Amazon Considers Drones, Intuit Acquires DocStoc, and More |  |
- Amazon Considers Drones, Intuit Acquires DocStoc, and More
- Apple Acquires PrimeSense for $360 Million
- 4 Trade Show Tips For Startup Companies
- How to Close An Inactive Business Before It Really Begins to Cost You
- Core Competencies, Core Product, Core Business…and More Core
- Goodsnitch Keeps Customer Feedback Private
| Amazon Considers Drones, Intuit Acquires DocStoc, and More Posted: 06 Dec 2013 04:00 PM PST
It’s been a busy week with lots of news relevant to the small business community. Here’s a collection of top stories from the Small Business Trends editorial team. New TechnologyAmazon mulls drone delivery. The ecommerce giant says it may be employing flying drones in the not-to-distant future to cut costs and improve service. This could mean trouble for small businesses and the shipping companies that support them. UPS is thinking about drones too. Amazon may not be the only company thinking about flying robots as as way to cut delivery costs. Here’s how UPS and FedEx are also thinking about filling the skies with drones. Local bakery uses business intelligence to grow. Knowing how many customers have come through your door is great. Figuring out how many are repeat customers can be even better. Sugar Lane, the New York City-based bakery, has found a way to learn even more. Move over Siri, it’s Donna. A new generation of virtual assistant has arrived. And this one will do a lot more than tell you the nearest place to buy mushrooms. Check out what Donna has to offer the busy small business owner. Small Business ServicesIntuit acquires DocStoc. Intuit, the accounting software leader behind the popular QuickBooks brand, has announced plans to acquire DocStoc. The Santa Monica company founded in 2007 provides proprietary and user generated documents for small businesses and claims 40 million registered users worldwide. SurveyMonkey launches employee survey service. SurveyMonkey has been known for the kinds of surveys you give to your customers. They’ve been used primarily to gather feedback for your marketing efforts — until now. EntrepreneurshipFUBU founder offers mentoring tips. FUBU founder and Shark Tank investor Daymond John will offer ecommerce hopefuls in a contest run by Shopify plenty of advice over the coming months. But he’s also got some tips about starting with nothing for all entrepreneurs. Apple AcquisitionsApple acquires Topsy for $200 Million. The Twitter analytics company’s website gives users insights by analyzing tweets going all the way back to 2006. Many speculate on how the tech giant might incorporate these analytics in its products. PrimeSense revolutionizes gesture technology. Apple follows fellow tech giant Google which bought gesture technology company Flutter earlier this year. Expect both companies to start working these features into their products. Customer RelationsCustomer ejected over Google Glass. The Seattle-based entrepreneur who said he’d keep Google Glass users out of his establishments has done just that. Now the fallout begins. The question is where other business owners will draw the line. AT&T and T-Mobile chief duke it out over customer. Did we mention all this happened publicly over Twitter? In the end, T-Mobile CEO John Legere’s actions are seen by some as decisive. But some tactics can also easily backfire. Goodsnitch finds new way to harvest feedback. Customer review sites have gotten plenty of bad press in recent months. So it’s hardly surprising to see this startup looking at customer feedback from a whole different perspective. RevenueA look at the earnings behind Spotify. Lots of people are using the service known as Spotify to get their fix of music from their favorite bands. But a few artists have pulled their recordings as a protest over the way they are compensated for their work. Small Business Trends CEO Anita Campbell has more. PolicyMore trouble coming from Affordable Care Act. The ACA has already been grabbing headlines for all the wrong reasons, with a malfunctioning website and termination of many people’s coverage. But Scott Shane claims more trouble is coming. Reading Photo via Shutterstock The post Amazon Considers Drones, Intuit Acquires DocStoc, and More appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Apple Acquires PrimeSense for $360 Million Posted: 06 Dec 2013 01:30 PM PST
Turn the channel on your new Apple TV with just a wave of the hand. Or make a purchase on your favorite ecommerce site with another simple swipe. These are just some of the wonders PrimeSense, an Israeli-based company specializing in 3D sensor technology, believes it can bring to pass. The company has just been acquired by Apple Inc. for an estimated $360 million. On its website, PrimeSense explains the uses of its innovative products:
