March, 2019

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7 Tips to Help Your Mom and Pop Shop Succeed Against Big Retailers

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When you think of mom-and-pop shops, you probably imagine a quaint, family-owned drugstore fixed on the corner of a neighborhood strip mall or a general store located in the downtown quarter of a small town. Although this wouldn’t be inaccurate, mom-and-pop shops have come a long way over the last century. The term “mom-and-pop” can be applied to various types of small businesses , such as restaurants, bookstores, electronic repair shops, car repair garages, and more.

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A practical guide to increasing your fees

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From developing your plan to handling objections – here's our seven step guide to increasing your fees, without losing important clients.

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Heading to Colorado in May?

Credit & Management Systems, Inc.

Credit & Management Systems will be at the 123rd annual Credit Congress & Expo in Aurora, CO May 19-22, 2019. A proud exhibitor at the Credit Congress since the inception of exhibits, Credit & Management Systems is also a preferred provider of the NACM’s National Trade Credit Report (NTCR). This report data can be merged seamlessly into CMS Credit Suite, making your data investment work harder for you!

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Business Statistics: 19 Essential Numbers to Know in 2019

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If you own a business—or are thinking about starting one—you’re in excellent company: there are 28.8 million small businesses in the United States, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration , and they have 56.8 million employees. Small businesses (defined as businesses with fewer than 500 employees) account for 99.7% of all business in the US.

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The 8 Best Accounting Books for New Small Business Owners

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The 8 Best Accounting Books for Small Business. Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits by Greg Crabtree. Accounting for the Numberphobic by Dawn Fotopulos. Finance for Nonfinancial Managers by Gene Siciliano. The Accounting Game: Basic Accounting Fresh From the Lemonade Stand by Darrell Mullis. Profit First by Mike Michalowicz. The Tax and Legal Playbook: Game-Changing Solutions to Your Small-Business Questions by Mark J.

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60 Business Finance Terms and Definitions You Absolutely Should Know

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The Most Important Business Finance Terms and Definitions. Accounts Payable. Accounts Receivable. Asset. Balance Sheet. Cash Flow. Fixed Asset. Income Statement. Liability. Profit & Loss Statement. Annual Percentage Rate. Collateral. Loan-to-Value. Debt-Service Coverage Ratio. Lien. Personal Guarantee. Financial Statements. Debt Consolidation. Gross Profit.

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10 Best and Worst U.S. Airports for Business Travelers in 2019

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With the warmer weather of spring fast approaching, traveling is on more people’s minds. Compared to year-end travel, spring travel season is more unpredictable, especially for business owners and executives. Whether you’re attending an industry conference, meeting a client, or combining business and personal travel during the kids’ spring break, you’ll be glad to make your journey more efficient.

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7 Small Business Payroll Tips to Make Things Run Smoothly During Tax Season

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Every time tax season comes around, accountants are flooded with questions for advice on taxes, and in particular, payroll advice, tips, and tricks. Luckily, s mall business income taxes are fairly predictable from year to year. From an accountant’s perspective, a small business owner’s taxes follow a pattern of calculating, reporting, and paying that repeats on a set schedule.

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EIN vs. ITIN vs. SSN: What’s the Difference?

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EIN vs. ITIN vs. SSN. It’s safe to say that if someone is not an entrepreneur, they probably only know the definition of the last acronym in that trio. As a business owner, you, on the other hand, are likely more than familiar with all three terms. Most small business owners have an employer identification number (EIN), an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN), and a social security number (SSN).

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How to Eliminate Small Business Debt in 7 Simple Steps

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7 Steps to Eliminate Small Business Debt. Assess and rework your budget. Reduce expenses. Temporarily pay with cash (if you can). Communicate with creditors and lenders. Create a “target debt” or “stack” repayment plan. Increase your income. Hire a debt-restructuring firm. There may be no worse feeling than being crushed by debt of any kind. That feeling is heightened when you’re dealing with business debt, and you’re facing the possibility of losing your business altogether.

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What Is a Business Model, and How Do You Pick the Right One for You?

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A business model is an outline of how a company plans to make money with its product and customer base in a specific market. At its core, it explains what product or service a company will sell, how it intends to market that product or service, what kind of expenses it will face, and how it expects to turn a profit. Because there are so many types of businesses out there, business models are constantly changing; there is no one-size-fits-all model that can be applied to every business.

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Funding for Eco-Friendly Businesses: The Top Options

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With the effects of global warming ramping up—including rising sea levels, vanishing wildlife and their habitats, and increased precipitation and severe weather patterns—it’s imperative that businesses retain social responsibility in their operations and key decision-making. But whether you’re already running a green business, you’re planning to start one, or you’re planning to join the ranks of major companies like Google and Dell in going green in 2019 , at a certain point in your development

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7 Reasons You Need to Incorporate Your Business

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7 Reasons to Incorporate Your Business. Easier to raise capital. Allows you to issue stock options. Protects your personal assets. Easier to sell and transition. Saves on taxes. Easier to open a business bank account or credit card. Enjoy added credibility with customers. Most small business owners start out as sole proprietors. As a sole proprietor, there isn’t much distinction between you and your business.

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2019 Business Tax Deadlines: What to File and When Your Business Taxes Are Due

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The thought of business tax deadlines might cause some small business owners to run and hide. Unless you’re in accounting or finance, filing small business taxes probably isn’t something that you look forward to. However, keeping on top of what you need to file—and when—will save you from costly IRS penalties and back taxes. We’ll take a look at 10 essential business tax deadlines to save in your calendar.

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The Benefits of Incorporating Your Home-Based Business

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Whether you’ve been running your home-based business for a while or are just starting out, you may be wondering about incorporating your business. That is, forming an official legal business entity, such as a limited liability company (LLC), to help to project your business and personal assets. Even if you work alone and intend to keep your business small, there are still advantages to incorporating.

