Vehicle Insurance And Business Use

It is not uncommon for small businesses to use their personal vehicle for use in their business. There are, however, certain facts that should be considered regarding car insurance, taxes and the business use of your car.

Commercial Insurance

Auto insurance companies typically have a different rate structure for insuring vehicles put in service for personal use than vehicles in commercial use. If you use your car for business, inform your auto insurer. You'll want to ensure that your policy covers your vehicle when you are using it for both business and personal purposes. In the event an accident occurs while using your car for business, you want to be confident that you are completely covered.

Occasional Business Use

When the business use of your car only occurs occasionally, ask your auto insurer if you need an extension on your personal policy. You may not need a full commercial policy. Explain the circumstances when you use your car for business, such as making an occasional delivery or attending a meeting. Sometimes small business owners put a magnetic sign on their car displaying their business name and phone number. Be advised that if you do this, tell your insurer, as they may consider this to constitute a business vehicle, and you'll need a change in your policy to cover you at all times.

Tax Deductions

The business use of your car can be taken as a tax deduction on your income tax. There are two ways to calculate this deduction. You can take a straight mileage deduction. The Internal Revenue Service gives a deductible cost per mile each year, such as 50 cents per mile. Another way is to total all of your vehicle's annual expenses, including auto insurance, gas, maintenance and repairs, and take a percentage of those expenses as a deduction, based on the percentage of business-to-personal use. This is determined by keeping a record of personal and business miles traveled. For example, if you drove 20,000 miles during the tax year, and 10,000 of that was for business, you can deduct 50 percent of your car insurance, gas and maintenance costs.

Keep Accurate Records

Office supply stores sell small vehicle log booklets that you can keep in your car. These provide a written record of the dates, odometer readings and the purpose for each trip. Supplement this booklet and other expenses with supporting documents, such as a copy your car insurance policy and premium statements and cancelled checks showing you paid your car insurance. Cancelled checks, credit card statements, repair invoices and gas receipts should also be kept.

Use Twitter To Market The Local Business Free Of Charge

Attract more Twitter followers through interesting conversation about your business.

Keeping your customers informed about your product or service takes time and effort. While most advertising can be expensive, Twitter offers an opportunity to stay in touch with customers and build your clientele for free. You don't have to pay for a Twitter account for your business, and it only takes a few minutes to register and learn tweet. Your success as a business owner on Twitter depends on your ability to get customers from your local area to follow you. You don't tweet direct advertisements to your followers, but relationships you establish with your followers through Twitter can help expand your business.

Instructions

1. Announce your Twitter account on your business website and email newsletter. Invite customers on your business email list to follow your business on Twitter. Offer coupon discounts for your products or services as a signup incentive. Use the "Find People" feature to search for tweeters in your area who share your interests. Follow relevant people recommended by Twitter and other industry peers and expert authorities to create an informative ecosystem that's relevant to you and your followers.

2. Tweet daily about topics relevant to your business. Type your tweets in an interesting "voice" to keep people reading. Whether your tone is funny or serious, aim to leave people wanting to see more from you. Tweet your expert opinion about products and services that you offer. Stimulate discussions by posting links and opinion to news stories relevant to your business.

3. Follow media outlets and journalists in your community. Watch for active journalists, and respond to them when they tweet about topics relevant to your business. Use Twitter to find opportunities to get your business featured or mentioned in local news stories. Be tactful when you communicate with journalists. Don't turn off media contacts by being too pushy.

4. Stay informed about current Twitter topics in your local area by choosing your location from the "Trending" menu. If your location is not in the "Trending" menu, you can find other tweets from your location by typing the "#" symbol in front of the name of your location in the "Find" box. Save searches so that you can monitor them daily.

5. Communicate with followers who contact you through Twitter with questions about your product or service. Familiarize yourself with Twitter functionality so that you won't miss "messages" or "mentions." People can send you a "direct message" if you follow them. People you don't follow have to contact you in the public Twitter timeline. Be responsive about questions, and inquiries build a reputation among followers in your local area that can translate over time into offline sales opportunities.

What Triggered Enron To Break Down

What Caused Enron to Collapse?

Accounting Problems

The conventional wisdom is that it was "innovative" accounting practices and their consequences that started the tide of losses that brought the energy giant down. Enron collapsed not so much because it had gotten too big, but because it was perceived to be much bigger than it really was in the first place. By decentralizing its operations into numerous subsidiaries and shell corporations, Enron was able to hide huge derivative losses that would have halted its growth much sooner if widely understood. Publicly traded corporations are required to make their financial statements public, but Enron's finances were an impenetrable maze of carefully crafted imaginary transactions between itself and its subsidiaries that masked its true financial state. In other words, losses were held off the book by subsidiary companies, while assets were stated. Taken at its word, this rosy scenario made the company the darling of Wall Street, and it was able to borrow almost endlessly and expand into e-commerce and other questionable ventures. Its stock literally soared, which made employee compensation and pensions in the form of stock options seem very attractive. But what were already considered accounting practices on the edge of acceptable standards were eventually revealed to be outright fraudulent. The disgrace drove so much business away from and created such liability for accounting firm Arthur Anderson that it was itself forced out of business. By this time, though, the true value of the company had been revealed and the stock price collapsed, leaving employees with worthless options and pension packages. Of course, executives that understood the real picture sold their shares in advance of the collapsed and waltzed away with billions.

Management Culture

Of course, the Enron fiasco did not happen by accident. It was facilitated by a corporate culture that encouraged greed and fraud, as exemplified by the energy traders who extorted California energy consumers. Rather than focus on creating real value, management's only goal was in maintaining the appearance of value, and therefore a rising stock price. This was exacerbated by a fiercely competitive corporate culture that rewarded results at any cost. Some divisions of Enron replaced as much as 15 percent of its work force annually, leaving employees to scramble for any advantage they could find to justify their continued employment. While the internal integrity of the company remained thusly challenged, the façade was the exact opposite. The company leveraged political connections in both the Clinton and Bush administrations, as well as on Wall Street, for preferential treatment and the air of legitimacy that allowed it to perpetrate its frauds. In this context, the accounting practices widely considered the cause of the Enron collapse can be seen as just a symptom of a larger management culture that exemplified the dark side of American capitalism.

Why Is A Great Advertising Agency

A great advertising agency can help you craft the right message for the right audience.

If you want to get your company's name or product "out there," then you need to find an advertising agency that can help you successfully reach your target audience. With so many agencies to choose from, some might believe that there's no difference between Company A and Company Z. A little research, however, will help you find a great advertising agency.

Relationships

Strong client relationships will go a long way in making an advertising agency great. An agency built on weak relationships is doomed for failure. If the relationship is strong, there is loyalty. A client will return where they are comfortable. This also shows that the agency can build close relationships because they are delivering satisfying results. This is an attraction for potential clients.

Deep Roots

A great advertising agency has stood the test of time. An agency that has been around longer is, generally, strong. Like most other businesses, a long-tenured firm has long-existing clients and a potentially deep well of clients. A great advertising agency can draw from experience to tackle challenges ahead. It also has built trust and confidence in its industry and has cache when attracting new clients.

Return on Investment

Great advertising agencies focus on the keeping things simple and looking at maximizing their client's return on investment. Typically, these types of agencies last longer because they focus on the grassroots and getting the message across, rather than trying to be cute or producing puffy pieces to be seen as new. A great agency looks to get the client the biggest bang for his buck and that is done easiest with simplicity.

Niche

Every industry has a niche. The job of a great advertising agency is to find out what niche the client's advertising should be targeting. Whom is the client trying to attract? The agency has to find out what group this is and take advantage of the opportunity. For example, a restaurant might want to target people of a certain age group because no other business specifically targets them. A great advertising agency will recognize this and work with the client on reaching this demographic.

Create A Celebration Flyer With Google Paperwork

In just a few steps, you can create a captivating event flyer with Google Docs.

Google Docs is a highly effective tool for creating professional event flyers that you can easily share and distribute to others. You don’t need a fancy graphics application or program to create an announcement that successfully publicizes your event--just use Google Docs.

Instructions

1. Create a free account at the Google Docs website (see Resources below).

2. Sign in to your Google Docs account. Go to the “New” tab on the upper left side of the page. Select “From template…”

3. Go to the search box at the top of the page and type “announcement.” Click the “Search Templates” button.

4. Select the template layout that best fits your needs.

5. Click the “Use this template” button of the template you’d like to use.

6. Customize the text, pictures, logos and font of your flyer.

Nonprofit Organization Ideas

There are so many non-profit organizations that are trying to spread a message and raise money for their causes. This may be a church, medical clinic, youth group or school. It may also be a specialty group seeking to raise money and awareness for specific causes such as breast cancer or autism. With so many places competing for the same donation dollars, you need to strategically plan how you will achieve your goals.

