Tag Archives: business

Transactions and Collections – How to Get Paid and Paid on Time

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It doesn’t matter what type of business you operate, making sure you get paid on time and as seamlessly as possible (for both you and your client) is critical to your success and survival.

But knowing how to get paid isn’t as easy as it sounds. The payment options that work for one business, may not work for another. Likewise, getting paid on time requires you put the right pre-emptive measures in place for collecting what you’re owed and  managing past-due payments.

To help you make the right decisions for your business, here are some pointers about setting up customer payment options, tips for getting paid on time, and what to do if you don’t!

What Payment Options are Right for Your Business?

It doesn’t matter whether you operate a brick and mortar store, an e-commerce site, or a home-based business, cash has to flow from A to B. But what payment options are right for your business? Here are some quick insights and FAQs that may help you decide.  

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Starting and Growing an Online Business: An Entreprene​ur’s Checklist

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“I’m starting an online business – where do I start?”. It’s broad question, but is one that comes up repeatedly on small business forums and discussion boards.

Of course, an online business is merely a vehicle for the product or service you are selling. So starting a Web-based business – and making it a success – will take more than just “getting online”. 

There are two fundamental steps you will need to take. The first is to treat your online business like any other business venture and pay attention to business start-up processes; second, you’ll need to generate traffic to your site.

Below are some tips and best practices that can guide you through these steps – with all your check boxes ticked. 

Starting an Online Business: Be a Responsible Business Owner

Whether you are starting an innovative new online business or setting up a hot dog stand, you must pay attention to the fundamentals of business ownership. For online business owners, this means more than just building a Web site and registering your domain name. You’ll also need to comply with the regulations that govern your type of business and the products and services you sell.  

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Small Business Guide for Veterans

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There are a number of programs and services from the government and non-profit organizations specifically designed to help veterans start and grow their businesses.

General Information Guides

To get started, first read through the Veteran-Owned Business Guide, where you’ll find information for veterans looking to start and finance their business, as well as information on government contracting opportunities.  Additionally, the brief article “From Military Service to Entrepreneur – Tools for the Veteran-Owned Small Business” summarizes some of the general business guides, financing options, incentives, and other resources available to help veteran-owned businesses succeed.

  • Registering As a Veteran-Owned Business
    “How do I register as a veteran-owned business?” is one of the most commonly asked questions by new or aspiring veteran business owners.  Though there is no formal government registration process, there are other opportunities for you and your business that you can self-certify for.
  • Veteran Affairs Center for Veterans Enterprise
    A website from the Department of Veteran Affairs, dedicated to assisting veterans in starting and building businesses.

Financing Resources

There are a number of low-interest loan programs specifically for veterans and members of the military community to help them obtain business financing.  Additional financing opportunities are available in the Veteran-Owned Business Guide.  

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Ultimate Guide to Intellectual Property

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If you have a great business idea, you may want to keep it to yourself until you’ve had a chance to learn a little about intellectual property laws. To learn how to protect your idea or invention, take a look at the resources below. Whether you’re looking to protect a trade name or trademark, or wanting to obtain a patent or copyright, this sampling provides the information you’ll need to get started.

Patents and Copyrights

Protect Your Invention or Product – Patents, Trademarks, and Copyright:

  • According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s stopfakes.gov web site, companies that protect their intellectual property drive more economic growth in the U.S. than any other single sector. The unfortunate flip side is that small businesses are more vulnerable than any other sector to piracy, counterfeiting, and the theft of their intellectual property. If you are self-employed or are a small business owner and need to protect your invention or products, read this article for a summary of the process as well as links to other resources that can help you understand your rights as an inventor.

Need-to-Know Patent Information: The Bottom Line for Small Businesses:  

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