Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with company

Legit corp?

lockestockbarrel — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:45:00 -0800

What are the signs of a legitimate corporation? What do legitimate corporations do that fake ones don't? I have to figure out if companies are legit or sham in an area where there are lots of benefits to being a sham. I can get ANY documents from the company, such as employee rolls, tax returns, charter papers, etc., and I can call them up and ask them questions. What should I ask for to make sure the company I'm looking at is legit?

Here's an example: Company X gets rejected from the benefit they're requesting from me. Next year, they apply under the name Company Y, but it's the same company run by the same person or people (usually these are small companies or sole proprietorship). How can I tell that Company Y is a legitimate different company and not just Company X in Y's clothing? What makes this more difficult is one person may found 5 or 6 companies and they all will apply for this benefit.

Production Company?

Timen — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 01:10:15 -0800

What feature film production company uses the introductory logo of a painted man that starts running very quickly and suddenly turns into a bird (maybe a raven)? It's one of those companies like ICON Entertainment, Lucasfilm, et cetera.

How do I get management of my small company to see how low morale is and do something about it?

Anonymous — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:35:06 -0800

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? I work for a small (~30 people) tech firm based near a large city on the east coast. It's somewhat difficult to classify what we do, but basically if any company needs tech staff, we can provide it. We have good relations with a large telecom and most of our people are placed there. We also had a contract for a development project with the company, but that fell through recently during budget cuts on their end. Now that that contract is gone, we don't have any projects coming up. It's not all that surprising, then, that morale in the company is pretty low. We're also down around ten people from two years ago, and there hasn't been any indication that they want to start hiring again.

Part of the problem is our management. My boss gets these half-baked ideas, has us follow them for awhile, and then ends the project when it fails. The ideas he comes up with are fairly absurd and most of us roll our eyes at them, but we keep going with it because he pays us, and there's always the odd chance that one of them might actually work. They seem to be against venturing beyond this one telecom, which seems like a pretty ridiculous thing to do. A brief explanation of management: our company is "run" by our CEO, who is the daughter of the guy who really runs the show. The latter is who I refer to as my boss. She has stated several times that she would like to see the company go down a certain path, but it's pretty clear that she takes her marching orders from her father.

It's pretty amazing to me that management can't see how their business plan is destroying the company, and how we're all aware of that and how it drives down morale. And if they do see it, they're turning a blind eye to it for some reason. But I can't stand it anymore. When I started at the company, they welcomed me with open arms and made me feel like I was part of the family - and that's all gone now. I have ideas for projects that are considerably less ridiculous than what my boss conjures up, but I don't get responses to my emails.

So my question is: how do I bring all of these issues about the company to management's attention, and maybe make them do something? It's clearly rude and out of line to sit down with my boss and say, "Hey, your ideas are running us into the ground; why not try something new?" but I can't come up with anything else. Our CEO is marginally more approachable than her father, and I've thought about trying to sit down with her and try to get her to see things from our perspective, but I would think that to be really out of line. I don't really know the business side of things, so I'm not in a position of authority there. Has anyone else dealt with this sort of thing? Are there ways to appoach the subject?

Oh, and I don't want to leave the company. I'm part of a very capable team, and I like everyone in the company. I'm also somewhat cautious of starting a new job, with the economy still doing poorly. If I start new now and the new company goes belly up or they need to downsize, I'd be the first one out - and I don't have a lot of cash saved up.

What's the best cable company/ISP in NYC?

soonertbone — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:24:25 -0800

Moving to NYC and have my choice of cable companies. Which one should I choose to minimize stress and annoyance? My new building doesn't have an agreement with any particular cable company, so I can use whatever I want. Satellite is out, though, so I'm looking for a company that can provide me with cable (HD is important) and internet.

I've heard nothing but terrible things about TimeWarner, so I'm wondering if there's some other company out there that's good. Or, if you've had positive experiences with TW, let me know those too!

