31st January 2006
Much of my email from readers this month concerned the recent announcement from eBay that it will increase many seller fees on February 18, 2005. Since many business people use eBay's online store system as their primary ecommerce point of sale, it's no s...
31st January 2006
I wish I had a dime for every time I've been asked, "Tim, what's the best product to sell online?" I also wish I had a nickel for every blank stare I received when I answered: "That's simple: information." I'd have enough money to finance another startup ...
31st January 2006
Q: I recently launched a website for my sporting goods business. Do I need to do anything special to attract customers to my website? I know nothing about search engines and marketing as such. Please tell me where to begin.
A: That is a question that h...
31st January 2006
Q: I'm interested in doing business internationally. I have done some reading on the subject, but there is an awful lot to digest. Have you had any experience in this matter and can you suggest the best way to get started?
-- P. Granger.
A: Great questi...
31st January 2006
Q: I'm so sick of you so-called business experts always saying the customer is always right. This is my business, not the customer's, so I'm the one who's always right. Sure, they can have an opinion, but in the end it's up to me to decide who's right and...
31st January 2006
Q: Can you tell me the difference between a copyright and a patent? Also is that something I should let a lawyer handle for me?
A: A wise man once said, "The biggest difference between a copyright and a patent is the number of lawyers it takes to do t...
31st January 2006
Q: I will be retiring this year at age 60 and intend to fulfill my lifelong dream of owning my own business. I'm too old to start from scratch, so I'm looking at several franchise opportunities, including fast food, auto parts, and an accounting service. ...
31st January 2006
Q: I really want to start my own business, but I have no idea what business would be best suited for me. I'm also eager to get started, but I don't want to pick the wrong business just because I'm impatient. How should I go about deciding what business wo...
31st January 2006
Q: Should I build and maintain my business Web site myself or pay someone else to do the work for me?
-- Wesley L.
A: When you say, pay someone else to do the work for you, Wesley, I am going to assume that you are talking about hiring a professional...
31st January 2006
Q: One of my former employees has started a competing business and is calling my clients and trying to steal their business from me. Do I have any legal recourse against him?
-- Brad J.
A: I hate to break this to you, Brad, but unless this former empl...
31st January 2006
Q: My company is really in hot water with one of our best customers. I can't reveal exactly what happened, but suffice it to say that we really dropped the ball and the customer is furious. I'm not even sure we can save the account. What's the best way to...
31st January 2006
Q: A friend told me that as a woman of Native American descent I might be eligible for a special SBA program that will help me start a small business. He said I could compete for government contracts through this program. Can you tell me what SBA program ...
31st January 2006
Q: Do I have to charge sales tax on orders placed on my Web site? What if I have international customers?
A: Online companies with a physical presence, or nexus, in a state are required to collect and report taxes on sales made to customers living wit...
31st January 2006
Q: I started my business about a year ago and everything is going fine. We're growing and making a profit, but the stress of running the business is really starting to get to me. I spend more time worrying than working. Sometimes the pressure is almost mo...
31st January 2006
Q: I started my small business about a year ago and it's grown steadily. I like having my own business, but I'm having a tough time managing people. I have 5 employees now and it seems like I spend half my time making sure they are doing what they're supp...
