Check Out Our Final List of Contests for 2012 |  |
- Check Out Our Final List of Contests for 2012
- Close An Inactive Business Before the End of the Year
- Social Media Marketing For Dummies: A Smart Book
| Check Out Our Final List of Contests for 2012 Posted: 22 Dec 2012 01:55 PM PST At this time of year especially, a little help is appreciated. Here’s our hand-picked list of small business sweepstakes, contests and awards. Check them out! ****
Dell has launched a $100 million Innovators Credit Fund, with the purpose of helping entrepreneurs "maximize potential for innovation, speed to market and job creation." The credit fund will offer both funding and technology resources with IT support, depending on what each start-up needs. To be eligible, you must have already received some angel funding or venture capital before you can apply. Start-ups can get up to 10% of its current funding or up to $150,000 with limited credit terms. See website for details and application.
Toshiba, Intel and Staples have teamed up to help small businesses share their stories and win thousands of dollars in new technology. Throughout 2012, they will award $10,000 technology makeovers to American businesses and free Intel-powered Ultrabooks to the people who support them. Categories include Powering Knowledge, Powering Innovation, Powering Service, Powering Products, and Powering Good. See website for details and entry guidelines.
Do you have a great idea for an Infusionsoft App, integration or plug-in that will enhance the Infusionsoft user experience? Then you have a shot at being crowned the Kick Apps Champion in the Battle of the Apps 2013. First prize is $10,000. See website for details.
Shopify has teamed up with four world-class entrepreneurs to help you build a million-dollar business in just months. Come up with a product to sell, open your online store and pick a mentor. The Shopify community and your mentor will give you great advice and guidance along the way. At the end of the competition, the four stores that sell the most over a two month period will each win a $50,000 investment from their mentor.
At the core of the competition, Arch Grants will award $50,000 to 20 startups. Recipients will demonstrate innovation in product or service, scalability, and a commitment to St. Louis. Arch Grants will take no equity and will provide winning companies with access to business mentoring, free legal and accounting services, pro bono marketing and cloud computing services, collaboration with local universities, access to local investors, and the chance for a $100,000 follow-on grant.
2013 National Small Business Week Awards The U.S. Small Business Administration is accepting awards for: • National Small Business Person of the Year (chosen from among state award winners from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam) Enter online. Or send your nomination directly to your local SBA District Office (find an office here).
The Washington Business Journal is seeking your nominations for our sixth annual Minority Business Leader Awards, which will honor 25 of the region’s most successful and influential minority executives and business owners.
To find more small business events, contests and awards, visit our Small Business Events Calendar. If you are putting on a small business contest, award or competition, and want to get the word out to the community, please submit it through our Small Business Event and Contests Form (it’s free). This list of awards and competitions is brought to you by Small Business Trends and Smallbiztechnology.com. Please note: The descriptions provided here are for convenience only and are NOT the official rules. ALWAYS read official rules carefully at the site holding the competition, contest or award.
