Category: Business Principles
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Revenue and Sales – What is the Difference?
Sales are a component of revenue. Revenue encompasses several sources of income including sales. Other sources of revenue include interest, trust monies, royalties, and fees. In effect, revenue includes all sources of income, realized and unrealized. Sales are divided into two levels, gross sales are all sales at the regular price; net sales are gross sales less…
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Piercing the Corporate Veil
When shareholders invest into a corporation, there is an expectation of limited losses amounting to the financial investment made. However, if the company is not properly run, officers, directors and shareholders are exposed to the blade of the law. This is known as piercing the corporate veil. Therefore it is critical for any shareholder, director, or officer…
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Inventory – How to Finance
In financing a small business, there are a multitude of tools available. One way to finance inventory is by using the 30 day pay program with your vendors.
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Accrued Payroll – An Explanation
Accrued payroll is a current liability comprised of four sections. The first is the amount of payroll earned by staff and not yet processed or paid. The second is the dollar value of personal time off accumulated for each employee aggregated into one number.
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How Much is a Fair Profit? Part III of V – Risk
A third factor in determining a fair profit percentage is risk. Risk is divided into two types. The first is insurable and the second is uninsurable risks. Insurable risks are mitigated and have very little to no effect on the profit formula due to transferring the risk to a third party known as the insurance underwriter. Uninsurable…
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Why You Should Incorporate Your Business
As a small business grows, there comes a time when the owner(s) should consider incorporating the business. A corporation is a separate entity recognized by the state of domicile for the business. It is as if a new life is created. The state acknowledges the existence of this entity and therefore grants limited legal rights similar to those rights…
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How Much is a Fair Profit? Part II of V – The Economic Cycle
One of the primary purposes of a profit is to provide funds during downturns in the business cycle. Often referred to as the economic cycle, there are two types of cycles. The first is industry related. The second is broader in scope and is economy wide.
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Effective Internal Controls for Cash
All businesses should have internal controls to deter fraud, detect theft, and preserve assets. Effective internal controls for cash prevent the proverbial hand in the cookie jar.
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An Introduction to the Employee Manual (Handbook)
The employee manual is a guidebook and a tool to explain the policies and procedures for the small business operation. It addresses the basic expectations for performance and conduct of the employee. The manual is only a guide and the employee needs to understand its importance in the overall corporate policies and procedures hierarchy.
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Format of the Profit and Loss Statement for Service Related Businesses
Service related businesses require a different format than the traditional profit and loss statement AKA the income statement. The traditional profit and loss focuses on sales of products and a corresponding cost of goods sold section to help the reader evaluate the gross margin. But in service, the owner needs a profit and loss statement…