<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[SmallBusinessNotes.com Recent Articles: Management Principles]]></title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/management-principles/</link><description></description></channel>
<item><title>Taking Your Business to the Next Level, Part 2: Location and Expansion</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/taking-your-business-to-the-next-level-part-2-location-and-expansion.html</link><description><![CDATA[ In the previous section, we focused on making changes or improvements to your product as ways to continuously improve your business. There are also larger scale business moves that can be made to do this, such as changing or adding locations and forming partnerships. Here are the most common strategies related to location and expansion that are used to improve business. Move Sometimes a new location will make your business more visible in the community. It is possible when you started that you could not afford a large space, but now that you are successful and able to put...]]></description><pubDate>December  7, 2010  4:08 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Taking Your Business to the Next Level, Part 1: Focus on Product</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/taking-your-business-to-the-next-level-part-1-focus-on-product.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Even once you have managed to get your small business on firm financial ground, your work is still not over. In fact, owning a successful small business means constantly tinkering with its operation to keep it current and competitive. Even if your goal is simply to stay small and operate happily in a niche, you need a strategy for constant improvement. If you aren't continuing to change your product for the better, you can quickly become stagnant and lose customers who want the latest, greatest version. Whether your goals are large or small, revisiting your business model regularly is...]]></description><pubDate>December  7, 2010  4:08 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Greening Your Business</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/greening-your-business.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Introducing green practices into your business is good for your bottom line, both in terms of saving money and as a marketing tool in letting the world know that you care about your community and your impact on it. Surprisingly, few people know some of the simple practices that can make a big difference in how green they are operating. Most folks think of green as installing expensive systems when, in truth, it is the minor changes that make the big differences. There are multiple other ways that green makes sense for your business. Some are obvious like recycling...]]></description><pubDate>December  7, 2010  4:08 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Small Business Scams Part 2: Identity Theft &amp;amp; Tax Scams</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/small-business-scams-part-2-identity-theft-tax-scams.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Read part 1 of this series to learn about marketing and financing scams. Identity Theft All the information you have in your business is gold to an identity thief. That information is a means for draining bank accounts, opening phony lines of credit, and spending huge amounts of money at the expense of your business, employees, vendors, and customers. Tax records, payroll information, what is on your computer system, financial data from your suppliers, and credit card numbers from your customers are all information sources that identity thieves are thrilled to find. Access to the information you store can...]]></description><pubDate>December  7, 2010  4:08 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Small Business Scams Part 1: Marketing &amp;amp; Financing Scams</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/small-business-scams-part-1-marketing-financing-scams.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Scams that attempt to defraud consumers and businesses abound. Being aware of the scams that are currently afoot is important for any business. The United States government through its Federal Citizen Information Center provides a centralized source of information about each scam and fraud being perpetrated. The number of scams seems endless with more emerging every day. The schemes cover topics as diverse as cars, computers, education, employment, family, federal programs, food, health, housing, money, small business, travel, and more. Your business could also, unwittingly, be promulgating a scam without realizing it because you have been conned into participating...]]></description><pubDate>December  7, 2010  4:08 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Surviving in an Economic Downturn</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/surviving-in-an-economic-downturn.html</link><description><![CDATA[ The belief that small businesses fare poorly in economic slowdowns is a common misconception that is not generally true. Solidly run small businesses actually hold their own during downturns. While we all like to believe our businesses fit the definition of &amp;quot;solidly run&amp;quot;, let's take a look at what are some commonly cited best practices for all businesses to be following during a time of economic downturn. Revisit Your Business Plan The number one recommendation, across the board, is to reexamine your business plan. Your business plan should be the working base for your company. Have you strayed from...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Statement of Work Template</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/statement-of-work-template.html</link><description><![CDATA[ This Statement of Work template, or Scope of Work template, defines the needs and deliverables of a project.Statement of Work / Scope of Work...]]></description><pubDate>December  7, 2010 11:14 AM</pubDate></item><item><title>Project Management Training Material</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/project-management-training-material.html</link><description><![CDATA[The Project Management for Managers Workbook is a course that aims to familiarize employees with project management techniques and enable them to implement specific project management tools to improve project performance.Project Management Training Material.doc...]]></description><pubDate>December  7, 2010 10:41 AM</pubDate></item><item><title>Project Risk Management Plan</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/project-risk-management-plan.html</link><description><![CDATA[This Risk Management Plan helps one define and establish the protocol for identifying, assessing and managing risk and risk impact.Project Risk Management Plan.doc...]]></description><pubDate>December  7, 2010 10:34 AM</pubDate></item><item><title>Project Management Process</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/project-management-process.html</link><description><![CDATA[ The Project Management Process document is a helpful project management tool that explains the process in-depth, from project initiation to project control and closure.project management process.doc...]]></description><pubDate>December  7, 2010 10:27 AM</pubDate></item><item><title>Six Sigma Template</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/six-sigma-template.html</link><description><![CDATA[This sample Six Sigma template can help improve business performance by defining a problem, analyzing and determining the root causes of the problem, finding its solutions and creating reaction plans to safeguard continued success.Six Sigma Template...]]></description><pubDate>December  7, 2010 10:21 AM</pubDate></item><item><title>Service Level Requirements Template</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/service-level-requirements-template.html</link><description><![CDATA[This Service Level Requirements template can help one determine the system service requirements for a business. Service Level Requirements Template...]]></description><pubDate>December  7, 2010 10:17 AM</pubDate></item><item><title>Financial Management</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/financial-management.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Financial Management is the process of managing the financial resources, including accounting and financial reporting, budgeting, collecting accounts receivable, risk management, and insurance for a business. The financial management system for a small business includes both how you are financing it as well as how you manage the money in the business. In setting up a financial management system your first decision is whether you will manage your financial records yourself or whether you will have someone else do it for you. There are a number of alternative ways you can handle this. You can manage everything yourself; hire...