How small businesses can save money with the cloud

Jen Lambert on May 23, 2016

Computer technology is constantly evolving. New programs, software, hardware and devices are hitting the market every day to make every aspect of people’s lives easier to manage.

Successful business owners know to research the latest tech trends to find which innovations will streamline their operations and which aren’t worth the investment. This is especially true for small businesses that often have fewer financial resources and less time to waste than bigger corporations. It’s not always easy to know which new tech will save money in the long run.

For entrepreneurs who have yet to invest in the cloud, small business experts urge them to consider this program, that can drastically simplify many of their daily processes. If they partner with an IT support in Woburn, they can access additional IT services catered to their business needs, all while saving overhead costs.

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“Owners can access the files from anywhere on any device.”

What the cloud means for small businesses
As reported by Entrepreneur, one of the biggest benefits of cloud computing is the convenience. By storing important information on a tech cloud, business owners can access the files from anywhere on any device. Gone are the days of carrying a hard copy storage device that can get lost of damaged – if the laptop is accidentally left at the office, owners can just log in from their home computer if they need to. This is also great for traveling and quickly accessing data from a smartphone or tablet.

The mobility of the cloud helps decrease operation costs, since business owners no longer need to invest in additional storage hard drives or storage equipment. This isn’t the only area where the cloud can save money, however. With less physical equipment, entrepreneurs can also bring down electricity costs. There are fewer upgrades to install and no more repairing or replacing damaged machinery. While there’s still a need for essential devices to access the cloud and perform many functions of the office, cloud computing cuts down on redundancies and replaces obsolete gadgets.

Making the switch to the cloud
It may seem daunting to worry about converting hard drives over to a cloud space, but these programs are designed to be user-friendly. Business owners should research the companies and programs that are available to them and choose one that will meet their data and budget needs.

According to tech entrepreneur and founder of Due John Rampton, “it’s important to start by deciding what needs to go on the cloud and what can simply be archived. Most businesses have records that are important to save but won’t need to be accessed frequently enough to warrant taking up space in cloud storage. Invoicing paperwork can easily be placed in the cloud securely and quickly without any loss of downtime for example.”

Once it’s been determined what can go on the cloud, business owners will need to follow the instructions set by their cloud-hosting company to transfer the files over. They’ll want to keep backup copies of the most essential records and test the files on the cloud to make sure they uploaded properly. Once files have been proven to be cloud-accessible, administrators can then remove the appropriate copies from the hard drives.

The cloud allows users to access files whenever and however they want.

Cloud security
An important part of a computing cloud is keeping it safe. How Stuff Works reported that the best way to do this is with strong passwords. Passwords should only be shared with essential personnel and should be changed every few months.

As always, business owners should educate their staff on safe online practices. No one should try to access any unknown emails, links and files to prevent virus infections.

These 5 Common Legal Mistakes Can Hurt Your Small Business

Jen Lambert on May 13, 2016

When you’re running a small business, there are a thousand different things taking up your time: managing employees, introducing or perfecting products or services, updating your website, and much, much more. Legal responsibilities often get pushed down on the list of priorities, but it can be risky for a small business to put off these obligations.

Not making the right choices when it comes to legal concerns involved in running a business can hurt you and your company. See what legal mistakes many small businesses make and how you can make sure your company is on the right legal track.

Not Establishing the Right Legal Structure

Business legal structure affects things like how much a small business will pay in taxes, how much paperwork it will have to complete, and how much liability it faces in the event of a lawsuit. There are four common legal structures: sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, and limited liability company (LLC).

Each type of business structure has certain advantages and drawbacks. It’s important to weigh the features of each legal structure and determine how these features may affect your small business according to BusinessInsuranceQuotes.

For example, if your business is likely to incur potential liability, a sole proprietorship or partnership–legal structures in which the owners are personally liable for the company’s financial obligations–may not be a great option for your business. In the event of a lawsuit, you could face huge liabilities resulting in significant financial losses without the right legal structure behind your business.

