Great post Lynn,
One of the greatest difficulties that small business owners have with accountants is they can't understand what they're saying becasue they speak a different language!!
There is no doubt that driving a business for tax and driving one for profit can be two completely different things.
If you can find a good accountant who speaks simple clean language which is understandable then you have found a very person. Too often though small business owners are frustrated and only go to an accountant to get their tax completed and even then can be resentful at the size of bill they have to pay.
We are about to get an accountant for our business. Thanks for the helpful advice. It is a bit overwhelming as to the great importance your finances are for a small business. Especially a business starting out. Thanks!
I got it as a gift and thought I would mostly use it to avoid bringing a bag of books on vacation, but it has become much more then that. As a working single Mom, money and time are at a premium. Being able to order a book from anywhere (often at a better price) saves me the 40 minutes round trip to a good bookstore and the negotiating with my book-loving children whether they can make a purchase. When snowed in or tending to a sick child, I can treat myself to a book. As a result, I have been able to make a beloved and relaxing hobby that I had let slide again be part of my life.
Etsy has some of the most modern fiber art of all the craft marketplaces I've browsed through. I know that when I post items for sale on Etsy they are reaching a group of people that understand crafts beyond "holiday projects" and I really appreciate that.
For me, it is the only place online where I can sell my unique bonsai lace tapestries and leather jewelry.
Visit my shop (mandybesek) and browse my favorites, you'll see what I mean.
I have several old flags of other nations and don't know what to do with them. I don't want to throw them away. Can I sell them and how do I find out what they are worth.
A local nonprofit in my town (Rochester, Minnesota) has started something similar. To belong, you have to apply and got through background check (I assume to vet people for doing things like babysitting).
Once you are in, they maintain a database. You provide 2 hours of service, you get 2 hours to "spend" on another service.
If you ask me, there are a lot of loyal Toyota customers who will go the distance with their hard-earned dollars with future vehicle purchases. I also think we will see Toyota rebound in time.
I just have to mention how much I love my Riders Jeans, by Lee. I don't know about the "instantly slims you" slogan, but I do know that a chunky gal like me can use all the help I can get! Also, I hate kneeling down/leaning over/sitting cross legged at my son's "circle time" at playgroup and having a gap between myself and jeans. The Riders jeans have finally eliminated that for me! And at $24 Cdn per pair at Wal-Mart, I've got no problem buying them in different colours/washes. They last a long time and are really comfortable too. I wish they made more clothing, not just jeans! (A friend of mine says they also make shirts! I'm looking forward to finding them!)
Also, thanks for the tips on GooGone - I'm going to try that!
Hi,
Things to add to the list: a portable waterbowl and treat pouch to carry a meal, a carabiner or some other kind of clip to attach to you for hands-free moments, a wallet-sized copy of the health or rabies certificate, vet phone number/emergency medical info, something in case of dehydration like tablets or k9 quencher. I travel with a guide dog every day, and all of the stuff fits in to her treat pouch. Also, you could just get a tiny USB drive and attach it to your dog's collar, so you have as much info as you want in addition to his/her ID tags.
I'm a Southern transplant to New England. I always wanted a pair of L.L. Bean Wicked Good Slippers, but at $50 I just didn't want to spend the money (even though I'm a die hard L.L. Bean fan and know their stuff is top quality).
My in-laws gave me $50 for my birthday one year so I decided to spend it on the wicked good slippers. I love these things! I'm sure I saved at least $50 on my heating bill the first month I owned them. I've now had them about five years and they are still as wonderful as the first day I wore them.
Yes; I have one of these seemingly dangerous Camrys and have had it for two years; never had any kind of problems with it. After disastrous, expensive repairs and overall bad experiences with a (new) Dodge and (new) Chevrolet, I went to a Corolla in about 1989, with no problems whatsoever. Unless disaster strikes personally, I won't change.
Thanks for a great article Andrea, and to everyone who has commented. I'm a type 2 and am seriously struggling to control my sugars and lose weight. My nurse told me the key is excerise, not necessarily to lose weight but to burn off calories and stimulate the insulin to do its job. I'm now back on metformin and gliclozide (which is a bummer as they make you gain weight)...but I'm going to try the green tea, honey and cinnamon tips and see if they help.
