When someone is running a small local business, they can make the absolute most of their marketing budget by making sure they leverage their internet marketing tools. The internet is the one place where a small company can actually have a legitimate chance to compete with their larger competition. The most traffic online comes from search engines. People go to a website like Google and enter a phrase relating to a subject that they are interested...more
Are you feeling a little toasty this holiday season? Would you love to be one of those people who can stand up at the drop of a hat and offer a clever toast? Do you hold back because you aren't sure what to say or do you resist the urge because you aren't sure of the correct protocol?Few people seem to hold back for fear of committing a faux pas. Nevertheless there are rules regarding toasting and if you want to be the polished professional at...more
As the end of the year rapidly approaches, the Tax Working Group is hard at work reviewing the current tax system of New Zealand. The Tax Working Group is a consortium of professionals in academics, government, and industry whose expertise shapes the proposals presented to the government.The current proposals are expected to produce greater equity in the system and broaden the tax base to be used as funding for anticipated decreases in the rate for personal, corporate, and trust taxes. Property investors will be affected by proposed changes to the capital gains and land taxes as well as the addition of a risk-free rate of return income tax.What's Going to Happen?Shortly after the beginning of the new year, the public can expect to be notified of the results of the review. What will the upshot of these proposals be?More than likely major reform is coming. When it happens is questionable. Public and committee reviews will probably defer the chances changes are enacted any time soon.Corporate and trust top marginal taxation rates will come into alignment (the 30-30-30 option) with Australia and be assessed at the same rate. Regular corporate and trust marginal taxation rates will also...more
Normally, gold is priced relative to the global value which is based on global demand and global supply. A gold mine shuts down at the same time as the people in the area start wanting to buy more gold... and the price just about stays the same. Why? Because the global demand and supply has hardly changed... it's only changed in that...more
Around this time the previous year, plenty of businesses need to freeze spending. All indications are that the recession is almost gone, so small businesses can get back to normal. Therefore, today is a great time to consider what the recession has done to your business. Think about how the economic changes have affected your industry in general....more
While doing business in Europe it is extremely important to be aware of the cross-culture differences. Bearing in mind the cultural influences of a country are crucial for the success of your business. Are you planning to start out a new venture in Italy? Are you apprehensive about getting along with your clients in Italy?Well here is a list of things to keep in mind to do business the Italian way:1.Good manners and politesse are held in high regard in Italy. They prefer to deal with people who are polished but not uptight. So it is important to maintain some distance while having a professional conversation, but at the same time it is vital to be courteous. Too much resistance may be perceived as a sign of snooty or cold behavior.2.Make sure to shake hands at the commencement and at the end of all rendezvous, this implies for group meetings as well. Italians are warm people; so dont be surprised if the greeting switches from a handshake to an embrace after a while. In fact, treat it as a positive sign; it indicates that their comfort level has gone up.3.Remember that Italy is one of the most fashionable countries in the world. Home to some of the most coveted fashion labels, this...more
Waiting 30, 60 and 90 days for customers to pay invoices is one of the most difficult challenges small and mid-size businesses face. It can be particularly hard to manage your business when you're waiting for clients to pay.Invoice factoring is a...more
As its name implies, a business plan is a summary of how the owner of the business, a manager or an entrepreneur wishes to organize his business as well as lay down the procedures and processes needed in implementing the plans to a logical and...more
Owning a business means a lot of decisions to be made and employees to keep happy. Perhaps your business is located in a less than state-of-the-art facility, which could mean your employees are uncomfortable if the air conditioning isn't up to...more
Reputation management businesses are growing rapidly as more and more companies have gone online. These companies have realized a direct correlation between customer comments online and their production levels. Most shoppers these days prefer to go...more
Internet activity at this time of year increases substantially and many customers all looking for different things are accessing the various websites trying to find exactly what they are looking for. As a company we need to have the right tools at...more
Attraction marketing is a modern technique for gaining clients and making sales. It is very different than the traditional hard-sell tactics that used to be the norm. Because of this, it is a perfect way for people genuinely interested in customer...more