You can find specific information about choosing a legal structure for your business by visiting the Secretary of State website for your state or seeking out personal advice from an attorney.

Not Obtaining a Patent, Trademark, or Copyright

To avoid the possibility of your small business’s product, service, or other item of value becoming public domain, you must patent, trademark, or copyright that item or concept. Without a patent, trademark, or copyright, another business could use and profit from your name, logo, or work without facing legal allegations.

Your small business must legally protect what it rightly owns to avoid potentially having your entire idea or business stolen. Here’s how to protect yourself:

  • Patents. File a patent application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office after doing a thorough patent search and seeing that your invention or idea qualifies for a patent.
  • Trademarks. Register your trademark on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office after checking the Trademark Electronic Search Database to ensure your mark has not already been registered.
  • Copyrights. Simply create your work. Once your piece of work (such as a book, movie, software program, painting, or architecture drawing) is “fixed in a tangible form,” or produced, written, drawn, etc., it is protected by U.S. copyright laws.

Not Having a Shareholders’ Agreement

If your company has more than one shareholder, you should have a shareholders’ agreement. Although it is not a legal requirement for companies, a shareholders’ agreement serves as a set of rules for how the shareholders of your business will interact with each other, helping settle any disagreements that may arise.

Shareholders’ agreements are typically comprised of multiple sections, which serve the purposes of identifying the parties of the agreement, the goals to be met by the agreement, what shareholders are to do in certain circumstances, and so forth. To draft an agreement, seek the advice of an attorney.

Not Selecting Outside Investors Carefully

Seeking outside investors can be risky for your small business. If you are in need of financial assistance, using outside investors may seem like a good idea at the time, but it could result in legal complications later on. In the event that your outside investors disagree with the way the business is being run, they could threaten legal action. If you’re considering using outside investors, be sure to select them very carefully.

Not Properly Handling Federal Payroll Taxes

Small businesses are required to make federal payroll tax payments to the government, making sure that all income and federal and state taxes are properly reported and paid. Failure to retain payroll tax records, misclassification of employees, and failure to provide W-2 forms to employees could result in severe penalties for your company. Also, if your business does not remit payroll taxes properly, you could be personally liable, resulting in a criminal investigation of your business by the IRS.

To avoid such complications, consider using a payroll service or hiring an experienced human resources manager or payroll manager to handle these responsibilities.

Where Small Businesses Can Seek Legal Advice

When dealing with legal matters for your small business, you can always seek out professional advice from an attorney who specializes in small businesses. Forums for asking legal questions and advice are also a great resource for small business owners. You can find a wealth of valuable information on free legal advice sites such as FreeLegalAid.com.

Although the success of your business may depend on a list of endless tasks, be sure addressing legal responsibilities is a priority to keep your company protected and running smoothly.

Apple’s new iOS center in Naples raises eyebrows

Ron on January 28, 2016

Source: USA Today

Apple has announced the founding of its first European center for the development of iOS software in the southern city of Naples, a move seen in Italy as a new front in its war against a wave of European tax probes.

Apple CEO Tim Cook personally announced the plan Friday in Rome, saying the company was “thrilled to be helping the next generation of entrepreneurs in Italy get the skills they need for success.”

Cook came to Italy from Brussels, where he lobbied European officials as the prospect of a $19 billion tax bill loomed. European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager is looking into the legality of Apple paying most of its European taxes in Ireland, a low-tax jurisdiction.

Just three weeks before Cook landed in Rome, Apple settled a tax investigation in Italy in terms Italian media described as favorable to the Cupertino, Calif.-based tech giant: The Italian government said Apple underpaid taxes for the 2008-2013 period by $958 million and Apple agreed to pay $346 million.

A few weeks before the announcement of the Italian settlement, Cook dismissed the investigation as “political crap” and promised “Apple pays every tax dollar” it owes. The settlement did not come up during Cook’s brief stop in Rome, but Italian analysts see the announcement of the Naples development center as related.

