Business Discussions

  You may know them as red-carpet stars and entertainment icons, but these famous folks are good old-fashioned inventors at heart. Read below to see which patents these celebrity inventors own – and click the patent number to see the detailed application forms they each submitted!   Eddie Van Halen invented a support for a guitar (or any stringed instrument) that lets your fingers fly across the fretboard without having to also support the neck of the instrument (US4656917).   Jamie Lee Curtis designed and patented a disposable diaper that does double-duty by storing baby wipes in a waterproof pocket. If any diaper company ever starts making biodegradable diapers, she says she might be willing to license the clever product (US4753647).   Francis Ford Coppola may be famous for directing and producing the Godfather movies (and many more), but if you’ve got a hard-to-reach itch to scratch, his invention might help. Coppola holds the patent (US20060191053) for a t-shi

  You’ve had a brilliant idea for a product and decided to build a business around it. You’ve conducted some research and development (R&D) and confirmed consumers love what you’ve come up with. Congratulations! Now it’s time to ask yourself an important question: Should you get a patent for your invention? Maybe … or maybe not. To help you decide, let’s find out some of the basics of investing in a legal protection plan for your product.   What is a patent? When you are granted a patent in the United States, you earn the legal right to stop others from making, marketing, selling or importing your invention in this country, usually for 20 years from the filing date. You can apply for one of three types of patents:   Utility patents are issued most commonly and given to folks who invent machines, processes, improvements or articles made from a manufacturing process. If you’ve invented a new type of software, computer hardware or a pharmaceutical product, a util

  Welcome to Community Conversations! In this ongoing series, I have the pleasure of sitting down with small business owners to talk about what’s great and what’s tough about working for yourself. You’ll hear loads of ideas, insights and inspiration. We invite you to sit back, listen and learn! Here’s what you’ll find in this episode of Community Conversations ...   Kimberly Cavccavo is cofounder of GRACEDBYGRIT, a multimillion dollar athletic wear company dedicated to helping, protecting and empowering women. Kimberly talks about how life’s grittiest moments help us build true grace. She says this realization has fundamentally shaped both her company and her approach to doing business.   Julie Gordon White is an award-winning entrepreneur, business coach, bestselling author and host of QB Community’s Momentum to $1 Million group. Julie says intuition + data is the GPS of every great business, and she explains why “no” may be the most important word

Different people must be using different approaches towards their accounting practices, but when it comes to the choice of accounting software, they have a unified solution in the form of QuickBooks hosting.   With the introduction of the cloud in the accounting practices, the people from the accounting industry were quite delighted because they were expecting the same level of benefit which it had delivered in other sectors of the industry. But surprisingly, the cloud accounting solution surpassed the expectation of everyone as it came with a bucket of benefits and that too at an affordable price[LINK REMOVED].   The QuickBooks soon was shifted to the cloud platform in the form of QuickBooks hosting and it became a popular name among both professionals and newbies. But many people consider this solution as the entry level of accounting software and that’s why they think that it won’t be able to serve the purpose of accountants while others think that it is very advanced soft

We have a Small LLC.  One owner and one employee.  we do not cary any health or dental insurance.  What are options for paying for employees unexpected dental expenses.  Some work has been done ~ $400 Additionally, Emploee needs crown/root canal  approx $2500.  Thanks in advance.

  Can you smell the pumpkin spice? Fall has officially arrived -- on September 22, to be exact -- and that means crisp days, colorful leaves, warm drinks, sweater paws and new marketing opportunities! With the holiday season fast approaching, there’s no better time than September and October to entice new and current customers to shop with you today -- and come back for more when it’s time for holiday buying.     1. Humor your customers. A lumber store near my house recently changed their marquee to read “Now selling pumpkin spice lumber.” It’s not true, of course, but it is funny! Humor is memorable, so pumpkin spice it up! We can all use some levity, no?   2. Cheer for back to school. Kids have returned to their classrooms, so parents can exhale. Promote a “You survived summer vacation!” deal just for moms and dads.   3. Think seasonally. Tie an autumn sale to the falling leaves. “Our prices are falling just like the leaves outside!” Or vow to “sq