Fundraisers

How an organization raises money is limitless. You can do everything from sending out letters requesting donations and telling people about your cause to holding a car wash on a hot summer afternoon. When looking at fundraisers, consider the demographic and community you will be targeting. If you are approaching a community that has a strong school presence, you don't want to have competing fundraisers of cookie dough, gift wrap or chocolates. Find a way to make your fundraisers stand out from what the "normal" things are.

Create an annual event such as a dance or auction that invites people in for an evening of fun with friends. Instead of selling catalog gift wrap for the holidays, hold a gift-wrapping station to ease the stress for people who can't get it all done for the holidays. Providing a service or entertaining donors always contributes to success.

Be Part of the Community

A successful non-profit organization cannot isolate itself within the community. You can't be threatened by the competing dollars, so network with other organization leaders, community leaders and the public at large. In doing so, you understand what is working for others and what isn't. You also develop relationships with people who may be able to provide you a larger platform or endorse your endeavors. Successful leaders of non-profit organizations understand that their role is as much political as it is philanthropic and that you need to maintain this balance of finesse to help your organization succeed.

Team Up

While everyone is looking for the donation dollars, there are many symbiotic relationships that can exist between non-profit organizations. School groups can team up with youth sports teams or civic service groups. A clinic that provides education and birth control means for teenagers can create a partnership with AIDS awareness groups. Parent clubs and organizations can work with local churches or autism groups, finding ways to fill more than one need. When you are able to work together, you are able to combine resources to make larger events that attract more people, get more publicity and press, and earn more for everyone.

New Weave Techniques

The hair industry is constantly changing as technology advances and easier styling methods become available. Traditional weaves are normally done by sewing in hair extensions. Now stylists have replaced this time-consuming weaving technique with more convenient hair-extension-application methods. Fusion, clip-ins, and lace fronts are all weaving techniques, which have changed the traditional weaving concept and have significantly preserved application time.

Fusion Techniques

Strand-bonding techniques or "fusion" have become extremely popular. Fused hair follicles are longer lasting than glue-applied extensions, but they can be equally damaging if not done correctly. There are several ways to fuse loose hair strands. The most inexpensive way to fuse hair is to take small sections of hair and fuse the hair together using rubber- band bonds. Professional fusing is normally done with adhesives, thermal bonding or cold bonding. All are methods used to fuse artificial or human hair to your natural hair follicles.

Weave Clip-In Techniques

Clip-in hair extensions are designed for weave-wearers who want the look of a weave, but who do not want to endure its application process. Traditionally, weave applications can be very time-consuming, averaging between four-and-eight hours. Clip-in extensions allow you to easily clip hair extensions onto your natural hair. This is also the least damaging method used, compared with attached hair extensions. Unlike the glue, sew, and fusion methods, there is no commitment to hair extensions applied as clip-ins. They are designed to be removed at your convenience. Clip-in extensions are available in both synthetic and human hair and range between $20-to-$200 a pack. Choose the hair length, color, and texture that is best for you.

Lace-Front Weave

As the demand for lace fronts continues to increase in Hollywood, ordinary women are becoming more intrigued because they can disregard their natural hair for 4-to-6 weeks. Women with damaged hair or hair loss use lace fronts to give their natural hair a restoration break. Hair growth can develop from the constant wear of lace-front wigs, but hair loss around the hair edges or "nape area" will occur if not applied correctly.This can subsequently cause an unhealthy dependency on lace-fronts weaves. Apply the lace front using either hair glue or a two-sided adhesive tape. When applying the lace front for the first time, I advise that you use the two-sided tape. Lace fronts do not work well on everyone's face and tape offers less commitment, allowing you to remove the lace front with ease and without damaging your hair.

What Exactly Are Total Receipts

Total receipts are used to calculate taxes.

Total receipts is also referred to as gross receipts in the business world. Primarily, this calculation is necessary for filing a tax return with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), whether the organization is a for-profit business or a non-profit organization. Specific requirements for reporting gross receipts vary from state to state so be sure to read the specifics on your tax return form.

What Total Receipts Include

Total receipts is a report of all the income of a business for that year, whether from products sold or service fees. Whatever money you have received goes under "total receipts." For non-profit organizations, it includes all donations and grants as well as service fees.

Total Receipts vs. Total Revenue

Total revenue is a measure of the change in a business' financial statement. It looks at the difference between money received and money spent (total expenses) and measures the business' profit or loss. Total receipts do not take into account the organization's expenses at all but measure only the money received.

Counting Taxes

When calculating total receipts, do not include any sales taxes paid by the customer on an item sold by the organization. Since the organization does not actually receive that money, it is not considered part of the "total receipts."

Purposes of Total Receipts

Calculating total receipts is necessary for filing both state and federal taxes, though specific guidelines and taxes vary from state to state. Total receipts should also be listed on financial statements in order to keep an accurate record of the business' finances and in order to properly fill out tax returns.

What Exactly Are Three Kinds Of Evaluation Approaches Pr

The field of public relations is concerned with measuring and altering the attitudes and beliefs that members of the public hold toward a business, institution, issue or individual. Public relations professionals use many different techniques to influence public opinion. They also employ methods for evaluating the status of public attitudes before they begin their work and as a means of measuring their effectiveness during or after a campaign.

Measuring Key Performance Indicators

A public relations firm or business can evaluate the effectiveness of a campaign by tracking key performance indicators, or KPIs, over time. KPIs vary from one type of business to another. They include statistics that are relatively easy to measure and count, such as total sales, number of units sold, net profit margin and quarterly revenue. Other key performance indicators rely on demographics. For example, a business may wish to appeal to younger customers after noting that more than half of the people who enter its stores are over age 40. Following a PR campaign that targets young people, a new check on the age of customers who shop with a business will reveal whether the campaign was successful.

Subjective Surveys

Another essential technique for evaluating the effectiveness of PR involves the use of a subjective survey. Unlike key performance indicators, subjective surveys don't attach numerical values to the responses they ask for. Instead they rely on participants to share their feelings on a subject. For example, a business may wish to rebuild its reputation after a product recall. Administering a survey at the beginning of a PR campaign allows the PR professionals to gauge public attitudes toward the company. Another survey following the campaign will reveal whether opinions have changed.

Predetermined Objectives

A business may employ a PR firm with a very specific idea of what it wants to achieve through a public relations campaign. In these cases, businesses may lay out predetermined objectives that guide the PR firm and ultimately determine its success. Predetermined indicators that can be useful to determine whether a public relations campaign is effective include website page views and mentions in social media.

Outcome

Each type of evaluation technique allows a public relations firm to learn something about a client's current and changing public status. Likewise, evaluation techniques give businesses tools to determine whether their money has been well spent. But each type of evaluation technique is limited by its own scope. Subjective surveys, for example, lack numerical data to create obvious results. At the same time, key performance indicators can change for many reasons besides a PR firm's efforts. PR professionals and business leaders need to use all of the techniques available to them within the context of the specific PR problems they face to mount an effective campaign.

Be Considered A Whistleblower

Blowing the whistle on an employer who is engaged in illegal, unethical or dangerous workplace activities is a risky business that requires organization. Whistle-blowing experiences have been glamorized in the media, but it is important to place your emotions aside and craft a course of action that will minimize your risk.

Instructions

1. Formulate a plan of action that includes the best time and place to blow the whistle. Learn about your state whistle-blowing laws and consult an attorney before reporting any wrongdoing.

2. Keep your plans to yourself. Other than consulting an attorney, do not share your whistle-blowing plans. If you confide in a co-worker you increase the risk of management discovering your plan before it comes to fruition.

3. Discard your false illusions of workplace privacy. In today's high tech workplace no email, phone conversation or instant message is irretrievable. If you communicate with anyone about your employer's activities, assume that your employer will be able to access this communication, especially if it takes place using work issued equipment.

4. Increase your credibility by maintaining a detailed record of workplace activities. A dated account of wrongdoings will hold up much better in court than one person's foggy recollections. Keep this log at home.

5. Use precise wording when crafting a whistle-blowers report. An attorney can help you draw up this document, so that the employer cannot argue that you were being vengeful.

6. Stick to the known facts when reporting any misconduct at your place of employment. Using only facts increases your credibility.

7. Focus on the future. Blowing the whistle on your employer can be all consuming for a period of time, but you must think of the next step in your professional life. Before agreeing on a settlement or voluntarily leaving your company, consult with an attorney to ensure that the whistle-blowing episode does not affect your future career adversely.

