Do you want to own a franchise, but always thought it was too expensive? If so, then here's with a wonderful gift –a list of franchises that you can purchase for less than $50K (with some even below $5)!
4 Ways Fingerprint Readers Can Undermine Your Rights
In this era of hackers, are we really so lax in the use of our biometric identifiers (i.e. our immutable traits like fingerprints) that cannot be changed?! Don't you think we may be sliding too far down the slippery slope between privacy and convenience?
How To Turn Arguments / Disputes In Your Favor
Disagreements are a natural part of the human condition. Try as we might, it is not something that we can avoid. I have found that in many business settings we try to sweep disagreements under the rug… they are avoided at all costs or they manifest themselves in passive aggressive behavior. I do not think this is helpful to anyone because the underlying issues causing the dispute is not being addressed. But according to Jessica Stillman, there is a way to turn this negative phenomenon into something positive.
How To Give Employment References Without Risking A Lawsuit
Despite the personal feeling of many managers and supervisors, many companies have taken their attorneys’ advice and will only provide neutral references for all (both good and bad) of their employees. This is because it, “makes great legal sense. You're only giving documented, truthful information. There is no reason anyone can come back and say you defamed them.” Lucas, however, disagrees with this policy and she gives 5 reasons why you should abandon it:
How To Beat Bad Reviews On Yelp (Infographic)
Recently, I wrote two blog posts about the actions some business people were taking to shield themselves from negative reviews from their customers. One tactic was to have customers sign contracts that allowed the business to penalize anyone that left a negative review on social media. The other approach was to legally try to discredit Yelp. Though neither of these ploys has been particularly effective, I can understand why businesses might be tempted to take action to protect themselves.
Microsoft Office Online or Google Docs...Which Is Best For You Legally?
These days we essentially have a choice between Microsoft Office and Google Docs when it comes to meeting our back office needs. Though each has its benefits (according to Sarah Austin, Google is better for collaboration while Microsoft is better for those who use spreadsheets on a regular basis), legally they are quite different.
How To Pick The Right Type of Lease For Your Business
Now if you are like me, the question that you will probably want to know is, what kind of office lease should is the best bet for your business?
5 Ways To Persuade Your Clients To Hire You Long-Term
Are you stuck in a sphere where your clients only use your services for the bare minimum or call you when there is trouble? Don’t you think it would make more sense for both you and your client if he just had you on retainer? Essentially, you’d become what John Warrillow calls a “Managed Service Provider”or (MSP).
4 Ways To Get Access To Angel Investors
As you may know, you cannot issue any kind of securities (stock or debt) for your company without complying with the Securities Act of 1933. However, there are some exceptions that allow you to sell restricted securities to friends and family without too many limitations. However, in order to grow, you will still need investment even after you've tapped out all the funding you can get from friends and family. Your next best bet for that additional (and larger) infusion of capital will most likely be an angel investor.
Use Your Body Language To "Pull-In" Your Audience
We always hear about how to use body language to project confidence and assertiveness. And there is nothing wrong with that: after all, I just wrote a post about how to master that last month! But what about when you want to “pull in” your audience with your charm and your warmth? What are the things you need to do to achieve that?
So, Maybe California is NOT The Best Place To Incorporate Your Business?
Well, according to Jaia Thomas, it might be time for some small business owners to do a bit of forum shopping instead of choosing to incorporate in California by default. She lists 3 reasons why California might put you at a disadvantage:
UPS Is Putting 3D Printng In Your Hands
Recently, Catherine Clifford reported that “UPS will be [making] 3-D printing machines available in nearly 100 UPS Stores across the U.S.”. UPS decided to do this because of the success of “the pilot program they launched in the summer of 2013”. These printers, called Stratasys uPrint SE Plus, are superior to the 3D printers you would normally be able to buy for personal use. So, if you wanted to take advantage of this new technology, this is really good news for you!
Can You Really Trust and Rely on Yelp Reviews?
Though Yelp might be an amazing resource as a consumer, as I discussed in a recent post (about Your Competitors Giving Themselves An Unfair Advantage) I’m also quite aware of the downsides for some business owners. After all, “Nothing is worse than providing the best service possible but having a customer leave a negative review nonetheless for some ridiculous reason.” Given how ubiquitous Yelp has become, having a bad or average rating damages your ability to attract customers to your business.
South Park Is The Best Teacher When It Comes To Trademarks
In a recent post, I wondered whether the Redskins common law protection would grant exclusive rights only in the Washington area? Or seeing that it is a part of the NFL and plays around the entire country, can it argue that its region is the entire country? Well it seems the writers of South Park believe it's the former and that is why they produced this little gem highlighting the fact that other people across the country can now legally use the Redskins' name and logo.
What Google Can Teach You About Protecting Your Business Name
Escalator…aspirin…yo-yo… do you know there was a time when these names referred to a specific product within a class. That is, escalators referred to a particular type of moving stairs not all moving stairs. Asprin referred to a particular type of painkiller instead of being a short hand way of referring to any over-the-counter pain drug. So what happened? Well, the trademark for the respective companies became “generic”.
Are Your Competitors Giving Themselves An Unfair Advantage?
When I first read the headline ‘New Legislation Would Make Banning Negative Yelp Reviews Illegal’, my initial thought was, “really the government doesn't have better things to do with its time?” But I was wrong. This is a law that some of us may not like, but it provides enormous protections for those of us who are committed to provide our customers with the best product or service possible.
Get Prepared: The Minimum Wage Will Be Going Up
Currently, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 but congress is facing relentless pressure to increase it to $10.10. According to Jeremy Quittner, “Somewhere between 40 percent and 60 percent of business owners favor increasing the minimum wage, according to various surveys… [however many] small business groups such as the National Federation of Independent Business and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are vocal opponents…”. As a result of their lobbying efforts, a recent “bill to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 failed in the Senate.” However, though these small business groups were successful with Congress, just look at the recent trends from around the country:
3 Ways To Take Advantage of Crowdfunding Now!
Recently, I while reviewing the Finance Section of a popular small business site, I realized the vast majority of the most recent articles were about “crowdfunding”. This is understandable given how the 2012 JOBS act revolutionized the way entrepreneurs are able to seek capital for their venture. Heck, I’m even guilty of doing the same; I’ve written no less than about 4 posts about crowdunding in the last six months! But given the vast benefits that will be available to entrepreneurs, this issue is totally worth all the attention it is currently receiving.
The Secret To Mastering Non-Verbal Communication
Celine (in the scenario above) is having difficulties because she is focusing on the wrong thing. As business owners, you are tasked with perpetually communicating confidence and competence to your customers, investors and other business partners. Though we always focus on saying the right things and having the perfect presentation, this is what people focus on when you interact with them:
Make Your Business More Attractive To Buyers & Investors
Regardless of your current objectives, there may come a time when you want to either move on to new opportunities (which means selling your business) or you may simply want to take your business to the next level. And to do that you may need to attract investors from outside your close circle of family and friends. Unlike your initial investors, these new people will not be investing in you or your ideas; they are seeking to find out whether or not your business will provide a good return on their investment. That is why – before they finalize any deal – they will probably conduct an intense review of everything pertaining to your business. How can you ensure that your business will pass this due diligence test?
