Gov't Shutdown Affects Small Business

We have been here before and it is never a fun ride. The last shutdown cost the taxpayers about $800 million in wages.  During the shutdown of 1995, 800,000 non-essential workers were furloughed, without pay.   The chance that the gov't will have a shutdown is pretty stressful to people from almost all walks of life.  We all hope and trust that this won't happen but if it does, how is your company prepared?

Karen Mills, administrator with the Small Business Association, says that the guarantee on current small-business loans will continue to be services, seeing as how they are actually now in the hands of banks.  Anyone in the 'queue' and waiting for a final decision on a future loan will be put on hold.  This could be devastating to many small businesses who are anxiously counting on those funds to keep them solvent.

If you have any government contracts there is a great chance that those orders will come to screaming halt until this is resolved.  Again, for some companies that could be devastating.  They, in turn, may have to lay off workers either temporarily or permanently.

If you are vying for a government contract you can put your energies elsewhere during a shutdown.  In fact, most agencies that review these agreements will be closed and you'll be stuck talking to their answering service.

It is possible to survive a gov't shutdown if that were to happen.  A company should have a contingency plan in place, much like a natural disaster plan.  Perhaps it will be a good time to review safety standards with employees, conduct a mid-year inventory, or send employees to some training.  A shutdown won't last forever and those who are ready and think before it happens, should be able to survive it.

It's All About Networking

I don't care HOW virtual we get - we can never top the advantages of face-to-face networking. We have several opportunities coming up this week to network with business people in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area and we are more than excited to meet people.

One of our team members hates networking. I took him to a recent event and he wore his sunglasses the entire time. He didn't want to talk to anyone, he didn't want to do the 'schmooze'. To his defense, I kinda dragged him there! But we did make some really good contacts in spite of his trying to escape every five minutes!

Contacts are great ONLY if both sides agree that its a conTACT and not a conTRACT. There's a big difference. Those contacts who are only interested in a contract are just a flash in the pan.  They will wait a certain period of time but if you don't become a conTRACT you may not hear from them again.  What is truly unique about networking is the ability to build a professional set of peers for support, idea sharing, and yes, maybe a contract BUT be very careful getting too friendly with someone with whom you may end up signing a contract - or multiple contracts.

You've heard of the 'friends zone' in dating, right? That's when you are friends - really good ones - and that's all you'll ever be. In business networking you need to decide who is going to be your friend and who is going to be a business partner. It is not impossible to have both, its just dangerous. Can you fire your friend? Can you still have lunch with your friend if your lawyer just served his company papers for failure to pay? The list goes on but I hope I made my point.

So during my networking this week i hope to meet a lot of friendly faces and make some business friends. I also hope to make some conTRACTS. After all, that's what we all need to continue to stay in business, right?

So when you shake that next hand ask yourself, "is this a conTACT or conTRACT?"

COMPANY ADDS PARALEGAL SERVICES

Online PR News – 16-June-2011 – CEO and President, Kurt Danskin, of Office Remote Control, LLC announced recently the addition of a Virtual Paralegal Division to the company's offerings. "This is going to secure our position on the national scene," Danskin stated earlier this week. "Find me another virtual assistance company that offers the number of services and the diversity of services that we offer - you can't find them", he claims.

Paralegal services are in high demand but smaller law offices, although business is booming, find it difficult to keep a full-time paralegal on staff. The company has already created partnership with several law firms in the Midwest and hope to continue expanding. The response from both attorneys and paralegals have been outstanding.

CFO Jason Powell reports, "in the first 24 hours of advertising for paralegals, we had over 100 resumes submitted". This makes for a lot of work for the company who prides itself on choosing high-quality, professional independent contractors.

The company, started in 2008, has been expanding almost every quarter since then, now offering over 250 products and services for individuals and companies. The paralegal division is just another example of their diversity.
"We will have a virtual paralegal for every legal setting you can imagine", Danskin stated. They currently have paralegals who are experts in family law, divorce, bankruptcy, small claims, criminal law, medical and more.

Bankruptcy Not So Taboo Anymore

Bankruptcy is not necessarily a negative thing. There are countless reasons why people need to acquire financial protection from creditors. Businesses and individuals are both able to file when needed. In the recent past, filing a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 was considered a very bad thing. While it is still not a great thing according to banks, the general public has come to realize current economics is not what it use to be.

This topic once was taboo. Announcing to business acquaintances and other social circles that this is the plan of action once brought about a shift in relationships. This is not so much the case as more and more people are finding it difficult to stay on top of bills and other living expenses. Medical costs, job loss, gasoline, and tuition fees are sky-rocketing while wages remain the same. It is understandable how even the most responsible individuals find themselves facing a losing battle.

Before filing, it is normal to feel anxious. Once the decision is made to get legal help, it is advised to look for an attorney that openly advertises a specialty in practicing bankruptcies. This generally means the lawyer is more likely to accept the case.

There are different types of bankruptcies that are filed; there are three separate types which are filed for most frequently. They are referred to as Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13. Private individuals or businesses may file for Chapter 7. Chapter 11 is also available to businesses and individual although businesses tend to use this one most often. Chapter 13 is intended only for individuals.

The three main types of bankruptcies filed are called Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13. All three of these follow strict guidelines. Unlike other court cases that are heard in superior court or family court, this type of legal proceeding takes place in a court system designated specifically for these discussions.

