September 2010 Archives


Worker Classification III: Stay out of 'hot water' with safe harbor rules

This post is for business owner/managers and their lenders. Section 530 of the Internal Revenue Code (I know you love it when I talk in code!) provides relief from what at one point was thought

Posted Sep 30 2010 by Linda Keith

7 Ways a Business can Play Offense in the Recovery

Make no mistake, there are opportunities in crisis. And while many consumers and businesses are still in crisis, others are in a position to take advantage of opportunities. When other businesses are still cost cutting

Posted Sep 29 2010 by Linda Keith

Worker Classification II: IRS Rules

This entry is for business owner/managers and their lenders. Common with small businesses, and even mid-size businesses, is a lack of understanding of the IRS rules about something as fundamental as hiring workers. Must you

Posted Sep 28 2010 by Linda Keith

Worker Classification I: What difference does the employee/contracted services choice make?

This post is for business owner/managers and their lenders. Your business (or your business borrowers) have a choice when it comes to workforce:Hire employeesHire contract service providers The choice impacts liability with the IRS, costs

Posted Sep 21 2010 by Linda Keith

Borrower Beware...Help your business borrowers avoid 'Factoring' Blunders

Sam Thacker of Business Finance Solutions in Austin, TX is my personal expert on factoring. Okay, I guess he is an expert to other people, too. As you encounter business borrowers you cannot help with

Posted Sep 17 2010 by Linda Keith

Five high-level bankers speak up on availability of small business credit

To prepare for a CNN interview on the 'freeing up' of small business lending, I had a very interesting discussion with:•    Director of SBA Special Assets with a national $282 Billion Bank •    CEO of

Posted Sep 16 2010 by Linda Keith

Small-business loans: When regulators go overboard, credit is choked off | OregonLive.com

Economist Bill Conerly is talking to bankers and to regulators. The regulators say small business credit is down because demand is down.The bankers say the regulators are not cutting them any slack. I say it

Posted Sep 10 2010 by Linda Keith

Financial Statement Analysis: How to "Read" a Ratio

Nobody reads financial statements, we interpret them. So how do you interpret this statement? "Current ratio is 1 point 8 4 to 1." 1. As written, it would look like 1.84:12. It means there is

Posted Sep 09 2010 by Linda Keith

Overworked lenders...ready for a cruise?

Full Disclosure: This is one of my 'all about fun' posts so read on for a mental break and a great idea for your next, and well-deserved, vacation. A friend of mine, Nancy Mueller, is

Posted Sep 04 2010 by Linda Keith

An opportunity to go the extra mile for your business borrowers...

In a recent post, one of the differentiating factors of a bank or credit union that will be more competitive as the competition heats up is one that can 'teach and advise' business borrowers. Banks

Posted Sep 02 2010 by Linda Keith