A video demonstrates applications of the technology both now and in the future: Apple follows search engine giant Google into the gesture technology space. Google acquired gesture technology startup Flutter earlier this year for around $40 million. PrimeSense could be used in any number of future Apple projects including rumored Apple television and smartwatch development, said All Things D. The site reports both companies have confirmed the sale. But neither has specified future plans. PrimeSense first rose to fame helping Microsoft develop Kinect, used to integrate players’ motions into actual gameplay on the Xbox, All Things D reports. The acquisition is another good example of how small companies that develop unique technologies or products can generate great interest and even lucrative acquisition offers. That interest is among much larger tech companies hoping to use the new companies products or innovations long term. Apple Photo via Shutterstock The post Apple Acquires PrimeSense for $360 Million appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| 4 Trade Show Tips For Startup Companies Posted: 06 Dec 2013 11:00 AM PST
Startup companies have a lot of things to worry about as they strive to become successful. Trade shows are practically foolproof in that endeavor, but only if you know what you’re doing. Think about the potential of introducing your new business to that many people. With the right techniques, you can theoretically triple your sales with just one or two shows and there are tips you can use to accomplish this. Trade Show Tips for StartupsGet Busy with the LegworkYour work begins way before the show takes place. In addition to planning your budget and setting up a goal list, you have to get started on the legwork. While trade shows are excellent places to network, you can begin networking beforehand. Reach out to current customers, investors, vendors and anyone who helped your startup along the way. Let them know you’re setting up a booth, invite them to come, and invite them to invite others as well. If you take down contact information from even one-time customers, then send out notices utilizing social media and newsletters advertising your appearance at the trade show. Make an Investment in a Great BoothThere are all sorts of trade show booths available. If you have the finances and think you’ll attend lots of shows, a custom design is worth the investment. You can make your logo stand out, choose your colors, and make sure you have as much space as you need. All the details are up to you, and although you’ll certainly pay for it, it’s a worthwhile investment if it brings in more business. As a startup, however, you may not have the budget for an expensive booth. But, that’s okay because you can still make a good investment. Here are some criteria for buying a trade show display:
As long as your signage is vibrant, visible and interesting, your booth will serve you well. Be as Eye-Catching as PossibleYou have to grab the attention of all the people passing by your booth. The display itself, the colors, the signage, and the product placement are solid places to start, but that’s not the only way to create an eye-catching booth. If you want to have a steady stream of visitors, you need to:
Don’t Get Lazy After the ShowJust because you got a lot of leads and prospects at the trade show doesn’t mean you’re done. The worst mistake a startup can make is to get lazy, because people will forget about you. At your booth, invite people to share their contact information, or at least their email addresses. After the show, send out letters and follow-up messages, giving them a personal touch when possible. You can give your business a significant boost if you attend the right trade show events. Just remember that those sales don’t come cheap, so you have to work hard to generate and maintain relationships. The post 4 Trade Show Tips For Startup Companies appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| How to Close An Inactive Business Before It Really Begins to Cost You Posted: 06 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST
Alex's franchise business was running at full steam when he received a letter from a collection agency from out of the blue. Unsure about where he could possibly be delinquent, he learned it was for a "Business Registration Fee" and further investigating uncovered that it was fees for an old business he once started a decade ago and never did anything with. The moral of the story is that any business, once officially launched, must be officially closed. In Alex's case, he quickly lost interest in that original company, stopped advertising, didn't look for clients, and had no revenue. But just because you're not actively working on a business doesn't mean it's closed. You'll need to formally close your LLC or Corporation. Otherwise, you can still be on the hook for filing your inactive 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. As Alex learned, the fees and obligations will catch up to you eventually. If you have an inactive business and are certain you're retiring it, it's smart to wrap things up and close it officially before the end of the year. That way, you won't be on the hook for anything in the future and you'll be free to focus your attention on something bigger and better. How to Close an Inactive Business1. Dissolve the Legal Entity (LLC or Corporation) with the StateAn LLC or Corporation needs to be officially dissolved. If there are multiple owners/shareholders involved, all business associates need to vote on the business closing. After the vote, you'll need to file an "Articles of Dissolution" or "Certificate of Termination" with the Secretary of State's office wherever your LLC or Corporation was established.