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Leadership</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/leadership.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Leadership involves motivating the employees to achieve the business objectives. It is often considered an art, but there are a lot of tools that can help you be better at it. For one thing, there are a number of Leadership Traits that you can cultivate. Some of the topics that leaders deal with are: Board of Directors Conflict Resolution Crisis Management Disaster Management Ethics Exit Strategies Mergers and Acquisitions The Power of Small Ideas Professional Gifts Profitable Growth Strategic Alliances Unfair Business Practices What Buffet Looks For In a Company While providing direction for the growth and change in...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Tax Resources</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/tax-resources.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Taxes are a challenge that need careful planning. Here are some resources to help build a strong foundation for your business. Table of Contents: Bankruptcy Tax Guide Business Use of Your Home Employment Taxes End-of-Year Tax Planning IRS Business Tax Audit Secrets IRS Tax Calendar for Small Businesses Obtaining an Employer Identification Number (EIN) Organizing for Tax Management Starting a Business and Keeping Records Tax Books Tax Guide for Small Business (For Individuals Who Use Schedule C or C-EZ) Tax Software Travel, Entertainment, Gift, and Car Expenses U.S. Federal Tax Information For a start, you will want to bookmark...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Management</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/management.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Management is commonly considered to be the central operations of the business - Financial, Legal, Human Resources, Office Space, Equipment, and Organization, Marketing, and Production. However, most business textbooks describe management as being comprised of five processes: Planning Organizing Staffing Directing Controlling Let's see what that means in plain English and where the areas in the first paragraph fit in this model. Planning involves determining what are appropriate objectives for the business and how those objectives are going to be accomplished. This is one of the most commonly skipped steps in running a small business, yet it is also...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Organizing Your Office by Task</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/organizing-your-office-by-task.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Monica Ricci has been an organizing and productivity specialist since 1999. She offers onsite consulting, as well as motivational seminars and workshops, which teach effective organizing and simplifying and effectiveness strategies for home and work. Here she shares with us &amp;quot;Lights, Cameras, Action Files - Organizing Your Office by Task.&amp;quot; Your desk is the most important part of your office. It is a work space, however many people make the mistake of using the desk as a storage space! In order for you to be focused on the task at hand, the desk should be clear and free of...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>How to Set Your Priorities</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/how-to-set-your-priorities.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Do you get to the end of the week and wonder what you got done? None of the items on your list have been completed. Here are some ways to set priorities and follow them. To set priorities: Make as comprehensive a list as possible of everything you can think of that needs to be done. Make another list of your personal goals for the business, for example, have a certain profit level or number of clients over a certain time frame. Make one more list of what you want from this business. Lots of money? Personal satisfaction? Steady...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>How to Organize Meetings</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/how-to-organize-meetings.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Meetings can be the most dreaded part of business, yet they are essential to good communication. Make them a positive part of your business operation by organizing them well. To organize a meeting: Decide exactly who should attend the meeting. Schedule a time for the meeting with the persons attending, making it clear what the meeting is about and how long it will take. Schedule a place for the meeting that is conducive to discussion and does not allow interruptions. Plan an agenda with a time schedule for addressing each issue. Distribute the agenda well in advance of the...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Time Management</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/time-management.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Most of us have felt swamped at one time or another. With hectic work schedules, family responsibilities, and social engagements, there just doesn't seem to be enough time for everything we need and want to do. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Although life will always provide us with its little twists and turns, once we learn to manage our time wisely, much of the day-to-day chaos in our lives can be reduced or even eliminated. The first step in learning how to manage your time is to develop a general work schedule. Your work...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Organization Charts</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/organization-charts.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Even if you are a one person business, constructing some kind of organization chart will help you see what functions need to be performed so that you can make certain everything is getting done. To show you how this is done, here is an example of a simple organization chart for a one-person retail business. &amp;amp;nbsp; Retail Business | &amp;amp;nbsp; | &amp;amp;nbsp; | &amp;amp;nbsp; The Buying Function The Selling Function The Controlling Function Checking catalogs Advertising Cashiering Finding suppliers Doing inside displays Checking invoices Placing Orders Maintaining a clean store Issuing credit Receiving and stocking Pricing Keeping records Seeing...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Workers' Compensation Insurance</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/workers-compensation-insurance.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Workers' Compensation is a no-fault insurance system that provides wage replacement, medical, and rehabilitation benefits to employees that are injured at work. Being no-fault, it requires the employer to be responsible for the payment of benefits irrespective of who or what caused or contributed to an injury or illness that is connected with a job. Almost every state requires that employers purchase workers' compensation insurance. Coverage of workers tends to be fairly comprehensive, although state workers' compensation laws often exempt domestic, farm, and other &amp;quot;casual&amp;quot; workers. Moreover, independent contractors, being self-employed, are not covered by these laws. The laws...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Business Interruption Insurance</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/business-interruption-insurance.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Business Interruption Insurance covers your loss of income if a catastrophe or accident shuts your business down. Floods, fires, hurricanes, tornados, and other unexpected devastating events do occur. If you are unable to operate your business, what happens to your income? Depending on the type of policy available and the type of perils the policy covers, if you are unable to conduct business, insurance may pay the income you lose as the result of a loss (catastrophic or accidental). The type of catastrophes covered vary regionally based on the local risks for certain types of natural disasters. Check with...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Other Types of Health-related Insurance</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/other-types-of-health-related-insurance.