Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with business

Donde est el paginas amarillo?

zadcat — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:45:44 -0800

Online business listings for the Dominican Republic and other Latin American countries? I am in a job where I sometimes have to verify the existence of businesses in these countries. Lots of websites present themselves as such but turn out to be link farms. I have a feeling I'm missing something, can anybody help?

(I can manage to read enough Spanish for this, so it's fine if they're in Spanish - in fact, they probably should be.)

Business Matters with Zo Sign Cancers

InterestedInKnowing — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:47:44 -0800

Astrology filter: How do I conduct business with a Cancer? I have a few friends who are Cancers and boy are they confusing! They don't seem too dependable but I need a project done with a couple of them. So, I'd like to know what's the best way to communicate with a Cancer when it comes down to business matters. Help!

Small business tax guide?

entropic — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 07:33:22 -0800

Can you point me to a simple online tax guide for small businesses? I'm looking for a simple tax guide for a small business owner - ideally something that tells me what forms I need to fill out based on our status (LLC filing as a partnership), what deadlines I need to be aware of, how to document various expenses (i.e. reimbursing myself for startup expenses), etc. I know you ANAA, ANAL, etc. Also, any recommendations for a book are welcome. Right now I'm considering JK Lasser's Small Business Taxes 2010.

How can I tell how much my pre-IPO stock options might be worth?

cman — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:34:43 -0800

How can I tell how much my pre-IPO stock options might be worth? I have a few bits of data: I know the exercise price of the options now and a couple years ago. I also know roughly how much money has been invested by VC's in the company. And I can make estimates as to how much the company will be worth in 5 years.

Cool, easy tattoo parlor website template?

Gucky — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:56:47 -0800

What should I use to set up a simple, cool-looking small business site for a non-techy friend? I bought my cousin-in-law 2 domains for Christmas related to his tattoo parlor. (I searched his small business and found that they didn't have a web page and some other business took the most obvious way to spell their URL.)

I've only hand written a webpage in HTML before or grabbed one of Dreamhost's default WordPress themes.

I don't want to become the business's tech support.

I just want to hand him a paper with a URL and a user name and password and there will be an easily update-able web page with the business, address, link to Google directions and blog and/or Twitter feed and a gallery (possibly a Flickr pull in?)

Do I use Google Sites? Is there a theme that is suitable for a pretty tough tattoo crowd that's easy to use?

Do I host it on my own Dreamhost with a WordPress theme? Is there a WordPress theme you'd recommend?

Low effort. Cool enough. Doesn't require a regular outlay of cash or tech effort. Help?

Knock it off

Sophie1 — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:44:50 -0800

I have a creative block. Every time I start a creative pursuit, I accuse myself of a lack of originality and/or plagiarism and quit. I am a pretty decent craftsperson. I have two business ideas, one of which I would love to start but I have always found a way to talk myself out of business before I get my DBA. The self-talk usually goes like this:

Me: I would love to start business x! I'll look into how to do that!!!

EvilMe: There are so many other people doing business x and they've been doing it longer and are much better at it than I. Also, they're going to see what I've done and sue me for ripping off their ideas. I need to come up with a completely original idea of my own.

Me: Well, back to the drawing board then, because I'll never come up with anything in that area that's as creative as what others are doing.

I know this is just a bunch of negative self talk. I know that plenty of other people are making things that other people make. I can't seem to get out of this loop, though, where I am this person with integrity who would never do something that was even mildly hinting at plagiarism.

If I can convince myself that it's not a rip off, then I start the loop about how I'm not as good as others and should wait until I am better at it.

Writing it out, I sound like a psycho, but I could use a bit of help here.

Studies about marketing during a recession?

korej — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:34:45 -0800

Tonight someone mentioned to me a study that boiled down to the idea that businesses that keep up with their marketing in a recession tend to bounce back better, or survive better. This makes sense to me, but he doesn't have a cite for study, and I'm curious. Does anyone have an idea of where this might have been, or any other study along those lines?

