WELCOME

Summer: What’s Hot and What’s Not

Our article A Summer of Learning can help you take advantage of what some business owners consider “downtime.” For whatever reason, summer seems to be the season to catch up on filing, calling customers who seem to be avoiding us and, as the article below suggests, a time for learning.

In addition to the usual summer downtime, this year we’re all facing a gas price dilemma that’s sure to put the kibosh on discretionary spending. For instance, consumers are expected to take fewer shopping trips and vacations. Also, more meals at home and more intense discount shopping are predicted. Not very good news for business owners who depend on these customers.

According to the Energy Information Administration, gas prices will likely stay above $3 until the end of the summer. So, if you’re a business owner who typically looks for the half-full glass of water, consider the prospects of catching up on the tasks you’ve been putting off and by fall, you’ll be organized, educated and ready to cash in on all your summer planning.

Libby Beatty, Chair
MBA Board of Directors

NEWSWORTHY

New Legislation Eases Burden on Husband/Wife Businesses

Legislation signed last week simplifies reporting for husband and wife owned businesses.

The new law, effective for tax years beginning after Dec. 31, 2006, allows a husband and wife who file a joint return to elect to report income or losses in proportion to their interest in the business and not as a partnership.

The husband and wife must be the sole owners of the business and both spouses must materially participate in the business to make this election.

See page 10 of the technical explanation of the Small Business and Work Opportunity Tax Act Of 2007 for more information on the Section 8215, Family Business Tax Simplification.

A Summer of Learning:
Take Advantage of Free Online Classes for Small Biz

Use summer downtime to learn a new skill (or teach a new skill to an employee) to help your business. Hewlett Packard offers free classes specifically for small and home-based businesses through their on-line HP Learning Center.

Self-paced classes can teach you how to use specific computer software; develop marketing campaigns or acquire general business skills. Instructors range from award-winning authors, leaders in technology and other business professionals.

Class lessons are available 24/7 until the class end date leaving you lots of freedom for "creating" a class schedule to suit your needs. The summer session "officially" started last week. But since classes are timeless, you can still enroll and not miss a thing.

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MARKETING

Sell Your Sizzle This Summer

Take advantage of the season and make summer your time to sell.

The months of June, July and August are great times to begin a campaign to get your company some press and perfect a press release program. The summer months which are associated with vacations and fun represent the ideal opportunity to send reporters releases ranging from the lighter side of business to entertainment-related pieces.

Pick a current event and use it to highlight your business' involvement. Try the World Cup for example. Sporting goods stores obviously take notice, but restaurants and bars should also use the opportunity to advertise TV viewings with accompanied promotions.

What's in Store for Your Business?

Here are some quick and more importantly easy-to-do ideas to bring new customers to your door:

Get Personal: By distributing your business card around town to places that you do business with, such as your dry cleaner, favorite restaurants and even your mechanic you can put your personal contacts to work for your company.

Create a Mailing List: Mailing lists are a great way to stay in touch with current clients. Ask for addresses or e-mails so you can send them promotions and information to keep them in the loop.

YOUR FINANCES

Licensed to Bill

Since as an entrepreneur you're always on the go, there's a new tool to make licensing time-efficient and easy. Business Licenses is a New York based company that gives users access to local, federal and state licenses and permit applications.

With a database of 28,000 legal documents you can fill out forms, then print and mail them or submit them online. Users pay $19.99 to download an application and an additional $19.99 for supplemental documents. For $49.99 users can also file and archive their licenses online.

Eco-Conscious Business Is Good for the Bottom Line

Environmental sustainability is not just great for the planet; it can be great for the workplace. Owner and founder of Clif Bar & Co., Gary Erickson, has "five aspirations" in his business: sustaining our business, sustaining our brands, sustaining our people, sustaining our community and sustaining the planet. Before decisions are made at Clif Bar all aspects of the five aspirations are considered.

But using eco-friendly business practices can help almost any company. By using and promoting your environmentally-conscious practices you may be able to gain publicity for your efforts at marrying business and conservation. This can bolster your brand and your business by attracting more environmentally-savvy customers.

No matter how you look at it, though, success really is all about sustainability.

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HUMAN RESOURCES

Getting Peak Performance from Employees

The name of the game is change. If you're hoping to get more out of your work-force let them know that new ways of thinking lead to new forms of success. Here are methods for rousing and restructuring your workforce.

Reconsider your company vision. Create a message of action using the future to help clarify the present and make it accessible to everyone - no matter their rank or schedule.

Devote more time to managing your people. By scheduling regular staff meetings you can anticipate future problems and gain broader understanding of your company's human resource issues.

