When looking at best practices in hiring and firing, we consider how to get those right people on board and how to end the relationship when things aren’t going well. Both facets of this process are difficult but some key practices can make things much simpler. Plan ahead. Anticipate your hiring needs a year in advance. ... View Article
Our guest blog comes from Andrew Crowder, International Trade Specialist, Washington Department of Commerce 95% of the population of the world lives outside US borders. If your business is not exporting, you are not playing the business game at its true size. Exporting can be a potent source of growth for your business. By exporting, you... View Article
When a company plans to expand its services into another state, a number of key legal considerations must be reviewed. Below is a summary of some of the critical steps that must be undertaken by the company as it expands. Business Structure. All entities doing business in the state must register with the state. Corporate... View Article
This week’s guest blog comes from Ron Raport, Columbia Bank. I recently attended the 2012 Seattle SBA’s Annual Gala Awards night. It was a wonderful time to see some small business owners receive well-deserved recognition. The event was well attended and I had the pleasure of seeing many old friends at the dinner. I began my... View Article
Our guest blog comes from Michelle Goerdel, President, Biz Loan Link. This is continued from last weeks post on options for financing your company. 6) Angel investors generally use their funds to invest in very early stage companies that are just starting to produce revenue or may not even be at the revenue stage yet.... View Article
Our guest blog this week comes from Michelle Goerdel, President, Biz Loan Link. There are a many different ways that companies can finance growth or other changes that companies can turn to when it can’t qualify for bank financing. These differ depending upon the company’s financial history, its current balance sheet and its cash flow.... View Article
For businesses looking to grow in the recovery, cash is still hard to find. Most bankers I talk with say they are open for business and actively looking to lend to businesses. However, the reality is that many businesses – even long standing, established businesses — that need cash for expansion and growth will not... View Article
Often in our practice we hear business owners talk about the “fair market value” of their business, or speak of obtaining a valuation of their business as a definitive answer. Business owners often have the perception that a valuation is absolute, objective, and definitive. It’s the final word, right? Far from it. We learned... View Article
Our guest blog post this week comes from Bob King, C.O.O Services, LLC What is your business worth? How much do you need to retire? Is there a gap between these two numbers? If so, how big is the gap? How do you close the gap? 1. VALUATION – a dose of Reality: For most... View Article