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Medicare Medicare is the Federal health insurance program for Americans age 65 and older and for certain disabled Americans. If you are eligible for Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits and are age 65, you and your spouse automatically qualify for Medicare. Medicare has two parts: hospital insurance, known as Part A, and supplementary medical insurance, known as Part B, which provides payments for doctors and related services and supplies ordered by the doctor. If you are eligible for Medicare, Part A is free, but you must pay a premium for Part B. Medicare will pay for many of...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Where to Find More Information</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/where-to-find-more-information.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Many organizations have information that can help you understand your health care choices and where to find health insurance. Some helpful organizations are: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is a component of the Public Health Service (PHS). Its goals are to promote effective, appropriate, high-quality health care; increase access to care; and improve the way health services are organized, delivered, and financed. American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) A nonprofit membership organization dedicated to addressing the needs and interests of persons 50 and older. America's Health Insurance Plans A...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Checklist:  What's Most Important to You?</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/checklist-whats-most-important-to-you.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Insurance plans vary. Before choosing a plan, decide what is most important to you. This checklist can help. Put a check in front of those services that are important to you. Then see how many of these services are in Policy #1, Policy #2, and Policy #3. On the checklist, write in the coinsurance or copayment rate, if there is one, and any limits on service. Remember that the most important service to be covered is hospitalization. If you are not covered for hospital care, then one sickness could cost you thousands of dollars, even hundreds of thousands of...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Surety Bonds</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/surety-bonds.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Surety bonds guarantee to other businesses that your business will fulfill the contracts you sign. This is a way for your small business to get other businesses to take a chance and do business with your small company that is unknown to them. Usually surety bonds are used in situations where you are signing a longterm contract to provide products or services to the other business. By law, prime contractors to the federal government must post surety bonds on federal construction projects valued at $25,000 or more. Many state, county, city and private-sector projects require bonding as well. The...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/health-maintenance-organization-hmo.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Health maintenance organizations are prepaid health plans. As an HMO member, you pay a monthly premium. In exchange, the HMO provides comprehensive care for you and your family, including doctors' visits, hospital stays, emergency care, surgery, lab tests, x-rays, and therapy. The HMO arranges for this care either directly in its own group practice and/or through doctors and other health care professionals under contract. Usually, your choices of doctors and hospitals are limited to those that have agreements with the HMO to provide care. However, exceptions are made in emergencies or when medically necessary. There may be a small...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Choosing Health Insurance</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/choosing-health-insurance.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Health insurance is one of your most important needs. Without it, one serious illness or accident could wipe you out financially. Today, health care costs are high, and getting higher. Who will pay your bills if you have a serious accident or a major illness? With health insurance, you protect yourself and your family in case you need medical care that could be very expensive. If you have insurance, many of your costs are covered by a third-party payer, not by you. The third-party payer is your insurance company. There are many types of health insurance. Finding the right...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Fee For Service Plans</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/fee-for-service-plans.html</link><description><![CDATA[ In fee-for-service health insurance, also known as an indemity plan, the insurance companies pay fees for the services provided to the insured people covered by the policy. This type of health insurance offers the most choices of doctors and hospitals. You can choose any doctor you wish and change doctors any time. You can go to any hospital in any part of the country. With fee-for-service, the insurer only pays for part of your doctor and hospital bills. This is what you pay: A monthly fee, called a premium. A certain amount of money each year, known as the...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Which Type of Health Insurance Is Right for You?</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/which-type-of-health-insurance-is-right-for-you.html</link><description><![CDATA[ There are many different types of health insurance. Each has pros and cons. There is no one &amp;quot;best&amp;quot; plan. The plan that's right for a single person may not be best for a family with small children. And a plan that works for one family may not be right for another. For example, if your family includes just two adults, it may be less expensive for each of you to have individual coverage than for just one of you to have a family plan. If you have children, or if you might have children soon, you need a family...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Worksheet: What Is Your Best Buy?</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/worksheet-what-is-your-best-buy.html</link><description><![CDATA[ It is difficult to determine exactly what you will spend a year on health care. You do not know whether you will be sick 6 months from now and need an operation. Using this worksheet, you can begin to make some rough estimates. Much will depend on what service you need or want, how many people are in your family, your age, and other factors. Do you need to have your eyes tested this year? Will you have a mammogram or other cancer screening test? Does your child need immunizations? Look at your medical and insurance records from last...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Understanding Health Insurance Terms</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/understanding-health-insurance-terms.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Coinsurance: The amount you are required to pay for medical care in a fee-for-service plan after you have met your deductible. The coinsurance rate is usually expressed as a percentage. For example, if the insurance company pays 80 percent of the claim, you pay 20 percent. Coordination of Benefits: A system to eliminate duplication of benefits when you are covered under more than one group plan. Benefits under the two plans usually are limited to no more than 100 percent of the claim. Copayment: Another way of sharing medical costs. You pay a flat fee every time you receive...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Controlling a Small Business</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/controlling-a-small-business.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Controlling is the process of evaluation and correction that is needed to make certain that the business stay on track towards its goals. Planning and controlling are closely linked since planning sets the goals and standards for performance. Controlling essentially checks to make certain the plan is being followed. It also provides feedback so that the plan can be revised, if needed. An effective control system sets standards for performance of people and processes, communicates those standards, and ensures that they are applied with appropriate monitoring and corrective action, if needed. The control process should be a continuous flow...