Do You Know The Three Major Kinds Of Economic Systems

There are three major types of economic systems in the world today--market, planned and mixed. While traditional economies (where the economic system is based on traditions and customs such as hunting and farming) still exist in countries such as Haiti, Chad and Rwanda, most of the world's economic systems are considered mixed.

Market Economy

Market economies feature individuals who own and operate the means of production, and the state and national governments play a small role. The consumers and their subsequent buying decisions drive the economy. The right path for the economic development of the country is heavily based on the assumptions of the market, or supply and demand, according to Economy Watch.com. Also referred to as free enterprise or capitalist systems, market economies rely upon the state to protect the consumer while simultaneously promoting competition in the market. Countries with market economies include the United States, Japan and Great Britain.

Command/Planned Economy

A command, or planned, economy is where the government makes all major decisions for the country related to production, service, distribution and commodity prices, according to Economy Watch.com. The government owns and operates the factors of production; this type of economic system is often referred to as communism. Examples include the economies of China, Laos and Cuba. While this type of economy can result in slower reaction time to consumer needs because it is operated entirely by the government, it also allows for the use of all available resources for production development. A market economy uses available resources mainly for marketing and advertising, according to Economy Watch.

Mixed Economy

Mixed economies have elements of both planned and market economies in one cohesive system, according to Economy Watch. This system is popular in countries where neither business corporations nor the government controls the country's economic activities. There are actually no pure market or command economic systems that exist in the world today, according to Buck Investor.com and Economy Watch.com. Instead, most countries use a mixed economic system. Mixed economies are described as having government regulation in some areas and flexibility in others. According to Economy Watch, mixed economies result when a society looks to find balance when the people enjoy a wide range of social and political views.

Philanthropy Startup Grants or loans

Philanthropic organizations help communities and individuals by carefully investing money in programs and donation efforts that will solve current problems or prevent social issues from developing. These organizations use a number of different methods to achieve their goals, but all need money to get started and continue operating. Grants are one major funding source for philanthropic organizations.

Types

Philanthropy startup grants can take several different forms. Some grants are available to any organization that works to solve a particular problem or address a specific social need, such as organizations that focus on community housing issues or education. Other grants are more general, allowing applicant organizations to make cases for the needs of their communities, whatever they may be.

Sources

The two major sources for philanthropy startup grants are government agencies and private businesses. Government, including state, local and federal agencies, all devote resources to grants. In many cases, specific departments offer grants to philanthropic startups that seek to address the same issues that the department is responsible for. For example, the National Endowment for the Arts makes grants available to help fund artists, furthering the agency's mission to bring art to the public. Businesses often offer grants in line with their interests or field. For example, a manufacturing business may invest in workforce development grants for philanthropy startups that want to establish job training centers in a community where the company has a factory.

Process

The grant application process for a philanthropy startup is not the first step in becoming established. Most grant-giving organizations will only accept applications from philanthropy groups that already have nonprofit status, a name, a board of directors and a mission statement. However, without money, these groups may still be in the startup or planning phase. Philanthropy startup grant applications will ask for basic information about the organization's mission, including its plans for the money, as well as the histories of its directors and their experience in philanthropy.

Outcome

Unlike loans, grants never need repayment, which is one of the elements that makes them so appealing to philanthropy startups that plan to give away a portion of the money they take in as part of their operations. However, philanthropy startup grants may be one-time funding sources that aren't available once a philanthropic organization is well established. Other grants will become available, especially as an organization builds a history of effective work in the community, but endowments, investments and other sources of funding are likely to be necessary to keep a philanthropic group running.

Ship A 55gallon Barrel Inexpensively

Ship a 55-Gallon Barrel Cheaply

Shipping barrels are more durable than cardboard boxes, making them ideal for combining items for shipment or transporting fragile items. Using barrels over 50 gallons for domestic shipping can be expensive, as they may exceed the weight and height limitations of the United States Postal Service. Private carriers such as UPS transport these packages but charge hundreds in fees for barrels over 50 gallons. However, some international shipping services offer discounted rates for barrels to common shipping destinations, such as Jamaica, Haiti and Ghana. These countries receive frequent deliveries from family members who have immigrated to the United States. For this group, barrels are a useful tool for cheap shipping.

Instructions

International Shipments

1. Locate a shipping company that delivers to your desired location. Some to choose from are Ship to Caribbean, VOOVit and Laparkan Shipping. Ask friends, family and coworkers for recommendations.

2. Ask about the price per pound and flat rates for shipping a 55-gallon barrel. Look for special discounts to save money; find savings in company advertisements, customer referral programs or by speaking directly to a sales representative about your shipment. You may get a discount for shipping on certain days or for using the barrels they sell. Ask about free pick-up services.

3. Purchase the lightest barrel for your needs. Wooden and metal barrels are heavier but more durable than plastic and cardboard. Check with your shipping supplier for deals on barrels.

4. Pack barrel tightly. Line the barrel with a plastic liner if you are shipping food. Place the heaviest items, such as canned goods, in the bottom of the barrel with clothing and soft items near the top.

5. Transport the barrel to the shipping service in your personal vehicle if it is not being picked up.

Domestic Shipping

6. Measure the barrel's height and girth. The girth is the distance around the barrel at its widest point.

7. Add the two measurements. If the sum is over 108 inches you will be charged a fee by the USPS; any package in excess of 130 inches will not be shippable. UPS and FedEx charge fees for packages over 108 inches in combined height and girth.

8. Fill the barrel.

9. Weigh the barrel. Use a commercial scale or stand on a conventional scale while holding the barrel. Have a second party read the weight. USPS will not ship over 70 pounds; other carries will charge a fee for barrels over 150 lbs.

10. Choose USPS parcel post, UPS ground or FedEx Freight services. Review the additional services such as insurance, free pick-up and signature confirmation offered by each company to determine the best value for your specific package.

Do You Know The Methods To Get A Passport

In the United States, passports are issued by the State Department.

In order to comply with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, any U.S citizen returning by air from any international location must present a valid passport to customs authorities in order to gain re-entry into the country. In the United States, issuing passports falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of State. Any U.S. citizen may apply for a passport. For first-time applicants, your application, application fees and additional required documentation must be submitted in person at locations approved by the State Department. Depending on where you live, these locations might be your local post office, town clerk's office or public library.

Passport Application

The first step in acquiring a passport is to complete the application, Form DS-11, Application For A U.S. Passport. The form is available for downloading and printing, or you may fill out an online form and print it once it has been completed. Paper copies may be obtained at any passport acceptance facility, such as your local post office. However, do not sign the form until instructed to do so at the acceptance facility.

Application Submission

Anyone applying for a U.S. passport for the first time must submit the application in person at one of the designated acceptance facilities identified by the State Department. It is at this time that you will be instructed to sign the application in the presence of the facility's personnel. It bears repeating that you must not sign the completed application in advance.

Application Fees

For adult first-time applicants age 16 years or older, the passport application fee is $110. There is an additional execution fee of $25, which must be paid separately. The passport fee for minor children is $80 plus the $25 dollar execution fee. Payment methods include credit cards, personal or certified check, money order and in some cases, exact cash. Checks or money orders must be made payable to "Department of State." If you intend to pay in cash, it is advisable to verify in advance that the acceptance facility will take cash, as some will not. The application fee is nonrefundable, even if your application is denied.

Evidence of U.S. Citizenship

In addition to the application and fees, you must submit proof of U.S. citizenship. Acceptable documents include a previously issued and undamaged U.S. passport, certified birth certificate, Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth, Naturalization Certificate or Certificate of Citizenship. After your application has been processed, these documents will be returned to you by mail.

Personal Identification

When applying in person, acceptable identification must also be presented. Valid examples include a Naturalization Certificate, valid driver's license, current government ID card or current military ID card. In conjunction with the presentation of these items, you must submit front and back photocopies of your identification. They must be on white standard-sized copier paper.

Passport Photos

Along with your application, you must also submit two, 2-inch by 2-inch identical color photos. They must show your full face, have been taken within the last six months, illustrate you wearing normal street attire and must be printed on photo-quality paper. When submitting Form DS-11 in person, the photos should not be attached to the application.

Special Rules For Children

Children must appear in person along with their parents or legal guardian when submitting a passport application. Citizenship and identification documentation for children must also be provided, as well as written proof that the adults are, in fact, the child's biological or adoptive parents. The same photo requirements exist for children as well. Additionally, parents must also sign the child's DS-11 form indicating their consent to the issuance of a passport. As with adult passports, all parties must sign at the time the DS-11 form is submitted.

