I am seeking feedback on the fairness of a new tardiness policy I instituted at my company. I own an IT services firm that also has a retail storefront (the more traditional computer repair shop model). We have had a situation with chronic tardiness, to the point where on a recent Saturday, at three minutes before opening, I was the only one there (whereas four people were scheduled that day). I have now instituted what I believed to be a fair and generous policy, and some don't like it as they say it is too strict. Please read on for the policy... [more inside]
posted by titans13 on Nov 28, 2009 - 48 answers

Where can I learn about accounting and small business administration? [more inside]
posted by Tarumba on Nov 26, 2009 - 6 answers

What is the website that allows you to set a startup amount for a web -based project and allows people to invest in such a way that you won't start the business until you have sufficiently met your startup amount. I tried a bunch of google searches and couldn't come up with it. Hard to find the right keywords to search.
posted by jeffreyclong on Nov 25, 2009 - 4 answers

I have tentatively given my freelance editing and design business the name Words Like Notes. What do you think of it? [more inside]
posted by jlhopes on Nov 25, 2009 - 21 answers

My boss is going to end a contract with one customer, although the customer would want to go on using our services. Boss's decision is because the service in question is not profitable enough anymore. I'm in charge of this contract and like the customer ie. all the people there who I work with. I think the feeling is mutual. These people also have some expertise and contacts I would like to maybe use some day. So how do I come out of this still being (business-) friends with them?
posted by gakiko on Nov 25, 2009 - 11 answers

I need to take two exams in order to continue to compete for a job I have applied for. I very much want and need this job, or something like it (I am truly desperate!) The tests take place in about a week. The email that arrived from the HR person states that the exams I need passing scores on are: [more inside]
posted by bebrave! on Nov 24, 2009 - 16 answers

Where can I find a business partner for a start-up? [more inside]
posted by yoyo_nyc on Nov 24, 2009 - 3 answers

Are there any reasonably-priced, reliable databases of US businesses that allow users to store, edit, and retransmit that data? [more inside]
posted by SemiSophos on Nov 23, 2009 - 1 answer

What is that I'm doing? Tag my business. [more inside]
posted by b33j on Nov 20, 2009 - 14 answers

How does the tech person in a business partnership avoid getting screwed over by the business person? [more inside]
posted by giggleknickers on Nov 15, 2009 - 13 answers

Help me find a good credit union or small bank around Milwaukee, WI. [more inside]
posted by thebestsophist on Nov 13, 2009 - 8 answers

What's the exact meaning of one company "acquiring all of the issued share capital" of another? [more inside]
posted by molybdenum on Nov 11, 2009 - 6 answers

Why is my energy company asking me to cut back on energy use? The grocery store doesn't try to get me to buy less food. The gas station doesn't try to help me get better mileage. [more inside]
posted by ecorrocio on Nov 11, 2009 - 35 answers

What metrics are sales professionals guided by? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 10, 2009 - 6 answers

Where can I find simple, yet professional and elegant web template/ Wordpress theme for cleaning business? [more inside]
posted by zeikka on Nov 8, 2009 - 3 answers

I've owned a cellphone for ages, and have largely remained ignorant of the business workings. Is there a crash course on cellular markets? [more inside]
posted by pwnguin on Nov 6, 2009 - 6 answers

Businessjargon filter: 'green field' situation vs 'brown field' situation - what do these terms mean in a business context?
posted by jennyhead on Nov 6, 2009 - 9 answers

I am trying to come up with names of prominent business leaders through history who took major steps forward on environmental stewardship/protection. These should be industry titans who went against the grain in emphasizing environmentalism as part of their business model. Extra points if the person saw unexpected or un-predicted success as a result of their decision to "go green."
posted by carrolldamian on Nov 6, 2009 - 9 answers

Last year I got most of my income for working from home in the state of Virginia. I did work for a company that is not owned by me and was located in another town in Virginia. I got a 1099 as an individual from the company for the work that I did. This work was all conducted by phone and email, no one came to my home. I recently got a letter in the mail from the City of Winchester, VA saying that I did not register as a business in the city and that I needed to pay back licensing fees. I know you're not my lawyer, but do I have to do this?
posted by jefeweiss on Nov 6, 2009 - 13 answers

Please recommend conferences dealing with leadership, management, and the like that aren't buzzword-tastic snoozefests. If they exist. [more inside]
posted by hijinx on Nov 5, 2009 - 3 answers

How to setup a business partnership in an old-school brick-and-mortar manufacturing business between four friends - two of whom will be the major investors (say A and B), one guy is partial investor who will work full time but is new to this business and doing business in general (C ie: me), and the last guy is the one (D) with the entire business knowledge. He is in the field for past 7 years, already running a profitable trading shop (buying in Saudi, selling in India) in this field and is interested in expanding by setting up 'our own' manufacturing facility in Saudi. [more inside]
posted by forwebsites on Nov 4, 2009 - 10 answers

I am thinking about starting a landscaping business. I don't really have direct experience in the field. Looking for resources. [more inside]
posted by Sentus on Nov 4, 2009 - 10 answers

What are some good things to consider when starting out as a professional photographer? [more inside]
posted by ghostpony on Nov 4, 2009 - 24 answers

