Five Options For Financing Your Startup

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Starting a new business is both exciting and challenging, and It can also be overwhelming trying to come up with financing to get the venture off the ground.

Where should you turn for the help that you need to get going?

Business Loan

Taking out a loan from a bank or a credit union is the most traditional route for obtaining funding. While banks are sometimes the source of Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, the conventional loans that banks handle may be a better option in some cases.

For starters, SBA loans are backed by the government, which means there are often stringent terms attached to the loan. Without government involvement approval time is usually faster. Continue reading

Jonathan Levy: A Lesson in Humility That Launched a Successful Career

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By MJ Plaster

One of the hardest decisions a college student can make is selecting a major because it should, in theory, lead to a career choice. The problem is that few young adults, when they enter college, have a solid grasp on what they want to do “when they grow up.” Jonathan Levy, also known as the Zero Waste Guy, was one such college student.

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When Is It Time To Hire A Tax Professional?

Here is my second stock photo attempt, just in time for tax season.  This one didn't require any expensive props either  but I did have to use my son's glue stick to hold the sheets together. Feel free to use this image, just link to www.SeniorLiving.Org Here is my second stock photo attempt, just in time for tax season. This one didn’t require any expensive props either but I did have to use my son’s glue stick to hold the sheets together. Feel free to use this image, just link to www.SeniorLiving.Org

Filing taxes can strike fear into the heart of even the bravest people. After all, no one wants to come under the scrutiny of the Internal Revenue Service or be flagged for an audit.

When income is low and taxes are simple, preparing your own return with the help of tax preparation software is relatively straightforward and the risks of being chosen for audit is usually very minimal. However, there are many cases, even when your annual income is low, that hiring a tax professional to prepare your tax returns is a much smarter and safer option. Continue reading

5 Tips for Dealing With Extra-Annoying Co-Workers

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By: MJ Plaster

The workplace is a melting pot of diverse backgrounds and eclectic personalities, so it’s unreasonable to expect everyone will get along swimmingly all the time. Still, there is an expectation that employees will act civilly toward one another and ignore petty annoyances.

Even minor irritations can send productivity plummeting, so how you handle toxic co-workers can make or break your day. Long term, how you manage these people can determine your career trajectory.

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What To Look For In A Potential Accountant

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As your business starts to grow and expand, you might consider hiring an accountant. Depending on how badly you need one, you might be tempted to hire the first or second one you come across. However, this could be a critical mistake. Accountants play a vital role in your business, and any mistakes could be devastating.

Accounting mistakes could result in lost profits or legal trouble. Thus, it is important to ensure your potential accountant is reliable and dependable.  Be sure to check their education, work history, and references. Continue reading

The Inside Scoop on America’s Self-Made Businesswomen

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By MJ Plaster

You might not know their names or background stories, but America’s self-made businesswomen are breaking through the glass ceiling in every sector and industry. Oprah Winfrey’s extraordinary rocket to fame and fortune is well-known. Many lesser-known businesswomen have left their imprint on the American business scene. Because their names usually appear in business publications, fewer people are aware of their successes and background stories. The five women below are of varying degrees of celebrity started at square one and made it big. Each of them can serve as inspiration to someone out there—maybe that someone is you.

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Five Seemingly Small Slip-Ups That Can Sink Your Business Before It Gets Going

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Every business, no matter how big or small, comes with its own set of considerations. From management to finances, employees to inventory, there are many things to worry about on a daily basis.

That’s why you don’t want to gamble your chance for success on the smallest possible pitfall. Every year, thousands of new businesses fail because of tiny missteps that could easily be prevented.

Missteps such as… Continue reading