Get Compensated Like A Venture Capitalist

Venture capitalists always meet new people to invest in next.

Venture capitalists look for ways to earn residual income without having active day-to-day participation in a business. In some social circles, they are also known as angel investors. In order to become a profitable venture capitalist, you must have a sound business acumen and the funds to invest. Today, you can invest from a computer via the internet or from a face-to-face meeting. Venture capitalists have more opportunity for success than ever before with the availability of the internet.

Instructions

1. Select investment clubs to join based on track record. Traditional investment firms provide seed money to promising companies. Find out how much due diligence will be required on the investor's part. Some will be free to join and offer good return rates. Typically, people that want to become venture capitalists want the ability to own part of a company without putting in long hours. So, this will require learning about the club that will serve as the intermediary. For instance, some of the clubs have been investigated and found to be a sound operation according to media reports. However, there are scams and some investors do not get repaid. For this reason, venture capitalists increase chances of repayment by dealing with a well-known club that completes the due diligence on a potential investment. Otherwise, the investor will have to complete all background checking individually.

2. Gather all personal information to earn acceptance into the club. Each investor must have all documentation necessary to prove who he is. Therefore, information about an investor's income, social security number and the amount willing to invest will be necessary. The more details provided, the easier it should be for the club to match projects, if requested by you as the client.

3. Evaluate companies and determine the potential for return of investment. It is defined by looking at the amount of money invested from the amount provided in return. There are different forms of payment: check, PayPal, etc. Read through all the contracts and gain a thorough idea of the investment. Seek expert support before commitment and ask many questions. Before long, you will earn returns as a venture capitalist online or in a traditional firm.

Do You Know The Primary Options That Come With The Sarbanesoxley Act

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 came in the wake of several high-profile corporate accounting scandals, including those involving Enron, WorldCom and Tyco International. Confidence in publicly traded companies collapsed when the media revealed the details of unethical insider trades, corporate hubris and corruption of outside auditors. Congress enacted the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, named after Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D-Maryland) and Rep. Michael Oxley (R-Ohio), to rein in such practices.

Greater Oversight of Accounting Practices

The act created the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. The board regulates and inspects public accounting firms that deal with publicly traded companies. The act also requires CEOs and chief financial officers to establish internal accounting controls as a means to prevent fraud and malfeasance. These internal control summaries must be included in financial reports to increase corporate transparency. False statements on these internal control documents may subject company executives to criminal penalties.

Increased independence of auditors and analysts

Sarbanes-Oxley lessens the influence companies wield over auditors and accounting firms. In previous situations of corporate reporting fraud, investigators found inappropriately close business relationships between some companies and the firms that audited them. This gave the auditors a financial incentive to portray the company in a positive light. Sarbanes-Oxley basically allows auditing of auditors as an oversight technique.

Increased Penalties for Corporate Crime

Sarbanes-Oxley allows the Securities and Exchange Commission to penalize or bar securities professionals for inappropriate behavior, such as insider trading. The law also allows the SEC to punish executives who violate regulations. The SEC may bar executives convicted under Sarbanes-Oxley from directorships or officerships in public companies. The act increased prison sentences and fines for a number of corporate crimes. It also extended the statute of limitations for shareholders to sue for fraud or deceit perpetrated by the company.

Tighter Controls on Insider Activity

The act places greater controls on insider activities. The SEC defines an insider as an executive officer, a director or a shareholder with at least 10 percent of outstanding shares. The act requires faster reporting of insider trades to the SEC than previously required. Any insider trades must be reported within 48 business hours of the trade. The act also bars any insider trades during retirement fund blackout periods. Blackout periods occur when the fund experiences major changes. Participants are prohibited from changing their investment options during this blackout period.

Use Rubber Bands To Stretch For Sports

Large rubber bands, often with handles at the end, are popular elements of lighter-weight work-out routines, as the natural resistance of the bands is used by stretching them. In addition to work in muscle building, however, exercise bands can also be used as an aid in pre-work-out stretching routines, most notably on stretches involving the lower body. The band is used to add extra leverage and tension, allowing for a greater stretch of the muscle.

Instructions

1. Lie on your back, with your legs extended straight out.

2. Bend the leg being stretched, or both legs if you will be stretching them in tandem.

3. Hook the center of the exercise band over the sole of the foot on the leg being stretched.

4. Hold the handles of the band, or the end of the bands if they do not have handles, in each hand.

5. Straighten the leg being stretched.

6. Pull down on the bands to add extra tension in the direction of the stretch. The band acts the way a partner would, by pressing on the foot being stretched.

7. Hold the stretch for 10 to 15 seconds, then release and stretch the other leg, repeating in alternation as desired.

Do You Know The Functions From The Whmis Label

Dangerous materials

WHMIS stands for "Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System." This is the hazardous communication standard used in Canada. Potentially dangerous materials used in the workplace are labeled to alert workers to the specific hazards they present. It also contains precautions and first aid instructions for use in an emergency.

Classes and Symbols

Under the WHMIS program, easy to understand symbols are used to label hazardous materials. Employees and managers can tell at a glance whether the substances they are transporting or using are potentially dangerous, and what type of hazard they present.

Hazard Symbols

Class A substances contain compressed gas. Class B products contain flammable and combustible materials.

Class D products are divided into three groups. D-1 refers to poisonous materials that cause immediate effects when ingested and D-2 products are those that cause other effects. The D-3 classification means that the material poses a biohazard.

Corrosive materials are indicated by a Class E designation. Class F is reserved for dangerously reactive materials.

Product Label Appearance

All WHMIS product labels must contain information in English and French. They must be durable to withstand wear and tear during transportation and after the container has been opened. If one of these labels becomes damaged or is lost, it must be replaced immediately to conform with Canadian federal law.

Product Label Content

Product labels provide employees with valuable information about the contents of the products with which they come into contact, including the type of hazard that it may present. The supplier or manufacturer is responsible for preparing the WHMIS product label, and can provide information about the product if required.

The label also provides a short description of the hazard that the product presents. The relevant hazard symbol also appears on the label. Workers can tell at a glance what type of hazard they may be exposed when transporting, storing or using the product and what specific cautions they should take when interacting with it.

First aid procedures are also listed on the WHMIS label. When an incident occurs involving a product classified under the WHMIS system, first responders can consult the label for information about appropriate treatment.

Workplace Safety

The WHMIS labels provide information about products in a concise manner. The symbols included on them give workers valuable information about the types of hazards that a particular material presents at a glance. For safety reasons, an employee should read the WHMIS label in its entirety before working with an unfamiliar product.

Business Weak points Of Hewlett packard Company

The Hewlett Packard (HP) technology company has a long-standing history as a technology hardware and software provider. However, like all businesses, HP carries its own distinct set of weaknesses. As its weaknesses become more well-known and, if HP cannot demonstrate an ability to overcome them, then HP risks a decreasing stock price, cash flow problems and lower overall market valuation.

Software Sales

HP software sales and HP's Enterprise Business line of software products are one of the weaker revenue streams among HP's other business units. These software products compete with others produced by Microsoft, VMWare, and Salesforce in the customer relationship management (CRM), enterprise resource planning (ERP), and virtualization software markets. This is in stark contrast to HP's professional services business unit, which develops custom software and is, in some cases, one of the company's highest earning units.

Corporate Investments

Although only a small portion of its revenue streams, its corporate investments business unit led to a loss of $198 million for the period ending April 30, 2011, according to HP's recent earnings statement. Examples of corporate investments include acquisition of other companies for their competitive technology and the development of other spin-off companies based on internal ideas and research and development (R&D).

Leadership Questions

Changes in top executive leadership roles at HP led to weakness in the stock and company during the late 2000s and early 2010s. Unlike some of its primary competitors, HP is not driven by a central visionary leader, such as Steve Jobs at Apple or Bill Gates at Microsoft. This however has not stopped the company from creating revenue in its core businesses such as ink, printers and computers, especially laptop sales.

Mobile Acquisitions

HP acquired Palm, a manufacturer of smartphones and the webOS mobile device operating system, among other handheld devices. HP acquired Palm for its mobile technology, however its late entry into the wireless device and operating system, even under the new HP name, remain low compared with Apple iOS and Android-powered smartphones. This mobile acquisition has proven to be a weak earner for HP, as has its recent tablet sales which uses the same webOS operating system.

Look For A Sports Sponsorship

Finding sponsors for your local sporting team is relatively easy.

