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| __________________ |
| ______________________________________________________________________________ |
| Useful Links! |
http://www.benefitnews.com/ This website offers the latest on benefit news, including but not limited to: Webcasts, new legislation, Health, Dental, Disability, Vision, Archives, and assorted resources. http://benefitslink.com/index.html This website also offers viewers the opportunity to email their own questions for a response. The site also offers recent Congressional activities of the past 48 hours (Benefits Buzz), i.e. testimonies concerning all aspects of Health Care and Pension legislation, local and national issues such as: medical mal-practice insurance, CDHP’s, Association Health Plans (AHP’s), etc. http://www.dol.gov/index.htm This website has detailed information regarding all regulations and compliance for all areas of concern for small business owners and employee benefit plans including: health, life, disability benefits, retirement plans and other useful information for the employer community such as: ERISA, Defined Benefit, Defined Contribution, Pensions, Profit-Sharing, 401(k), 403(b), SEP’s, ESOP’s, etc. |
| No! It's not sales coaching with a side order of fries! It's Deb Bixler.com Deb |
| ________________ |
___________________
The Business Link
2008 Tax Return!
The tax season is in full
force and it's common to
let your tax documents pile
up while you sit back and
think about where to start.
- If you are one of the
millions of taxpayers who
puts doing your taxes on
the back burner, rule No. 1
is, don't panic. Your next
steps should be to locate all
of your tax documents and
gathering them in a secure
location. Then you may
want to consider using a
professional CPA.
- Every year, brings new
changes in tax law that may
affect your tax liability.
Here are some important
effect in 2008.
- Economic stimulus
payment: Any economic
stimulus payment you
received is not taxable but
reduces your recovery
rebate credit.
- Recovery rebate credit. If
you did not receive the full
economic stimulus
payment, you may be able
to claim the recovery
rebate credit.
- First-time homebuyer
credit. If you bought your
main home after April 8,
2008, and are a first-time
homebuyer, you may be
able to claim this credit.
- Standard mileage rates
increased. For 2008, the
standard mileage rate for
the cost of operating your
car for business use is 50.5
cents per mile (58.5 cents
per mile after June 30,
2008).
- Capital gains rate reduced:
the 5 percent capital gain
tax rate is reduced to zero.
- Limits on itemized
deductions. Some of your
itemized deductions may be
limited if your adjusted
gross income is more than
$159,950 ($79,975 if you
are married filing
separately).
- Alternative minimum tax
(AMT) exemption amount
increased. The AMT
exemption amount is
increased to $46,200
($69,950 if married filing
jointly or a qualifying widow
or widower; $34,975 if
married filing separately).
- IRA deduction increased.
If you and your spouse are
filing jointly, each of you
may be able to deduct an
IRA contribution of up to
$5,000 ($6,000 if age 50 or
older at the end of 2008).
- Earned income credit
(EIC). The maximum
amount of income you can
earn and still get EIC
increased. The amount
depends on your filing
status and number of
children. The maximum
amount of investment
income you can have and
still be eligible for the credit
increased to $2,950.
If you need more
information, help or advice?
Visit our "free stuff" page,
or just give us a call!
The tax season is in full
force and it's common to
let your tax documents pile
up while you sit back and
think about where to start.
- If you are one of the
millions of taxpayers who
puts doing your taxes on
the back burner, rule No. 1
is, don't panic. Your next
steps should be to locate all
of your tax documents and
gathering them in a secure
location. Then you may
want to consider using a
professional CPA.
- Every year, brings new
changes in tax law that may
affect your tax liability.
Here are some important
effect in 2008.
- Economic stimulus
payment: Any economic
stimulus payment you
received is not taxable but
reduces your recovery
rebate credit.
- Recovery rebate credit. If
you did not receive the full
economic stimulus
payment, you may be able
to claim the recovery
rebate credit.
- First-time homebuyer
credit. If you bought your
main home after April 8,
2008, and are a first-time
homebuyer, you may be
able to claim this credit.
- Standard mileage rates
increased. For 2008, the
standard mileage rate for
the cost of operating your
car for business use is 50.5
cents per mile (58.5 cents
per mile after June 30,
2008).
- Capital gains rate reduced:
the 5 percent capital gain
tax rate is reduced to zero.
- Limits on itemized
deductions. Some of your
itemized deductions may be
limited if your adjusted
gross income is more than
$159,950 ($79,975 if you
are married filing
separately).
- Alternative minimum tax
(AMT) exemption amount
increased. The AMT
exemption amount is
increased to $46,200
($69,950 if married filing
jointly or a qualifying widow
or widower; $34,975 if
married filing separately).
- IRA deduction increased.
If you and your spouse are
filing jointly, each of you
may be able to deduct an
IRA contribution of up to
$5,000 ($6,000 if age 50 or
older at the end of 2008).