(Apologies if this has been answered before. I tried searching and only came up with options for other large cities, not NY.)

how to make an american t-shirt quilt

kidsleepy — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 06:51:17 -0800

What's the best company for t-shirt quilts? I've got a ton of old t-shirts and zero sewing skills, so I'd like to mail them off and have somebody else do all the heavy lifting in turning them into a quilt. In doing some googling last night, I found a bunch of companies with a wide range of prices. I'm aiming for a full-size/30 t-shirt quilt, and I've seen prices for that size ranging from $295 all the way to $600+. Of course, I want the cheapest price while retaining excellent quality.

Have you used any quilt companies to make a t-shirt quilt? Any recommendations or warnings? What are your thoughts on posting a request on Etsy or Craigslist? Any other resources?

What is the best company formation agent to use in the UK?

samengland — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:34:22 -0800

What is the best company formation agent to use in the UK to form a limited company? How can I tell if a company formation agent is reliable and trustworthy and are there any reviews of them available? I would also prefer an "all in one solution" that includes a registered office too. I would like to have a solution that includes a registered office and maintenance of statutory books and the annual return.

Should I just send away for 6 phone books and sit down with some post-its?

Phire — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:06:11 -0800

I would like to find an internship for next summer at an ad agency in eastern Ontario or somewhere reasonably close by in the US (think NYC, Chicago, etc). Unfortunately, my school doesn't engage in a lot of recruiting partnerships with ad agencies. Is there some type of industry insider directory I could consult for a list of potential ad agencies to call up about information interviews and such? A lot of big name consulting and accounting companies come to my University to recruit. Practically no advertising agencies do the same. The one interview I had a few months ago with an ad agency was a result of meeting someone who worked there by chance and getting his card.

I want to get more proactive next year about researching and contacting companies I'd like to work for, and maybe conducting informational interviews with them. Should I find an online phone book for the cities I'm interested in and just look up "advertising", or is there some sort of directory / networking service that I'm not aware of that would give an overview of ad agencies within a particular geographic constraint and what type of work they do? Or is this one of those things where industry insiders all know each other but it's next to impossible to research from the outside?

Bonus points: Do similar directories exist for other creative industries, e.g. publishing?

Thanks in advance! I'm looking for jobs in the Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal area specifically, but may eventually want to move down into the States (hence NYC, Chicago). Oh, and I'm studying business, FWIW.

Scared of going to prison due to tax payments. Need advice...

Anonymous — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:11:31 -0800

Scared of going to prison due to tax payments. Need advice... Please note:
*I was based in the UK.

*I know my spelling and grammar is terrible, I have learning difficulties.

* I now live in a EU country

I recently ran a company for 2 years, 1st year went very well and paid all the taxe for the company, myself and the staff contributions. 2nd year I was hit hard due to rates rising and customers going bankrupt. Which left me in no position to lay-off all the staff and leave the company premises. I tried to keep the company running but was failing to keep up with loan repayments and tax. I barely had enough to survive to pay the bills. I notified companies house that I will no longer be trading in the UK. They asked to write them a letter and I managed to get my accountant to sort out. However taxes was owed to the tax man in which I cannot close the company. There is no chance of getting out of it without declaring myself bankrupt. Which in my proffession means I cannot become a professional in that field anymore. I cannot risk this.

So I decided to move abroad to a country in Europe to start fresh. I left all my personal debt behind for personal loans which started up the company in the first place. My old company will becoming struck-off soon as lack of communication. I have been living abroad for about 8 months, starting up from scratch. Same again, finding it hard to pay bills but without owing anyone where I live. (I will no longer loan money). However I recieved a letter from one of the banks that I owe £800 too, I had not left any information of my wareabouts. They have thretened to take my belongings (Which I don't have any, apart from clothes and work computer). I'm baffled on how they found my address.

I owe approx: £30,000 spread out between banks, loans and credit cards. I leave no bad debt for my company apart from the 2nd year tax in which I lost everything.

I owe approx £3,000 in tax. I had to pay my old staff by selling equipment in the office. Nothing left on the old company is left.