Chapter 11 is used most often by businesses. Court fees and other pertinent legal fees are higher. In order for an individual to file, combined debts must amount to at least one-million dollars. Payment arrangements may be made to pay-off portions of debts or the full amounts owed, despite the large sums of money involved. Business owners may also elect to sell their business while obtaining protection from creditors under a Chapter 11.

Chapter 13 is organized slightly different. Intended for individuals who maintain a steady income, payment plans are arranged over a five-year period to pay back creditors part or all of their losses. Chapter 13 can be used to retain a home once the loan on it is in default status, retain various assets, and slow tax proceedings.

The United States Bankruptcy Code is very detailed. Each filed case is slightly different; creditors listed and debts amounts vary. When an individual or business finds it necessary to file, increased stress levels follow. Obtaining an attorney who communicates well with all parties involved is an asset during this time. That component is usually discovered through recommendations and referrals, if not personal experience.


Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/business_and_finance/article_15946.shtml

About The Author

Janie Grebh is a freelance writer on many topics including personal finance. Learn more about http://www.keithdcollier.com/ and http://www.keithdcollier.com/filing-bankruptcy/chapter-7-in-florida/

A Real Estate Virtual Assistant!

Hiring a virtual assistant is a win-win situation for both the firm and the assistant. Companies that utilize virtual assistants are typically small and do not have the funding to hire a salaried employee. It ends up being a easier and cheaper to hire a virtual worker. And in some cases, large firms will hire virtual assistants when they have special projects that their staff is too busy to take on.

There are many benefits to a company hiring virtual assistant. The company saves a lot of many by not having to pay for benefits such as health care, which can be very expensive. They also do not have to pay an employee tax fee. Whenever they need the virtual assistant, they can simply place an order. It is a simple and fast process that does not cost the company a lot of money. Many companies, from different industries, are hiring virtual assistants to help out with their work load.

Working as a virtual assistant also has its many benefits. They are completely independent and may take on the jobs they want to work. They can set their own work schedule so it is a very flexible work option, especially if the worker has other commitments. They can get work whenever they want to. It is especially helpful if the virtual assistant has a number of different client to keep the workflow consistent. And the worker is not limited because of where they live. They can take on assignments anywhere in the world.

Using Online Articles To Enhance Your Site

Online, there are several locations where you can pick up and use free articles for reprint in your own websites. These articles are designed specifically for that purpose to allow you to add excellent content to your website. But, many wonder about using them. Is it legal? Is it a good idea? Here is a better look at just how these services work.

An article is submitted by a webmaster to the submission websites. He has created the article based on the niche that he knows about. The article is full of good quality content. It is an excellent piece to put on your website. What you will notice about the articles though, is that they will come with affiliate link at the bottom of them. This link will lead back to the webmaster’s website. This allows him to get some kick backs by your use of his article. Should you do this? 

One of the most important things in the development of a website is the simple fact that you need high quality content on it. First of all, search engines rank those websites with quality content better which means more traffic to your site. But, getting the traffic there is only half of the battle. With so many people using high speed internet services, it takes only seconds to go from a website that isn’t very good to one that is excellent. So, you need good quality content on your website to keep your visitors there. If you have it, they are likely to read it, learn from it, and even take action (like visiting your sponsors and making purchases) from it.

What If I Submit?

On the other side of the coin is your ability to submit articles to these websites. Here, you are providing the web content for other webmasters. How can you benefit from it? By providing the content for their site, you are in turn getting those back links to your website. When you provide the content, you will be including your website’s link in which allows individuals who read the article to naturally click your link next. This generates a good deal of traffic to your site from other sites.

But remember that the same thing works. In order for webmasters to want your articles with your affiliate link on it, the content needs to be of high quality. Many individuals have that special niche where they have a good amount of knowledge. If this is you, then dedicating your talents to writing articles about it is naturally a good idea. If you do not feel that you can do this though, then you should invest in a good writer for the topic. An article that is poorly written is not going to be picked up and used as well as those that are written well. On top of that, poorly written articles placed on websites are not going to attract customers your way either.

When all is said and done, using free articles for reprint is an excellent opportunity for many webmasters.

Article Source: http://www.upublish.info

Outsourcing Appointment Setting Pros and Cons

Appointment setting is one of the key marketing strategies that businesses employ for the hopes of generating interest and demand from their prospects and leads. Setting up appointments means that business owners or their sales representatives can personally meet with their prospects. This way they can immediately answer any question asked from said prospects and discuss personally what their company is offering. 

There are numerous reasons why businesses from different industry see appointment setting as quite a tedious task. One reason is it's time consuming. Once an appointment has been set, it is the owner or the sales rep that goes to the prospects. There are times that the proposed meeting place will be a bit far hence it will take up some time. There might be some sacrifices that need to be taken within the business' operations invariably there are costs involved.

So what is the best option for you to handle your appointment setting services? 

The best answer to that question is to outsource these services to highly skilled virtual assistants. Outsourcing your appointment setting services can give a business tons of benefits no matter what industry they come from. Virtual Assistants can also cater to appointment setting services no matter the scale of the business organization. So even if your business is just starting out, you can definitely gain a lot of benefits from outsourcing. 

If you are wondering what these benefits are, here are some of them. 

• Achieve more time for leisure 

• Reduced time for marketing 

• Enhancing capabilities for innovation 

• Access to a broader sense of knowledge 

• Focused core business operations 

Knowing these benefits is just the first part if you want to take full enjoyment out of these advantages.