Is there a reference / rule-of-thumb etc. that would show me when I need to display the “Incorporated” status of my business?

jseven — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:21:32 -0800

I have recently incorporated my business. My question is does anyone have experience regarding how I now need to refer to my business in print and online? To make matters a little more complicated I used my url in my company name to drive traffic to my website since my business will be primarily web focused. So my official incorporated business name is something like “MyFakeBiz.com Inc.” Again, I wanted the .com as part of my companies name so any press release includes my business name and when people talk about it they automatically talk about the website. (Like MoveOn.org)

The question is I know to maintain incorporation protection I have to clearly let people know of my incorporation status. Most people do this with “MyFakeBiz LLC”, or “MyFakeBiz Inc”, etc. I would rather not have to have the “Inc” part in certain instances. Like logos, references to my business name on my website, those kinds of things.

As a point of reference, I have looked at several websites of large businesses (Google.com, Pepsi.com etc.) there is no reference to the corporate status of the company on those websites.

Is there a reference / rule-of-thumb etc. that would show me when I need to display the “Incorporated” status of my business?

How to split business ownership fairly?

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 07:11:30 -0800

How should my business partner and I split the ownership and income of our start up? A parter (let's call him Bob) and I (let's call me Alice) started a business with no formal agreement regarding ownership. Currently, the business has minimal income and users. We expect this to change very soon.

Alice: Alice created the project in August '08. Alice has spent $1200 out of pocket on expenses.
Bob: Bob joined the project in June '09. Bob has spent $700 out of pocket on expenses, but is fine with spending the next $500 to equal this out.

Bob and Alice have each spent an equal amount of time working on the project each month that they have been working on it. So, Alice has been working on the project for 16 months and Bob has been working on it for 6 months.

What we want to know:

How should we split ownership?
How should we split income? We're interested in splitting the income evenly until we're each making a decent/living wage.

Alice and Bob have a completely amiable relationship. We're both interested in doing what's fair.

Best mens over the shoulder bag?

samengland — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:28:04 -0800

Best over-the-shoulder mens dispatch bag / "manbag"? Recommendations please. What is the best over-the-shoulder "dispatch" style bag / "manbag"? There are many on the market but I need one which is ideally waterproof and well constructed, and is durable enough for every day use. It would be nice if it could fit a standard 15in laptop and has enough depth to hold large(ish) books. I have had many that have broken and others I have seen just don't look very good in terms of the style. I'd like the bag to be either black or brown, quite plain, and of quite a high quality at a reasonable price. Any ideas?

IPR for a new Google business service?

Eltulipan — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 06:17:03 -0800

How do I go about proposing a new business service concept to Google? So I got this great idea for a new business service on Google. See http://www.google.com/friendconnect/home/overview?hl=en for an example. My question is how to go about protecting my idea and entering into a meaningful discussion with them on feasability. Apologies for being vague about the idea itself, for obvious reasons.

"Buy a condo," they said. "It's the best investment you can make," they said.

Anonymous — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:11:45 -0800

Caught between a potentially troublesome mortgage and a bad job. How should I proceed? I moved across the country, largely to take a certain job. To do that, I had to rent out my condo because it would have been hard to sell in that market. (And would still be hard to sell now.) That condo is under a 5-year ARM (adjustable rate mortgage) that starts adjusting in almost exactly one year.

I went shopping for refinancing, and the condo's status as an "investment property" and the loss of equity is killing me. Only my current lender is able to offer me a reasonable (although not great) deal for a fixed rate mortgage. However, the refinance process will take about three months, and during that time, I have to stay at this job.

The problem is that I hate the job and was planning to move on around now. It's easily the worst job I've ever had. It is bumming me the hell out, and I'm at the end of my rope. I was planning to start looking for contract work for a while, and then get started on my own consulting business. I'd really like to not have to stay or to hop into another full-time job for a while.

