Business Discussions

Hello, I´m starting my busines in California and I have a doubt about the invoices I issue.I haven´t started yet so I think is a good time to ask this:My company has a service agreement with another California company. This mean I get paid every month the same amount as a company. Because of that every month I issue them an invoice. Should taht invoice contain taxes? is the rate 9,5% correct?

  Flexibility is not only a crucial key to success, it’s also necessary -- especially when bringing a brand-new business to life. Things don’t always go according to plan, and when that happens entrepreneurs have to think on their feet, come up with new strategies and sometimes even take their venture in a new direction. In this series, The Startup Snag, we’re learning from established business owners who hit a snag early on and cleverly solved the problem. We’ll also find out how they’re doing today. Entrepreneur: Adam Wegener @trashamps Business: Trash Amps, DIY & readymade audio speaker kits Started: 2010 Location: Santa Clara, California   The Startup Snag: Adam says, “When we first started selling our trash amp kits, I had rented a kiosk at a mall -- you know,  one of those little carts where no one wants to talk to you. We had made just one product on the day we opened and I had never done anything before in retail. This was before the mobile credit card

"Hey Dad - wouldn't it be cool to play with all that outdoor construction equipment?"    Yep, it would. Here's how Extreme Sandbox CEO Randy Stenger turned his son's vision into a successful family business.      

Can sales tax be excluded from the value of an asset for property tax purposes?

If you have an online store, do you prefer ebay, Etsy or Amazon? And why?

Michael Bush, CEO of A Great Place to Work For All, firmly believes in treating employees well. Michael says it’s not only the right thing to do, but treating employees fairly bears economic fruit which, in turn, creates the freedom for a business to grow without limit. Michael has crunched the data behind this concept, and he’s learned that what may be a great place to work for one person (think: straight white male) may not be so great for someone else (think: gay black female). Question is, how can employers create an equitable workplace for all?   During an interview with QB Community leader @LeslieBarber at QB Connect 2017, Michael, who also analyzes corporations and creates the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list, shared his wisdom about taking good care of employees. Based on their conversation, we’ve consolidated his insights (and edited them for length) to eight key tips. 1. Remember employees are human beings: “You have to treat people with respect, credibility

I took a day trip to Portsmouth, NH, over the weekend and lemme just tell you: The downtown area was rocking more rainbows than a Lucky Charms commercial. It seemed that every shop, bar, and art gallery waved a flag out front for LGBT Pride Month, and every over-doorway banner and sidewalk sandwich board carried a message of love, respect, and inclusion.   Personally, I thought it was pretty cool to see an entire commercial district come together like that.   Is your business doing anything special for LGBT Pride Month?

  Happy Pride Month to all! Did you know that LGBT-owned businesses, while a small percentage of small businesses in the U.S., report almost three times the annual revenue of other small businesses?  And the 1.4 million LGBT-owned businesses in the U.S. contribute $2.5 trillion in annual revenue to the economy, according to a National LGBT Chamber of Commerce report. Those are some stats to be proud of!   Just like when women support women-owned businesses, LGBT support is crucial to LGBT-owned businesses success. Here are some out and proud organizations supporting these entrepreneurs through training, funding, promotion and community. Organization: StartOut What they do: StartOut connects and educates LGBTQ entrepreneurs to empower great leaders and businesses. Their goal is create jobs and prosperity for LGBTQ individuals and for the local communities in which they do business, and to be recognized and respected for our contributions. How they do it: Through offeri

  What is the best part of working for yourself? And what’s the worst part? Identifying the challenges and the wins of owning your own business keeps it real and allows you to find a reasonable balance of ups and downs. Entrepreneurs in the QB Community share their favorite and least favorite aspects of going solo in this series Worst Part/Best Part. Can you relate? Entrepreneur: Hanna Broer @HannaB Business: Hanna Broer Design Started: 2011 Location: Craftsbury, Vermont   Hanna Broer does it all at her lingerie business -- from design to sewing to racing packages to her tiny town’s post office before the 2:30 closing time. From her third-floor sewing studio (where she sits atop a village grocer and a tattoo parlor), Hanna told us the best and worst parts of working solo.   The Worst Part: “Sometimes I struggle with having to do so much myself. I’m a one-woman business, so I can’t delegate if I’m sick, or if I have an overload of work. I would love if someone else