- Earned income credit
(EIC). The maximum
amount of income you can
earn and still get EIC
increased. The amount
depends on your filing
status and number of
children. The maximum
amount of investment
income you can have and
still be eligible for the credit
increased to $2,950.
If you need more
information, help or advice?
Visit our "free stuff" page,
or just give us a call!
| ___________________________________________________________________________ |
| The economic downturn might make raising capital seem more difficult, but smart entrepreneurs can still find money to get their projects off the ground. If companies have liquidity in their stock, they can use their stock as collateral for loans. "Insiders, non-affiliates and common shareholders pledge their stock as collateral for a stock loan and then loan the money to the public company," explains Michael N. Brette, CEO of MB Private Equity, LLC, a company that provides direct funds to businesses. "The shareholders can receive more equity, options and warrants from the company in exchange for the capital. This is better than private investment in public equity, or PIPE financing, because it does not require any registration statement to be filed. You can save a lot of money right there," says Brette. Stock loans offer investors several other advantages. First, they prevent stock from entering the market. When a business floods the market with stock in order to raise capital, it also dilutes the value of its stock. With stock loans, businesses can raise the cash they need to carry out basic operations without devaluing their stock. |
Small Business . News . Information . Resources
| ____________ |
"Deb's Desk" |
| ______________________________________________________________________________ |
| Companies Get Creative to Raise Money In Slow Economy! |
| Tips for Small Businesses Looking for Payroll Providers! |
| Outsourcing payroll allows small-business owners to concentrate on their day-to-day operations. |
Barter Networks Save Small Businesses!
In 1998, Stan Thomas thought his truck-side marketing company wasn't going
to survive. His business, which uses a special adhesive to fix vinyl ads to the
sides and backs of trucks, looked deep into debt. Cutting payroll and
expenses didn't help - joining a barter network did.
A savvy business owner, Thomas used barter, a cashless system of
exchanging goods and services, to boost his business. "I took barter from a
casual asset to an integral part of my business," says Thomas, "and it did
save the company from bankruptcy." Today, Magellan Transit Media
(www.Magellan-tsa.com) is a leader in its market.
Barter, the world's oldest economic system, isn't some antiquated throwback,
but a thriving solution to today's economic troubles. Modern companies pay
commission fees to join sophisticated business-to-business networks. They
receive trade credit based on the dollar value of their products, then use their
trade credits to "purchase" goods and services from other companies.
Business owners don't have to use cash, so they can reduce costs and avoid
debt while still supplying their companies.
Thomas joined a corporate barter network called NTA Trade
(www.ntatrade.com), the corporate barter division of International Monetary
Systems (IMS). IMS is the largest publicly traded barter company in North
America. He opened a barter account with $50,000 in credit, studied the other
companies in the barter network, and bought office supplies, cameras,
computers and travel certificates with his trade dollars. Today, Thomas uses
barter to cover $500,000 in advertising, airfare, hotel stays and other
expenses each year. While other companies slash advertising expenses in
times of economic trouble, Thomas' company still operates normally.
Learning how to barter well in various business situations takes time and
patience. "Barter is not a perfect world," says Thomas. "But we think barter all
the time. When I talk to people about barter, I say, 'If you can spend your
barter, be happy. If not, spend your cash.' Barter is another form of currency,
and I always try to trade value for value."
to survive. His business, which uses a special adhesive to fix vinyl ads to the
sides and backs of trucks, looked deep into debt. Cutting payroll and
expenses didn't help - joining a barter network did.
A savvy business owner, Thomas used barter, a cashless system of
exchanging goods and services, to boost his business. "I took barter from a
casual asset to an integral part of my business," says Thomas, "and it did
save the company from bankruptcy." Today, Magellan Transit Media
(www.Magellan-tsa.com) is a leader in its market.
Barter, the world's oldest economic system, isn't some antiquated throwback,
but a thriving solution to today's economic troubles. Modern companies pay
commission fees to join sophisticated business-to-business networks. They
receive trade credit based on the dollar value of their products, then use their
trade credits to "purchase" goods and services from other companies.
Business owners don't have to use cash, so they can reduce costs and avoid
debt while still supplying their companies.
Thomas joined a corporate barter network called NTA Trade
(www.ntatrade.com), the corporate barter division of International Monetary
Systems (IMS). IMS is the largest publicly traded barter company in North
America. He opened a barter account with $50,000 in credit, studied the other
companies in the barter network, and bought office supplies, cameras,
computers and travel certificates with his trade dollars. Today, Thomas uses
barter to cover $500,000 in advertising, airfare, hotel stays and other
expenses each year. While other companies slash advertising expenses in
times of economic trouble, Thomas' company still operates normally.