My question is:

* Can the money I owe in the UK get shifted to my countries debt handlers? and risk bailiffs at my door?

* My debt: I have been told if I leave the UK for more than 5 years. The money owed will be cleared. However I have to stay annonoymous in my new address. Is this true?

* I know my company is being struck off in the UK, but the tax I owe. Can I risk getting jailtime for this?

* If I visit family in the UK could I be arrested?

* If I become a registered resident of the new EU country. Could I be tracked by other owed banks in the UK?

Bankrupsy isnt an option :(

I'm having sleepless nights over this and feel like its the end of the road.

I really appriciate any serious response, I know I'm bad for owing money to the banks. But that money was personal to setting up the company in the 1st place.

Unsure as to how I should proceed.

Anonymous — Thu, 21 May 2009 14:14:31 -0800

The place I work may be going under. What should I do? I work as an attorney and the managing partner had all of us attorneys in a meeting yesterday. He told us that the firm is basically out of money and that he's worried about making payroll next week. We have 10 attorneys and 2 partners here, so it's a small firm.

I like the work environment here, and the partners are generous (to a fault, it seems). The main partner is a bit oafish and I think he may be putting his head in the sand as to how bad things really are. The other partner is bad about collecting his accounts receivable, which is probably the main reason the firm is in this mess.

I'm already looking for another job, but what do I do if this place does actually go under? There is work to be done and clients whose problems won't go away.

Do I stay on in the hopes I may get paid down the line, or do I just jump ship and leave all the work for others to do?

Should I go work for one company (1-2 month) while waiting for another company's offer?

Anonymous — Fri, 15 May 2009 06:42:24 -0800

Should I accept the offer from company "A", knowing full well that I would go work for company "B" in 1-2 month? I'm sure 99% that B's offer will come, but should I do this as a way of hedging my bets? Hello, fellow hiveminds. I need to ask you guys (gals) something work related, and so I must be anonymous. [Also, English isn't my first language, so please excuse my grammar/spelling.)

I'm 27 years old, got Bachelor in Engineering and Master in Finance. I used to work as a software developer for almost 4 years, then went for a master in the US. Now I have returned and live in Asia. (my hometown)

I got my master recently and have a bit of an "identity crisis". I'm not sure which career path I want to pursue -- in IT or Finance. (I know, it's a bit silly but that's another post all together)

So what I did was sending resumes to both IT and Finance companies. While waiting for the companies to respond (a few weeks), I finally figured it out that I want to go the Finance route. Shortly after that I got an interview, and then an offer from Company A. Nice pays, nice benefits. I also talked with company B and also got an "acceptance" in principle.

I must elaborate about A & B a bit. Company A is a big US software company, specialising in Financial and Legal/consulting business. I don't have anything against A, it's just not the career path I want to pursue.

Company B is also a big international financial firm. I used to work as a programmer for a guy there (my boss) and after discussing with him and his superiors, they're very interested in me and told me that I'll be in his new business plan. Actually, I talked with him on and off about this opportunity since 5 months ago.

This position is the greatest you can ask for, for an entry level position.The problem is, they can't offer me anything concrete until (they are guessing) 1-2 months because of the new business plan. (approval, paperwork and all that)

The reason I'm confident about B's future offer is -- the Top executive at the company really likes me and even called me personally about this opportunity. So it's 95% confidence level for me.

Ok... really long background, sorry. my question is:

Should I accepted an offer from company A? It's a good deal for me, but I'd feel bad about company A. Would there be repercussions if I did? And Are there other [better] solutions?

I welcome all suggestions, and thank you so much for reading through all that.

Why would a company need a blog?

913 — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:06:37 -0800

Why would a company need a blog? What benefits would a company receive by having a blog?

Company goes public, I go...?

Anonymous — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:01:41 -0800

What will it mean for me if my new company goes public? I've just recently started work at an interesting positioning firm. My boss mentioned in passing today that he's planning to take the company public once the economy makes an upswing. Assuming I'm still working here when this happens, what will "going public" mean for me? What type of package should I negotiate for in order to be in the best position when this does happen?