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/preferred-provider-organization-ppo.html</link><description><![CDATA[ The preferred provider organization is a combination of traditional fee-for-service and an HMO. Like an HMO, there are a limited number of doctors and hospitals to choose from. When you use those providers (sometimes called &amp;quot;preferred&amp;quot; providers, other times called &amp;quot;network&amp;quot; providers), most of your medical bills are covered. When you go to doctors in the PPO, you present a card and do not have to fill out forms. Usually there is a small copayment for each visit. For some services, you may have to pay a deductible and coinsurance. As with an HMO, a PPO requires that you...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Self Insurance</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/self-insurance.html</link><description><![CDATA[ In self insurance, you establish a savings plan so that you have money available should a catastrophe happen. Self insurance is primarily used by small businesses for health and workers' compensation insurance. With self-insurance, the business predetermines and then pays a portion or all of the medical expenses of employees in a manner similar to that of traditional health care providers. Funding comes through establishment of a trust or a simple reserve account. As with other health care plans, the employee may pay a portion of the cost in premiums. Catastrophic coverage is usually provided through a stop loss...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Key Employee Insurance</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/key-employee-insurance.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Small businesses, because they have a limited number of employees, frequently have what are called &amp;quot;key&amp;quot; employees who are critical to the business. They may be &amp;quot;key&amp;quot; because the customers and suppliers know and trust them, or they may manage a critical process within the business. Often, in a startup business, the key employee is the founder. Key Employee Insurance protects your business against the loss of a key employee. If you are applying for a business loan, your banker may require this insurance (or life insurance) as a way for the bank to get its money back if...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Choosing an Insurance Agent</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/choosing-an-insurance-agent.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Small businesses should shop for insurance. Check with your profession's trade or industry groups, which frequently have arrangements with underwriters to provide economical insurance to the group's members. In the absence of a trade group, you may want to work with an independent insurance agent, or broker, who is familiar with your type of business. You have two choices: exclusive agents, known as direct writers, and independent agents. A direct writer sells policies for the insurance company it exclusively represents, whereas an independent agent represents many insurance companies. A direct writer may be able to get you a better...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Determining Your Insurance Needs</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/determining-your-insurance-needs.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Only you, the business owner, know what is adequate insurance coverage for your operation. What can you afford to write-off in the event of a loss (e.g. fire, and theft) for which you have no, or limited, coverage? The insurance coverage you choose will be the difference between security against unforeseen losses (including lawsuit defense and judgment) and responsibility for such losses out of your own pocket. If you do not feel the possibility of risk of loss outweighs the payment of yearly premiums, then going without insurance may work for you. In that case, you may simply want...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Liability Insurance</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/liability-insurance.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Liability insurance covers accidents that occur for which your business is legally liable (responsible). Note that you can be held liable for the actions of people who work for you, paid or volunteer, if they are operating within the scope of their duties. If you, or one of your employees, is at fault for an accident, you may be expected to reimburse the cost of damages to another person for their injuries or loss of property resulting from that accident. This includes incidents involving your vehicles, as well as those which may occur on your businesses premises (for instance,...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Employment Practices Liability Insurance</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/employment-practices-liability-insurance.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) covers businesses against claims by employees that their legal rights have been violated. Some insurers provide this coverage as an endorsement to their Businessowners Policy. EPLI provides protection against: Breach of employment contract Deprivation of career opportunity Discrimination Failure to employ or promote Mismanagement of employee benefit plans Negligent evaluation Sexual harassment Wrongful discipline Wrongful infliction of emotional distress Wrongful termination To avoid employee lawsuits, teach your employees how to handle the situations above and the legal implications to themselves and the business. Create hiring and screening programs to avoid discrimination in hiring. Post...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Unemployment Insurance</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/unemployment-insurance.html</link><description><![CDATA[ In general, the Federal-State Unemployment Insurance Program provides unemployment benefits to eligible workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own (as determined under State law), and meet other eligibility requirements of State law. Unemployment insurance payments (benefits) are intended to provide temporary financial assistance to unemployed workers who meet the requirements of State law. Each State administers a separate unemployment insurance program within guidelines established by Federal law. Eligibility for unemployment insurance, benefit amounts and the length of time benefits are available are determined by the State law under which unemployment insurance claims are established. In the...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Developing Your Company's Ethics Policy</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/developing-your-companys-ethics-policy.html</link><description><![CDATA[ There are definite advantages to owning your own business when you are wanting to establish an ethics policy. You see, ethics come from the top. Without setting an example at the top, it is often difficult, if not impossible, to convince your employees that they too should be ethical in their business dealings. A well-defined ethics policy along with an outline of related standards of conduct provides the framework for ethical, moral behavior within your company. What is the benefit to developing such a policy, you may be wondering. The benefit is higher employee morale and commitment which in...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Conflicts in Meetings</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/conflicts-in-meetings.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Conflicts in meetings can be very disruptive. But they can also be very helpful. Remember, conflicts are disagreements. If the person who is disagreeing with you is raising valid questions, it may benefit the group to address the issues they are presenting. In fact, by listening to them, you may gain valuable insight into what is and what is not working within your organization. However, if the person continues past the point of disagreement to the point of disruptiveness, specific steps should be taken. Below is a list of conflict resolution tactics that you can use for meetings that...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Conflicts in Negotiations</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/conflicts-in-negotiations.html</link><description><![CDATA[ When you are negotiating with your clients, vendors, or even your employees, it is important to always keep in mind the idea that both parties are seeking a Win/Win situation. No one wants to feel like they are giving away something for nothing. In fact, most conflicts arise because one party feels like the other party is taking advantage of them. In order to avoid these types of situations, there are certain principles you can apply to increase your chances of a successful negotiation. Avoid defend-attack interaction Seek more information by asking questions Check your understanding and summarize what...