if she was or not. For example, if the consultant did all her work at her own location, worked less than 1,000 hours last year, and submitted regular invoices for her hourly fees and reimbursable expenses, she may still be considered an independent contractor even though you were her only client. You won't know for sure unless you go through an audit and the IRS agrees with your position.
If you send her a W-2, you are admitting that she was an employee last year, and you'll be liable for Social Security, Medicare, and federal and state unemployment taxes on the amounts you paid her (along with interest and penalties for paying these taxes late). Talk to your attorney some more about this relationship, and see if you have any good-faith defenses to a claim that the consultant was an employee. If the attorney feels that you do, you can send the consultant a 1099 for last year. Just make sure she pays all federal and state withholding taxes on the amounts you paid her last year (don't be afraid to ask for proof, such as a copy of her tax return for that year). Not a risk-free solution, but the best you can do under these circumstances
Then, keep an eye on the relationship going forward. If you continue to be her only client, and especially if she is working so many hours that realistically she doesn't have time for other clients, you should put her on the payroll and start paying employment taxes to avoid liability this year.
Tags: business credit, finance, taxes
Tuesday/December/20 08:50 Filed in:
Business TipIt's a business owner's dream to get the product they're so proud of in the hands of a star. In many cases a bit of stardust can have a huge impact on the success of your product, as celebrity watchers keep a close eye on these influential trendsetters. And with the right product, preparation, and persistence, a celebrity could be showing off your items on the red carpet. So, where do you start?
First you'll need a list of target celebrities, a database of media contacts, and a one-paragraph summary of your product or company for a press release. To grab attention, make sure your release includes the celebrity name, event information (when there is one), a paragraph about your product (plus cost and where to purchase it), names of VIPs (even local) or celebrities who have used it, your contact information and website, and your logo to reinforce your brand.
Then, use great packaging to capture attention. You want your gift to stand out for the very reason a celebrity wants to stand out amongst his or her peers--to be memorable.
Next you must locate a publicist, costume designer, or stylist to get the ball rolling.
You generally want to start with a celebrity's publicist, but realize this person might refer you to the next person on your list. Don't give up. is always someone on the star's team who is responsible for his or her image and who will be interested in your gift.
To find out whether a celebrity is using your product, follow the star's comings and goings on entertainment websites like WireImage.com or GettyImages.com. If you know in advance that you've snagged a celebrity to wear your product on the red carpet, these are also the photo agencies you'll contact so you will own your own image. Chances are good that they will be sending a staff photographer to cover the event anyway, and when you call, you can confirm that they have the credentials secured already.
Tags: Marketing
Friday/December/16 09:52 Filed in:
Business TipFor all the entrepreneurs out there, we know how risky it is starting up a business. When meeting clients for the first time, it's a make or break time. They want to get to know about you and your company, and most importantly get your information. This ties in with your marketing, but how many have thought about their business card?
A business card is an integral part of any good marketing plan. For its size and cost, it's probably the most powerful part. Of course, you can't expect your business card to tell the whole story about your company. What you should expect it to do is present a professional image people will remember.
Choose a card style that's appropriate for your business, industry and personal style. When crafting a design, start with the style that best supports the business image you wish to project. To help you get started, here are five different card styles for you to consider:
- Basic cards. A basic card is usually printed in black ink on plain white or cream stock. This is a good style to choose when utility is all you need. It's a no-nonsense approach that can appeal to clients and prospects who would not be impressed by fancy design features-the people who want "just the facts, ma'am." The design is simple, and the information is clear and concise.
- Picture cards. Having your face on your card-whether it's a photograph, a drawing or a caricature-helps a contact remember you the next time he or she sees you. Images representing a product or service, or a benefit your business provides, can help you communicate your business better than dozens of words. A splash of color (rather than just black and white) is often helpful on a picture card, too.
- Tactile cards. Some cards are distinguished not so much by how they look as by how they feel. They may use nonstandard materials, such as metal or wood, or have unusual shapes, edges, folds or embossing. Tactile cards tend to be considerably more expensive than regular cards because they use nonstandard production processes such as die cuts. But for some businesses, this more unusual card may be worth the price.
- Multipurpose cards. A card can do more than promote your name and business-it can also serve as a discount coupon, an appointment reminder or some other function. It may also provide valuable information that the average person may need. For example, a hotel may include a map on the back of its card for any guests who are walking around the local area. A card of any type can be made multipurpose by adding any of these types of features.
- Outside-the-box cards. A wildly original, fanciful or extravagant presentation can draw extra attention. Creativity knows no bounds-except the amount of money you wish to spend. Some examples are cards made of chocolate or that folded out into a miniature box to keep small items in.
One Big Tip
Though this may sound like obvious advice,include the essentials. This means your name, title, company name, address, phone number (or numbers, if you want to include your cell), e-mail and web site. If someone wants to contact you after receiving your card, you sure as heck want them to be able to.
Wednesday/December/14 08:53 Filed in:
Business TipAnother FAQ on taxes today:
A graphic designer performed more than $600 of services for us last year, but she operates as a single-member limited liability company (LLC). Do we still have to send her a 1099 form?
The IRS views single-member LLCs as "disregarded entities"--that is, the IRS does not view them as separate from their owner. Hunt believes the safest bet is to send 1099s to any contractor that is an LLC, a limited liability partnership (LLP), a business trust or other unincorporated business entity, especially if they use their personal Social Security number as their business's tax ID.