What are the risks of being the board?

5_13_23_42_69_666 — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:55:24 -0800

A friend of mine has been asked by her boss to take on an odd job, and we can't figure out if she should agree to it. He wants her to become director of a company she wouldn't otherwise be involved with. She works as an administrative assistant for a guy who runs internet marketing websites. He is also a shareholder in a related company. The current director of this company is leaving Canada, but they need a Canadian director. He is asking that she become the director. Her only duties would be to sign forms, and be named on the company bank account. He is offering to pay her usual rate for the time she spends signing a couple forms a year. Does this sound fishy?

She can't really afford a lawyer, so I was hoping you smart people could help answer these questions:

1 - how this would impact her legally (if at all), on her personal taxes etc.
2 - if she would be liable for the company
3 - if her boss is asking her to do something that usually would require a pay raise (but he is trying to cut corners and trick her into new responsibilities without a pay raise)

Or anything else we might not have thought of!

Thanks!

How do I find out which bank a publicly traded company uses?

Damn That Television — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:57:53 -0800

How do I find out which bank a publicly traded company uses (without asking them)? They have headquarters in Canada, but mostly operate in America. They've filed reports with the SEC.

Looking for a great customer management/scheduling solution for a growing IT company

titans13 — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 08:30:27 -0800

My company is looking for a comprehensive package to manage our IT company, which has grown 1000% over the past 4.5 years. I believe we have outgrown our existing solution. It has to be scalable, user friendly, integrate with Quickbooks, ideally would integrate with Kaseya, and generally be a very full solution. Honestly, Autotask is the best thing we have found, but it is not an option as we cannot host it ourself. Outsourcing all client data to another company means we are beholden to that company for life and that is not an option. We tested Commit but the web interface just wasn't robust. The program itself was very functional, but the interface would lead one to believe that it was intended for smaller shops so we are going to stay away from it. All suggestions and critiques are welcome.

Change job, or stay in iffy situation?

Anonymous — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 11:37:05 -0800

I like the job I have right now, but I have the gut feeling our company is hurting for business. We probably over hired last year, which is painful especially as a small business in this climate. The upside is that I was just offered a new job at different small business. Because I really enjoy almost everything about my current job, how do I go about asking my current employer how financially stable the company is without looking suspicious? Current job details:
1. Love my city & work
2. Unsure about stability of the company (negative)
3. Get along will the owners & coworkers
4. Been there longer than most
5. Had a good review in December
6. Am one of many in the same role (negative)
7. Great hours (9-5)
8. Most coworkers have better resumes than I do for what it's worth

Potential new job:
1. In a new city not nearly as livable, but closer to family
2. I'm positive the company is growing
3. Hit it off with owner, culture seems ok
4. I'd be the only person in my role (big positive)
5. Hours are longer
6. I'd get a significant raise

Other details:
1. I've had my ears to the ground but have not heard anything, although I'm generally oblivious to subtleties.
2. Changing location will be costly.

Main question is still: how do I ask my current employer about the financial stability of the company without looking suspicious? Gentle feelers? Blunt honesty?

I can navigate the other details intellectually mostly on my own, but they're here for reference in case you feel like providing insight I may have overlooked.

Has a company ever sent you balloons on your birthday?

entropic — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 17:39:02 -0800

What are some companies that make it fun to be a customer? To clarify: I'm not just looking for examples of companies with great customer service. Something beyond that - going out of their way to make being a customer a really enjoyable experience, well beyond what is expected.

Creative Innovative Socially-Good Companies

divabat — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 16:46:03 -0800

Which companies and organisations are big on innovation, creativity, doing good, and support flexible work styles and ethics? I'm jobhunting at the moment and I've found that the company culture and industries they work in are just as important - if not more so - than the specific job role. I'd be happy to work in any role in those sort of companies (so long as I have enough skills); however, I'm finding it hard to find job searches that let you define the industry/style of the hiring company.