Playing competitive sports is costly, with equipment, league and officials fees and facility rentals comprising only a few of many associated costs. Finding sponsorship dollars for sporting teams and activities, such as your local softball team or bowling league, takes some work and perseverance. However, with the right approach, scoring enough funding to cover a season's worth of expenses is clearly the right move and can result in a "win-win" for your organization as well as the sponsor.

Instructions

Finding Sports Sponsorships

1. Draft a proposal and put it on paper. Business owners and managers like to see items in writing. This forces you to follow through with your proposal.

2. List the team members, dates of competition, and any benefits received by the sponsor such as advertising on the back of jerseys, the team named after the company, or a banner displayed at each event behind the holding area.

3. Visit local businesses, especially those you have a personal relationship with. Emphasize the importance of the sponsorship, highlighting the essential goods, equipment and game time the dollars will help fund.

4. Talk directly to the owner and emphasize the "win-win" elements of the sponsorship. For instance, a local bar sponsoring a softball team will receive some brand recognition throughout the league, along with post-game trips to the bar from the affiliated team.

5. Follow up with all requests and thank the business owners for their consideration. You want to keep the lines of communication open and never burn a bridge. While they might not be able to sponsor your sporting cause this year, there will always be a need for sponsorship dollars down the road.

6. Support your sponsor with word of mouth referrals and added business. Make sure to thank them for their generosity and, as soon as the season ends, begin the pitch for next year!

Fix A Ball Point Pen

You must write an important message and the ball point pen you grab is out of ink. The next pen you grab does not write and there is not another pen in reach. If this familiar scene happens to you, be ready to fix your ball point pen so you can write down the message.

Instructions

Unclog the Cartridge

1. Take the ink cartridge out of the ball point pen.

2. Insert a piece of lead from a mechanical pencil into the ink cartridge.

3. Swivel the lead around inside and push it all the way to the head of the ink cartridge. Remove the lead.

4. Replace the ink cartridge inside the ball point pen. Test the pen to make sure it works.

Helpful Tricks

5. Hold the tip of the pen in a flame from a lighter for a few seconds. Any longer than that and the pen may melt. Your pen should now write.

6. Draw circles on a glass surface to loosen up the ball of the pen. If you see some ink on the surface as the pen begins to write, stop drawing immediately and clean the surface with glass cleaner. Test the pen on paper and it should work.

7. Place just the pen tip in boiling water for a few seconds. You can also try with really hot water from the faucet. Scribble on some paper to see if the pen works now.

Earn Fast Cash And Steer Clear Of Fast Cash Ripoffs

earn quick cash

Sites all over the internet are talking about ways to earn quick cash. Some of them are legitimate, but many, if not most, are simply quick cash scams.

Read the steps below to help you really earn quick cash and spot website scams.

Instructions

1. Avoid websites that seem too good to be true. Earning money takes work. If a website tells you that you can earn quick cash without any effort or become a millionaire overnight, then assume this website is a scam.

2. Avoid websites that ask you to put up money ahead of time. Many websites tell you that you can earn quick cash by simply signing up with their system. They tell you that tons of people have already earned thousands of dollars using their system and that you can too by just paying the whatever amount of money. Usually these are make money scams. Rarely these are reliable, but only trust them if you have a reliable source that you trust that is unrelated to the website that is backing up the concept.

3. Don't trust websites that have dozens of testimonials of how people are earning quick cash with vague ideas of how this money was made. Usually, there is more to the story than these testimonials will tell you.

4. Understand that most online marketing methods take time, effort and will not make you rich overnight. If you need quick cash, then online marketing methods such as affiliate programs, article writing, website blogging, Google Adsense, etc. are probably not for you. These methods take time to learn, time to perfect and time to build up your traffic. Realistically, even if you put in a lot of work, it will probably take months until you see more than a few pennies. Can you wait that long?

5. If you really need money fast the best way - and in most cases the only way - to do this is to get yourself a real job. It could be a temporary job or a part time job, depending on your cash expectations, but get yourself a job that pays real money instead of an online job that only pays you based on traffic, clicks, affiliate purchases, etc. While you are working your job, take out a few hours a day learning online marketing techniques and trying out different methods. Keep working online while keeping your regular job until you are making enough money online to support yourself.

Produce A Business Communication Plan

A business communication plan establishes the messages your business wants to communicate, the audience to whom the messages are directed, and the methods your business will use to communicate the messages to the audience. A business communication plan makes clear how tactical communication activities such as advertising and public relations campaigns support your business' strategic goals. You can follow a standard format to create a business communication plan.

Instructions

1. State the purpose for your communication plan in the first section of the plan. Specify to whom in your business the plan will be given and the time frame the plan covers (such as the next six months or a particular set of dates).

2. Insert your business's vision and mission statements in the next section of the plan. This provides context so that your plan can be evaluated in terms of your business' strategy.

3. Write a situation analysis section for the plan. This will cover historical data about communication methods that have worked or failed in the past and state any business issues that are influencing decisions made in the current plan.

4. State the goals for your communication plan. Depending on the nature of your business, goals might be stated as revenue targets, product or service sales targets or metrics on potential customers' awareness of or opinion about your business and its products.

5. State the key messages or themes for your communication plan. Depending on the goal for your plan, the messages may be brand, corporate or product messages.

6. Define the tactical steps you will take to communicate the key messages to your target audience. This will include definitions of each audience group and subgroup, the method to be used to contact each group and the schedule for the contacts.

7. State the criteria by which you will evaluate the success of the communication plan. As with the plan's goals, the way you frame the criteria will depend on the nature of your business.

8. Add information about the budget needed to support the communication plan. This section, typically the final section of a communication plan, should reference costs for the activities stated in the tactical-steps section of the plan.

Day Trade Foreign currencies

The currency/foreign exchange market is the largest financial market in the world. It is where international banks post bids for foreign currencies. Unlike the stock market, the currency exchange is open 24 hours a day. Currency trading was once the domain of large, international banks, but thanks to advancements in technology and the advent of the Internet, individual day traders now have access to the foreign exchange market.

Instructions

1. Open a Forex mini account (an account for traders new to the Forex market who do not have the funds to open a standard account). A Forex mini account can be opened with a relatively small fee. In a mini account, the lot sizes that are traded are 10,000 of the base currency, instead of the 100,000 traded in a standard Forex account.

2. Keep up on current affairs. Read newspapers and watch the cable news channels. Things that can influence changes in the currency market include the rise and fall of interest rates, bank activities and import/export and political/economic factors.

3. Adjust your sleep/wake patterns. Since the currency market is open 24 hours a day, you must be informed and available to trade at any time.

4. Learn the currency market lingo. Know, for example, that PIP stands for "price interest point" and signifies the smallest fluctuation in the price of a currency.

5. Consider attending a day trading seminar or training session to learn use technical analysis to determine when to buy or sell a particular currency.

6. Download free software. Good currency trading software can be downloaded for free and means that you won't have to deal with an online broker.

7. Find an online currency broker. Do some research before trusting your assets to anyone. Look for a broker who does not trade against his clients and who offers a flexible margin and 24-hour support.

Create A Craft Booth

If you attend craft fairs, you know you need to make your booth accessible and appealing enough to make customers stop and look, smell or feel your wares. Having an attractive craft fair booth is almost as important as having a great product. If people aren't drawn to your booth, they won't see what you have to sell.

Instructions

Make a Craft Booth

1. Plan your space. Most craft shows provide each vendor with a fairly compact space. This can be as small as eight by four feet, to ten feet square. If you plan on doing multiple craft shows, you want to be able to customize the booth to fit different spaces. This is usually best acheived with folding card tables that can be set up in different configurations.

2. Cover tables with a skirted table cover for a cleaner, less cluttered look. Avoid fussy patterns on the table skirt and try to choose a simple color or design that will complement your crafts. Large plastic storage bins can hold everything from more product to water and snacks for a long day. Avoid clutter and keep your space neat.

3. Vary the height of your displays. Collapsible lightweight plastic shelving will allow you to display smaller items at eye level and looks much more inviting than having everything simply laid out on a table. If your craft items are larger, shelving in differing heights within your space makes it easy to showcase your work.

4. Plan for traffic flow when you lay out your booth. Avoid creating a funnel effect, where potential customers can enter your booth space but not easily exit. If your booth looks too crowded, people are likely to walk by. Make it easy for customers to walk through your space without feeling trapped or crowded.

5. Have a pop-up tent or canopy for outdoor shows. An open sided tent will be more inviting than a closed tent with a single opening. If your craft items are delicate or susceptible to water damage, consider a tent with sides that can be rolled up to create an open, airy space, and rolled down in the event of wind and rain.