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Business Ethics</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/business-ethics.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Business ethics set the standard for how your business is conducted. They define the value system of how your operate in the marketplace and within your business. With legal scandals concerning insider trading and employee theft making the news, it is no wonder that businesses are increasingly giving attention to the ethical basis of their business and how to lead in an ethical way. While the examples above seem to be clear cut breaches of ethics, many ethical dilemmas that not so clear cut are faced on a daily basis in business. In fact, there may not even be...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Legal Resources</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/legal-resources.html</link><description><![CDATA[ You don't need to have a lawyer in house, but you definitely need to make certain that all the operations of your business are legal. Some of the issues to consider are business licenses, determining the correct legal form of your business, alliance agreements, copyrights, trademarks, patents, contracts with suppliers, and employment law. Table of Contents: Corporations Dissolving a Corporation Guide to Antitrust Laws How to Choose the Legal Form of a Business How to Form a Business Partnership How to Form a Corporation How to Form a Limited Liability Company How to Form a Sole Proprietorship Identity Theft...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Marketing</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/marketing.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Marketing consists of advertising and promoting your product or service in order to sell it. Your business produces goods and services. Marketing is what lets potential customers know that they are available for sale. Sales, advertising, and public relations are each essential components of marketing and each require specialized skills and expertise. While a small business may have only one person performing all these functions under the marketing umbrella, knowledge of each area is important to develop a focused effort. A focus on what the customer wants and needs is essential to successful marketing efforts. This customer-orientation should go...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Organizing a Small Business</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/organizing-a-small-business.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Your business plan states the objectives for your business. Your next step is to figure out how you are going to accomplish those objectives. Without organization timelines are not going to be met and goals will not be accomplished. Organization needs to happen on both a macro- and a micro-level; i.e., the macro-level is how you structure the business itself, the micro-level is how you run the business on a daily basis. An organization chart is a good to thing to have even for one person organizations, as silly as that might sound. A good organization chart details the...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Conflicts in Interpersonal Relationships</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/conflicts-in-interpersonal-relationships.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Sometimes in interpersonal relationships, such as those between you and one of your employees, there may be a conflict that you are not aware of. If someone who is normally upbeat and friendly toward you suddenly begins avoiding you or being rude, there is usually a reason. If the person has remained cheerful with everyone else except you, chances are you are dealing with a conflict situation. In these instances, you will want to address the problem by following these steps. Try to determine if there is a problem between you and the other person. If you think there...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>How to Set Up a Strategic Alliance</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/how-to-set-up-a-strategic-alliance.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Once you have made the decision to form an alliance, you need to establish what the factors are that you are looking for in that alliance. Sketching a basic business plan of what you want to achieve will go a long way to forming a relationship that works. If you don't have potential partners identified, the plan will help clarify exactly what you need. Develop search criteria for the ideal alliance. Your criteria should consist of clearly defined business objectives and personal factors that are important to you. Typical business objectives can be anything from production capacity to technological...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Trusts</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/trusts.html</link><description><![CDATA[ The most common trusts used by business owners when planning their company's future are testamentary and living. In a testamentary trust, you establish the provisions in your will, and the trust becomes effective upon your death. A living trust, however, is created during your lifetime and can continue after your death. Unlike testamentary trusts, living trusts are not subject to probate. In both cases, you as the trustor determine the purpose of the trust, the amount and type of property it will contain, the length of time it will last, and the trustees or beneficiaries. You also establish the...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Merging Wisely</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/merging-wisely.html</link><description><![CDATA[ A merger includes preparation and initial negotiations, due diligence, the sale and purchase, and portfolio transfers, all involving financial, legal and human implications. It is not a process that one undertakes lightly. In a previous feature article, &amp;quot;Why Merge?,&amp;quot; I addressed the pros and cons of merging. Before initiating a merger, you may wish to consider your reasons for choosing to merge in relation to the negatives and positives it will bring to your business. Usually once the decision is made to buy or sell, the search for the right candidate is begun. For the seller, a valuation report...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Exit Checklist</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/exit-checklist.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Human Resources &amp;amp;nbsp; Disputes and employee grievances &amp;amp;nbsp; Employee benefit plans: incentive plans, benefits, pensions, deferred salary plans, stock options &amp;amp;nbsp; Medical insurance &amp;amp;nbsp; Business equipment in employee possession; home offices, business cars, cell telephones &amp;amp;nbsp; Termination notices &amp;amp;nbsp; Employment contracts and severance arrangements Finance and Accounting &amp;amp;nbsp; Condition and completeness of records &amp;amp;nbsp; Deposits outstanding &amp;amp;nbsp; Prepaid accounts: insurance, advertising, utilities &amp;amp;nbsp; Valuation of assets: intellectual property, work in progress, software, project files, R&amp;amp;amp;D &amp;amp;nbsp; Financial planning: capital gains on asset disposition or sale of business &amp;amp;nbsp; Bank and investment account(s) &amp;amp;nbsp; Loans from financial institutions or individual...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>The Financial Aspects of Succession Planning</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/the-financial-aspects-of-succession-planning.html</link><description><![CDATA[ The selection and training of a successor will all be for naught if you don't also develop a financial strategy for handing over your business. Perhaps the most significant activity associated with succession planning, a financial strategy protects your company, your family and your employees against a monetary burden that could doom the entire process to failure. For example, if you plan to turn over your business to your children, you have to think about the heavy gift taxes they will face. If you die, your heirs can suffer an equally prohibitive estate tax. Setting up an employee stock...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Buy-Sell Agreements</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/buy-sell-agreements.html</link><description><![CDATA[ A transfer method most appropriate to closely-held businesses, buy-sells enable you to safeguard your family's financial future and prepare your company to go on without you. If done well, buy-sells can bolster companies against all kinds of unforeseen events that could threaten their stability and perhaps survival: disability, divorce, death and plenty of events in between. Buy-sell agreements generally fall within two categories: cross-purchase agreements and redemption or repurchase agreements. In a cross-purchase agreement, the remaining shareholders of a company are obligated to buy the departing (either by retirement, disability or death) shareholder's stock. The corporation itself as an...