2. Pay Any Outstanding BillsYou need to satisfy any company debts before closing the 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 next steps. 3. Cancel Any Business Licenses or PermitsIf you opened any licenses or permits (such as a reseller's license), you'll need to cancel them with the appropriate local entity. Be proactive about cancelling these things. The county government won't know you're not actually operating a business anymore (and will continue to assess fees) until you notify them. 4. File Your Final Federal and State Tax ReturnsYou will need to file a tax return for the year you go out of business. For a partnership, corporation, S Corp, or LLC, you can check the box indicating that this is a final return. You can learn more here. And if you have any employees, you'll need to file the final employment tax returns and make your final federal tax deposits for these taxes. This list represents the legal steps needed to properly close a business. But there are other things to consider when closing a business as well. If you still have any active clients, you'll need to create a closing plan with them. Likewise, you should discuss your plans with any key contractors, vendors, freelancers, suppliers or anyone else who has helped you. Don't just go dark and make them wonder what happened. By being considerate and open with your network, people will be more eager to join you for future ventures. Closed Photo via Shutterstock The post How to Close An Inactive Business Before It Really Begins to Cost You appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Core Competencies, Core Product, Core Business…and More Core Posted: 06 Dec 2013 05:00 AM PST
I often read the business section of the paper to stay up to date and to troll for topics for new cartoons. Generally I read a bit, something hits me, I write it down, and then I keep reading. One day, I noticed I’d written down a number of phrases that included the word “core.” Core product, core business, core customer… it seemed like that was the word for the day. So after searching out a few more examples I lumped them all together, added some buggy eyes and I had this core-toon. (I know, that was terrible. I couldn’t help myself.) The post Core Competencies, Core Product, Core Business…and More Core appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Goodsnitch Keeps Customer Feedback Private Posted: 06 Dec 2013 02:30 AM PST
Yelp and other social media and review sites have revolutionized customer feedback. Customers are empowered like never before to express sentiments good and bad about your business. But the public nature of these sites sometimes invites customers with an ax to grind. And doubts raised over the validity of reviews on Yelp and other sites is another problem. Now a new app comes at this issue from a totally different direction. Goodsnitch lets customers give you feedback – privately. This eliminates some of the motivation for questionable posts on review sites like Yelp. Goodsnitch presents customers with very basic questions about the service they received — like a very quick survey. The company says questions can be customized by business owners to collect the most important feedback to them. Businesses can reward customers for the feedback they give or get in touch if needed to address a problem. Businesses can also apparently collect multiple customer responses creating meaningful data for future decisions. Here’s a basic video overview of the app in action: More About GoodsnitchUsing the basic app is free but more customized features and installation are available with premium versions, reports the New York Times. Founder Robert Pace, who is privately funding the app’s development, told the Times leaving feedback takes only about thirty seconds for customers. Pace says Goodsnitch contains a feature called Heromaker. It lets customers focus on a particular employee they feel improved their experience or gave great customer service. The feature could allow a business to create a better company culture by rewarding employees who receive positive feedback from customers. Developers hope better adoption will allow Goodsnitch to gather more useful data across a variety of industries. That data may be part of the products and services Goodsnitch offers customers in the future. Image: Goodsnitch The post Goodsnitch Keeps Customer Feedback Private appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Small Business Trends To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment