Ask SCORE

SCORE, "Counselors to America's Small Business," is a nonprofit organization of more than 13,000 volunteer business counselors who provide free, confidential business counseling and training workshops to small business owners. Call 610.327.2673 for the Pottstown SCORE chapter, or find a counselor online at www.pottstownscore.org

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When It Comes to Collections, Never Assume

Business relationships are usually straightforward. You provide a product or service, and the customer pays you for it in a timely manner. But every small business owner will likely have to deal with tardy or missed payments. Don’t ignore them or assume the customer will eventually follow through. Money owed to your business—known as receivables—cuts into your profits and complicates your cash flow.

A good collections strategy can help prevent slow payments before they become a problem, and ensure that income from aged invoices isn’t lost forever.

Protecting Your Intellectual Properties is a Smart Move

“TM,” “SM,” “PAT PEND,” “©,” “®.” These small symbols and abbreviations carry a lot of legal weight when it comes to safeguarding a company’s proprietary names, designs, products, and services. As an entrepreneur, you should consider making sure the valuable intellectual properties of your small business are protected as well. But which one(s) do you need?

Trademarks are not the same as patents and copyrights, even though the differences are not widely understood. While there are similarities, they serve different purposes.

Make Employee Retention a Top Priority

The expression, “good help is hard to find,” has never been more accurate. Competition for talented workers is intense in most locations and specialties, and the “best of the best” know it. If they’re unsatisfied with their current job, they have no qualms about looking for something else.

"Green" Business: The Shade of Things to Come

Being environmentally conscious is not just good for the earth; it’s good for your business as well. Studies show that consumers are increasingly attracted to businesses that promote their proactive efforts to protect the environment. Many high-profile companies are limiting the product and service contracts to vendors with good “green” track records. Plus, many practices and products that help reduce pollution and conserve natural resources can also help reduce business costs over the long term. 

A Makeover Can Freshen Up a Stale Business

Have those good ideas stopping coming? Do your employees appear to be doing little more than going through the motions? Are your competitors making splashes in the media that you can’t answer?

If so, a makeover could be just the thing to re-energize your business. It need not be a major overhaul; some minor tweaks may be enough. What’s important is that you recognize the need for action, and learn all you can to make informed decisions.

Money Matters When Starting a New Business

Starting a small business requires extensive planning and research. But just because things are up and running doesn’t mean your days as a strategist are done. In fact, they are just beginning.

Planning is an ongoing necessity because the environment in which your small business operates continually changes. New opportunities and challenges will arise that are different than those assessed during the start-up stage. Your initial financial projections may be literally and figuratively on the money— or trending in a different and unexpected direction.

Need a Hand With Hiring? Consider a PEO

Nothing good comes easy, and that includes hiring and managing good employees for your small business. That’s why many entrepreneurs are turning to professional employer organizations (PEOs) to handle the complex, time-consuming administrative burdens of human resource management.

Being Environmentally Friendly is Both Easy and Cost Effective

With climate change and diminishing resources dominating the news these days, small business owners are looking for ways to make their operations more environmentally friendly. Simple steps such as recycling soda cans and turning off lights are a good place to start, but there are many other ways you can make a big difference without a lot of effort and expense.  What’s more, these measures will benefit both the environment and your bottom line.

Contractor or Employee? Get the Facts Before You Hire

Independent contractors are an attractive option for small businesses that don’t have the resources or need for full-time employees.  In fact, your small business may be built entirely on serving as an independent contractor to other enterprises.

 

But before you hire one or more independents, make sure that relationship fits entirely within the IRS’s definition of contract labor, and that both you and your contractors understand the rights and responsibilities of everyone involved.

 

Don't Be Your Company Leader in Name Only

“Just wait ‘til I’m the boss…”

That sentiment has helped sustain many aspiring entrepreneurs through the process of getting their small businesses up and running. Among the many benefits of small business ownership is the opportunity to do things “the right way” when it comes to employees and customers.

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