Name: Ryan Loften Business: Mt. Tam Bikes Camp Location: Mill Valley, CA and trails all over Marin County Launched: 2006 In 2006, Ryan Loften was working as a bike mechanic, a waiter and a “manny.” Juggling all these roles wasn’t easy, but Ryan decided to add “entrepreneur” to the mix. Inspired by his year of mountain biking solo through Nepal, India and Southeast Asia, Ryan wanted to share his love of biking and exploring the great outdoors with kids in his own Northern California community. (Marin County’s Mount Tamalpais is the birthplace of mountain biking.) His plan? To run week-long summer mountain biking camps for kids ages 8-14. The first season, Ryan rode with 50 kids throughout the summer. Now he and his coaches ride the rocky trails with more than 300 sweaty, dusty, tired and very happy campers. We caught up with Ryan as he gets ready for his busy summer season to learn how his business has changed over time, why being a boss is his greatest challenge and why, unlike most e

  Flexibility is not only a crucial key to success, it’s also necessary -- especially when bringing a brand-new business to life. Things don’t always go according to plan, and when that happens entrepreneurs have to think on their feet, come up with new strategies and sometimes even take their venture in a new direction. In this new series, The Startup Snag, we’re learning from established business owners who hit a snag early on and cleverly solved the problem. We’ll also find out how they’re doing today. Entrepreneurs: Sara and Dru Giuffrida Business: Dru Bru, a brewery/taphouse in the mountains of Washington state Started: Winter 2014 Location: Snoqualmie Pass, Washington   The Startup Snags: Sara says, “The first winter that we were open was the absolute worst winter on record here at Snoqualmie Pass. There was almost no snow, so the skiing and snowboarding crowd we depend on was pretty much non-existent. It was brutal because we just weren't getting the traffic we

  When you’re starting out in business, there’s just so much to learn -- including all the things you don’t yet know you don’t know! We believe a great way to save time, reduce stress, make smart decisions and avoid costly mistakes is by learning from others who have been there, done that. So here are some valuable insights from entrepreneurs in our QB Community who have already experienced the good, the bad and the ugly of starting a small business -- this time, they’re talking about the very first days of their brand new business ventures.   Alexia Burke, co-founder of Izza Pops: “I started making my own ice cream at home from coconut milk and cashews and sharing it with friends for feedback. I brought some popsicle prototypes to a dinner party at my now co-founder's house. She loved them! Within a month, we’d both quit our jobs to build a company and create a product we couldn't find on the shelves. I was 27 with no real financial or personal obligations, I realized thi

  It's summertime and that means outdoor markets! Many an entrepreneur in QuickBooks Community got their start in a market stall, which makes sense because farmers' markets, bazaars and craft shows are a relatively low-cost, low-stress way to take your product out for a public test drive. These six small business owners got their starts at a local market, and now they run successful companies, sell in large retail chains and have devoted followings. If they can do it, so can you!   Heidi Withers & Nikki Dougherty, co-founders of Heidi’s Salsa (Luko Foods LLC): “We were really getting into sharpening our culinary skills and that evolved into hosting 12-course suppers for friends where we’d present our creations. The joy we felt from sharing our food with others was really magical. In summer 2011, Nikki approached me with an idea to join a local farmers market and sell our two favorite creations, my family-recipe salsa and Nikki’s fruit spreads named “Maj,” whi

Name: Tyra Lovato Business: Trainer Tyra and class leader at Joyn Location: Portland, OR Launched: 2013 Some of Tyra Lovato’s clients know her as trusted, reliable, number-crunching accountant. Others know the New Orleans-native as the rockin’, shakin’ leader of dance classes like My People’s Cardio and the always-smiling Restorative Pilates instructor. No matter which “hat” Tyra is wearing, her desire to help people do better and live life to the fullest fuels her entrepreneurial drive. Motivated by a personal commitment to bring out the best in everyone she meets, Tyra is a certified fitness and nutrition coach who has built her business around an inclusive, holistic approach to wellness that’s energizing, inspiring – and incredibly fun. Tyra, tell us about your journey so far as an entrepreneur. The first couple of years were the most challenging for me because I didn’t know where to focus my energy. It took some time for me to realize my niche. As a teacher, my goal is to inv

I have a client that is wanting to hire an independent contractor from Jamaica, but does not know the tax implications. This is what I do know: ----- "if a foreign contractor performs service in the US, certain conditions should be met to avoid tax obligations. Those conditions are:The nonresident alien performing labor services is present in the US for less than 90 days during the tax yearThe total pay does not exceed $3,000The pay is for labor or services performed for an office or place of business maintained in a foreign countryIf any of the above conditions are not satisfied, a principal has to report and withhold income of a foreign independent contractor. However, withholding and income tax for a contractor can be avoided if the country of a contractor has a tax treaty with US." I also know that the US and Jamaica do have a tax treaty, and the pay will exceed $3,000. Does anyone have any words of wisdom on this matter? 

