INDUSTRY AND MARKET ISSUES (PART 2) ECONOMICS Profits after Tax High and durable gross margins usually translate into strong and durable after-tax profits. Attractive opportunities have potential for durable profits of at least 10 percent to 15 percent and often 20 percent or more. Those generating after-tax of less than […]
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HOW ROYALTY FINANCING WORKS Royalty financing is a relatively new concept that offers an alternative to regular debt financing (loans and trade credit) and equity financing (venture capital and stock sales). In a royalty financing arrangement, a small business would receive a special amount of funds from an investor or […]
HOW TO BID FOR “REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL” Request for Proposal (RFP) is the process by which a corporate department or government agency prepares bid documents to acquire equipment or services. RFPs are frequently published in the legal documents section or pertinent newspapers or in trade journals covering the industry in […]
RISK AND RETURNS ON INVESTMENT The term ‘risk and return” refers to the potential financial loss or gain experienced through investments in securities. An investor who has registered a profit is said to have seen a “return” on his or her investment. The “risk” of the investment, meanwhile, denotes the […]
BENEFITS OF SMALL BUSINESS CONSORTIA Business consortia are alliances of individual business enterprises. These firms are often in the same broad field or industry, though they are rarely in direct competition with one another. Instead, members usually offer products or services that are complementary to those available through other consortium […]
WHY BUSINESS OWNERS MUST KEEP TO ZONING ORDINANCES Zoning ordinances are laws that govern activities in townships and other municipalities. Most cities and towns are composed of regions that are zoned for residential, commercial, or industrial development, and often these zones are subdivided by additional use restrictions (type or business […]
EFFECTS OF A SMOKE FREE ENVIRONMENT ON CUSTOMERS The term smoke free environment is sometimes used indiscriminately to discuss both 100 percent smoke free areas as well as ventilated ones. Truly smoke free environment in a business is one in which no smoking is allowed within any company building or […]
HOW RETAIL TRADE CAN BE A REWARDING ENTERPRISE FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS Retailers are business firms engaged in offering goods and services directly to consumers. In most– but not all – cases, retail outlets are primarily concerned with selling, merchandise. Typically, such businesses sell individual units or small groupings of […]
AUTOMATION AND THE SMALL BUSINESS Understanding and making use of automation-oriented strategic alternatives is essential for manufacturing firms of all shapes and sizes. It is particularly important for smaller companies, which often enjoy inherent advantages in terms of operational nimbleness. But experts note that whatever your company’s size, automation of […]
KEYS TO SUCCESFUL BIDS FOR GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS Many small businesses maintain and increase their operations through reliance on local, state, and federal government contracts. While these businesses may also secure business through the offering of competitive bids on jobs offered by the private sector, small business owners should be aware […]