The post Check Out Our Final List of Contests for 2012 appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Close An Inactive Business Before the End of the Year Posted: 22 Dec 2012 08:00 AM PST
However, closing your business doesn't just mean shutting down your website or storefront and calling it a day. You'll need to formally close your LLC or Corporation. Otherwise, you can still be on the hook for filing your dead business' annual reports, filing state/federal tax returns, and keeping up any business licenses. All of these will take time and money – and savvy entrepreneurs don't like to pay any more than they absolutely have to. If you've already stopped doing business and are 100% certain you're retiring this business, it's better to wrap things up before the start of the New Year. By dissolving your business while it's still 2012, you'll be free from any obligations in 2013 and have a clean slate to focus on whatever's next. Follow these steps to close your business the right way: 1. Dissolve the Legal Entity (LLC or Corporation) If your business is operating as an LLC or Corporation, you'll need to formally dissolve the legal entity. This entails a few things:
2. Meet any of Your Obligations (i.e. Pay Your Bills) All company debts must be satisfied in order to properly close your business. In most cases, an LLC or Corp needs to settle its debts before any money or assets can be legally distributed to the members. If your business doesn't have the resources to pay its debts, talk with an attorney to determine the best course of action. 3. Cancel Your Business Licenses and Permits Contact the county where your business is located and cancel your business license, as well as your seller's permit or any other permits you hold. Be active about cancelling these things, because you could still be assessed fees and taxes if the county doesn't know your business is no longer in operation. 4. Close your Business' Federal and State Tax Accounts Maybe your business isn't making any money anymore; this alone doesn't mean you're done with the IRS. You'll need to close your Employer Identification Number (EIN), as well as file final federal and state tax returns. You can make your return "final" by checking the box indicating that this will be the final return. If applicable, you'll need to make sure your company's payroll withholding taxes are current. Otherwise, you (or other members/owners) may be personally liable for any unpaid payroll taxes. 5. Talk to Your Network of Vendors and Contractors You've probably already discussed shutting down your business with any customers or clients (or maybe your inactive business hasn't had a client in months or years!). You should also talk to any contractors, vendors, freelancers, suppliers, or anyone else that has participated or helped you in your business. Don't just go dark and make them wonder why they haven't heard from you in months. While this particular business may be closing, you've built up a valuable network of business resources that you can leverage for your next project. By being considerate and open with your network, people will be more eager to join you for future businesses. Final Thoughts Walking away from a business is never an easy decision. However, closing a poorly performing company can free you for the next big thing. Be sure to close your business just as carefully as you opened it. Otherwise, you can be on the hook for added fees and obligations. Locked Door Photo via Shutterstock The post Close An Inactive Business Before the End of the Year appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Social Media Marketing For Dummies: A Smart Book Posted: 22 Dec 2012 06:00 AM PST
I mean every month, it seems that someone has come up with a new way to manage social media marketing, or a new social media marketing platform. In the last couple years alone, we've seen the advent of Pinterest, Google+ and Facebook making major changes in their platform – who can keep up with it all? Social Media Marketing for Dummies Brings it all Together Not to worry. Jan Zimmerman and Debora Ng have come to our rescue with what looks like a virtual social media bible for 2013. Social Media Marketing All-in-One For Dummies is a GIANT book! It's at nearly three inches deep and over 700 pages of updated social media strategies and how-to's that newbies and experts alike will find useful. On the front cover of the book is the boast "9 books in 1." I think the best way to describe the book, might be to just dig right in and show you what those are:
About the Authors You might wonder what kind of marketing expert has mastered all of these tools? It's Jan Zimmerman! Jan has been a business owner for over 30 years. Her previous companies provided a range of services including video production, grant writing and linguistic engineering R&D. In 1994, she founded Sandia Consulting Group and has spun off Watermelon Mountain Web Marketing. It's this kind of broad-based experience in traditional marketing and her experience with B2B clients that have given her the experience and expertise to share this information in a way that will resonate with pragmatic business owners. Her co-author is Deborah Ng, who grew a successful blog into the number one community for freelance writers. Deborah also has significant social media experience from being the community manager for several major online brands. Why add yet ANOTHER social media marketing book to your library? Granted, I received a review copy of Social Media Marketing for Dummies. But what can I tell you – it's one of the benefits of reviewing books! This is a book I would have bought for myself and I'm hanging on to it. If I've given or loaned you a book that I've reviewed before, don't even think about asking me for this copy. It's MINE. I'm hanging on to my copy because I use all these social media marketing tools for my business and with my clients as well. Even if you see yourself as a social media expert, you're going to want this book because you'll find these little insider tips and tricks that will save you tons of time in your day. Social Media Marketing for Dummies is a fantastic resource for any small business that is looking to leverage the power of social media to get and keep customers. The post Social Media Marketing For Dummies: A Smart Book appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
Nothing can sap your energy, finances, and relationships more than stubbornly sticking with a dead end project. Successful entrepreneurs know that one failed business hardly defines them. After all, the end of one venture often means the start of something new.
Every day I get notices and descriptions of new social media tools and strategies. If I didn't love this stuff, I think I would easily get completely overwhelmed and depressed by the myriad of choices out there.| You are subscribed to email updates from Small Business Trends To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
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