All small business owners and entrepreneurs have one thing in common: they had a great idea and the passion to pursue the challenge of starting a business. There are many hurdles to overcome when building a business to ensure its success. What keeps someone else from stealing your idea, and capitalizing on it? Are you aware of the new law, passed in 2011, that grants a patent to the first person that creates an invention, rather than the person with the idea? There are many misconceptions about protecting intellectual property, and this guide will help you move in the right direction toward protecting your intellectual assets.
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Sep 25, 2014
As a business owner, dealing with legal issues is often a distraction from your mission. It can be expensive in both dollar costs and time away from what you do best. While you must continue to run your business, it is essential that you remain involved in the legal process. Sending the file to the attorney and then forgetting about it (or emotionally refusing to deal with it) will often lead to more expense and stress later down the road. Perhaps these general thoughts will help you become the effective client your lawyer and your business need. Every matter is different, so discuss these thoughts with your attorney to determine if they are helpful. Based upon many years of experience, I believe they will be.
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Sep 25, 2014
David Mostue, President of Dunbar Farms, based in Medford, Oregon and has been a NASE member since 2013. He joined the NASE during a Research and Development phase of the business and has taken advantage of numerous NASE benefits. Dunbar Farms began as a peach farm and after four generations with the family farm, now serves as the brand for the farms produce, bread, grains, flour, dry beans, polenta, flowers and much more.
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Sep 25, 2014
The National Association for the Self-Employed enthusiastically supports legislation introduced by U.S. Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship chair, Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), that moves to remove barriers that limit access to tools and information crucial for a micro-business to flourish into a small business. From access to capital and securing contracts to simply getting sound advice, these barriers prevent women small business owners from starting, growing and saving. Everyone knows without the startup funds or the ability to get extra help with a loan, a small business owner risks failure.
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Sep 25, 2014
We’ve seen lots of headlines recently about women small business owners, including two senators seeking to boost opportunities, and women’s superior efforts in crowdfunding. Here’s a look at those developments.
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Aug 29, 2014
Networking is more than just a way to accrue new clients. It is also a valuable way to gain access to mentors, valuable business knowledge, and entrepreneurial communities. Many professional associations also offer exclusive online resources and discounted publications, as well as annual or semi-annual events and conferences. In some cases membership in a professional association or industry can even carry political clout. Large national organizations often have committees to track federal and state legislative developments that could have an impact on their specific business or industry, and these organizations very often have a considerable political presence and substantial political influence. The bottom line is that associations in your market space can be rich networking opportunities and can help you to grow your business. Here is what you need to know about evaluating and leveraging associations in order to hone your networking skills.
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Aug 28, 2014
Q: My LLC business is finally kicking into high gear and things are going really well. Is there a ballpark figure of income (gross or net?) where it becomes more beneficial to reduce taxes to begin filing as a corporation instead?
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Aug 28, 2014
Seneca Brookins, founder of Jasudo, based in Chicago, Illinois, and has been a NASE member since 2013. His primary reasons for joining the NASE were meeting other entrepreneurs to build friendships and business relationships and to have a support network to help stay motivated and learn from. Seneca’s company was founded on a simple idea; create success stories through information technology.
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Aug 28, 2014
On July 22nd, two federal appeals courts handed down conflicting rulings on the legality of premium assistance (tax subsidy) being provided to individuals/families participating in federally facilitated exchanges. The two courts, Washington, D.C. and Virginia, offered their contradicting rulings just hours apart, leading many to believe that the Supreme Court will have to sort out the issue during the court’s next session.
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Aug 28, 2014
The Council for Affordable Health Coverage today released an estimate by Avalere Health LLC showing that legislation to permit a new, less expensive tier of insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act would lead to an additional 350,000 Americans keeping their employer sponsored health insurance in 2016. Because fewer people would access exchange subsidies, taxpayers would spend $5.8 billion less, while employers and individuals would pay $5.5 billion less in penalties.
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Aug 18, 2014