Many businesses are founded on an original idea or design. Consider Xerox or IBM. Or look at products like Coke or popular published works such as the Harry Potter books. Where would they all be today if their idea or work had not been protected by intellectual property laws? For a growing business, securing the […]
Business Best Practices
Business Owners: Keep That Shield Intact
You face plenty of challenges as a small business owner. Finding ways to protect yourself against lawsuits is a major one. You may be able to add protection by structuring your business as a corporation or limited liability company (LLC). Both these entities may shield the owners’ or members’ personal assets from the company’s debts […]
Mentoring the Next Generation to Take Over the Family Business
Many owners of small businesses would love to see a family member take over their business. If you have children, grandchildren, nieces, or nephews that you think might be interested in running the business in the future, you can help lay the groundwork for that potential transfer of ownership in several ways. Use the following […]
Financial Analysis for Your Small Business
Comparing a business’s key financial ratios with industry standards and with its own past results can highlight trends and identify strengths and weaknesses in the business. Financial statement information is most useful if owners and managers can use it to improve their company’s profitability, cash flow, and value. Getting the most mileage from financial statement […]
Starting a Side Gig in 2022? Your New Tax Obligations
It’s not just self-employed individuals who must pay estimated taxes. Here’s what you need to know. W-2 income tax withholding isn’t perfect. You’ve probably had years when you owed more than you expected to on April 15. Or you were pleasantly surprised to receive a sizable refund. The idea, of course, is to try to […]
How Small Businesses Can Use Artificial Intelligence
Science fiction movies and books may portray artificial intelligence as a human-like giant brain with thousands of wires coming from it that control whole cities and their populations. The reality today is that artificial intelligence is unobtrusive, everywhere, and we are interacting with it multiple times daily without always recognizing that we are. Artificial intelligence […]