CES: Best Business Strategies to Get Tech Funding
Jan. 24, 2012 If you have a tech startup looking for funds, you already know the competition is intense. But there are strategies that will help you to get funded. Investors revealed their preferences for funding technology firms at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. On her blog, the chair of [...]
[Read more...]IPO Guru: Why the Frantic IPO Pace Heading into the New Year
Dec. 14, 2011 Although 2011 has been a disappointing year for initial public offerings, several companies aim to go public this week making it the busiest IPO activity since 2007. So what’s going on? “There is a very large backlog of companies wanting to IPO and the November 4 Groupon IPO turned the light back on [...]
[Read more...]Small Business Options for Year-End Cash Flow, Tax Benefits
Dec. 2, 2011 December is the month for small business owners to reflect on options for year-end cash flow and tax benefits. In general, here are items to discuss with your accountant and tax advisor: Your first concern should be to reduce your tax obligation next April. Unless you already know you have too many [...]
[Read more...]Lessons for Struggling Businesses from American Airlines’ Bankruptcy
Nov. 29, 2011 Financially challenged businesses can learn lessons from the American Airlines bankruptcy. Ironically, AA is part of one my favorite childhood memories a half century ago in a recessionary time. As a 10-year-old with my younger brother in Oklahoma, our first airplane ride was aboard an AA propeller-driven plane to Los Angeles, [...]
[Read more...]16 Safety Tips for Retail Therapy – Online, Bricks & Mortar
Nov. 23, 2011 If you want to be safe and avoid the holiday-shopping madness, have fun but beware. For starters beware that most small businesses make you vulnerable to credit card fraud, ID theft. For business owners, that’s why I’ve asked the question about cyber security: Is your business prepared with precautions and response [...]
[Read more...]The 22 Do’s and Don’ts for Successful Negotiations
Whether you face haggling with customers, salespeople or employees, there are easy strategies for negotiating anything you want. But you must first remember it’s important to reach a fair compromise – with win-win negotiating skills. You’ll want both parties to feel positive after the negotiation is complete. In other words, emotional needs for both [...]
[Read more...]Why the Sales Tax Debate Erupts in Washington State
Nov. 22, 2011 The buzz in Seattle and other Washington locales is over another attempt to raise taxes. Yes, Gov. Chris Gregoire wants to raise $500 million via a temporary half-cent increase in the state portion of the sales tax to offset continued budget deficits to prevent more state government cuts in spending. Either [...]
[Read more...]Why Accounting, Finance Can be Ideal Careers for Women
Nov. 17, 2011 Women searching for a career or looking to make a change might be well-served if they consider accounting or finance. Why? Such a career affords a better balance between a career and personal life. That’s one of the conclusions from a 2011 study by a recruiting firm, Mergis. “It is encouraging to the [...]
[Read more...]12 Tips for Profits to Keep Your Business Dreams Alive
Most businesspeople agree the economy continues to be challenging. Signs of a lingering downturn are everywhere. Business activity is slow. Governments at all levels report low tax revenue and are restructuring, and not spending. Customers want you to cut prices. With a high level of oversupply in many industries, high unemployment and reduced customer [...]
[Read more...]Tax Tips for Your 2011 Year-End Tax Planning
November 9, 2011 If you haven’t completed your year-end tax planning, you might want to consider it now. Just in time, come 12 pointers from Grant Thornton’s Washington national tax office. “It’s not too late to change what goes on your tax return when tax season rolls around,” says Justin Ransome, a Grant Thornton [...]
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