Tags: tax strategy
Tuesday/December/13 08:05 Filed in:
Business TipSeven Tips for Successful Holiday Marketing Campaigns
It's no longer a question of either-or. Savvy entrepreneurs know that both email and social media are important parts of a successful marketing strategy. Using the right tools to get the right message to the right audience is critical over the holidays, when businesses and organizations are pulling out all the stops to capture consumers’ attention and dollars.
So how can you engage customers when competition is so fierce? Here’s some good news for small businesses on a budget: Social media extends the life and reach of your email marketing campaigns. It empowers marketers to better engage their audiences, and gives customers the means to share content and offers with their networks. If email gets your message heard, then social media spreads the message even farther.
Here's how to extend your email marketing reach and add some social spice to your holiday campaigns. Before you start spreading the cheer, keep these seven tips in mind.
1. Create valuable content to share. Your email subscribers and social followers won't share content just for the sake of sharing. But they will share content that interests and entertains them, shows them you're listening, solves their problems, and improves their lives. And around the holidays, everyone is looking for a great offer, whether it's a clever gift idea, an awesome deal, or a money-saving coupon.
2. Include a social call to action. When you start a conversation, request feedback, or make a promotional offer via email, the next step is to drive your audience to social destinations and engage them. Make it clear to your email readers what you want them to do next. It may be to "Like" you on Facebook to get a coupon, follow you and retweet an offer on Twitter to be eligible for a prize, or continue a hot-topic holiday discussion elsewhere.
3. Make your campaigns easy to share. Your aim is to capture your customers' attention and then inspire them to comment on and share your content or offer with their friends or network. That way, a whole new audience hears about your business, with the implied endorsement of your customers. What a powerful way to get your message across. Be sure to…
- Add social share icons to the top of your email newsletter, so readers can easily share your content with just one click.
- Keep your tweets short and sweet so that others can retweet within Twitter's 140-character limit.
4. Customize your message for each network. Tools make it easy to share your email content across social media channels. But don't overly automate your marketing message ("set it and forget it") at risk of losing your personal touch. Get to know your audience segments and their preferred social turf. Then, create a customized message for each network of followers. Post those links to your email newsletter on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn -- wherever your audience spends social time online.
5. Invite email signups via social media and mobile marketing. Holidays are a great time to grow your mailing list, too. Remember to…
- Post sign-up links across your social media accounts.
- Add a "Join My Mailing List" box to your website and Facebook pages.
- Invite your audience to join your mailing list by texting you (if your email marketing service provider offers this feature).
6. Participate in social conversations and inspire new content. Pay attention to customer conversations and feedback when you post on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. If a discussion catches fire, jump in yourself and fan the flames to keep it going. Engage customers in social conversations, and use their input to develop ideas for future email content that they'll also want to share.
7. Check your social media stats. See how many people shared your holiday campaigns outside the email environment. Take note of what works and what doesn't, so you may take those valuable lessons learned into the New Year.
Social media gives email more reach and power, connecting all of your communications in an integrated engagement marketing plan. Combining email and social media marketing enables you to better engage your customers, and inspire them to share your content -- and do some of the holiday marketing for you. Here's to a social and successful holiday season.
Tags: Marketing
Monday/December/12 07:54 Filed in:
Business TipDid you just incorporate your business, but now have some legal questions? Here's some answeres to some common questions.
What's a DBA? "DBA" stands for "doing business as," and it's is just another name for your business. Sometimes people want to use different corporate and business names. For example, "Jones Inc." could be the corporate name, with "Bob Jones Landscaping" as the business name. In this case, you would see it described in a legal context as "Jones Inc. doing business as Bob Jones Landscaping."
Will a corporation protect me from liability? It can, if you handle it right. You may have heard about the corporate veil, which means that you can't be sued personally for anything that happens in the corporation and your personal assets can't be attacked by creditors or a lawsuit on the corporation. But in order to have this protection, you must act like a corporation. This means having board meetings, taking notes and publishing minutes in your corporate book.
How do I register my company name? Give us a call. We file all the necessary paperwork with the Secretary of State to get your company name registered.
Do I need a business license? Yes, although it does depend on the state you incorporate in. But in NV you need one, unless your business is a nonprofit religious, charitable, fraternal or other organization that qualifies as a tax-exempt organization.
Remember, tax and corporate laws change all the time and can vary significantly from state to state. If you're going to be successful in your business, you'll need an attorney on your team who can keep up with changes in the laws and tax codes and advise you as you move ahead in your business. This will reduce the chances of some unknown issue blindsiding you, and will also save you money as you use those laws and codes to your best advantage.
Friday/December/09 03:57 Filed in:
Social MediaJust a reminder, get your friends and family to 'Like' our page for a chance to win that iPad 2!!! We will be drawing for it on December 19th!
Wednesday/December/07 08:55 Filed in:
Business TipOur attorney and our accountant are both professional corporations (PCs). Do we still have to send them 1099 forms?
IRS regulations require that attorneys always receive 1099s, regardless of the manner in which they do business. The law is a little fuzzier when it comes to accountants and other professionals, but Hunt advises that 1099s be sent to all providers of professional services, even if they are LLCs or corporations.Tags: tax strategy, irs, irs information sharing