So, I guess my options are to stick it out for the refi or to move on and see what happens with the ARM next year. Some lenders have told me that I might be OK with it because interest rates are so low, but can it be reliably predicted that the Fed won't raise them in the next couple of years? A friend of mine in finance says that knowing what happens

I completely missed the non-resident-owner problem with refinancing when I made my decision to move, and I'm hoping I'm not missing anything this time before I make my decision. Please let me know if I am.

Is my new tardiness policy fair?

titans13 — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 06:51:33 -0800

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... 1-14 minutes late: 2 points
15-29 minutes late: 3 points
30-59 minutes late: 4 points
1 Hour + late: 6 points

With call less than 15 minutes ahead:
1-14 minutes late: 1 points
15-29 minutes late: 2 points
30-59 minutes late: 3 points
1 Hour + late: 5 points

With call 15 minutes or more ahead:
1-14 minutes late: .5 points
15-29 minutes late: 1 points
30-59 minutes late: 2 points
1 Hour + late: 3.5 points

Points are accumulated within any 30-day period. This is not the first through the end of any given month; it is a simple consecutive 30 days.
Consequences within 30 days:
6 points = Verbal warning
8 points = 1 day suspension without pay
10 points = 2 day suspension without pay
12 points = Week suspension without pay

Now...I am not an HR person...I am a tech who evolved into a businessman. I am looking for perspective, potential holes in the policy, and opinions as to it's strictness/fairness. Thanks to all in advance!

Where can I learn about accounting and small business administration?

Tarumba — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:12:15 -0800

Where can I learn about accounting and small business administration? My husband and I own a small record label. In the last couple of years, it began picking up, and at the moment we find ourselves working with at least 5 bands at a time. Anyway, things are paid for, records designed and printed, artists fees met, and revenue is received, all in an incredibly disorderly manner. We tried to keep track of things but we have come to the realization the we haven't a clue about how to do it. a friend even told us that it was very silly of us not to keep track of our business expenses for tax purposes, and also said we should be paying ourselves wages. Is this true?

Can you help me find a place were I can learn how to manage a small business, that isn't necessarily college? I am thinking something on the lines of accounting/business administration would help, but i definitely don't want a degree, since I may soon start graduate school, and my husband is currently enrolled.

What website provides the infrastructure for taking investments on the startup of your internet business

jeffreyclong — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:43:35 -0800

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.

What do you think of "Words Like Notes"?

jlhopes — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:08:32 -0800

I have tentatively given my freelance editing and design business the name Words Like Notes. What do you think of it? I am creating a name and website for my freelance editing and print layout/design business. I would like to have a name that is not just my name, but which covers the different types of work I do (editing, writing, layout, and some translation) and gives a sense of the style I aim for - light and refined, yet professional.

The name I have been going with is Words Like Notes. I like the sound of it, but I realize that it is not a straightforward name, and I'm concerned that it will just confuse people.

What is your reaction to the name? Does it convey anything? Does it turn you off? Do you have any suggestions regarding how to use the name, or modify it, or replace it altogether? Thanks!

Help me stay on good terms with my customer after my boss screws them!

gakiko — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:32:38 -0800

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?

Mefites: Please hope me!!!

bebrave! — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:38:11 -0800

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: 1. Software Function and Use WOQAA198
2. Financial Services Basic Exam WOQAA130

This job is an intern (training) position for a state agency, after the year's training period the successful trainee will no longer be an intern and will probably get a small raise and a title of sorts, and have the security of a government job, which would be a HUGE relief to me.