I'm after companies and organisations that put value on creativity, innovation, doing social good, flexibility, ideas, and ethical practice (they don't have to be super-strong in all those aspects, one or two main ones would do). At the moment I'm not worried about location - I may have to move internationally anyway, and travel is a huge bonus.

I have skills in arts and events management, cross-cultural communication & integration, general administration, strategy & policy, dealing with young people, research, idea generation, performance and presentation, writing & editorial, and working with the web - but I'm willing to learn new skills or work in something basic and entry-level if it's with the right company.

Some ideas of companies that look interesting:

Google (I'd LOVE to work for them but they seem to only be hiring tech engineers - and I know naught about software engineering)
BrainStore
WhatIf Innovation
GOOD Magazine
Up with People (I've volunteered with them and they have one of the best office cultures I've ever seen)
United Nations (though I've heard that they can be frustratingly bureaucratic)

Which other companies/organisations can I add to the list? How do I find more companies/organisations that fit my needs?

Recommendations for finding good virtual employment

device55 — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 17:40:16 -0800

I'd like to work for a virtual company, or work virtually for a real company. My wife and I are likely to be moving in the next year, and likely to be moving again shortly thereafter, within maybe 2 to 4 years.

I work in web/software development, and we'll be likely relocating from Portland, OR to Des Moines, IA.

Working virtually for a company seems like an ideal scenario - I could build a (virtual) relationship with (virtual) colleagues and perhaps enjoy some non-virtual benefits like health insurance and be more stable than hunting down wild freelance.

Beyond going to CareerBuilder.com and clicking "telecommuting jobs only", what are some recommendations for finding good virtual employment?

What did landshark.com do?

prodevel — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 05:21:30 -0800

Landshark.com What the heck did they do? Just saw August the movie and I still don't know. They died in the dot com bubble. I'm really curious as to what their company did exactly. The movie wasn't much help. 7/10 on the movie. Didn't show enough excess like there was in SF back in 2000. Lack of Fooseball and/or upright video games and little mention of technology... Great acting, poor script. BTW Josh Hartnett is in it for the ladies.

Work is hell - square peg, round hole: what are my options?

Anonymous — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 06:18:41 -0800

Work is hell: I love the company and the pay, but hate my job and hate my boss. I'm looking to change careers, but what careers would fit my skill set? I work for a call center as a manager (others might say "team leader") in a financial/credit card account. The workload is such that though I am an excempt employee not paid for overtime, I am compelled to stay an upwards of 12 hours just to finish all the work I need to do.

The bulk of it is admin stuff: auditing my agents' calls for quality, customer satisfaction, compliance; keying in their phone logins/logouts, creating team reports/presentations. I tend to work at my own pace, and my boss often breathes on my neck to get these things updated on a DAILY basis, on top of managing my team of 16 direct reports, which I simply cannot do without staying on for many more hours at work. She has absolutely no empathy for mitigating circumstances, such as my being assigned to workstations where not all the admin tools are working, therefore having to hi-jack other managers' stations on a daily basis. And when 8 of my reps' IDs stopped working after a month of their being on the production floor, which meant that I not only had to manage the 8 people on the phones but had to keep the other 8 engaged for 9 hours a day and manage attrition as well, she could not understand how this could have possibly DOUBLED my workload, since "only 8 people are online anyway and that should've made things easier, not harder". Approaching her about my difficulties to possibly work out solutions hasn't helped: she always compares me to others who are not in the same situation but are accomplishing the same, and will only end the conversations by getting my commitments without giving the same kind of commitment. This is an endless source of frustration for me. My thinking is, if you want me to succeed, give me the tools I need to succeed. Oddly, she grants a lot of leeway when it comes to other people, and other people have warned me that she does indeed play favorites -- which, sadly, I am not. These Dilbert comics illustrate our dynamic perfectly. Her boss seems to think similarly, as they are very close.