I am a store owner and am so tired of people promoting asking for discounts. I'm thisclose to putting up a "No Haggling" sign in my window. I place what I feel is a fair price on my products, both for myself and my customers, and I am getting SO tired of people coming in and haggling me to give them a discount. When I say I cannot, more often than not I'm told "So you're willing to lose a sale?" and "Oh, well, I guess I don't need it." People, there is a reason for the price tag - that is what the item is worth. If you want a discount, wait for a sale. I have often given a discount just to get the person out of my store because they're giving me a headache and you'd better believe they aren't going to get a discount out of me again (whereas we've given loyal customer discounts to people who shop with us on a regular basis). I find it very insulting. I have bills to pay, too and if I give everyone who walks in a discount then I'm not going to make any money. I'm seeing so many news stories/blogs encouraging people to go into the smaller boutiques and ask for discounts. Excuse me, but just because the owner is often on premises doesn't mean that we should be targeted. I have to pay not only my suppliers, but rent, utilities, sales tax, staff salaries, advertising, office supplies, etc. I have a number of sales throughout the year for my customers, and I'd appreciate people having respect for me as a business owner to not expect me to make less money just so you can save $10. Go shop at Walmart or ebay. Watch for sales. Leave store owners/managers alone.
I own 2 toyotas: '04 Sienna and '06 Prius. Very satisfied with both but very unhappy with toyota's apparently deliberate hiding of info and crash stats, their early insistence that the trouble was with the floor mats, etc. That has cost huge amounts of lost confidence in the brand, and deservedly so. I still hope to buy the Prius plug-in hybrid when it's available, unless another brand gets better reviews, and I considered buying toyota stock until the apparent cover-ups hit the fan and put future growth of the stock in doubt. In this case I don't plan to "buy low"...
I would love to try this recipe in my Zojirushi bread machine, but I don't know what you mean by "80 minute setting." Should it just bake for 80 minutes? No rising time? The Gluten-Free Cooking School site is no clearer.
Deflation is only devastating under certain circumstances. It tends to crush people with debts (while benefiting people with cash assets), so under circumstances where many people are deeply indebted, it is hard on many people.
In a low-debt environment, it's pretty harmless.
It does have a couple of good effects. One, of course, is to discourage excess debt. We'd be a lot better off now if all through the 1990s and 2000s people had thought that deflation was a real possibility. The other is that, if we expect the average inflation rate to be zero (because we expect any inflation will be reversed with a corresponding deflation), interest rates can be very low, allowing for very long term planning. (I talk about how very low interest rates enable very long-term planning in my post How low interest rates might save the world.)
Granted we have very low interest rates now, but it's a temporary thing that everyone knows will disappear, so it doesn't encourage long-term planning.
Of course, the computer is my top one! At 40, I can easily remember what it was like not to have this incredible tool of information, deals (love to save), and a way to stay connected.
My second choice is the GPS! Love, love, love that voice that tells me how to get to places even where there is construction; I love not being lost!
My daughter loves the same Sally Hansen nail polish you wrote about - on that same note - the Neutrogena acne system that comes with the wash, day lotion, and night lotion is amazing. It is much better than the prescription that my daughter received from the dermatologist (was way too drying). The day lotion also has sunscreen and a non greasy feel. Great product that truly works!
I have a jar opening... thingy, that I can't live without. Don't know if it has an official name, but it's metal with plastic handles and different sized, ridged metal rings. I can fit it to anything from a pop bottle lid to the lid of a large jar. It's a lifesaver!
Timing it for Dec 31 would be very hard. Timing it for mid-December with a week or two of leeway wouldn't be that hard at all!
Very interesting...I may look into this to stretch the time between diaper deals in my area. Good to know.
Great post Lynn,
One of the greatest difficulties that small business owners have with accountants is they can't understand what they're saying becasue they speak a different language!!
There is no doubt that driving a business for tax and driving one for profit can be two completely different things.
If you can find a good accountant who speaks simple clean language which is understandable then you have found a very person. Too often though small business owners are frustrated and only go to an accountant to get their tax completed and even then can be resentful at the size of bill they have to pay.