Ask every employee what they think. Performance reviews conducted by peers can help initiate change. You can also poll employees to see if management as well as your company are working efficiently.

Supporting Our Troops on the Job Front

Although the war continues overseas, American employers are faced with returning vets needing their old jobs. According to the federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act employers must rehire vets to their previous position.

If the position is no longer available a statute known as the "escalator provision" requires the employer to promote the vet to a more senior position, assuming the employee is capable of performing the required tasks. If the vet is injured and unable to perform their old duties, the employer must invent or find a suitable position for them.

By law you can decline to take back the injured employee but they can appeal, and that makes an already touchy situation more sensitive.

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IT

How to Increase Website Traffic

Driving traffic to your company's website is not all about glitz and glamour. It's also about knowing your customers and giving them what they want. Typical point-of-sale sites function solely to sell a company's products, but many web surfers are looking for information.

Make your site stands out by providing educational pages, links, videos and newsletters. Also consider allowing visitors to your website to post feedback to voice their opinions, ask questions and make suggestions. This will leave you with invaluable market feedback and your visitors with a lasting impression.

Update Your Website…
and Do It for Free (or at Least Inexpensively)

High-tech website software is now available for almost anyone to use, and some of it is free. Many forms of software are operated from open-source companies who can get your web page up-to-date and on the cutting-edge.

Warning: You'll probably need a techie to get you started. If your staff is short on techies then check out your MBA directory or our online member marketplace to find a fellow member who can help.

Yahoo Design Pattern Library - Cost: Free
Yahoo offers a library of its expertly designed web add-ons such as the Hover Invitation. A Hover Invitation is the text bubble you commonly get when moving your cursor over a link on a web page.

Six Apart TypePad Business Class - Cost: $89.95 per blog per month
This blog is hosted by Six Apart but run through your company's web domain so it's integrated into your website.

Tune Up or Trade Up: Who to Ask About the Next Step in Your Computer's Life…

It can be hard to know how to defend and debug your computer with all the available technology; here are a few places to help get quick answers to your questions.

Tech Support Forum: This forum is viewed by many technically-informed surfers, so pose your question and see what kind of answers you get.

PC Tools Guides for Windows: This site is run by PC Tools and contains forums and resources for answering your questions about tuning up your PC.

Spywareinfo: Here you can find volunteers to help guide you in freeing up system memory by removing spyware and other superfluous extras slowing your system down.

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MBA EVENTS OF INTEREST

Turn Your Business Card
into Your Best Marketing Tool

You hand out more business cards than any other piece of paper that promotes your business. But is your card bringing in business or is it a template from a software box that's just listing your company's contact information?

By making some simple changes you can turn your business card into a billboard and increase your sales. (And you don’t have to be a graphic designer to do it.)

Tuesday, June 19, 2007
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
MBA Conference Room
867 Sussex Blvd., Broomall, PA
Free for MBA members, $25 for non-members, includes credit towards membership (must be paid in advance)
Register by Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Click here to register

Presenter: Bernie Eisenfeld of EVERYONE WINS!!! has worked in marketing and advertising for more than 40 years. He has been with an advertising agency, worked in the advertising department of The Franklin Mint and, since 1970, has owned his own marketing agency.

Ten Ways to Improve Collections and Cash Flow

How is your cash flow? What is your average aging? Do you find yourself routinely accepting the idea that you must wait 90, 120 or even 180 days to get paid?

Attend this seminar to learn ten simple steps to: improve your invoicing process; train your staff to get better collection results; decide if (and when) you should call on third-party intervention.

If you bring a recent aging sheet and a calculator to the seminar, you will be able to use a simple formula to pinpoint exactly where your in-house collection procedures need a boost.

Thursday, July 19, 2007
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
MBA Conference Room
867 Sussex Blvd., Broomall, PA
Free for MBA members, $25 for non-members, includes credit towards membership (must be paid in advance)
Register by Friday, July 13, 2007
Click here to register

Presenter: Evelyn Apple has served local businesses since the mid-1980s, first with typesetting, printing and bulk mail services and currently as an A/R consultant with Transworld Systems Inc. She has also been an active member of the home education community for 23 years, providing classes and workshops for students and parents.

MBA Summer Networking Luau Is Back

Look for further event details and prizes to be announced soon!

Thursday, August 16, 2007
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Manayunk Brewery & Restaurant
4120 Main Street, Philadelphia, PA 19127

Join the luau update list!

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Unless specifically indicated, MBA does not intend mention of companies, products or services discussed in this publication to be construed to be endorsements. The information in this publication is offered as examples that may be useful to our small business readers. Please consult with an industry professional before implementing any of the tips or subscribing to any of the services described above.