The human part, the part where manage people and drive performance and get the numbers is fine. I'm proud of my team and the performance-conscious attitude and culture I've cultivated and the results they bring. And I like the Company itself, just not the account, and there's no way for me to transfer accounts because there's no way she'll recommend me. My team's performance is not enough. She has me tied to a daily task list that, if I don't accomplish it religiously, will subject me to memos and disciplinary actions. Even vacation leaves I plan well in advance are always "pending" depending on some arbitrary condition she thinks of. Everything I get from her seems punitive as opposed to supportive.

I'm beginning to feel that work is hell. I just want my life back. As a result, I'm looking to change careers, but I don't even know where to start. What are my options, that would pay equally well?

I hate busywork. I need work that lets me be creative to some degree. I've had experience as a content provider - writing about people, music, movies, technology. I'm quite tech savvy, but without any formal degrees to show for it. I've done well with customer service, tech support, and with coaching and driving performance. I'm driven, especially when inspired, and want to hone and exercise my leadership skills.

I wouldn't mind working in another call center, except there's no point because my current one is already on the top of the food chain. What I'd really like to look at are career options in other industries, preferably one that will give me a lot more flexibility than my current one.

I'm desperate. I want to quit my job yesterday. Hive mind, please help me!

All of the science, none of the hassle

oceanmorning — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:48:38 -0800

I'm due to present a scientific poster at a conference in about two weeks. I'm overextended and don't have the time to make it myself. Is there a company that will write text, make charts, do the graphic design, and help me with printing? I don't want to be a no-show at the conference. But building a poster is always a huge time-suck for me, and I just can't make it a priority right now due to conflicting deadlines. With more funding than time available to me right now, I'd like to outsource this.

I've analyzed my data, and I know exactly what I want the poster to say. I've found companies online that will design/print a poster for me, but they need me to provide them with ready-to-go text, charts, etc. I need more help than that.

I want to hand someone my data spreadsheet, and give them a bullet-point list of what I want the poster to say. This person would then build a histogram and bar chart from my data, and write the text based on what I told them. They'd put together a 3' x 4' poster with some appealing colors and formatting, and arrange for getting it printed and shipped to my hotel at the conference (after I revise/OK the final draft). The person doing this would have to have some scientific savvy to be able to translate my thoughts into good text. They'd also need to be a decent graphic designer and have at least rough working knowledge of statistics. It almost seems like too much to ask at this late date. Does such a company exist?

How would you name a military startup?

speek — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:08:21 -0800

How would you name an oddly positioned military startup? I'm working on a startup with a friend and we're stuck on the naming process. We're planning on having this company be an umbrella-type corporation: some military stuff, some social web-apps, some energy stuff. (we've got overactive imaginations)

You know the term Think Tank? Well, if you didin't know what it meant and had to guess what it was using your imagination, that's what my company would be: a bunch of guys thinking of stuff.

I kinda like the motto "We're solving problems so you don't have to" for my own company... another great motto is "We're building a machine that will be proud of us" (for an AI company).

Thanks for the help!

Family Hairapy just won't cut it.

friezer — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 17:59:13 -0800

Name my friend's mobile hair service company. A close friend has had a mobile hair cutting business for a few years, and the current name isn't such a peach (Cut & Run). She needs something better. She hopes to do office calls, house calls for families, and brides at their weddings. We spent a good portion of the day getting nowhere fast. Help me, mefites.

How do I get a deadbeat client to pay their invoice?

zzztimbo — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:29:00 -0800

Company still hasn't paid my invoice, what recourse do I have? I worked for a small startup as a software engineer for about a month's time. One day they decide to tell all of its employees that they will shut down for a week because of financial difficulties.

The company is open again but with about a 75% reduction in head count. They are now not paying my invoice for the work that I did before the shut down.

What can I do? Some one told me to file a complaint with the labor board. How do I go about doing this? What is the best way get remunerated for my time and energy spent doing work for them?

Also, I'm assuming the reduction in workforce has left a lot of empty Aeron chairs and computers. Should I asked to be paid in chairs and computers instead? I could use a new Mac right about now.