We are about to get an accountant for our business. Thanks for the helpful advice. It is a bit overwhelming as to the great importance your finances are for a small business. Especially a business starting out. Thanks!
I got it as a gift and thought I would mostly use it to avoid bringing a bag of books on vacation, but it has become much more then that. As a working single Mom, money and time are at a premium. Being able to order a book from anywhere (often at a better price) saves me the 40 minutes round trip to a good bookstore and the negotiating with my book-loving children whether they can make a purchase. When snowed in or tending to a sick child, I can treat myself to a book. As a result, I have been able to make a beloved and relaxing hobby that I had let slide again be part of my life.
Etsy has some of the most modern fiber art of all the craft marketplaces I've browsed through. I know that when I post items for sale on Etsy they are reaching a group of people that understand crafts beyond "holiday projects" and I really appreciate that.
For me, it is the only place online where I can sell my unique bonsai lace tapestries and leather jewelry.
Visit my shop (mandybesek) and browse my favorites, you'll see what I mean.
I have several old flags of other nations and don't know what to do with them. I don't want to throw them away. Can I sell them and how do I find out what they are worth.
Here's what I do,
I set it on the lowest temp and cook it until it's done, (between 60 and 80 minutes, so, more than an hour but less than an hour and a half).
I don't give it rising time, becuase it rises while it bakes. Also, you don't need the mixing paddle and all the mixing time that goes along with it.
I know it's difficult because all bread machines are different and writing a recipe for a one-size-fits-all kind of deal is a bit challenging.
I hope this helps.
Sonja Stewart
Pantene Locks of Love is a donation charity about which I have read more positive comments. I ahve read that Locks of Love resells their donations.
To me, this is an extra incentive for going "green".
While I won't go out and spend money just to spend it on these things, I would look at them more closely to see if it might be worth doing.
We should consider these things for the tax breaks, but additionally, for the benefit to the environment as well.
A local nonprofit in my town (Rochester, Minnesota) has started something similar. To belong, you have to apply and got through background check (I assume to vet people for doing things like babysitting).
Once you are in, they maintain a database. You provide 2 hours of service, you get 2 hours to "spend" on another service.
If you ask me, there are a lot of loyal Toyota customers who will go the distance with their hard-earned dollars with future vehicle purchases. I also think we will see Toyota rebound in time.
I just have to mention how much I love my Riders Jeans, by Lee. I don't know about the "instantly slims you" slogan, but I do know that a chunky gal like me can use all the help I can get! Also, I hate kneeling down/leaning over/sitting cross legged at my son's "circle time" at playgroup and having a gap between myself and jeans. The Riders jeans have finally eliminated that for me! And at $24 Cdn per pair at Wal-Mart, I've got no problem buying them in different colours/washes. They last a long time and are really comfortable too. I wish they made more clothing, not just jeans! (A friend of mine says they also make shirts! I'm looking forward to finding them!)
Also, thanks for the tips on GooGone - I'm going to try that!
I am a brain cancer survivor fighting my way out of medical debt. Awesome information.
Hi,
Things to add to the list: a portable waterbowl and treat pouch to carry a meal, a carabiner or some other kind of clip to attach to you for hands-free moments, a wallet-sized copy of the health or rabies certificate, vet phone number/emergency medical info, something in case of dehydration like tablets or k9 quencher. I travel with a guide dog every day, and all of the stuff fits in to her treat pouch. Also, you could just get a tiny USB drive and attach it to your dog's collar, so you have as much info as you want in addition to his/her ID tags.
I'm a Southern transplant to New England. I always wanted a pair of L.L. Bean Wicked Good Slippers, but at $50 I just didn't want to spend the money (even though I'm a die hard L.L. Bean fan and know their stuff is top quality).
My in-laws gave me $50 for my birthday one year so I decided to spend it on the wicked good slippers. I love these things! I'm sure I saved at least $50 on my heating bill the first month I owned them. I've now had them about five years and they are still as wonderful as the first day I wore them.