A little Hx (I will try to keep this short): I have worked for 25 years in a relatively specialized field that is not really business related (I am a dog /cat wrangler, or, veterinary technician). Except for a little relief work and/or owners of the clinic dying or retiring, I have had the same employer most of this time. This (animal medicine) is a "dream job" for many, as it is all about "saving the animals", and because of my longevity/experience, I have a great reputation and have gone as far as a person can go without a DVM, but the problem is, a person can't really pay their bills or raise a family on the financial compensation. And I like the work just fine, but the money and the "hard labor" aspect can be tough for a woman approaching 50.
This was ok for the longest time, because my job in the family sense was to make a little grocery money and get out of the house a few days a week. Now, the situation has changed. My partner has gone from a hard-charging reliable family guy to one who has decided he will forevermore work only for himself, so he pushes an aerator around and swings a hammer here and there but has for all intents and purposes quit providing for our family (we have two kids and I helped him raise the others he had to adulthood). He gets out of bed everyday between 10 and 11 AM and doesn't see a problem with that. (That whole issue is a whole total 'nother Mefi question, but not today's!) I was a more-or-less suburban housewife encouraged by my spouse to keep that job for it's few bucks and respectability.
A few years ago now, things started to get really tight so, since I realized he wasn't really going to work anymore and he wouldn't support my going back to school (for something or anything) I have been trying to find something or anything else I can do that will pay the bills and keep my kids safe and healthy until they are grown.
I have a Bachelor's (in Biology) in addition to my animal medicine education/experience, but did not use it to do anything else (see above, and yes, my fault).
So a couple years ago I found a great job with decent money and benefits (which I formerly depended on my spouse for) which worked me hard but I loved and was related to animal medicine, but they canned me after a year and would not say why. It has been painful but also qualified me for unemployment insurance which has actually "paid" better than my vet tech job. I have used this time to try like heck to find a "real" job. I have applied to every job I can find that I am qualified for and think I would like to do. I keep getting axed at the final weed-out (when I am 1 of 6 or 1 of 3, out of an initial 100-ish). This, I don't think, is so weird, things are tough out there right now. But the unemployment money is about to run out for real, and I need to know how to ace these tests. If they don't pick me for another reason, then, fine. But I don't want it to be because I can't pass, and I have no experience in "business".
I can do anything, do any job, have proved myself a bazillion times at my hard work and adaptability.
I think they want to know I know computer and business basics. The reference librarian sent me home with a small armful of books, but can anyone out there help me get ready in a couple of days?

Business Partner

yoyo_nyc — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:00:35 -0800

Where can I find a business partner for a start-up? Any suggestions? I am looking for a partner and he will get an equity share. He won't get paid (at the beginning). I just realize that I can't pull my business off alone, at least not in the US. It is not an web/internet business, let's call it for now a dietary supplement business/life style business. I will soon ship the first 30.000 Units to Europe but have not made much progress in the US.

Any idea where to look? I would be interested in someone with marketing skills, contacts to distributes etc. Since I am not American, I guess he should be.

Has anyone tried something like this?
http://www.partnerup.com/

Do you know other sites like this? What else could I try? Entrepreneurial meetings at meetup.com ?

Yoyo

Where can I find a business directory or point of interest database?

SemiSophos — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:42:21 -0800

Are there any reasonably-priced, reliable databases of US businesses that allow users to store, edit, and retransmit that data? I'm working on a small web application and I need to be able to create maps, annotate them with local businesses, parks, and other points of interest, and then pass those on to other folks.

A nationwide database of businesses would be awesome, but something specific to Oregon would work for now. I could get by with each business's name and address, though a geocoded and categorized dataset would be preferable.

Google's terms of service are a bit too restrictive, and I don't think buying data directly from each state's corporation division would scale terribly well.

Thanks!

Brand me

b33j — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:37:49 -0800

What is that I'm doing? Tag my business. I’ve been working freelance for a couple of years while I finished my degree doing a variety of tasks for academics (4 or 5) who work in the field of Education. Some of the things I’ve done have been to create logos for various groups, diagrams and illustrations for lesson plans and books, some photography,animations, presentations, formatting of material for publishing, transcription, managing an international journal and formatting it, creating databases and entering all the data, as well as analysing it (lightly – I’m no expert in statistics) and producing all graphs and reports.

