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Business Start-ups

What options do I have with the location of my business ?

Asked Monday, October 16, 2000 by an anonymous user
Generally, you may lease or buy the location for your business. Supply and demand will figure into your decision. A surplus of commercial and retail space may give you the opportunity for some favorable leasing rates, but owning might also be to your advantage. Owning provides you with the tax benefits of capital appreciation of the property, interest expenses write-offs, equity buildup in the property, the potential for you to lease or rent space for additional revenue and having greater control over the property. Speak to your local CPA about the tax ramifications of buying or leasing and their recommendations of a reputable commercial real estate firm in your area.
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Buying & Selling a Business

What options do I have with the location of my business ?

Asked Monday, October 16, 2000 by an anonymous user
Generally, you may lease or buy the location for your business. Supply and demand will figure into your decision. A surplus of commercial and retail space may give you the opportunity for some favorable leasing rates, but owning might also be to your advantage. Owning provides you with the tax benefits of capital appreciation of the property, interest expenses write-offs, equity buildup in the property, the potential for you to lease or rent space for additional revenue and having greater control over the property. Speak to your local CPA about the tax ramifications of buying or leasing and their recommendations of a reputable commercial real estate firm in your area.
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Business Start-ups

I am starting a business with my best friend. Do we need a formal agreement ?

Asked Monday, October 16, 2000 by an anonymous user
If you’re planning on sharing responsibilities, profits and losses, resources and liabilities, then you should make a formal agreement. When everything is going right and you are making money you have a lot of best friends. When things are going great, you do not want one person saying they deserve more than the other. When, and if, your business is losing money, you will want a formal agreement. It is really in everyone's best interest to have a formal agreement when a business venture is involved. You may want to consider a partnership or corporation. Speak to your local CPA about the formation of the business entity.
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Business Start-ups

What is a franchise ?

Asked Monday, October 16, 2000 by an anonymous user
When you buy a franchise, you are purchasing a business which operates under the name and image of a large company. The concept is that you get the best of both worlds. The freedom of running an independent business and the security of working for a big company. The relative freedom and security will vary depending on the franchise. Generally, you will benefit from regional or national advertising. You get associated goodwill revolving around the larger company’s reputation and image. All franchise opportunities should be thoroughly investigated prior to purchasing one. Speak to your local CPA about your franchising opportunity.
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Small Business Services

What is a franchise ?

Asked Monday, October 16, 2000 by an anonymous user
When you buy a franchise, you are purchasing a business which operates under the name and image of a large company. The concept is that you get the best of both worlds. The freedom of running an independent business and the security of working for a big company. The relative freedom and security will vary depending on the franchise. Generally, you will benefit from regional or national advertising. You get associated goodwill revolving around the larger companies reputation and image. All franchise opportunities should be thoroughly investigated prior to purchasing one. Speak to your local CPA about your franchising opportunity.
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Payroll Taxes

Medicare program - birth

Asked Monday, October 16, 2000 by an anonymous user
Medicare was passed into law on July 30, 1965. Beneficiaries were first able to sign-up for the program on July 1,1966.
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Payroll Taxes

FICA - definition

Asked Monday, October 16, 2000 by an anonymous user
Social Security payroll taxes are collected under authority of the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA). The payroll taxes are sometimes called "FICA taxes".
FICA is nothing more than the tax provisions of the Social Security Act, as they appear in the Internal Revenue Code.
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Payroll Taxes

Social Security number - structure significance

Asked Monday, October 16, 2000 by an anonymous user
Until June 2011, The first three digits are assigned according to the geographic region in which the person was residing at the time he or she obtained a number. Generally, numbers were assigned beginning in the northeast and moving westward. The remaining six digits in the number are randomly assigned.
Social Security is changing the way Social Security numbers (SSN) are issued. This change is referred to as “randomization.” Social Security is developing this new method to help protect the integrity of the SSN. SSN Randomization will also extend the longevity of the nine-digit SSN nationwide.
Social Security plans to implement the new assignment methodology on June 25, 2011. SSN randomization will affect the SSN assignment process in the following ways: n It will eliminate the geographical significance of the first three digits of the SSN, currently referred to as the area number, no longer allocating the area numbers for assignment to individuals in specific states. n It will eliminate the significance of the highest group number and, as a result, the High Group List will be frozen, but can be used for validated SSNs issued prior to the randomization implementation date. n Area numbers previously unassigned will be introduced for assignment excluding area numbers 000, 666 and 900-999.
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Small Business Services

Are small businesses using the Internet ?

Asked Saturday, October 14, 2000 by an anonymous user
The Internet has revolutionized the way the world does business on both a local and global level. From recruiting employees to gathering data on the competition, the ways businesses utilize the Internet are numerous, as are the benefits of the Internet to the business community. . Perhaps the most obvious benefit of the Internet is cost savings. Information at faster speeds saves time, which either saves or makes money. Many functions in the business process, i.e. bookkeeper, have been automated, which has helped to streamline processes and reduce the cost of labor. The Internet has been credited with providing a window into the global world. It allows anyone with a computer to think globally and has allowed the business world to forge international relationships with new vendors (to lower costs) and new customers (to increase sales). Today, communication is as easy as a mouse click, and much cheaper too. Anyone in the world can communicate with another person through text messages, emails, and even live video. For business, this means higher efficiency and quicker processing of sales
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