Sat.Sep 29, 2018 - Fri.Oct 05, 2018

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The Anatomy of the Perfect Small Business Instagram Profile (Infographic)

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No matter what your business is, it’s likely that you’ve considered implementing a social media strategy. Whether your company is B2B or B2C, it’s essential to consider connecting with your customers in the digital space — especially when you consider that there are 2.77 billion social media users around the world. Once you know you need a strategy, where do you start?

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Automated vs. integrated Direct Debit – what's the difference?

GoCardless

Direct Debit payments are automated, but they're not always integrated. Here's the difference – and why it matters.

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EAP: What Is an Employee Assistance Program?

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What Is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)? An employee assistance program is a workplace benefit that helps employees through mental health problems, family issues, substance abuse, and other personal or work-related problems. Businesses typically contract with an EAP provider for the services. Licensed counselors provide confidential services at no cost to employees up to plan limits.

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What Is a General Ledger? (And Why Your Business Needs One)

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At first glance, a general ledger might not seem like the most interesting or riveting topic to dive deep into, but the fact is that knowing the ins and outs of how general ledgers work is absolutely essential for small business owners. . Staying on top of your financials when running a business is paramount, and a general ledger can help you do just that.

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7 Steps to Becoming a Life Coach

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Over the past few years, you might have seen a Facebook page for a life coach promoting their services, or noticed that your yoga instructor has taken on the role of personal, spiritual, or professional advisor to some of your classmates. And if you have a zest for life and enjoy helping others reach their full potential, then perhaps you’ve considered becoming a life coach yourself.

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5 Ways to Figure out If You Need to Patent Your Invention or Treat It as a Trade Secret

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Patent law and trade secrets law can both offer helpful protections for your business’s intellectual property assets, and can often work in tandem if your patented process or invention involves proprietary know-how. Both strategies provide different types of protections, along with different benefits and drawbacks. . As a small business owner, when it comes to protecting a product-based invention, you likely need to decide whether to patent it or to pursue trade secret protection.

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Customer Financing: Should You Offer It?

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After starting your business , your next (and continuing) task is finding ways to keep it up and running. One way to do that? Adjusting your business to the needs, wants, and budgets of your customer base—a surefire way of keeping your sales up. And depending on the size and price of your inventory, offering customer financing might be a great way for you to increase sales and customer loyalty.

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IRS Form 941: Who Needs to File It and How to Fill It Out

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What Is IRS Form 941? Businesses with employees must file IRS Form 941 on a quarterly basis to report income taxes, social security taxes, and Medicare taxes that they’ve withheld from employee paychecks. This form is also used to report the employer’s quarterly portion of social security and Medicare taxes. Filing deadlines are the last day of January, April, July, and October.

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Navy Federal Business Account Review, Plus Top Alternatives

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The number of small business banking options out there can feel overwhelming. It’s not easy to figure out which business bank account might be best for your business, or even where to begin looking. If you’re an active military member or veteran, or a Department of Defense employee, you’re probably curious about what Navy Federal Business accounts offer.

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How to Create a Small Business Organizational Chart in 4 Easy Steps (and Why You Should Even Bother)

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A business organizational chart visually represents the structure of your business, outlines the role of each employee, and clarifies who reports to whom within your company. There are various types of business organizational charts (we’ll walk you through each one) and numerous reasons why institutions create such tables. It’s important to establish the goals for your business organizational chart upfront—this will help you decide what sort of diagram you need and what information you’d like to

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How to Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

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How to Apply for an EIN. Determine if you’re eligible for an EIN. Apply for your 9-digit EIN online or by mail or fax (international applicants can also apply by phone). Receive your EIN, and use it for tax, banking, and credit purposes. If you own a small business, you’ll likely need to apply for an employer identification number (EIN), also known as a business tax ID number , at some point.

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How to Develop an Effective Billing System for a Small B2B Company

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For any B2B business, billing is one of the most significant practices. This is what keeps your cash flowing and your finances healthy. There is a plethora of invoicing practices, and choosing the right one may be overwhelming for your small business. This is why you need to do thorough research, set clear goals, and build a solid billing strategy that will work for both you and your clients.

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How to Find a Startup Lawyer: The Ultimate Guide

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A startup lawyer is an essential partner to a new business. A good startup attorney can make sure you’re in compliance with all of the legal requirements that apply to your business and industry. They can also prevent legal problems from hurting your business down the line. Read on to find out how to find a great startup lawyer who can support you and your business in those crucial first years.

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What Is Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) and How Do You Calculate It?

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Calculating your cost of goods sold (or COGS for short) is an important step in determining the profitability of your company. Also known as simply “cost of goods” or “cost of sales,” COGS is a crucial number on the profit and loss statement of inventory-based companies. Without this number, you cannot determine your gross profit , which is a critical metric to know when you’re trying to maximize the profitability of your business.

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What Is a Convertible Note and Should Your Startup Issue Them for Financing?

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If you’re an early-stage startup thinking about seeking venture funding, one of your biggest looming questions is, What’s my company’s valuation? That has a big effect on the kind of capital you’ll be able to raise and from whom you’ll be able to raise it. Unfortunately, valuation is a complex issue, which is why many startups who raise angel or seed capital choose convertible notes when engaging investors.

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Square POS Review: What Can the Square POS App Offer Your Business?

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As you search for the right system to allow your small business to accept card transactions, or for the perfect upgrade from your business’s current point of sale system , you’ve likely come across the Square register POS. And for good reason—the Square POS app is one of the very best values on the market. But is the Square register POS the right move for your business specifically?

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6 hacks to stop you wasting time on payment collection

GoCardless

Payment collection is a major source of admin for any SMB. Claim back the time with these business hacks.

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BBVA Business Credit Cards Reviewed, Plus Top Alternatives

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The Two BBVA Business Credit Card Options. BBVA Compass offers two business credit cards—the BBVA Compass Secured Visa Business Credit Card and the BBVA Compass Visa Business Rewards Credit Card. The BBVA secured business credit card is an ideal option for business owners with challenged credit who want to earn rewards points, while the BBVA business rewards credit card offers up flexible rewards to business owners with good credit.

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ExxonMobil Business Credit Card Review, Plus Top Alternatives

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If you travel often for work, you’re probably spending plenty of time at the pump. And road warriors are always looking to leverage their gas bills, whether that means earning cash back or a lower price per gallon with their business credit cards. If that sounds like you, an ExxonMobil business credit card might help offset your company’s gas bills every month.

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Top admin-busting tips for SMBs

GoCardless

Small business admin is a headache for any busy entrepreneur. But there are ways to minimise the pain, speed up processes and improve business performance.

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Tried and tested tips to boost your company’s cash flow

GoCardless

Top tips for achieving cash flow health – a guide for Australian SMBs.

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S-Corp vs. C-Corp: How They Differ (and How to Decide)

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S-Corp vs. C-Corp at a Glance. C-Corp. S-Corp. Default type of corporation. Elect by filing IRS Form 2553. Corporate tax plus personal income tax on dividends. Personal income tax on profits. Better for raising venture capital. Hard to raise venture capital. Unlimited shareholders, multiple classes of stock. 100 or fewer shareholders, one class of stock.

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Kiva Loans: Are They Right for Your Small Business?

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Kiva is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in Nairobi, Bangkok, and Portland, Oregon, and staff around the world. Their loans support borrowers in over 80 countries across the globe, with the stated mission to provide “loans that change lives”—specifically, the lives of “unbankable” individuals and business owners who’ve been largely excluded from traditional funding opportunities.