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Why Merge?</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/why-merge.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Mergers continue to grow at an ever increasing pace. The United States Federal Trade Commission reports that the number of filings in 1999 was almost three times the number received in 1993. This same trend is being experienced worldwide. Web property deals tripled from 140 in 1998 to 450 in 1999 with an incredible increase of 700 percent in dollar spending from 1998 to 1999. America Online's acquisition of Time Warner got this century off to a stupendous start with the purchase being valued at more than three times the total 1998/1999 M&amp;amp;amp;A spending. Webmerger.com is predicting that web...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Profitable Growth</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/profitable-growth.html</link><description><![CDATA[ The ten tools of profitable growth: 1. Revenue growth is everyone's business, so make it part of everyone's daily work routine. Every employee wants to be part of a company's growth agenda, but most don't know how. Managers need to provide them with both information and tools, starting with making revenue growth an inherent part of daily conversations, meetings, and presentations. Just as everyone participates in cost reduction, so must everyone be engaged in the growth agenda of the business. Every contact of every employee with a customer is an opportunity for revenue growth: The people answering the phones...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Choosing Your Successor</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/choosing-your-successor.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Begin by writing down your thoughts about when you want to step away from the daily operations of the business. Would you like to spend more time with your spouse? What do you want to accomplish over the next 15 years? How much money do you need? What personal goals could you achieve if you weren't running the company? What would success in a new endeavor mean to you? Next, discuss your ideas about the future with your family, senior management team and key employees. Decide how long you want to remain active in the company and in what...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>The Power of Small Ideas: Why Small Ideas Outperform the Big, Dramatic Ones</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/the-power-of-small-ideas-why-small-ideas-outperform-the-big-dramatic-ones.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Alan Robinson and Dean Schroeder are the guest authors of this article. Everyone loves big, dramatic ideas. In fact, the bigger and sexier the ideas, the more people are drawn to them. So it's not surprising that when managers think about promoting workers' ideas, they envision going after the home runs - the super-sized breakthroughs that promise fame and fortune. Yet it's actually smarter to go after small ideas, as they're where the real action is. Why? According to our research, there are countless reasons. Here we'll focus on two of them - sustainable competitive advantage and performance excellence...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Poetry About Business</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/poetry-about-business.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Michael Benedikt &amp;quot;Prose Poems&amp;quot; that describe many aspects of the business of life. Samuel Taylor Coleridge In Work Without Hope, he comments on the constancy of work as part of all nature. Evan Elpus Anthem of Frustration. Evan Elpus From on High. Rudyard Kipling The &amp;quot;Mary Glouster.&amp;quot; Ogden Nash Poem contemplating working. Carl Sandburg In his &amp;quot;Chicago Collection,&amp;quot; he muses on all aspects of Chicago including business as a part of it. &amp;amp;nbsp;...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Board of Directors</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/board-of-directors.html</link><description><![CDATA[ A company's board of directors helps management develop business plans, policy objectives, and business strategy. Not all small businesses have or need a board of directors, but as the business grows and matures in the marketplace, a board can be a valuable tool to help management set the direction for growth and provide valuable insights from a different perspective and knowledge base. Directors monitor a company's financial performance and the success of its products, services and strategy. They are expected to follow developments that affect the business, and set aside any potential conflict between their personal or individual business...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Leadership Traits</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/leadership-traits.html</link><description><![CDATA[ One of the most important contributions psychology has made to the field of business has been in determining the key traits of acknowledged leaders. Psychological tests have been used to determine what characteristics are most commonly noted among successful leaders. This list of characteristics can be used for developmental purposes to help managers gain insight and develop their leadership skills. The increasing rate of change in the business environment is a major factor in this emphasis on leadership. Whereas in the past, managers were expected to maintain the status quo in order to move ahead, new forces in the...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Gifting</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/gifting.html</link><description><![CDATA[ &amp;quot;Gifting&amp;quot; is one succession option that allows the owner to transfer the business to the next generation over time -- in a way that reduces or even eliminates any estate or gift taxes. Each year an owner can give $11,000 to a child tax-free; husband and wife business owners can each give a part of the operation worth $11,000 to their child, for a total of $22,000. Neither the donors nor the recipient pay taxes on the gift. You can also, during your lifetime or upon your death, give away an additional $600,000 of the value of the business...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Frequently Asked Questions about Economic Injury Disaster Loans</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/frequently-asked-questions-about-economic-injury-disaster-loans.html</link><description><![CDATA[ 1. How may I use an EIDL? Answer 2. How much money may I borrow? Answer 3. Must I submit a personal financial statement with my loan application? Answer 4. Must I sell assets that are not used in my regular business operations before I am eligible for an EIDL? Answer 5. If I can borrow from a bank, am I still eligible for SBA assistance? Answer 6. What are some prohibited uses of an EIDL? Answer 7. Is collateral required for an EIDL Answer 8. How long will I have to pay off the SBA loan? Answer 9....]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Physical Disaster  Business Loans</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/physical-disaster-business-loans.html</link><description><![CDATA[ If your business -- large or small -- has suffered physical damage as a result of a disaster, you may be eligible for financial assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Any business that is located in a declared disaster area and has incurred damage during the disaster may apply for a loan to help repair or replace damaged property to its pre-disaster condition. The SBA makes physical disaster loans of up to $1.5 million to qualified businesses. Use Of Proceeds Repair or replacement of real property, machinery, equipment, fixtures, inventory and leasehold improvements may be included in the...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Frequently Asked Questions about Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loans</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/frequently-asked-questions-about-military-reservist-economic-injury-disaster-loans.html</link><description><![CDATA[ 1. I've heard that SBA loan applications are complicated and hard to complete. Is this true? Answer 2. Must I use my own money or try to borrow from a bank before I come to SBA? Answer 3. When should I apply for the loan? Answer 4. What documentation do I need to give SBA to apply for this type of loan? Answer 5. What is an essential employee? Answer 6. What is meant by a &amp;quot;period of military conflict?