I'm trying to figure out how to create a XML / RSS feed of my Amazon web store products so I can update to Google Merchant. There doesn't seem to be many functions / plug-ins offered by AWS and their help isn't very helpful. I've done a fair amount of searching and have come up empty handed. Would anyone have an idea how I might go about creating this feed?
posted by Aegean on Oct 30, 2009 - 0 answers

Taking on the juggernaut that is Ebay? [more inside]
posted by pakoothefakoo on Oct 30, 2009 - 13 answers

Help me find the get rid of my backpack! [more inside]
posted by ouchitburns on Oct 26, 2009 - 29 answers

Anybody has experience selling raw data? [more inside]
posted by raghuram on Oct 24, 2009 - 10 answers

CPSIA - Help me get around this legislation so I can be in business again. [more inside]
posted by jaynedanger on Oct 23, 2009 - 15 answers

I'd like to find out what the climate is like in Georgia -- the country, not the state -- for an American business looking to expand overseas. But when I Google for it, I keep getting results for the state! [more inside]
posted by wandering steve on Oct 22, 2009 - 21 answers

What happens to the owners when a small business fails? [more inside]
posted by eschatfische on Oct 20, 2009 - 14 answers

I need help helping my wife figure out what to do with her life. I am a very lucky person who has known for a long time that I wanted to be an engineer. I love math and science, and truthfully I can think of lots of jobs that would probably satisfy me. However, I recognize that I am in the minority in this position, and my wife, sadly, falls into the other group. She has been feeling particularly down about finding her purpose for quite a while now, and I need to figure out how to help her. Read on for the details! [more inside]
posted by RobotNinja on Oct 18, 2009 - 14 answers

I'm launching a digital record label this month. I live in Canada on an unrestricted work permit. I'm still a US citizen. Can I incorporate? Should I incorporate? Where? [more inside]
posted by setanor on Oct 15, 2009 - 3 answers

My buddy just landed $100k and we both want to start a business...Any recession-proof business startup suggestions? [more inside]
posted by schindyguy on Oct 14, 2009 - 25 answers

How do I start marketing a dentist? [more inside]
posted by beingresourceful on Oct 13, 2009 - 14 answers

I want to make my own t-shirts. How can I do my own personal version of Cafepress, Zazzle, etc.? [more inside]
posted by hellbient on Oct 12, 2009 - 13 answers

A friend of mine wants to open a business, and is looking for information on business loans or grants specifically for women. [more inside]
posted by firei on Oct 10, 2009 - 3 answers

Pros & Cons of bringing web development in-house? [more inside]
posted by MeatLightning on Oct 9, 2009 - 9 answers

Help-me-write-my-book-filter: Character is the current owner of a small (let's say it can hold 50 people at absolute maximum capacity, no food), family owned bar in a blue-collar but gentrifying neighborhood of a major U.S. city. What's their world like? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 8, 2009 - 6 answers

I need an SBA loan yesterday. My business is in startup mode, I'm already fielding new orders, but I need startup capital to get this thing off the ground. [more inside]
posted by ohyouknow on Oct 8, 2009 - 10 answers

The A-B-C's of corporate collateral writing: I'm a graphic designer. How do I communicate to my client that willy-nilly editing procedures, and last minute proof-stage rewrites inevitably makes projects run to the last minute? Is there a "standard" procedure for writing/editing? [more inside]
posted by ecorrocio on Oct 7, 2009 - 8 answers

Is co-working best for us? [more inside]
posted by christopherbdnk on Oct 5, 2009 - 2 answers

My business partner is driving me crazy - I always and constantly have negative thoughts about him. How do I resolve this? [more inside]
posted by ChabonJabon on Oct 5, 2009 - 11 answers

Do online companies need 800 numbers if most of their sales are online from their website?
posted by ckohrman on Oct 2, 2009 - 13 answers

I'm thinking about cashing out my 401k to help start a business. I know I will pay a penalty, and that what I take out will be taxable income, but I expect my business to post a loss the first year that would offset most of (if not all) of this income. Would I still have to pay taxes on all of the 401k money? [more inside]
posted by wezelboy on Oct 1, 2009 - 8 answers

Is my university going to sue me? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 1, 2009 - 28 answers

My company's management is driving us into the ground with their poor project ideas, and morale is really low. How do I get them to see what they're doing and hopefully make changes? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 28, 2009 - 13 answers

Where can I find professional advice on the business possibilities for an open source software project? Is there a good location to ask a very specific question and get an experts advice. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 26, 2009 - 4 answers

I'm thinking of starting a webcomic. I have an idea, and I think I have some good drawing and writing skills. But I also have many questions and I'm hoping experienced web cartoonists might be able to offer some insight. [more inside]
posted by Effigy2000 on Sep 23, 2009 - 12 answers

Help me learn about the clothing consignment business. [more inside]
posted by mintchip on Sep 21, 2009 - 1 answer

I'm about to purchase a business, but the profit on the tax return is a lot lower than the owner's internal financials. How can I make them rectify this discrepancy to my satisfaction? After all, I'm not into the whole "going bankrupt" thing. [more inside]
posted by CommonSense on Sep 21, 2009 - 9 answers