Learning how to barter well in various business situations takes time and
patience. "Barter is not a perfect world," says Thomas. "But we think barter all
the time. When I talk to people about barter, I say, 'If you can spend your
barter, be happy. If not, spend your cash.' Barter is another form of currency,
and I always try to trade value for value."
| Employee Benefits Accounting Sales Marketing Staffing |
IN: Constant Contact Archive Homepage link -->
| TRUSTED RESPECTED |
Second, stock loans eliminate margin calls. Should the stock go down in value after it is loaned, shareholders can walk
something that would be impossible if the stock were sold.
Stock loans are not reportable events. The loan-to-value ratio can be 50 percent to 85 percent. There are no credit
checks, no tax returns and no personal guarantees. Stock loans can be used to buy businesses, pay down personal or
corporate debts or make investments.
something that would be impossible if the stock were sold.
Stock loans are not reportable events. The loan-to-value ratio can be 50 percent to 85 percent. There are no credit
checks, no tax returns and no personal guarantees. Stock loans can be used to buy businesses, pay down personal or
corporate debts or make investments.
| As the year turns, small-business owners will start reviewing their past actions and planning for the future. But one big issue -; payroll -; can prove to be a problem every year. Many businesses find themselves in trouble with the IRS, not because they're dishonest, but because they miscalculate numbers or miss due dates. The government's financial penalties can be unwelcome blows to small businesses. Even if a business employs only one worker, small-business owners can find federal and state employment forms complex and demanding. Some small-business owners might believe that they can save time and money by performing their own payroll calculations, but it's usually in businesses' best interest to hire outside payroll service providers. Small-business owners need to concentrate the bulk of their time and attention on making their business successful. Paychex, Inc., a national leader in the payroll and human resource industry, offers these tips to small-business owners looking for a reliable payroll-processing service: - Insist on personal service. For best results, you should be talking with the same payroll representative each pay period. That same person should handle any questions or concerns about your service. |
- Look for national payroll-processing companies. National payroll service providers are bonded and insured, so any
liability for inaccuracy or fraud will not affect your business.
- In the event of a natural disaster or other calamity, national providers often have multiple backup systems to
preserve data and deliver payroll packages on time. Paychex employs a rigorous backup plan to ensure continuity for
clients across the country. Moreover, national providers offer the best confidentiality and security, and payroll deposits
are taken care of electronically.
- Look for payroll service providers that also offer human resource services. Integrated HR services might include
401(k) administration, workers' compensation insurance administration and payment services, health benefits and
other employee benefits such as flexible spending accounts and bonuses or other compensation paid on debit cards.
"Small-business owners can realize a new level of productivity and convenience when they choose to outsource their
payroll function," said Walter Turek, senior vice president, sales and marketing for Paychex. "Outsourcing ensures
accuracy, timeliness and peace of mind, allowing business owners to focus on growing revenue, instead of worrying
about administrative burdens."
liability for inaccuracy or fraud will not affect your business.
- In the event of a natural disaster or other calamity, national providers often have multiple backup systems to
preserve data and deliver payroll packages on time. Paychex employs a rigorous backup plan to ensure continuity for
clients across the country. Moreover, national providers offer the best confidentiality and security, and payroll deposits
are taken care of electronically.
- Look for payroll service providers that also offer human resource services. Integrated HR services might include
401(k) administration, workers' compensation insurance administration and payment services, health benefits and
other employee benefits such as flexible spending accounts and bonuses or other compensation paid on debit cards.
"Small-business owners can realize a new level of productivity and convenience when they choose to outsource their
payroll function," said Walter Turek, senior vice president, sales and marketing for Paychex. "Outsourcing ensures
accuracy, timeliness and peace of mind, allowing business owners to focus on growing revenue, instead of worrying
about administrative burdens."
Stock loans are not reportable events and do not feature margin calls, credit checks or personal guarantees.
Businesses use barter networks to work around reduced budgets.
| How Some Small Businesses - |
| Are Making Deals And - |
| Growing In This Economy! |
| ________________ |
| Debra L. Roberts, CPA, CRC VP of TLR Business Solutions |
A Half a Dozen
Questions That May
Increase Your Tax
Refund!
Questions That May
Increase Your Tax
Refund!
| 1. Did you have children or get married/divorced in 2008? 2. Did you buy/sale a home or relocate last year? 3. Did you donate to any charities or a church in 2008? 4. Did you contribute to a retirement fund? 5. Did you change jobs or have a lower income? 6. Did you start or buy a business in 2008? |
| ________________ |
| ________________ |
| ________________ |
| Consultants |
| Friends |
| Partners |
TRUSTED
| LOYAL |
| RESPECTED |
| If So, I'll Stan And Applaud! |
| Is There Such A Thing As An Affordable Vacation These Days? |
| of ways to get creative and have a fun, without going broke. - Whether you want a short getaway or an extended vacation, there's a cruise ship going where you want, and when you want to go. There are so many places to discover. |