&amp;quot; Answer 7. What does &amp;quot;substantial economic injury&amp;quot; mean? Answer 8. When will I know if I get the loan?...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Conflict Resolution</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/conflict-resolution.html</link><description><![CDATA[ If you deal with people, you will, sooner or later, have to deal with conflict. Conflict is not inherently bad. Conflict simply stems from differing viewpoints. Since no two people view the world exactly the same way, disagreement is quite normal. In fact, anyone who agrees with you all of the time is probably telling you what you want to hear, not what he or she actually believes. The reason conflict is often dreaded is because of the emotional aspects that come along with it. When there is conflict, it means that there is disagreement between two or more...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Exit Strategies</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/exit-strategies.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Planning how you exit your business is just as important as how you start it. The goal is to maximize the value of your company before converting it to cash, and to minimize the amount of time consumed. Getting out of business is a process. The length of time required to complete the process is directly related to the complexity of the business, and the circumstances underlying this decision to get out of business. It can range from one week for a home-based sole proprietorship to several years for a corporation forced into involuntary bankruptcy. Disputes and litigation add...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Home and Personal Property Disaster Loans</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/home-and-personal-property-disaster-loans.html</link><description><![CDATA[ If you are in a declared disaster area and are the victim of a disaster, you may be eligible for financial assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration - even if you don't own a business. As a homeowner, renter and/or personal-property owner, you may apply to the SBA for a loan to help you recover from a disaster. Assistance Available As an individual, there is one basic loan, with two purposes, available to you: Personal Property Loan This loan can provide a homeowner or renter with up to $40,000 to help repair or replace personal property, such as...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>How to Apply for SBA Disaster Loan Assistance after a Declared Disaster</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/how-to-apply-for-sba-disaster-loan-assistance-after-a-declared-disaster.html</link><description><![CDATA[ If you are in a declared disaster area and have suffered any disaster related damage, you may be eligible for federal disaster assistance. Individuals that are Homeowners and Renters must register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to obtain a FEMA Registration ID Number by calling 1-800-621-3362. The speech or hearing impaired may call (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. Businesses may apply directly to the Small Business Administration for possible disaster assistance. Here is specific information about the various loan programs available: Home &amp;amp;amp; Property Loans Physical Disaster Loans Economic Injury Loans Military Reservist Loans Frequently Asked Questions about SBA Disaster Loans...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Succession Planning</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/succession-planning.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Rather than a single, dramatic movement, the smooth succession of a business more resembles a flow of events that occurs over time. Like a well-run relay race, the handing over of a company should be graceful, carefully strategized and well executed if it is to be successful. Unfortunately, the majority of business owners neglect to plan so seamlessly for their own succession. More often than not, the reasons are psychological. No one likes thinking about their mortality, and entrepreneurs are no exception. Moreover, some owners so closely identify with their ventures that they can't imagine their offspring of long...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Other Disaster Resources</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/other-disaster-resources.html</link><description><![CDATA[ There are a number of government agencies and nonprofit organizations that help in both disaster preparation and recovery. Here are links to a number of useful resource websites. You may also visit your state website for local resources. Ready.Gov The Department of Homeland Security presents some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected, such as assembling a supply kit and developing a family communications plan, for both a natural or man-made emergency. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Leads the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Disaster Management</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/disaster-management.html</link><description><![CDATA[ All disaster declaration requests must come from the Governor or authorized representative. The Governor can ask for a Presidential disaster declaration or a Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrative declaration, depending upon the severity of the disaster. A Presidential declaration makes many Federal and State programs available, including SBA loans. An SBA declaration makes only SBA loans available. Presidential Declarations The Governor contacts the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) if the State believes damages justify a Presidential declaration. FEMA conducts a Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) of the area. We join FEMA, State and local representatives in the PDA when the...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/military-reservist-economic-injury-disaster-loan-program.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Filing Period for small businesses to apply for economic injury loan assistance begins on the date the essential employee is ordered to active duty and ends on the date 90 days after the essential employee is discharged or released from active duty. (Note: This program applies to military conflicts occurring or ending on or after March 24, 1999) The purpose of the Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (MREIDL) is to provide funds to eligible small businesses to meet its ordinary and necessary operating expenses that it could have met, but is unable to meet, because an essential...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>What Buffet Looks For In a Company</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/what-buffet-looks-for-in-a-company.html</link><description><![CDATA[ By Erica Olsen, Strategic Consultant and Business Planner, MyStrategicPlan.com What's the number-one attribute Warren Buffet, arguably one of the most successful investors in the world, looks for in a company? &amp;quot;Sustainable competitive advantage,&amp;quot; he told an interviewer. If one of the most successful businessmen of today puts this at the top of his list, you should too. Not only is competitive advantage, as a term, widely overused, it is also widely misunderstood. You are not alone if you have ever wondered what a competitive advantage really is and what you do with it. So what is it exactly? And...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Frequently Asked Questions about Physical Disaster Business Loans</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/frequently-asked-questions-about-physical-disaster-business-loans.html</link><description><![CDATA[ 1. I've heard that SBA loan applications are complicated and hard to complete. Is this true? Answer 2. If I receive a disaster loan, may I spend the money any way I want? Answer 3. I already have a mortgage on my business. Can the SBA refinance my mortgage? Answer 4. Is collateral required for these loans? Answer 5. When will I know if I get the loan? Answer 6. How soon can I expect the money? Answer 7. Will the SBA check the losses I claim? Answer 8. What information do I need to help me complete the...