Archive for December, 2008

If i wanted to open a small business?

Thursday, December 4th, 2008
small business management
K asked:


I would like to open a small sports cards/memorabilia store. I would be able to make money by selling stuff online as well to give me more business(not that i am looking to make millions with this).

My question is how would someone 20 years old with no real credit to get a $5000 to $10,000 loan to make something like this happen??? I could get legit co-signers.

PS: this would be in the Northeast, so lots of sports nuts!!
and im getting a degree in business management

Lyndon

I want to open a small boutique. what am I going to need?

Thursday, December 4th, 2008
small business management
Brandi asked:


I know I need to take business management classes and accounting. What else do I need?
Also, what will it take for me to get a small business loan?
Well I don’t have good credit… so what else will I need?

Chandler

Advice For Those Starting A Small Business

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008
small business management
When starting out in business it is usually a prerequisite to open a business account to mange your finances. Unfortunately for many it is uncertain what kind of services your account will need to provide. Here are some of the most common issues that concern small business managers when they are opening an account.

The first issue is the amount of interest your account should provide. More advisable is instead of looking for high interest rates to study the charges that will be applicable to your business account. High interest usually means greater penalties for going into your overdraft, as a young business you may be in and out of the red so try to avoid high interest accounts. If you do however want to pursue high interest rates it is best to look online as internet banks often offer great rates to attract customers.

You may be asking yourself if you will actually need a business account; naturally business is always dependent upon money and ensuring your money is well kept should be a major concern. A business account will help you identify all of your transaction processes and ensure you have clarity. A dedicated account will also provide you with accountability so creditors and the tax man can easily understand your business dealings during audits. It can also give your business some credibility as the bank will usually have to approve your model before managing you finances. That said, it is not crucial to hold a business account. If you are operating as a sole trader there is no need for you to open one, your personal account will suffice.

When you are choosing an account you will be bombarded with services that in reality you will not need. It is best to open a simple checking account that allows you to pay checks and withdraw money. A savings account would be ill-advised as it is unlikely that you will have much to save during the initial stages of starting operations. As a sole trader it is possible to open account that not only presents your name but also the type of business you operate, this can create a far more professional look. As a limited company you will need to open the account in the name of your company rather than your own name.

It is not always advisable to open an account with the bank that controls your personal finances. Shop around as the variety can be amazing; in terms of services, charges and interest. It is also advisable to not give one bank too much control over your finances, if they already manage your personal funds, your company may benefit from using another bank. As a new customer you will also be open to more services than you would be as an existing customer.

When opening an account you will need a number of items. First and foremost the manager will want to see a business plan to see if your chances of success are acceptable. They will also want to know where the start up funds are coming from. Of course a list of signatories will be needed to note who will have access to the finances. While monthly statements are usually sufficient in a personal account, your company will most probably need updates more frequently to assess your financial position accurately. This may carry an added charge but will normally be worth the fee.

By following the advice given in this brief outline it should be possible to find the perfect account to suit your business requirements. Starting a company can be difficult and risky and hence ensuring the safety and efficiency of your finances is advisable.



By: Thomas Pretty

About the Author:

Financial expert Thomas Pretty looks into the decisions that must be made by small companies when choosing what type of business account to utilise.



Herbert

How good would my own small business look on a resume?

Monday, December 1st, 2008
small business management
ultcomics asked:


I am graduating next year with a B.S. in biology but am interested in management/business instead of biology as a career. I have my own small business with an employee. I am the owner/operator. If I list that on a resume, with actual results ie “Made $14,000 in profit last year” would that make people more interested in me?

Russell

real estate small business fraud?

Monday, December 1st, 2008
small business management
Eastern asked:


Couple months ago, my family purchased a small yogurt shop in California. It was the first business purchase in the U.S. and we bought this business through a realtor who her husband is the previous owner of this yogurt shop.
During the process of it, we asked the previous owner and the realtor if there will be other yogurt shop coming, and their answer was ‘no.’
We purchased the business, trusting them 100%. We increased the sale for the next three months. That is, until a bigger/cheaper yogurt shop opens few blocks away from our store. Our sales dramatically decreased exactly from the day that store opened.
We contacted the previous owner and the realtor (because they are husband and a wife) to demand for an explanation.
They kept saying ‘honest God’ that they did not know, and actually accused us of killing the business (remind you that we increased the sales for three months).
We tried to resolve this matter in amicable way possible, but the realtor and previous owner refused to cooperate in any matter.

So, we did our own investigation.
We found:
- the bigger yogurt store started construction on two months before our purchase of the business.
- the manager of the yogurt shop (who also worked for the previous owner) told that other yogurt shop was coming.
- the bigger yogurt shop was using billboard to advertise its coming and we have material evidences and witness that the previous owner did know that the other yogurt shop was coming.
- recently found out that this couple had fraud history in another state (NV).

Their reaction:
- they have indirectly accused me by publishing an article of the bad management kills the business.
- they are false advertising that our store earns a lot to sell other yogurt franchise (the previous owner has the license to sell franchise in the location we live).
- they are telling other people that this does not affect because the flavor of our yogurt is different from the bigger/cheaper yogurt store.
- they are going to the court if we are going to the court.

We have sent a letter for an investigation to DRE to suspend realtor’s license.

We are also seeking an attorney help to unwind the deal and filing for a fraud, but we also want to receive some of your professional comments and suggestions of what we should do.

Our biggest concern is that they have previous fraud history and they may run away again. Attorney fee is also very high. We believe that they may know all these and may use it for their advantage that not many people really pursue the case to the court. Also, if they hide their assets, we heard it’s difficult to recover the fees.

Burgess