6. Consider some indoor--outdoor carpeting or a weather proof floor cloth especially if you have items that will be set on the ground. This looks more professional and inviting than setting items on grass or concrete floors.

Wisconsin Unemployment Qualifications For Small Company

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Unemployment Insurance Division administers the state's unemployment fund. Qualified applicants can receive unemployment benefits if they are unemployed or working reduced hours. The state requires employers to pay unemployment taxes on their employees to fund the unemployment insurance system. A small business may be eligible to receive unemployment compensation and may be required to pay unemployment taxes.

Qualification Rules to Receive Unemployment Benefits

According to the Wisconsin Unemployment Insurance Division, an applicant who is eligible to receive benefits can begin a small business while he is unemployed without having to report income. Normally, the state requires applicants to report any wages earned while they are receiving unemployment benefits.

The general rule is that wages, unless specifically excluded, are considered employment income. The state will reduce unemployment benefits by the amount a claimant earns. However, if a claimant begins working as a sole proprietor, the state does not require him to report his self-employment income, and the division will not reduce his benefits from these earnings.

Coverage Rules for Liability to Pay Unemployment Taxes

Wisconsin law requires all employers to report their wages paid to their employees. Employers are responsible for paying unemployment taxes if they paid at least $1,500 in one quarter during a calendar year of employment. Alternatively, employers must pay unemployment taxes if they paid at least one employee for 20 or more weeks. The state law applies to both part- and full-time employees, and as long as employers paid for any part of their workday for 20 weeks annually, they must pay taxes.

A sole proprietor without any employees does not have to pay unemployment insurance taxes. Similarly, domestic employers are not liable for unemployment taxes if they paid less than $1,000 quarterly to their domestic servants. However, a small business is liable for unemployment taxes if it purchases an existing business that was previously liable for unemployment taxes.

Self Coverage

A sole proprietor or other small business without any unemployment tax responsibilities can voluntarily elect self-coverage. A small business can qualify for subsequent unemployment insurance coverage if the business is no longer economically viable, and the owner purchased voluntary self-coverage.

Limitations and Qualifications to Receive Unemployment Income

Under Wisconsin law, family employees are eligible for unemployment benefits in limited situations. The state uses a different maximum benefit calculation for related employees. Wages earned from a family business may not be more than 10 times an applicant's weekly benefit amount. Similarly, an independent real estate or insurance agent does not qualify for unemployment benefits if he does not receive wages and only receives commissions. Thus, a small business is eligible to receive unemployment compensation if it voluntarily paid unemployment taxes for self-coverage or if an employee of a small family business qualifies under the monetary eligibility rules.

Considerations

Since state laws can frequently change, do not use this information as a substitute for legal advice. Seek advice through an attorney licensed to practice law in your state.

Get Taken Care Of Connecting

Bloggers earn money by writing on popular topics and through advertising links.

If you are looking for a way to make money at home, paid linking may be for you. If you own a blog, you can set up advertising on your blog and make money while you eat, sleep and work. Companies will pay you to place links on your blog and write a short post about it. Everyone who reads your blog and clicks the link is putting money in your pocket. The pay for linking varies company-to-company, but the payouts by PayPal are usually once a month. It is an easy way to make a residual income. There are various ways you can get paid for links.

Instructions

1. Become a paid blogger. Sign up for a paid-to-link program for free. Do not bother with those who charge for membership. Why should you pay to make money when you can do it for free? Join the paid-to-link program and place text links on your blog site or on post pages. You make more money for the link plus a short blog post.

Here are a few sites to get you started: PayPerPost, Blogvertise, ReviewMe, BloggingAds and PayU2Blog.

2. Place text or banner links on your blog or website. This is how you will get paid. Each time a visitor clicks the link, you get counted for one click-through. You may be paid a certain amount per click or a percentage of the sales generated from your lead or a combination of both.

3. Become an affiliate by signing up on the vendor's website and create your link. You can make a good residual income from advertising your affiliate links on your blog. Write a short post --- around 300 words --- and place your link within the text with an invitation to check out your product. The post must be relevant to the product to encourage readers to click through. Affiliate links can be obtained by joining Amazon.com, Clickbank.com and Commission Junction just to name a few. On your blog or within a post, place the link with your associate ID embedded in it. You earn a commission when a visitor clicks the link and purchases the product. Clickbank products generally pay between 50 percent and 75 percent of each sale.

4. Create a HubPage or Squidoo Lens that will allow you to make webpages on any topic and link to affiliate products. It is as easy as writing an article; you can add photos, YouTube videos and text links within the body and place links to your other sites and blogs.

5. Write and submit articles to article directories with your links. Write a short 400-word article relevant to your product and place your link in the body, if allowed, or in the author bio box. Some publishers like Ezine Articles do not allow affiliate links, but you can place links to your blog with a redirect to the affiliate site. GoArticles and ArticlesBase allow links in the body, but Ezine Articles only allows links in the bio box.

Insurance For Restaurants

As with any business, buying the proper insurance among the most important things you can do if you own a restaurant. Standard commercial insurance policies do not usually provide sufficient coverage for the legal and financial risks involved with owning a restaurant. Therefore, you should look for a policy written specifically for restaurants that includes certain important coverage.

Building Coverage

If you own the building in which your restaurant operates, you need an insurance policy that provides coverage if the building is damaged or destroyed. If you do not own the building, the owner should have an insurance policy that covers the building. However, you will need a policy that covers improvements you make to the building, because the owner's insurance policy may not cover them.

Business Personal Property

Business personal property is any item not permanently attached to the building which is used for business purposes. When you buy an insurance policy for your restaurant, you should make sure that you buy a policy that fully covers the cost of the property if there is a covered loss. Business personal property includes such items as computers, cash registers and maintenance equipment.

Business Interruption

If you temporarily close all or part of your restaurant due to covered loss, having business interruption insurance will compensate you for your loss of income. In addition, the coverage pays many of your ongoing business expenses, like payroll and utility bills, until the restaurant is re-opened. If you do not own the building and are able to find a suitable replacement, business interruption coverage may pay for the costs associated with moving your restaurant to the new location.

Crime

Most standard business insurance policies provide coverage if someone breaks into the building and vandalizes it, or steals its contents. However, not all policies provide coverage for such things as employee dishonesty or customers using stolen credit cards. To protect your business against those acts, make certain that you buy a policy that covers criminal acts committed by employees and customers.

General Liability

General liability insurance provides you with protection if you or one of your employees commits a negligent act that leads to someone's injury, or to damage to someone's property. A common type of liability claim made against restaurants is for food poisoning. If the food prepared by your restaurant cased illness in one or several customers, general liability insurance will compensate the customers, and pay for your defense if someone files a lawsuit.

Worker's Compensation

Depending on the number of people you employ and the state in which your restaurant operates, you may be required to purchase worker's compensation insurance. Even if it is not required, you should consider purchased worker's compensation insurance to cover your employees if they sustain an injury while at work. The injured employees' medical bills and lost wages may be your legal responsibility if you do not have this coverage.

Obtain A Ford Foundation Grant

The Ford Foundation grants money in four major categories. To get a Ford Foundation grant your organization's project must line up with what the Ford Foundation is funding at a given time. The process will be long and intense at times, but well worth it in the end. Your organization will be allowed to go further than your present budget allows and do more for the world.

Instructions

1. Set up a 501(c)(3).

2. Start accomplishing something with the newly formed 501(c)(3). Foundations that grant money to nonprofits want to know that you are an established organization that is doing good in the world. Grants are usually given to expand a present project or further the organization's mission. Keep your mission in line with the Ford Foundation's values.

3. Decide whether the grant you seek lines up with the Ford Foundation's mission. Read Ford Foundation's mission statement, look up past grants given and to which organizations they are given and check the financial background of those organizations. Find this information on the Ford Foundation's website and on Guidestar's website.

4. Write a letter to the Ford Foundation at Secretary, The Ford Foundation, 320 East 43 Street, New York, N.Y. 10017. Include in the letter the purpose of the project the grant will fund, what the project will address, information about your organization, the budget, how long the organization needs the funding and the qualification of the organization's leadership to handle the grant and the project. The Ford Foundation will then line up their interests with your organization's interests and see if they mesh.

5. Wait for the Ford Foundation to request further information. The Ford Foundation staff will look over the information you have submitted and determine whether a grant is feasible. The recommendations are considered in New York at bi-monthly meetings. While waiting you can draw up an in-depth grant proposal, the organization's current budget, gather the names and resumes of those working on the grant, the financials of the organization and proof of 501(c)(3) status.