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Economic Injury Disaster Loans For Small Businesses</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/economic-injury-disaster-loans-for-small-businesses.html</link><description><![CDATA[ If your small business has suffered substantial economic injury, regardless of physical damage, and is located in a declared disaster area, you may be eligible for financial assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Small businesses and small agricultural cooperatives that have suffered substantial economic injury resulting from a physical disaster or an agricultural production disaster designated by the Secretary of Agriculture may be eligible for the SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program. Substantial economic injury is the inability of a business to meet its obligations as they mature and to pay its ordinary and necessary operating expenses. An...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Frequently Asked Questions about SBA Disaster Loans</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/frequently-asked-questions-about-sba-disaster-loans.html</link><description><![CDATA[ 1. How much can I borrow? Answer 2. Must I use my own money or try to borrow from a bank before coming to the SBA? Answer 3. I already have a mortgage on my home. I can't afford a disaster loan plus my current mortgage payment. Can the SBA refinance my mortgage? Answer 4. What information do I need to submit for a home and/or personal property loan? Answer 5. Will the SBA check the losses I claim? Answer 6. How soon will I know if I qualify for a loan? Answer 7. How soon can I expect...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Preparing for Disaster</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/preparing-for-disaster.html</link><description><![CDATA[ The best time to respond to a disaster is before it happens. A relatively small investment of time and money now may prevent severe damage and disruption of life and business in the future. Every area in the country is subject to some kind of disaster - flood, hurricane, earthquake, ice storm, and landslide, to name a few. Even man-made disasters - oil spill, civil unrest, fire, etc. - can devastate the surrounding neighborhood and economy. Even though an area has never been damaged before, there is no guarantee that it will not happen tomorrow. Ask yourself: what if...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Keys to Success in Small Business</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/keys-to-success-in-small-business.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Jamie Walters, founder of Ivy Sea, Inc., a &amp;quot;small by choice&amp;quot; leadership- and organizational-development advocacy firm, has recently published her first book Big Vision, Small Business: The Four Keys to Finding Success &amp;amp;amp; Satisfaction as a Lifestyle Entrepreneur. I have been an admirer of Jamie's work for a long time so I was delighted when she contacted me about her book. My first reaction upon reading her book was one of awe -- it is a book that expresses many of my thoughts about small business in a clear, inspiring way. Doing it justice in a review is almost...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Crisis Management</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/crisis-management.html</link><description><![CDATA[ You have written your business plan, obtained your funding, and followed all the steps for operating a successful small business. You are on your way and prepared for anything. Then comes the day when the unplanned for occurs - a critical employee walks out, necessary suppliers abruptly shut their doors, a flood closes you down and damages equipment, any of a myriad of unexpected events can happen to cause a crisis and major stress in your life. Management is never put more strongly to the test than in a crisis situation. One of the most memorable crisis management stories...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Unfair Business Practices</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/unfair-business-practices.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Many businesses will do almost anything to gain an edge on the competition. Without a clear understanding of antitrust laws, the price of gaining customers may be losing a business. Antitrust laws make it illegal to conspire to restrain trade or commerce in any marketplace, regardless of size. While small businesses often fall victim to the unfair business practices of larger companies, they can be prosecuted for unfairly dominating markets localized in cities, towns, neighborhoods or niche industries. Conspiring to Fix Market Prices Discussing prices with competitors, even if it affects a small marketplace, may be construed as a...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Professional Gifts</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/professional-gifts.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Gift-giving can be an excellent way to build lasting business relationships. Receiving a gift indicates that we are valued by the other person, resulting in a positive feeling towards the gift giver, given that the gift is right for the person and the occasion. However, if a gift is inappropriate in content or context, it can damage relationships just like any other type of negative interaction. Inappropriate gifts can be bribes, pay backs, overly expensive, or crude. While in some cultural contexts such gifts are expected and even almost mandatory in building alliances, they are not gifts, but the...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Insurance</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/insurance.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Insurance is a critical part of the risk management system for a business. It is a way to protect yourself against unforeseen losses. An insurance policy is a legally binding contract with an insurer to provide compensation for a specified damage, loss, or injury suffered by you business in return for a sum of money (premium) paid. Just as you don't want to drive without automobile insurance, you do not want to run a business without business insurance. However, because there are so many kinds of businesses and subsequent risks they may face, there are a wide variety of...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Strategic Alliances</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/strategic-alliances.html</link><description><![CDATA[ One of the fastest growing trends for business today is the increasing number of strategic alliances. According to Booz-Allen &amp;amp;amp; Hamilton, strategic alliances are sweeping through nearly every industry and are becoming an essential driver of superior growth. Alliances range in scope from an informal business relationship based on a simple contract to a joint venture agreement in which for legal and tax purposes either a corporation or partnership is set up to manage the alliance. For small businesses, strategic alliances are a way to work together with others towards a common goal while not losing their individuality. Alliances...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Production</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/production.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Production is an activity that converts materials into useful forms. The materials may be raw materials, semiprocessed or semifinished goods, or even finished products. Machinery, equipment, methods, and processes are the basic elements of production. Using the formal definition of production, there are four types of manufacturing processes: Analysis The breaking down of raw materials, such as crude petroleum, into their components. Extraction The removal of substances from other materials, as in the extraction of copper from ore. Fabrication Changing the form of materials in some way such by pressing, weaving, or cutting. Examples include the manufacture of clothing,...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item><item><title>Human Resources Management</title><link>http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/human-resources-management.html</link><description><![CDATA[ Many small businesses operate with no employees. One person handles the whole business with perhaps occasional help from family or friends. Making the leap to hiring someone to help is a big one because all of a sudden you need to worry about payroll, benefits, unemployment insurance, and what seems like a myriad of other details. And, this does not even take into consideration the host of problems that can arise from personality conflicts and loss-of-control of all the processes in running your business. Human Resources refers to the labor, physical and mental abilities that the people in your...]]></description><pubDate>November  1, 2010  5:15 PM</pubDate></item></rss>