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The 7 Best QuickBook Apps to Supercharge Your Accounting

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The 7 Best QuickBook Apps. TSheets Time Tracking. Expensify. Billbeez. Transaction Pro Importer. Bill.com. Webgility. Tax Planner Pro. QuickBooks is one of the most popular business accounting software options available with millions of customers because of its suite of abilities to track income and expenses, manage invoices and payments, and more. Despite its many features, customers still want integrations with other tools they use through the QuickBooks app marketplace.

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5 Free Small Business Budget Templates

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A business budget template is one of the most important tools you can use to run your small business. Unfortunately, many small business owners skip this vital business management step. There are a lot of misconceptions about budgeting. It seems difficult and time-consuming. But with a good business budget template, the process can be much less daunting.

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16 Important Legal Requirements for Starting a Small Business

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16 Legal Requirements for Starting a Small Business. Designate the proper business entity. Check which licenses, permits, and registrations your business needs. Make sure you are paying proper business taxes. Do proper bookkeeping. Get a founders agreement in writing. Set a vesting schedule for all founders and early employees. Get your employer identification number (EIN).

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Commercial Auto Insurance: What It Covers and Where to Get It

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What Is Commercial Auto Insurance? Commercial auto insurance protects your business from legal claims of bodily injury or property damage that occur during the operation of a company vehicle, or when using a personal vehicle for business reasons. This insurance can pay for repairs, medical expenses, and legal fees that personal auto insurance won’t cover.

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SBA Loan Process and Timeline: An Insider Look at Every Stage

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What’s the SBA Loan Timeline? The SBA loan timeline is about 60 to 90 days from initial application to release of funds. The exact timeline depends on the size of the loan, the length of the term, the purpose of the loan, and the experience of the lender. Gathering documentation is the most time-intensive part of the SBA loan process. If you’re a small business owner in search of financing, odds are that you’re hoping to get approved for a loan sooner rather than later.

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How Much Capital Can You Get With a Business Loan?

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How Large of a Business Loan Can You Get? How much of a business loan you can get is primarily a function of your business’s annual gross sales, existing debt, and creditworthiness. Most lenders won’t lend more than 10% to 30% of a business’s annual revenue. Your company should be cash flow positive after accounting for all debt payments.

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How to Use Inclusive Language in Your Small Business

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As a small business owner, have you ever thought about how inclusive your workplace is? Although it can be hard to measure, cultivating an inclusive workplace is a proven way to increase your business’s profitability and performance. According to a study by McKinsey, racially and ethnically diverse companies are 35% more likely to financially outperform homogeneous ones.

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Do SBA Loans Require a Personal Guarantee?

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Are SBA Loans Personally Guaranteed? SBA loans require a personal guarantee from anyone who owns 20% or more of a business. When you sign a personal guarantee, you authorize the lender to seize any of your personal assets to repay the loan, if business assets aren’t sufficient to cover loan payments. Small Business Administration loans, or SBA loans , are some of the most best loan products out there for small business owners.

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Law Firm Accounting Software: The Best Options

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Law firm accounting poses some unique challenges. Attorneys have many of the typical business accounting needs like billing, payroll, and accounts payable, but law firms must also be able to maintain and reconcile Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts ( IOLTA ) and accurately track and bill time spent on client work, producing detailed invoices that are easy for clients to understand.

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Recurring Payments: What Are They and How to Set Them Up

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Recurring Payments Definition. Recurring payments are payments made to your small business in accordance with a predetermined schedule that you create. These types of payments are processed electronically, typically from a customer’s credit or debit card. Depending on who you use as your merchant or payment service provider, you can expect a special fee for setting up and processing recurring payments.

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Business Tax ID Number: IRS EIN Lookup, Plus How to Change an EIN

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What Is a Business Tax ID Number? A business tax ID number, also called an employer identification number (EIN) or federal tax ID, is a unique nine-digit number that identifies your business with the IRS. Owners of most types of business entities need a business tax ID number to file taxes, open a business bank account, obtain a business license, or apply for a business loan.

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The 3 Main Types of Intellectual Property Protection, Explained

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The 3 Main Types of Intellectual Property Protection. Trademarks – Used to protect brand logos, company names, phrases, and symbols. Patents – Used to protect manufacturing or design processes. Copyrights – Used to protect original works, such as art, dances, or literature. Most entrepreneurs are very protective of their businesses.

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QuickBooks Training: 8 Free, Expert-Driven Resources

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8 Free QuickBooks Training Resources. The QBO Show. QuickBooks products videos. Fundamental QuickBooks video tutorials. Firm of the Future for QuickBooks certification. QBO Chat. QB Power Hour. The QuickBooks Vcon. Intuit QuickBooks Community support. QuickBooks training exists in many forms and fashions: From expensive QuickBooks certification courses to informal QuickBooks chats, your options are diverse and seemingly endless.

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Cost of Debt: What It Is and How to Calculate

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The Cost of Debt Formula. Cost of debt is the total amount of interest that a company pays over the full term of a loan. The cost of debt accounts for tax deductions that the company can claim on interest expenses. Business owners can use cost of debt to evaluate how a loan can increase profits. The most common cost of debt formula is: Cost of Debt = Interest Expense (1 – Tax Rate).

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APR vs. Interest Rate: Which Should You Use to Price a Loan?

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APR vs. Interest Rate: What’s the Difference? When you take out a loan, your interest rate represents the interest percentage you will be charged for borrowing the money, but does not include origination fees, closing fees, documentation fees, and other finance charges. APR, on the other hand, gives you a more comprehensive look at how much you’ll pay when you borrow money for a loan by factoring in these costs and expressing the total price of borrowing money in terms of an interest rate.