Good Afternoon Everyone. I am looking for a a full time employee to help with one of my larger companies.  Someone who is detailed oriented, great with QBOA and familiar with Tsheets and expensify. I am in the Orlando FL area.  I need help ASAP.  

The power-packed metrics that will have a big impact on your bottom line. Data is a hot topic lately. If you sell online, you know that order information from your marketplace stores enables the massive big data feeds of Amazon and the like to predict broad consumer behavior and seasonality, manage prices and fees across the channel, and control their interests in the inventory and fulfillment industries globally. While you’re powering someone else’s data, it also seems like every day you’re told to climb aboard the big data bandwagon where you, too, can ride into the sunset of freedom and happiness of higher sales, profit, and success.   But when it comes to practical application of collecting data and understanding the insights they offer, you draw a blank. You’re not alone. Turns out, 94% of companies across all levels have experienced internal challenges when trying to improve their data quality. One could theorize that this dissatisfaction may stem from sheer size and that b

Longtime L.A. cyclist Gloria Hwang rarely used to wear a helmet, but she got her wake-up call when a close friend died in a cycling accident. Soon after she started Thousand, maker of sleek, stylish bicycle helmets that look cool enough for its fashionista founder to wear.       How does your business solve for a specific problem or need you see in the marketplace?

Hey Guys! I want to create an online marketplace platform. What are the main pros and cons of this business? I am a bit confused cause my friend told me that it’s not a very good idea. Maybe some of you can give me an insight?

  When you’re starting out in business, there’s just so much to learn -- including all the things you don’t yet know you don’t know! We believe a great way to save time, reduce stress, make smart decisions and avoid costly mistakes is by learning from others who have been there, done that. So here are some valuable insights from entrepreneurs in your QB Community who have already experienced the good, the bad and the ugly of starting a small business -- and who are happy to share what they would have done differently when they first started up their business.  Michael Koral, co-founder of Needls, a social media ad company: “Looking back, we should have made a long-term strategy. We didn’t necessarily plan a full road map for the next five years when we started. We worked month-to-month. All of us had experience building businesses before, so we figured we’d be able to roll with the punches. We’re a growing company that has customers and investors, but it would’ve been help

HiI want to integrate my QBO with Hubstaff any one please help me how to integrate.thankskhalid

Hi all I have just started my new buisness adventure and to be honest the physical side of the buisness is great, i'ts what I have done for the past 15+ years. I have not moved up the ladder by starting my own buisness and I am finding the books/accounts quite overwhelming. I am slowly finding my way arround Quickbooks but still quite nervous and unsure of what I am doing. (fuuny as it sounds). Would be greatful for a little advice. Thanks Jenrow76

Name: Muriel Bartol Business:  SWRVE Location: Los Angeles, CA Launched: 2005 Muriel Bartol and her husband, Matt Rolletta, have always loved biking for recreation, for transportation and to get to know their surroundings at a slower-than-a-car pace. But a few years back, Matt was struggling to find a single pair of pants that he could wear throughout his typically active day when he cycled to school, to work and out to meet friends. So Muriel and Matt designed a pair of functional, durable, stylish “knickers,” imagining they might one day sell a few pairs to friends. Instead, thanks to a mention in the New York Times, they were suddenly swamped with orders. Today, Muriel and Matt are still basking in the entrepreneurial glow of unexpectedly launching a successful outdoor apparel business. Muriel, you didn’t set out to become a small business owner. Tell us about your journey starting SWRVE. I had just finished grad school after previously running an art gallery and working in th

Can anyone refer an accountant to assist a start up recruiting firm with accounting, financial reporting, and tax work ?   

  Guaranteeing your product will last for a lifetime is a bold business strategy, especially when your customers are rough-and-tumble outdoor enthusiasts. Yet, many outdoor outfitters pride themselves not only on the durability and quality craftsmanship of their products, they also stand by their promise to repair or replace broken or defective gear. That kind of assurance provides peace of mind for a customer base that tends to relax by dangling off cliffs, schussing down mountains or running class five rapids.   This got us wondering about lifetime warranties. Are they a good business strategy or an expensive promise? And what can small business owners take away from studying the warranties of these outfitters?   While exploring the product guarantees of these ten outdoor outfitters, we learned that some retailers do have a true lifetime guarantee, but others come loaded with conditions in the fine print -- so, if a guarantee is a factor in your purchase, make sure yo