“What is most interesting about the announcement is that there was no warning, it just suddenly appeared like a gift under the Christmas tree,” Jeev Trika, director of TopSEOs, a leading iOS and SEO information site, said in an interview.

“I would be surprised if this was not part of Apple’s public relations efforts to illustrate that it plays a positive role in Europe, a role that goes beyond what the company pays in taxes,” Trikka said.

Apple’s press release announcing the deal stressed that theme. It noted that while Apple directly employs 22,000 workers in Europe, it indirectly employs more than 1 million more, such as software developers. All told, the release said, 1.4 million European jobs depend on Apple products.

The center in Naples, when it opens, will broaden those numbers even further: Apple said 600 students a year will be trained at the center.

The Worlds Highest Paid DJs

Glimpse Team on November 22, 2013

Most people think that being a DJ is not a particularly profitable venture. However, the fact that there is a lot of demand for entertainment in this day and age means that there are many people who are willing to pay top dollar for quality DJ entertainment. This means that as long as one invests in their skills and is dedicated, they are likely to end up earning as much as the CEOs and business moguls of this world. To get an idea of this, you only need to look at the profiles of some of the most successful DJs today. There are some who have made a lot of money in the industry, and are among some of the most well paid entertainers in the world. The best of them include:

Calvin Harris

In the entertainment world, Jay Z is usually used as the benchmark for wealth, being one of the richest artistes in the world. In 2013, Calvin Harris earned more than Jay Z (he made $42 Million in 2013), and even more than Katy Perry as well. This just goes to show how much popularity he has garnered in the DJing world over the past few years.

However, the fact that this is the most popular DJ in 2013 is not just a matter of luck. Calvin Harris is truly talented, and his achievements simply confirm this. For instance, he holds the record for having the highest number of UK top 10 hits from an album. He is also famous for writing songs for some of the big names in the entertainment industry including Rihanna.

DJ Tiesto

This Dutch DJ has had a long and illustrious career, and is considered to be one of the best DJs on the planet. In 2013, he made a total of $32 Million. He is the resident DJ in a Las Vegas club (Hakkasan) and is known to be one of the most hardworking DJs out there. He regularly plays over more than 100 shows a year, which averages one every three days. The fact that he has been doing it for over ten years just goes to show that he is indeed one of the best.

David Guetta

David Guetta has made around $30 Million in 2013, which makes him one of the most successful DJs this year. At 45, one would be forgiven to think that he is too old for the industry which is dominated by people in their mid and late 20s. However, he has managed to defy this, considering that this is one of his most successful years and there are no signs of him slowing down. David Guetta has collaborated with some of the biggest names in music including Usher, Pitbull and The Black Eyed Peas. Considering that he has had very humble beginnings, David Guetta is enough proof that hard work can get you anywhere.

Deadmau5

This DJ is one of the most expensive in the world, demanding a fee of $200,000 a night. However, the fact that he always has booked shows and has a very large following just goes to show that he is worth it. In addition to DJing, he has also invested in other businesses in the industry including his own music label.

Avicii

At 23, this is one of the youngest major DJs in the world. However, this has not stopped him from utilizing his potential as a DJ. In 2013 alone, he made a total of $20 Million as a DJ, which makes him one of the most well paid in the world. Unlike many professional DJs, however, Avicii did not go through formal training and instead taught himself how to do it using pirated software.

Armin van Burren

This is one of the world’s more recognizable DJs, and the fact that he has performed in over 120 shows all over the world in 2013 alone is proof of this. He specializes in Trance and electronic music, and has made over $17 Million in 2013.

All these DJs specialize in the EDM, and this is no coincidence. Electronic dance music is one of the most attractive types of music for DJing, and has attracted most of the talent in the field. The above DJs are currently the most wealthy DJs in the World and they have made this profession to attract many across the globe.