Now that I’ve finished my degree, I want to increase my clientele. I think I can make a go of this because I turned over around $30K at about 14 hours a week. I have a domain which is my own name and the word design. I hope to launch my website (with a blog -thanks metafilter for earlier advice) in January. I’m working on a design for my business card. My current clients will probably forward my details onto their mailing groups if I ask them – I just need one last thing. What do I do and what’s a good tag line? I would have thought “academic support” except that that phrase tends to mean helping students to survive university. I tested the tagline “the whole package” on one of my current clients, and she was aghast, but couldn’t exactly say why.

So, to summarise my business card, for example...

b33jdesign
~~Academic Support~~ (?)
~~The whole package~~ (?)
w: www.b33jdesign.com
e: jr@b33jdesign.com
p: xxx xxxx xxx

Related

How to not get screwed over in a business partnership.

giggleknickers — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:35:57 -0800

How does the tech person in a business partnership avoid getting screwed over by the business person? We are four people talking about starting up a small software development business. Three of us are software engineering students who know crap-all about business, and the fourth is an experienced businessman who is more or less going to take care of all the non-technical stuff. He will be our Steve Jobs to us three Steve Wozniaks.

I'm a little paranoid because I've read a lot about the history of various technological developments, and it seems that engineers and developers have a habit of getting screwed over by the businessperson they partner with. The businessperson uses their tricksy business skills to swipe the intellectual property and get all the money and credit while the developer is left wondering what on earth happened.

Am I overly paranoid from the history I've read or is this likely? How can I avoid it? We'll be working on a project that has been a long time dream of mine, so I feel very overprotective about it.

I'm trying to educate myself about this situation, but it feels like I need a degree in business, and another in accounting and another in law in order to understand everything I need to know to answer this question. It seems like a paradox, because if I knew enough to answer this question, I would know enough that we wouldn't need someone taking care of the business end of things in the first place.

Tellers in crappy polos and aprons need not apply.

thebestsophist — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:45:05 -0800

Help me find a good credit union or small bank around Milwaukee, WI. I recently opened a business account with Guardian Credit Union but have had nothing but trouble and terribly unprofessional service. I need to move, and soon. I've had experience with other banks in the Wisconsin area, such as US Bank, Wells Fargo (though the closest one I've seen was Madison), and Associated Bank. I will not do business with any of them every again. I would think my requirements are simple, but apparently not:

Professionalism. I am never doing business with a bank where the teller is not wearing at least a button down shirt or blouse ever again. If someone is handling several thousand dollars of my money, I want them to dress like it.

Payroll for me, and my partner.

Online banking, including electronic transfers (not that many, just need to be able to do them).

Decent interest rates on savings, and checking if possible.

Responsive customer service. If I call and leave a voicemail, I expect to get a response in one business day.

Things such as being able to have a relationship with my banker, is a big plus.

Translating business press releases...

molybdenum — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:55:54 -0800

What's the exact meaning of one company "acquiring all of the issued share capital" of another? From a press release: "In 2004 Latimer Group Limited, a company incorporated by Lion Capital, acquired all of the issued share capital of Weetabix Limited."

For someone who's ill-versed in business and economics: what does "acquired all of the issued share capital" mean? I would guess it means "bought all the stock of", except that Weetabix is privately-held. Anyway, what are the business implications of this? Would Latimer Group have complete say over the behavior of Weetabix? Or simply a seat on the board of directors?

My amateur interpretation is: Latimer saw that Weetabix was doing well, so thought, 'I want a piece of the action. I'll pay out a bunch of money in exchange for nominal ownership of the company, but probably won't bother intervening unless they're doing something dumb.' Does that sound reasonable?

This all happened in the UK, if that matters.

Don't buy my product!

ecorrocio — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:08:11 -0800

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. Just wondering: Our 7-state energy company has numerous campaigns advising customers on using less energy. How to save energy. How to save money. And yet... it's a private, for-profit business. Essentially they are advising me on how not to purchase their product.

We're not having brownouts or any sort of energy shortage. So I would think they're not overburdened...? Like a bakery advising you on how to eat less bread, save money on bread etc.

What are the political/economic/market reasons for this?