Looking for the business section in today's Los Angeles Times?
It has been moved inside the A section and appears on page A14 and A15. My In Box advice column survives - yes! - on page A14. Today's column discusses women-owned businesses, establishing credit and cutting overhead.
Showing posts with label In Box column. Show all posts
Showing posts with label In Box column. Show all posts
Monday, February 8, 2010
Friday, June 19, 2009
Small Biz Casualties
We've read and heard a lot over the past six months about the big auto companies and their downfalls.
But what hasn't gotten much attention are the nearly 11,000 small companies that make parts to go into those auto production lines. They are typically family-owned enterprises with a few dozen employees, many of them clustered in the Upper Midwest.
I write about the future of those small tool-and-die and machine shops in this week's Smart Answers column.
Despite what could be a gloomy outlook for companies whose products are closely tied to failing corporations, there is a silver lining for the small firms that are willing to hustle and open to change.
In this week's In Box column, I answer questions about quarterly taxes and how companies can continue doing good even when money is tight.
Check them out!
But what hasn't gotten much attention are the nearly 11,000 small companies that make parts to go into those auto production lines. They are typically family-owned enterprises with a few dozen employees, many of them clustered in the Upper Midwest.
I write about the future of those small tool-and-die and machine shops in this week's Smart Answers column.
Despite what could be a gloomy outlook for companies whose products are closely tied to failing corporations, there is a silver lining for the small firms that are willing to hustle and open to change.
In this week's In Box column, I answer questions about quarterly taxes and how companies can continue doing good even when money is tight.
Check them out!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Chicken or Egg?
Remember when you were just starting out on your own and you couldn't get a credit card? You needed a good (or any) credit history in order to qualify for a card, the companies told you. But without a credit card, how were you supposed to rack up a credit history?
(Yes, I'm dating myself to the "bad old days." College students get credit cards mailed to them before they even leave the nest today - though let's hope that will be changing soon.)
It was one of those catch-22 situations that also face a lot of frustrated entrepreneurs. Read about it in my Smart Answers column this week.
My L.A. Times column answers questions about social networking, intellectual property and buying a recruiting firm.
(Yes, I'm dating myself to the "bad old days." College students get credit cards mailed to them before they even leave the nest today - though let's hope that will be changing soon.)
It was one of those catch-22 situations that also face a lot of frustrated entrepreneurs. Read about it in my Smart Answers column this week.
My L.A. Times column answers questions about social networking, intellectual property and buying a recruiting firm.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Business Startups
Lots and lots of people are thinking about starting companies right now. Some have been laid off, others are retiring early, all have long had the entrepreneurial bug. My email is jammed with startup questions.
I address two of them in my LA Times In Box column this week.
Having had a couple of relatives crash and burn with startups - with dire consequences for their finances and even their marriages, sadly! - I try hard to instill some common sense into my answers. If I can steer clueless newbies to a prudent, research-based approach to starting their companies, I feel that I've done both my job and a public service.
My Smart Answers podcast this week is all about how to evaluate a bank and move your accounts if you can upgrade the relationships and services involved.
I address two of them in my LA Times In Box column this week.
Having had a couple of relatives crash and burn with startups - with dire consequences for their finances and even their marriages, sadly! - I try hard to instill some common sense into my answers. If I can steer clueless newbies to a prudent, research-based approach to starting their companies, I feel that I've done both my job and a public service.
My Smart Answers podcast this week is all about how to evaluate a bank and move your accounts if you can upgrade the relationships and services involved.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Stimulating Tax Impact
When is it possible to use "stimulating" and "tax" in the same post header? When I'm pointing to two recent columns discussing the effects of the fiscal stimulus legislation on small business taxes - that's when!
Both this week's Los Angeles Times "In Box" column and one of last month's Smart Answers columns discuss the small business provisions in the stimulus law. It's esoteric stuff, but important for entrepreneurs to understand if they file their own taxes (or ask their accountants about if they leave that complicated job to the pros).
Both this week's Los Angeles Times "In Box" column and one of last month's Smart Answers columns discuss the small business provisions in the stimulus law. It's esoteric stuff, but important for entrepreneurs to understand if they file their own taxes (or ask their accountants about if they leave that complicated job to the pros).
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Alternate lenders
My Los Angeles Times In Box column this week addresses some of the red flags associated with merchant cash advance firms. With credit drying up and small business loans tough to find, many small business owners may be considering alternate lenders, such as credit card factors.
Factoring originated in the apparel industry, where a soft goods inventory didn't qualify for loans like those granted to companies with hard inventory and equipment.
Although the details of these loans vary, factors typically advance cash up front to buy up the company's accounts receivable. The factor then collects payments due and returns the funds to the company - minus a percentage for their service. Some companies also charge fees on top of their cut.
The column tells you what to watch out for if you're considering a merchant cash advance contract. For instance, you want a fixed repayment percentage, so that in slow months you're not asked to fork over more of your income to the factor.
You should also compare offers from several firms before you sign up with a merchant cash advance company. Look for the best deal you can get, of course, but also check into the reliability of the factoring firm itself. Talk to some of their clients about how they view the relationship.
Factoring is costly and if you can find funding elsewhere, or bootstrap your operation, you should do that. But many small companies successfully use this method of boosting their cash flow.
Factoring originated in the apparel industry, where a soft goods inventory didn't qualify for loans like those granted to companies with hard inventory and equipment.
Although the details of these loans vary, factors typically advance cash up front to buy up the company's accounts receivable. The factor then collects payments due and returns the funds to the company - minus a percentage for their service. Some companies also charge fees on top of their cut.
The column tells you what to watch out for if you're considering a merchant cash advance contract. For instance, you want a fixed repayment percentage, so that in slow months you're not asked to fork over more of your income to the factor.
You should also compare offers from several firms before you sign up with a merchant cash advance company. Look for the best deal you can get, of course, but also check into the reliability of the factoring firm itself. Talk to some of their clients about how they view the relationship.
Factoring is costly and if you can find funding elsewhere, or bootstrap your operation, you should do that. But many small companies successfully use this method of boosting their cash flow.
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