FastUpFront Small Business Blog

The 2011 tax season is in the air… In a last minute push through the door, the massive, bi-partisan legislation, the Tax Relief and Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, cleared Capital Hill. Now that the dust has settled a bit, there are several changes in the initiative that will effect those [...]

Here is a collection of the biggest blunders, bloopers, and dumbest business moves of the past decade: 1. The Bigger They Are, the Harder They Fall Immersed in obscure accounting practices that concealed loses worth billions of dollars, Enron’s downfall at the end of 2001, will certainly be remembered as one of the most notorious scandals in [...]

As 2011 begins, small business owners and entrepreneurs have been expressing their hopes and concerns for the new year. The results of several widely distributed surveys show an optimistic leaning and most sources indicate that the economic heaviness of the past few years is beginning to lift. Nevertheless, many entrepreneurs and small business owners, seem [...]

When multiple people are involved in starting and building a new business, it is very easy to overlook what seems to be a small, mundane issue: how to divide founders’ equity. But, if a bit of forethought is brought in at the beginning regarding the definition of ownership and the anticipated compensation that each of the founding members will receive, [...]

It was recently reported that Save the Children, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting child health and education, had rescinded its strong support of a soda tax after receiving grants worth millions of dollars from both Coca-Cola and Pepsi. Though the nonprofit may have walked away with full coffers, the negative fallout has reverberated throughout [...]

If you have exhausted all of the usual methods used to collect on an outstanding business debt (letter writing, phone calls, and meetings) it’s time to call in the “big guns.” Generally, businesses seeking to recover some part of their delinquent accounts will either enlist the services of a debt collection agency or hire a [...]

Though there have been a few indications as of late that our economic situation is starting to lighten up (a bit), the truth is that for many small businesses, 2010 has been a hard year. When “hard” spells not profitable, knowing how to handle your taxes properly is essential. Many small business owners may not [...]

The first decade of the 21st century is coming to end; it’s a decade that will undoubtedly be remembered for the recession-weary economy and strained consumer budgets that have grabbed the headlines over the past few years. But average consumers have not been the only ones trying to scrape by. Even before the emerging economic [...]

Don’t leave your employees off your holiday gift list! Take advantage of the holiday deals and update your office with the latest in business technology. New software and business tools will revamp the office energy, and may even boost business productivity. Here are the top five business tools employees are adding to their wish list: [...]

Over the past couple of years, crowdfunding has emerged as a quick and agile way to raise money- whether for a new business, charity, or artistic project. While many have been quick to point out the various “side benefits” of turning to the online community for funding, such as generating customer interest and building brand [...]