Posts in ‘New Business’

The 40th Earth Day is Thursday, a reminder that going green isn’t always easy. Most people are slow to change their behavior, and even the most eco-conscious consumers can forget to bring their own bag to the grocery store or coffee mug to the office.

Now several startup companies are building business models around information technology and the idea that consumers need an extra push — from free cupcakes to gift cards for iTunes or Starbucks — to go green. They’ve tapped into the fact that Americans love to earn coupons, prizes and rewards, and are far more apt to participate in recycling, carpooling or energy-saving programs if there’s a tangible payoff.

To read more of this Mercury News article click here.

The majority of small businesses (52 percent) believe having a social media presence is important for companies, according to the Small Business Opinion Poll commissioned by EMPLOYERS®, America’s small business insurance specialist®. The national poll also reveals that although there are nearly five million small businesses leveraging social media, that figure only accounts for 16 percent of the 29.7 million small businesses in the United States based on figures from the Small Business Administration.

A quick online search of how small businesses can generate value by integrating social media strategies to help grow their businesses yields page after page of useful tips, insights and advice for those looking to boost their marketing and customer-engagement efforts. Social media experts extol the business development benefits of social media platforms like LinkedIn®, Facebook®, Twitter®, and their own Web sites and blogs. As the Internet, e-mail and mobile communications have become widespread in modern society, EMPLOYERS’ small business poll indicates that a relatively low percentage of small businesses are effectively tapping these opportunities. The total still represents a significant critical mass of small businesses at 4.75 million.

To read more of this EMPLOYERS® article click here.

There is no greater country on Earth for entrepreneurship than America. In every category, from the high-tech world of Silicon Valley, where I live, to University R&D labs, to countless Main Street small business owners, Americans are taking risks, embracing new ideas and — most importantly — creating jobs.

America’s future prosperity depends on our ability to maintain this lead. But today, it is getting harder and harder to maintain. A quick glance is the rear-view mirror reveals that other countries are catching up and at an alarming rate. Part of this is due to their determination to overtake us, but part is due to structural changes in the nature of entrepreneurship.

To read more of this The Huffington Post article click here.

As founder of the Internet’s hottest startup, Foursquare (Foursquare), Dennis Crowley knows a thing or two about growing a small business.

Foursquare is a location-sharing mobile app that lets users check-in to venues, share that check-in with their friends and social media sites, and discover friends, tips, and popular places nearby. The startup launched one year ago, has attracted massive press coverage, and has grown to around 600,000 members.

To read more of this Mashable article click here.

Many people who received buyouts and severance packages last year used the money to start home-based businesses. Now, they’ll want to take tax deductions for their home offices.

The deduction for using part of your home for business purposes – popularly known as the home office deduction – used to be something scary. It was widely believed that taking the deduction would automatically land you an IRS audit. Tax advisers say that’s no longer the case, especially since there are so many businesses being run out of homes, garages and apartments. But if you don’t follow the rules and try to take too big a deduction, you could still draw the attention of IRS employees.

To read more of this Washington Post article click here.

Hobbies provide a great way to relax from the daily grind. For many people, they also offer a way to make extra spending money.

Be aware, however, when your hobby produces income, you owe tax on it.

You can reduce your taxable hobby income by deducting your hobby expenses, but this tax break is limited.

Allowable hobby deductions
You can only deduct expenses up to the amount of money you make on the hobby. Even then, hobby expenses, along with other miscellaneous expenses you itemize on Schedule A, must come to more than 2 percent of your adjusted gross income before you can deduct them.

To read more of this Bankrate.com article read here.

Scene: a business conference, an expert talking about starting a business. The expert gives the good old “passion” pitch, how you have to be ready to sacrifice all for your business: “Either make this business work or die trying.”

A voice from the audience asks, hesitatingly, “Er, are those the only options?”

To read more of this Entrepreneur.com article click here.

Google is the leader in online search and search-based advertising, and recent acquisitions are designed to expand the vast Google empire. Critics take exception to Google undercutting traditional marketing channels, but the evolving advertising landscape levels the playing field for small and medium businesses.

To read more of this PC World Magazine article click here.

A few day s ago I went to a small business show located in a Los Angeles private home.

Promoted as “Holiday Trunk Show with a touch of communal networking” the event offered a venue to small businesses to showcase their products. Over fifteen enterprises showed mainly environmentally and socially conscious products. The offering was as diverse as hand crafted bags made of natural materials, diary free ice cream and environmentally friendly cosmetics. It is interesting the most businesses were less than two years old. Some of them were in existence for only two months.

The person behind the event is Afford Eco’s Tatjana Luethi. She mentioned that “The main focus is to reflect and acknowledge the current economy and how that affects all of us financially, emotionally and mentally, and build something around that with authenticity and transparency”. Her genuine desire to help the community and promote collaborative spirit is the primary driving force behind this gathering. “Times are changing, and with that change new approaches are being born, namely one of collaboration and taking care of each other”.

The gathering is another illustration of how businesses are looking for new ways to sell their products and endure hard times.

The economy is challenging, jobs are hard to find and it looks like no one expects dramatic change for the better any time soon. Many people ask if stating a business is a good idea. Starting a business is never a smooth sailing. But, it is worth trying. Being your own boss is part of the American dream.