Yes; I have one of these seemingly dangerous Camrys and have had it for two years; never had any kind of problems with it. After disastrous, expensive repairs and overall bad experiences with a (new) Dodge and (new) Chevrolet, I went to a Corolla in about 1989, with no problems whatsoever. Unless disaster strikes personally, I won't change.
Thanks for a great article Andrea, and to everyone who has commented. I'm a type 2 and am seriously struggling to control my sugars and lose weight. My nurse told me the key is excerise, not necessarily to lose weight but to burn off calories and stimulate the insulin to do its job. I'm now back on metformin and gliclozide (which is a bummer as they make you gain weight)...but I'm going to try the green tea, honey and cinnamon tips and see if they help.
I am a store owner and am so tired of people promoting asking for discounts. I'm thisclose to putting up a "No Haggling" sign in my window. I place what I feel is a fair price on my products, both for myself and my customers, and I am getting SO tired of people coming in and haggling me to give them a discount. When I say I cannot, more often than not I'm told "So you're willing to lose a sale?" and "Oh, well, I guess I don't need it." People, there is a reason for the price tag - that is what the item is worth. If you want a discount, wait for a sale. I have often given a discount just to get the person out of my store because they're giving me a headache and you'd better believe they aren't going to get a discount out of me again (whereas we've given loyal customer discounts to people who shop with us on a regular basis). I find it very insulting. I have bills to pay, too and if I give everyone who walks in a discount then I'm not going to make any money. I'm seeing so many news stories/blogs encouraging people to go into the smaller boutiques and ask for discounts. Excuse me, but just because the owner is often on premises doesn't mean that we should be targeted. I have to pay not only my suppliers, but rent, utilities, sales tax, staff salaries, advertising, office supplies, etc. I have a number of sales throughout the year for my customers, and I'd appreciate people having respect for me as a business owner to not expect me to make less money just so you can save $10. Go shop at Walmart or ebay. Watch for sales. Leave store owners/managers alone.
I own 2 toyotas: '04 Sienna and '06 Prius. Very satisfied with both but very unhappy with toyota's apparently deliberate hiding of info and crash stats, their early insistence that the trouble was with the floor mats, etc. That has cost huge amounts of lost confidence in the brand, and deservedly so. I still hope to buy the Prius plug-in hybrid when it's available, unless another brand gets better reviews, and I considered buying toyota stock until the apparent cover-ups hit the fan and put future growth of the stock in doubt. In this case I don't plan to "buy low"...
I would love to try this recipe in my Zojirushi bread machine, but I don't know what you mean by "80 minute setting." Should it just bake for 80 minutes? No rising time? The Gluten-Free Cooking School site is no clearer.
You can use coke as fuel for you cellphone:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/10/coke-powered-cellphone-am_n_416...
Deflation is only devastating under certain circumstances. It tends to crush people with debts (while benefiting people with cash assets), so under circumstances where many people are deeply indebted, it is hard on many people.
In a low-debt environment, it's pretty harmless.
It does have a couple of good effects. One, of course, is to discourage excess debt. We'd be a lot better off now if all through the 1990s and 2000s people had thought that deflation was a real possibility. The other is that, if we expect the average inflation rate to be zero (because we expect any inflation will be reversed with a corresponding deflation), interest rates can be very low, allowing for very long term planning. (I talk about how very low interest rates enable very long-term planning in my post How low interest rates might save the world.)
Granted we have very low interest rates now, but it's a temporary thing that everyone knows will disappear, so it doesn't encourage long-term planning.
Of course, the computer is my top one! At 40, I can easily remember what it was like not to have this incredible tool of information, deals (love to save), and a way to stay connected.
My second choice is the GPS! Love, love, love that voice that tells me how to get to places even where there is construction; I love not being lost!
My daughter loves the same Sally Hansen nail polish you wrote about - on that same note - the Neutrogena acne system that comes with the wash, day lotion, and night lotion is amazing. It is much better than the prescription that my daughter received from the dermatologist (was way too drying). The day lotion also has sunscreen and a non greasy feel. Great product that truly works!
I have a jar opening... thingy, that I can't live without. Don't know if it has an official name, but it's metal with plastic handles and different sized, ridged metal rings. I can fit it to anything from a pop bottle lid to the lid of a large jar. It's a lifesaver!