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The Two Most Important Words in Small Business Finance
By the end of this post, you will be a more knowledgeable small business owner, all because you learned two very important words, and the specific reasons why those words are so vital.< ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Both words can impact you and your company in a variety of ways depending on how you structure, plan, and implement some key corporate strategies.
Whether you run a business from home or lease office space it’s inevitable that you will eventually need some type of small business financing. W
4 Tips for Hiring and Managing Interns
Creating an internship program can be a smart decision for any small business owner. It shows your dedication to helping train young and eager workers, and you can get the benefit of educated talent helping your company. In addition, a job internship could result in a new, qualified future permanent employee for you as well.
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Forming a Job Internship Program
To set up a summer internship program, find local universities, colleges, and community colleges and talk to their internship office. A key point to know about hiring interns: summer interns are NOT meant to be a source of free labor, according to the U.S. Labor Dept. Technically, you are providing training to a summer intern, and “must derive no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern.” Make sure your job internship program does not replace or displace any actual employee’s job.
Home Finance : How To Reduce Your Monthly Energy Bills
Bills are a very real cause of stress for most people, especially utility bills as a late payment can mean no power; something we, as humans, have become fundamentally reliant on in daily life. So what can you do if your bills have been increasing and you are struggling to cope? Should you switch providers or just hope for the best?
Initially, what you need to do is read the bill. It sounds simple but may companies issue confusing and misleading statements that can be hard to understand. Make sure that you can find out exactly what you are being charged for and how much. If your statement is difficult to understand, call your supplier and ask for help in identifying costs, or visit your local Citizens Advice Bureau for advice.
Next, you must check your meter reading yourself. You may have signed up to an expected usage tariff which bills you on what you are likely to use based on an average of your previous usage; which could mean that you are either paying too much or too little. Read more…
Annual sales fall and losses deepen at Mouchel
MOUCHEL, the professional services provider, saw annual losses deepen and revenues fall in the year to July 31.
Pre-tax losses widened by 9%, from £13.5m to £14.7m as sales slumped 15% from £740.6m to £632.6m.
The group, which has three Liverpool offices, a Knowsley base and an Ellesmere Port presence, blamed the collapse of work in the Middle East, its withdrawal from rail re-signalling work and a temporary drop in workload in the water business linked to the new five year spending review by industry watchdog Ofwat.
Uncertainty over Government spending has also taken its toll on the group’s performance.
It said today that demand remained relatively strong in the early part of the financial year, but since the end of this March, and in particular since the change of Government in May, there has been “an extensive reassessment of spending priorities” which has led to the postponement or reduction in scale of a range of programmes, particularly small-scale highway improvement schemes and school building projects.
In a bid to cut costs the group reduced its workforce by 8% to 10,210 by the end of July and a further 4% to date, including fears for jobs at its Cunard Building office in Liverpool where about 100 staff provide administrative and IT functions and up to 70 engineers are based.
LDP Business revealed this week that Mouchel is considering relocating the back office roles, with Oldham and Lincoln a possible destination.
The company said no decision has been made yet, but staff expect an announcement within the next week or two, with one worker saying the situation is causing “stress and worry” among the workforce.
Also linked to the restructuring is a refinancing of the group’s banking facilities.
It said lending banks are “supportive” but warned that, due to current market conditions, the cost of refinancing will be higher than current levels.
However, Mouchel believes pressure on the public sector to rein in costs after the coalition Government’s spending cuts will provide opportunities for more input from the private sector.
It said during the year it has strengthened its partnerships with a range of local authorities, including Liverpool and Knowsley through its 2020 brand, to offer services from traffic management to landscaping.
By the end of July the group’s forward order book was £1.8bn, compared with £1.9bn last year, while its bidding pipeline of near-term opportunities remained at the same level of £2.2bn.
Chief executive Richard Cuthbert said: “Trading in the current year has started more slowly than expected and the immediate outlook remains uncertain.
“While we expect to see some improvement in the second half of 2010/2011 as cost savings impact, in these circumstances it is right that the group takes a more cautious approach to performance through 2011 and perhaps beyond.”
But he went on to say that the coalition Government’s policies and the group’s business strategy gives the board confidence for the medium- and long-term prospects.
Business cards: choose your marketing tool wisely
One of the easiest ways to pass your business details to your target audience is through business cards. This step is a necessary part of each good marketing plan, though it is now often overlooked by many business owners. But these cards are not just a piece of paper, you can use them for new clients’ attracting. The information printed on a card shows that this company is solid and reputable. So using business cards you place company in a good light.
It is therefore crucial to take great consideration in choosing the design, size and shape of Business Cards. They may be small, but have a relatively convenient shape, this is the best way they can be given to anyone. Of course, you need to choose the best business card. Make sure the graphics you use are of high quality. Then, create your design around it. Your graphic design should complement your card. Read more…
LinkedIn for Blackberry: Wave the Torch!
Since the launch of the BlackBerry Torch and other new BlackBerry OS 6.0 devices, our users have been quite eager to have the LinkedIn experience on their new phone. The team and I are excited to announce the release of LinkedIn for BlackBerry v1.5 with BlackBerry OS 6.0 support
Download LinkedIn for BlackBerry v1.5
Richer Profiles
Our member profile has been completely re-designed to make it easier than ever for users to connect and communicate with their professional network. Read more…
The new insurance game: sending billions overseas
And never have they received so little benefit.
A Herald-Tribune investigation shows that since the state’s last spate of hurricanes, a dramatic shift has taken place. Two-thirds of property insurance premiums now leave Florida as unregulated payments to largely offshore reinsurers — companies that sell hurricane protection to insurers and that operate without rate control or consumer oversight.
They, more than state insurers and state regulators, determine how much Floridians must pay to live in the state, and whether property insurance is available at all.
Florida’s growing reliance on this profit-driven market is eroding its ability to withstand the inevitable disaster.
In the past four years, Florida-based home insurers paid out $15 billion for private reinsurance.
There has been no storm to trigger payments.
What Can You Do Now to Lower Your Tax Burden Next Year?
The package of tax cuts enacted 10 years ago under the Bush Administration is scheduled to expire on December 31st this year. Read more…