Blog
November 13, 2011 - 6:50pm
Going on a business trip? Visiting a potential vendor, customer or wholesaler? Confused about what business travel expenses you can and can’t deduct? Here’s what you need to know about what you can and can’t deduct as well as some tips, tools and mobile apps for managing your expense documentation.
What Constitutes Business Travel?
You can deduct most of your business travel expenses on your tax return; however, there are some limitations and considerations that the IRS sets on what constitutes business travel.
November 11, 2011 - 11:11am
Commerce is proud to
announce that in the last year, veteran hiring reached a 16-year high, raising
the total representation of veteran new hires to 12.5 percent.
Two years ago, on
November 9, 2009, President Barack Obama issued Executive Order 13518: Employment of Veterans
in the Federal Government. This Executive order charged all Cabinet-level
departments with establishing a Veterans Employment Office, developing an
operational plan, and providing mandatory annual training to hiring managers
and senior human resources practitioners on veterans preferences and special
November 10, 2011 - 3:30pm
Guest blog post by Francisco J. Sánchez, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Secretary, Department of CommerceIndia has a bright future in solar energy.Its renewable energy market is currently valued at $17 billion dollars, and is growing at an annual rate of 15 percent. And remarkably, there is potential for even bigger things. According to one estimate, to keep economic growth at current levels, India will need to add 150 gigawatts of capacity over the next five years. Clearly, there is both a market and a need for clean energy in India. And, U.S.
November 10, 2011 - 7:29am
One of the first steps in the business planning process is determining who your target market is and why they would want to buy from you.
It sounds simple, but do you really know what you are selling and to whom? Is the market you serve the best one for your product or service? Are the benefits of dealing with your business clear and are they aligned with those or your target customers?
If you aren’t sure about the answers to any of these questions then you need to step back and revisit the foundation of your business plan.
November 9, 2011 - 4:15pm
Guest blog post by Matthew S. Erskine, U.S. Deputy
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic DevelopmentToday,
I had the pleasure of joining U.S. Congressman Nick Rahall at Concord
University in Athens, West Virginia to formally announce a major EDA investment
to create a new EDA
University Center in Southern West Virginia. Following the announcement,
Congressman Rahall and I engaged in a roundtable discussion with regional
businesses leaders to discuss strategies to foster local growth and increase
regional competitiveness.
Congressman
Rahall was instrumental in helping Marshall
November 9, 2011 - 3:30pm
Accelerating innovation is the key to creating
more high-wage jobs. And the Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
will play a significant role in helping federal labs and U.S. industry speed up
the innovation process under a new Presidential Memorandum issued Oct. 28.
Through its existing role coordinating the
Interagency Workgroup on Technology Transfer, NIST will help lead agencies with
federal laboratories to develop plans that establish performance goals to
increase the number and pace of effective technology transfer and
November 9, 2011 - 9:42am
It was a scary Halloween weekend for those living on the Eastern seaboard as many plans were pre-empted by a massive and unseasonably heavy snowstorm. Travel was halted as more than 30 inches of snow fell in some places. More than two million homes and businesses lost power as snapped tree branches toppled power lines, and several fatalities were reported. Just a few days earlier, parts of Colorado and southwestern Wyoming were hit by heavy snows, unusual for late October.
November 9, 2011 - 6:59am
Getting ready to enter the commercial real estate market? In an earlier article, I outlined 6 Tips for Negotiating a Commercial Property Lease without Getting Burned. If you are looking to rent or buy space for your small business, it’s well worth knowing some of the common terms that are used widely in this industry so that you and your real estate agent are talking the same language.
From abatements to zoning ordinances there are literally hundreds of commercial real estate terms that span the dictionary. Here are 10 of the most common terms you should acquaint yourself with.
November 7, 2011 - 7:17am
How does your business cope with the peaks and valleys of increased workload? By hiring the expertise of subcontractors, independent contractors, or freelancers to handle your extra work, your business can quickly scale up without creating a lot of additional overhead.
However, to realize these savings it’s critical that you understand the pros and cons of working with subcontractors, and the hows of finding the right one for your needs. Here are five tips and considerations to help you assess your hiring strategy.
How Much Money Can You Save?
November 3, 2011 - 2:52pm
Has the state of the economy affected your company’s bottom line? Sales down? Looking for new customers? Consider breaking into a huge new market by going global. After all, 95 percent of the world’s customers live outside the U.S.
You might be thinking: “Export? Me? I don’t think so.” Worried about regulations, currency exchanges, customs and international law? SBA is here to help.