Do You Know The Advantages Of Choosing A Brief Agency

Temporary employment agencies serve a number of purposes. They can provide income for people who only prefer to work occasionally and are often privy to jobs that aren't posted anywhere else. In addition, many employers prefer to try out a potential employee on a temporary basis before hiring her full time.

Start-ups

New businesses use temporary agencies when they aren't sure how many full-time employees will be needed.

Try Outs

Employees have the opportunity to try out a company before applying for a full time position without making any firm commitment.

Movers

Temporary agencies are good sources for jobs for people who enjoy living in a variety of locations.

Sales

Students or employees changing careers can rely on the salespeople at temp agencies to sell them to the employer on a trial basis.

Diversity

Temp agencies provide a variety of job opportunities allowing employees to change industries when they need a new challenge.

Costs

Job searches can be lengthy and costly. Whereas a temp agency typically does not cost anything for employees and often can put people to work right away, providing immediate income.

Do You Know The Advantages Of Iso Standards

ISO is the International Organization for Standardization. According to Inc. magazine, ISO standards apply to everything from screws to freight containers, ensuring that machinery made in one country can work with machinery from another country.

Manufacturing

According to iso.org, ISO standards for screw threads make it easier to repair and maintain everything from chairs to airplanes.

Terminology

ISO standards "establishing an international consensus on terminology" have made it easier to make technological advances, according to iso.og.

Businesses

Because so many businesses around the world have adopted ISO standards, companies can develop products that can compete in many more markets, according to iso.org.

Consumers

ISO standards make consumer products more compatible. According to iso.org, standards give consumer more product choices and help to increase competition.

International Trade

According to iso.org, standards governing the dimensions of freight containers have made international trade faster and cheaper.

Who Uses The British Pound Sterling

The British pound sterling is the official currency of the United Kingdom and its dependencies. Until the dissolution of the British Empire following World War II, it was also a major international trade currency, used for settling trade disparities between countries, and a major international reserve currency, retained by governments as a reserve store of value. Today, these international roles have been largely supplanted by the U.S. dollar and more recently the euro. Nonetheless, the British pound remains a major international currency owing to the large size of the British economy and to Britain's advanced financial sector.

People in Britain

The British pound sterling is used by people in Britain for everyday purchases, obviously. This includes residents of the UK and visiting tourists. British businesses also usually maintain their accounts in terms of pounds sterling.

Foreigners Trading with Britain

If a foreign company wants to buy things from a British company, it must purchase pounds in the currency market to pay for them. It will sell U.S. dollars or its local currency and buy pounds sterling, to be transferred to the British company as payment.

Foreigners Investing in Britain

London is a major world financial center, home to the large London Stock Exchange. Foreigners who want to buy stocks listed on the LSE must pay for them in pounds sterling. This means they must sell their local currency and buy pounds in the currency market to pay for their stock.

Foreign Central Banks

Although not as popular as it once was, the pound sterling remains the third most popular reserve currency in the world, after U.S. dollars and euros. This means that foreign central banks are buying and storing large amounts of pounds as a buffer against fluctuations in the value of their own currency.

Steps For Any Sole Proprietorship In Wisconsin

Many small businesses are made up of sole proprietorships.

Wisconsin, located in the northern part of the midwest is situated on the border of Canada. The state's strategic location allows businesses to easily conduct business in the United States and Canada. Entrepreneurs and small business owners are able to take advantage of business opportunities in both countries. Individuals starting a business have to plan ahead. Certain steps need to be taken to start a business in the state as a sole proprietor.

Register Firm Name

Sole proprietors are required to file a registration of firm name with the register of deeds in Wisconsin where the business is located. The form is filed by county location. The registration applies to business owners using a name other than their legal name to run the business. A registration application form can be found and printed from the state's website. Information about the business, location and the owner are required. The signature on the form needs to be notarized by a notary public before it is submitted. Registering the business name costs $11 as of August, 2010. Business names must be original and not too similar to business names currently on file within the state.

Apply for Employer Identification Number

An employer identification number (EIN) is a number issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for businesses. The nine-digit number is assigned to all business entity types including sole proprietors. Sole proprietors are required to have this number for tax filing purposes, reporting, establishing business accounts, applying for business credit, loans or other forms of business financing in Wisconsin. The EIN number can be obtained from the Internal Revenue Service website.

Internal Revenue Service

545 Zor Shrine Place

Madison, WI 53719

608-829-5827

irs.gov

Register for State Business Taxes

Businesses operating in Wisconsin are required to register the business with Wisconsin Department of Revenue. An application form will need to be completed accompanied by the application fee of $20 (as of August, 2010) for new businesses. The business tax registration (BTR) is good for two years. Registering for the BTR can be done by contacting:

Wisconsin Department of Revenue

P.O. Box 8902

Madison, WI 53708

608-266-2776

revenue.wi.gov

Marketing the Business

Marketing the sole proprietorship to potential clients and customers is the next step in getting a business going in Wisconsin. Potential customers need to know the about the business, goods and services provided by the company. Advertising in the local papers, online and in the state's Better Business Bureau are ways to get the word out about the company.

What Exactly Are Methods To Increase Food Sales

Improving your food sales is one of the most direct methods for increasing the profitability of your restaurant. More food sold means more cash in the registers and less wasted product. There are a number of ways in which to increase your restaurant's food sales, but a few are very simple to implement and should show immediate positive results.

Improve Your Product

All the marketing in the world will not help you if customers come into your restaurant and your food is bland, boring or bad. Work with your chef to create some signature dishes that people can only get at your restaurant and try to make your food better than the competition. Good food sells itself, and if you can impress your customers, you will be building the potential for repeat business. Conduct a full menu review and dump the unpopular items to make room for more interesting fare.

Train Your Servers to Sell

The server is the face of your restaurant. Servers interact with your customers more than any other member of your staff. Set sales goals for your serving staff and coach them on ways to increase their individual food sales. Servers with high food sales will earn greater tips, so this should be an easy path to take.

Improve Your Presentation

People do not just go to a restaurant for the food, they go for the experience. This is why so many theme restaurants experience success. You do not have to turn your restaurant into a 50s diner or family playground to improve your sales, but you should work with servers, chefs, and bartenders to improve the presentation of your food. Fajitas should be served sizzling, chips should always be hot, drinks should be in interesting and attractive glassware, and food should be served with flair. Better presentation makes your restaurant look nicer, solidifies its identity and improves repeat business.

Participate in the Community

Getting your restaurant's name out there is an important step in building business and increasing food sales. Sponsor a local youth sports team. When people see your restaurant contributing to their community, they will have a more positive opinion of your establishment. If you find an opportunity to put your name on something positive near you, consider the potential payoff.

Repatriate A Vehicle To Europe

How do I Repatriate a Car to Europe?

Registered owners of automobiles can easily ship their cars back to Europe. All member countries of the European Union require the same customs formalities. Non-EU members have different customs tariffs. Vehicles entering Europe from overseas need to comply with local safety and inspection regulations before they can be registered. Depending on the type of car, costly modifications might be necessary. There are different ways to ship vehicles. The most expensive route is called house to house. The least expensive is called port to port. In all cases, owners need to contract with a certified international shipping company.

Instructions

Shipping The Vehicle To Europe

1. Contact an international shipping company in a huge port nearest to your home. Inquire about rates for "house to house," "port to port" and "house to port" or "port to house" for a car shipment. Call several companies and compare their rates. Also, determine if it's cheaper for you to drive the car to the port yourself or have the shipping company pick it up at your house. Typically, customers living in or near huge international port cities like Los Angeles, Houston or New York save money by driving the car themselves to the point of loading.

2. Fill out a customs declaration form at the point of loading with the shipping company's agent. Remove all tags from the car. If you are a citizen of any of the European Union member countries, you may repatriate your vehicle free of any customs charges if you can prove that your first place of residence was outside the European Union for more than one year, counting from the day of loading the vehicle onto the ship. Attach copies of rental leases, utility bills and work contracts to the customs declaration form to prove absences lasting longer than one year. If you have not lived outside the European Union for more than one year, you need to pay customs worth 19 percent of the car's estimated value at the port of entry in Europe, if the car was bought outside of the European Union. The estimated value of the car is determined by a bill of sale which has to be provided at entry.

3. Keep your copy of the bill of lading in a safe place. Without it you will not be handed over the car at the destination. The bill of lading is an important document which establishes the vehicle's ownership while it is in transit. The title should be attached to the bill lading. The title and the bill of lading are necessary to register the car at the point of destination, together with a valid inspection certificate in most European countries.

