If your Maine-based business is family owner, sooner or later, it will be time to hand over the reins to the younger generation. In order to improve the odds for continued success of your family business, you need to develop a plan of succession. If you already have family members working for you, it may  Continue Reading »

All small business owners should realize the importance of contracts, since they are part of everyday business, whether it’s the tiny print at the bottom of a bill or an agreement to buy office equipment. Depending on how complex the deal is, contracts with customers may be letter agreements or much larger documents. The key  Continue Reading »

When a small company if forced to shut down, it usually isn’t because they haven’t made profits. Most small businesses face closure because they lack quality cash flow, not because they lack profits or assets. So what should a business owner do? They will face many different situations and be prepared for all of them.  Continue Reading »

If you’re self-employed as a sole proprietor, partner, or LLC member, you may owe the self-employment tax. This tax serves the purpose of collecting Social Security and Medicare taxes from your net self-employment income. The tax that is owed is in addition to any Federal and State income taxes. Here are the important details about  Continue Reading »

When starting a new Maine-based small business, there are a variety of entity choices. Some will be easily ruled out based on the business’ operation. The six basic entities are: 1. A sole proprietorship This is a business owned by one person, who may be the only employee. A sole proprietorship is not a separate legal  Continue Reading »

Maine-based small business owners often face a balancing act when it comes to deciding how much cash to keep in their regular checking accounts. On one hand business owners want to keep the money available for an emergency or great opportunity. But on the other hand, it doesn’t generate any extra income, as banks are  Continue Reading »

It’s one thing to read about other companies facing tough financial times. It’s quite another to experience the pressure yourself. The fact is, however, that many companies are having trouble paying their debts. And small business owners are called daily by lenders who want to collect. Here are some recommendations for talking and negotiating with  Continue Reading »

Small business owners almost always have to ask for a loan at some point. It’s important to remember that when requesting a loan, you will have to deal with the issue of covenants. These are constraints lenders impose on your company to keep it operating within specified financial ranges, and to prevent your small business  Continue Reading »

If you use part of your home as an office for your Maine-based small business, and deduct related expenses on your tax return, you may wonder if you can claim a valuable federal tax break when you sell. This tax benefit is the home sale gain exclusion, of up to $250,000 for single taxpayers. In  Continue Reading »

If you want your Maine-based small business to grow and remain competitive, a solid financial plan and a well-conceived strategy can mean the difference between boom and bust. The most important starting point is a cash-flow analysis. Looking at your company’s cash flow statements you as a business owner to understand the cycle of inflows  Continue Reading »