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Next Steps: Employment Landscape for 2011 Grads
As the last of college graduations begin to come to a close, recent reports from the National Association of Colleges and Employers indicate that recent or soon-to-be graduates should have a positive outlook on their next move as they enter the workforce. An article published by US News earlier this month, states that job growth for this demographic is stronger this year…Read More -
12th Annual NAPCP Conference: The Takeaways
Last month I attended the 12th Annual NAPCP Commercial Card and Payment Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada from April 11 – 14th with over 650 attendees, including end-users, providers and exhibitors. The NAPCP (National Association of Purchasing Card Professionals) is a membership-based association committed to advancing Commercial Card and payment industry practices worldwide. They serve members across the corporate, education, and government sectors…Read More -
So What’s Your Gross Profit?
We often hear business owners say that their gross profit (or gross margin, to some) is a certain percentage of sales; say 40%. And sure enough, when we use their price list and their item cost report to make the following calculation: We get a figure very close to the claimed 40%. Then we look at the company’s income statement…Read More -
Six Must-Know Points When Implementing ERP
You want to make any transition within your business as efficient and painless as possible, and that applies to software updates and implementing new processes. We asked our implementation expert Julie Stepp to give us her six keys to implementing an ERP software solution. Here’s what she says to look for: Software systems are designed utilizing business “Best Practices” for…Read More -
Creditworthiness: For Hire or Not for Hire?
Back in college, when professors and counselors prepared you for an interview in the “real world,” did their tips include “and be sure you’ve got a solid credit score?” Not likely. But battle lines are being drawn in 25 states over whether future employees should or should not be judged on their creditworthiness when applying. Privacy and civil rights advocates…Read More -
Keep Your Eye on the Little Guy
As we continue to slowly yet steadily move out of a depressed economy, more and more companies are once again focusing on growth. CEOs and CFOs alike are focused on rebuilding those research-and-development budgets they once had to downsize and are looking to better their business with increased talent and new technologies. But realizing that organic growth and big deals…Read More -
New Lease Accounting Standards – Are You Prepared?
As early as June 2011, the newly proposed lease accounting standards distributed back in August of 2010 may be finalized. These new standards proposed by the Financial Account Standards Board (FASB) would fundamentally change how companies account for real estate and equipment leasing transactions. And according to a recent Deloitte survey, only 7% of business executives believe they are prepared…Read More -
The Business of Moving Forward
While CFO’s and other heads of companies still remain cautious, they have reason to be optimistic moving forward with business in 2011. At the beginning of February, Duke University and CFO Magazine published their Global Business Outlook Survey, which shows nearly 50% of CFO’s have a more positive outlook on the U. S. economy than they did last quarter. Not…Read More -
Tips for Negotiating with the Bank
Many small business owners are receiving an unpleasant surprise when seeking out loans – banks are charging higher interests rates, despite great credit. Here are a few ways to make sure you don’t receive the same shock when you go in to discuss the terms of your next business loan. With the economy improving, some businesses are finally deciding to…Read More -
Your Company Just Sold, Now What?
Picture it: Company A is a family-owned, entrepreneurial business that is for sale. Private equity or venture capital firm B decides to make the investment. You are the family-owned business CFO or the new CFO the investor has brought in to run the ongoing venture) The seller’s business has never been audited, does not have a control environment, its systems cannot…Read More -
The Benefits of an Audit
You don’t usually associate the word “audit” with any happy thoughts, but it’s all about who is performing the audit. Many small businesses can actually benefit from an audit by a CPA – banks like seeing an audit on loan applications, audited companies tend to save more by having lower interest rates – but the costs can be prohibitive, and…Read More