Help Make Your Own Advertisements

Advertisements should declare benefits to the potential customer, using the fewest words possible.

Advertisements for goods or services must present information in such a way that those who see the ad will understand there is a benefit to purchasing what is being advertised. With this "'what's in it for me" technique, the ad should describe benefits to the viewer such as savings, better health, better fuel mileage, spiritual or mental growth, or any other benefits either tangible or intangible. Such ads must make their case using the fewest words possible.

Instructions

1. Write down, on a notepad, answers to the following questions: what segment of the population does this advertisement target, what is the product or service called, how does the product or service create the benefits as advertised, and why should the targeted segment of the population buy your product over competing brands?

2. Break down the advertisement into a title and one or two sentences for each of the questions the ad answers to the potential customers. A title for sales of a used car, for example, might read: "2010 Honda Civic - Immaculate Condition - Like New." The "who" sentence could read, "Are you tired of poor fuel mileage and breakdowns?" The "what" sentence could read, "Well cared-for and maintained Honda Civic will floor you." The "how" sentence might read, "Average of 32 miles per gallon on highway, 26 miles per gallon in town." Lastly, the "why" sentence might read, "This car deserves a good owner, and you deserve the savings this car will provide."

3. Set the price for the item based on the average local competition. Try to be competitive while not undercutting yourself in the pricing. Place your desired price at the end of the advertisement with a limiting phrase to make the price sound like a deal. Such phrases could be: "ONLY $8,499", or "Amazingly Low Price: $8,499" and even "Compare: $8,499."

4. Write down a phrase at the end of the advertisement, near the given price, which creates a sense of urgency in potential customers. Such terms can include "Only as long as supplies last, going fast!," "For a limited time only!," and "Almost gone! Get yours NOW!"

5. Take the handwritten advertisement to a local printer and have the advertisement prepared for print in your desired medium. This can include one-page fliers, folded brochures, newspaper inserts, or full-page advertisement in a periodical. Most printing firms have a large collection of images that may also be included in the ad, which might catch the eyes of potential customers more effectively than just text alone. Choose images wisely for a clean, effective advertisement.

Make & Sell Your Personal Inventions

Every time we turn around, it seems as if a new product appears on the market. Each of these products represents an idea that came from someone's mind. You might have such ideas yourself and wonder how you can make a prototype of your invention and sell the concept. Below is a short guide on do just that.

Instructions

Documentation

1. Write down your invention idea. This can be done on a computer or even in a notebook initially, but eventually you'll want a clean, professional-looking copy. This will help you to remember the details of your concept. Write down the purpose of the invention, what you will need to make it, how much it will cost to make it, and all the applications for the invention you can think of.

2. Draw sketches of the invention from all angles--these will be your primary blueprints. Once you have a visual representation of the invention, hire a professional to work up a true blueprint right down to the last screw. You may be able to avoid spending money on the professional work if you have access to some good design software.

3. Research companies that produce or sell products similar to the one you have invented, or which would use the invention on a mass scale. Note down the company names and contact information--especially for the person who handles marketing for each company.

Promotion and Sale

4. Build a prototype of the invention or have someone do it for you using your blueprints.

5. Send copies of your prose documentation with a photograph of the invention prototype to the marketing directors at the companies you researched. You will not want to send this packet to the executives of the companies, since the executives are very busy and the marketing directors will bring the design to the executives if they believe the design has potential. Target companies with room for growth (i.e., that could use the revenue from the invention).

6. Set up a face-to-face sales meeting with the marketing directors at any local companies. You can discuss details of the invention at this time and do a one-on-one sales pitch.

7. Have an attorney look over any written offer or contract that a company offers you for the invention. You may want to have companies bid on the invention if more than one shows an interest, but make sure that any legal documents are reviewed and explained to you before you sign them.

End Up Being The Leader Of Social Clubs

People join business-networking groups, college fraternities and sororities, and other social clubs to get involved in a cause, spend time with like-minded people and enjoy social gatherings. But these organizations usually have a component of volunteer work or fund-raising, even if that's not the main reason people join. If you want to become president of the organization, it's wiser to focus on the stated mission and the business at hand than it is to engage in a popularity contest.

Instructions

1. Solicit input from members on what the club needs, even if this is an initiative that does not involve the current board of directors. The wish list could include gaining more members, more members of a certain age bracket or new charities to support. It could be increasing the operating budget without raising annual dues, obtaining a new lodge or developing a higher profile in the community.

2. Review the input and identify the most frequent suggestions. Select two or three goals that you think are attainable.

3. Tell board members and the membership as a whole that you are ready to work. Ask the board of directors to create a committee on which you work with others to research and potentially pursue the targeted goals, or ask to be included on existing committees that are involved with those items, such as a member-recruiting or fund-raising committee. These actions will demonstrate to the members that you are working toward their goals.

4. Inform board members that you are interested in leading the club some day so they might suggest you for the president's seat the next time nominations are accepted. Let them know you are willing to serve in a lesser position on the board, if seats are available, or even on committees, so you can start building a resume of accomplishments.

5. Volunteer to do the lion's share of tasks on your committee, such as coming up with names of 100 potential new members or calling several possible donors. Ask other committee members to play a role in that effort by making several calls as well. Look for other chances to lead by example while getting others involved.

6. Praise all of those who have assisted in a club effort, whether the task is large or small. Kiwanis International's leadership guide notes how important it is to show sincere, heartfelt appreciation to members, and to take the time to find out what form of recognition each member finds meaningful. That recognition is the volunteers' paycheck and one of the reasons they give their time to the club.

Make Use Of The Open Business Design

In an open business model, the manufacturing and development of products and services may actually be outsourced to other companies. Open business models delegate many of the day-to-day operations of a company to others and concentrate entirely on the creative aspects of the products and services. This type of business model is becoming more prevalent with Internet-based companies.

Instructions

1. Determine if an open business model is compatible with your business goals and your management style. With an open business model, you must surrender some control, something that many managers and business owners find difficult. On the other hand, if you're the type of business owner who wants to be more of a visionary, an open business model may be the answer.

2. Find the right vendors and business partners for your outsourcing needs. For instance, if you want to spend less time hiring or training your staff, let a recruitment process outsourcing company do it for you. Or, if you want to cut costs in manufacturing, outsource the labor to an overseas operation where labor is more affordable.

3. Use the open business model by hiring an independent sales staff to market your products. Many large retail organizations follow this aspect of the open business model, especially if a large percentage of their total sales are generated on the Internet or by phone solicitation.

4. Allow independent contractors access to some of your technology and data. While this may seem like an exceedingly risky business strategy, in practice this results in the development of innovations to your original products and services, generating more interest in your sector. This is also an excellent way to foster new business partnerships and licensing.

5. Maintain control over the proprietary elements of your business. While the open business model may free your time for more creative pursuits, it is also easy for your own business to slip through your fingers. Poor quality control or customer service from one vendor or partner can sabotage your entire business, so pay attention.

What Exactly Are Some Aspects Of A Effective Project Communications Plan

An effective communication plan could increase productivity.

Certain elements are crucial for a successful project communications plan. The objective of a project communications plan is to detail the steps and processes that are going to be used to execute the communication during a specific project. You can use a communication plan for a construction project, to organize a community event or to provide stockholders or investors involved in a business endeavor. Organized communication is essential to the planning and executing process.

Set Goals

Goal setting is a large part of the process in a project communication plan. Goal setting is a process that takes time, discussion and critical thinking. The process begins with your leadership of the project to come up with specific goals. Those goals are then discussed with all the other parties or persons involved. The goals may go through a lengthy process of getting all parties to agree on the goals set and time frame expected. The goals should be written down and signed by all participating parties so that your team members are clear on the expectations.

Coordinate People

Coordinating the people involved with your project is another important element of a project communication plan. Once goals are in place with specific time frames, organize the various people needed to complete the project. Include estimates of how many people you will need, how much it will cost in labor and how long you will need people for each phase of the project. Create agreements with estimated time frames for each of your people involved in the project so that every person involved can sign and date. You want to ensure there is a mutual understanding of expectations.

Policies

Policies and expectations are clearly defined in a project communication plan. Each person involved in the project should be provided with written expectations and policies to follow in a variety of areas, such as emergency procedures, time off and other details specific to your company policy.

Resources

Resources are a crucial aspect of a project communication plan. Resources should be provided to the recipients of the plan. The resource sections are intended to empower your recipients to educate and assist your partners with any questions or further education on the areas of their expertise. The resource section should have the Human Resources telephone number, the affiliates involved in the project's information and books or websites your recipients can refer to.