Ilya Bodner

Like this article? PLEASE +1 it!

Ilya Bodner Tagged Articles

TURNING CHAOS INTO ORDER - Strong Business Credit
When it comes to running a small business effectively, nothing is ever as it seems. From the outside, it may appear that a business, large or small, is doing very well for itself. The lights are on, customers are buying and the owner of that small business is lucky, or has an easy job. That may be the farthest thing from the truth.

Exiting Gracefully - Tips to a small business owner
Sometimes the business owner would like to retire the business. Sometimes, it’s the best decision. If you are in that position, there are a few steps to follow.

A Glance at Payroll - Strong Business Credit

Initially, managing two or three employees may seem relatively easy. You may even be able to handle the tax aspects on your own with the right amount of research and advice. However, as your business grows, you may find it more and more difficult to manage the distribution of funds-as well as the calculations involved in taxes and other deductions-to such a degree that you may wish to invest in a new employee or even an outside service to help you manage payroll services.

Internet Advertising - Keeping Cost Down

In the past 5 years, we have seen a dramatic shift in the American media from print to online programming. With print ad sales shrinking dramatically in the last decade, the internet has seen a surge of new marketing money from all sectors of the economy. For example, in 1996, real estate agents, brokers and developers spent $755 on newspaper advertising for every home sold. This year, they are spending $605 per home. For the same period, online ad spending per home went from $14 to $148.

Web Marketing - The Strong Business Credit Way
Many companies are no longer satisfied using snail mail, faxes, radio, television, newspaper and magazine media advertising. If you are starting or own a small business and find that these media are not providing the results you want, it may be time to explore the benefits of website marketing.

Drive Web Traffic - Common SEO Practices

What good is having a store without customers? A TV commercial with no viewers? Similarly, a website without visitors is a waste of cyberspace and money. The reality is that many businesses have ineffective website marketing that fails to deliver sufficient return for the time, effort and money spent. How does a small business draw visitors to its site? It can be like finding a needle in a haystack without the proper methods of identification and promotion. One solution is Search Engine Optimization.

Email Spam, Forum Spam, and General Online Conduct

E-mail spam is the most common form of internet spamming. It involves sending unsolicited commercial messages to many recipients. Unlike legitimate commercial e-mail, spam is generally sent without the explicit permission of the recipients, and frequently contains various tricks to bypass e-mail filtering. The most dedicated spammers are often those making a great deal of money, or engaged in illegal or immoral activities, such as pornography, online casinos, and internet scams. Due to the negative image caused by marketing with SPAM, it is very important not to engage in the activities of Bulk Messaging and other SPAM-like activities, like falsifying an internet identity to promote a product or service.

Start Now, Don't Wait
Don't wait around. Start now. Lack of inertia is the #1 killer of great ideas. According to a survey performed by Yahoo! Small Business, 66% of Americans over the age of 18 have considered starting a business, but many never take the leap. "There's a way to do it better - find it." - Thomas Edison.

Making Decision

What does it take to be a good leader? You have to be able to handle big decisions. For example, does your business focus on a broad market or a narrow one? You have to be able to write a business plan and secure financing. Most businesses lack the solid, beneficial mentoring that StrongBusinessCredit suggests. Keep track of your expenses and income, pay taxes and decide when it's time to buy new equipment or technology. Plan ahead for the good times and for the bad. Handle legal challenges, liability problems and insurance policies with expedience. And don't underestimate the importance of having some kind of Human Resources (HR) function within your company: firing quick and hiring slow are two things that StrongBusinessCredit recommends.

Investor Options
Raising capital is never easy. Conventional financing options are running thin and banks close their doors to a lot of lending right now. However, within conventional financing methods exists an arena of creative financing.

Have The Answers!
A good business plan tackles three major areas: The Business, The Market, and Finances. Look at the questions within each of the three areas below and answer them as they apply to your business.

Turning Failure into Success

An important characteristic all small business owners should possess is tolerance for failure. Failure is negative only when you take it for what it is, a failure. But if you learn from one failed project or venture in order to create a new and improved project the next time around, failure can be the best thing that ever happens to you. While it might sound crazy, operating a small business successfully is a learning process and part of that process is failing from time to time.

Dive In Head First - A True Small Business

Immediately, upon choosing to start any new venture, you are faced with an overwhelming amount of choices. These choices will range from choosing your CPA to choosing different types of insurance. Each and every one of these choices you are faced with will impact how successful your business is at building strong business credit and obtaining financing. With the right mentors on your side, the business will be able to grow, profit, and operate independently.

Statutory Agent

A statutory agent, also known as a registered agent, is an individual, sometimes third-party, designated by a corporation to receive "service of process." Service of process includes such items as notices of lawsuits and summons to appear in court. The name and physical address of your corporation's statutory agent is required information on your Articles of Incorporation and you cannot incorporate without designating one.

Avoiding Scams when looking for business funding

There are a handful of companies across the U.S. and in Canada that advertise to offer a business credit building package or are “verified lenders.” Some are legitimate. Some are not. In part, the internet has created a breeding ground for scammers to collect money from people looking to start new businesses, then offer nothing, or very little in exchange. These scams involve collecting an upfront fee in order to get the business owner the funding or credit service that was advertised. Loan scams most commonly require an upfront fee to pay for alleged loan insurance required. Often, this is a scam tactic. In some cases, once the consumer pays the fee, the “company” is never heard from again. In other instances, empty promises are made and the ‘company’ drags the process on and eventually stops corresponding with the client.

Hiring is tough!

For the past 15 months I have been in an aggressive hiring mode. Some months more aggressive then others, but overall it has been a daily grind. Despite the weak economy I am still having a hard time finding A players. A friend of mine that also looks for a constant flow of candidates once told me that A players never got fired, laid off, or go jobless. At first I dismissed that but more and more over time I started to realize that this is the case.

CHOOSING PROFESSIONAL COUNSEL
Finding an attorney for your small business is easy; figure out an area of law you need protection with and set a budget. The lawyer/business owner relationship is a vital one. Spend the necessary time in finding the right attorney for your company. Making the decision to hire a lawyer is a proactive choice as opposed to needing a lawyer when you're in a legal bind.

The 5 C's of Lending

Regardless of the type of financing you obtain for your small business, one constant remains true at all times-there will be interest. This is a rate charged for the use of money and commonly compounded continuously (every day of the year). Small business interest rates have a legal maximum, which can change as a result of inflation, or Federal Reserve policies. The 5 C’s of Lending help configure the rates and determine business credit, and vice versa.

Do Not Give up. I repeat, Do Not Give Up.
Entrepreneurs listen up! Things will be challenging, the road ahead is long and cold. There will be unexpected surprises both for the good and the bad. Whatever you do, do not give up on your desire to succeed.

LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION
Of the 4 P’s (price, product, promotion and place) to consider when starting your business, place, though often the most permanent of these factors, is also the most often overlooked. Place refers generally to distribution of your product, where your customer evaluates and ultimately receives your product or service.


Name:
Email:

Ilya Bodner Tagged Articles

Other Ilya Bodner Related Articles