Today, people all around the globe will pause to reflect on what they’re grateful for. Here in QB Community, gratitude is a theme that comes up time and again. We know entrepreneurs and self-employed people feel grateful to be able to work for themselves, even when it means working well, differently than most 9-5ers. (You can read more about how entrepreneurs think about things like work/life balance and making personal sacrifices for the sake of their business in this post). What are you grateful for? We hope you’ll tell us all about it in the comments below. In the meantime, we’ll kick things off by telling you what we on this QB Community team are thinking about on World Gratitude Day. Spoiler alert: We’re all pretty darn delighted to be working with entrepreneurs like you!  Leslie Barber, our QB Community leader, says, “I am so grateful to wake up every day with the goal of doing anything I can to make life a bit easier for the hardest working people I know -- small business

     Here’s one thing just about all small business owners have in common: the need to send invoices. Whether you sell handmade products or offer targeted client services, invoices are key to keeping your business afloat. Problem is, plenty of folks who work for themselves don’t realize, or leverage, the true power of this all-important tool.   Sure, we all know invoices are a direct line to payment. But they’re also a critical communication device that can help you get paid on time (or even early!), every time. An effective invoice builds your brand, strengthens client relationships and keeps you at the top of the list whenever your customer needs help.   Not sure how to put the almighty invoice to work? Read on.   1. Make it personal   These days, information-overload is ubiquitous. No wonder it’s easy to overlook or ignore a standard grey email or a dull printed page. Good news is your invoice doesn’t have to be forgettable. In fact, it shouldn’t

No matter what you sell – a tangible product or a unique service – your business is built around some form of intellectual property. Have you taken steps to protect said property from competitors or, even worse, copycats? We’re curious:   Have you registered for a trademark, copyright or patent? Which protection plan do you have? Did you hire an attorney to help you? What was the process like?   We’d love to hear your insights about this important topic. Sharing your experience will help other members, too. Thanks for taking the time to tell us what you know!  

    We asked six creative entrepreneurs in the QB Community how and why they started their branding and/or marketing agencies. Here is what they told us...       Toby Lewis Thomas, co-owner of Birch, a branding & marketing agency: “While studying photography in school, I became involved in the music industry. I started touring with bands as a videographer/photographer and, shortly after, I decided to pursue it full-time. I rented a studio and started off with really small jobs, but my clients were always happy to recommend me.”   “Back then, content — and particularly video content — was becoming super important. Every brand suddenly wanted to promote itself through video, so finding work wasn’t a problem. The idea of even having "content" was still a reasonably new concept, and brands were looking for advice as well as production skills. I set myself apart from others in the industry by tracking the impact of everything I did. I was committed to fi

All small businesses have a couple of things in common. First, they’re run by a dedicated, determined, passionate entrepreneur. Second, each one of those inspiring self-employed folks had an idea for a product (or a service) and figured how to transform it into something they could sell. We know – and you do, too -- the process of turning an epiphany into a business is never easy. Here’s how some folks in QB Community managed to do it. Katharine Huber, founder of Wit Design, creates stylish, functional, durable furniture for kids: “I did a ton of research online and asked everyone I knew for manufacturer recommendations. I found someone to work with nearby. We were all set to go, but some new equipment created problems in the factory. The plan fell through. Then I found a factory in Vermont, and everything was back on track. Just as production was about to begin, another client gave him a huge order, and he couldn’t make my chairs. I reached out to more than 35 different manufacturers

Here’s a question you’ll get asked all the time as an entrepreneur: Why did you decide to start your own business? (Thankfully, the other part of the question – what made you crazy enough to think you could start your own business? – is usually just implied!) We’ll help you home in on your answer by sharing some of the top reasons folks in this awesome community have chosen to do their own business thing. Did we omit what motivates you to work for yourself? In the comments below, tell us what inspires you to take the entrepreneurial leap! I want to start a business so I can: Solve a problem: Ben Gucciardi was earning his M.A. in global educational leadership, working in youth development for underserved families and playing a lot of soccer when he had an idea. The California native realized soccer could be a tool to help struggling kids learn to better communicate, connect and collaborate with their peers, parents and teachers. Could he build a program around his favorite sport to he

Who: Erica Liu Williams What: gr8nola When: June 2013 Where: Danville, CA Why: When Erica decided to sell the “clean,” healthful granola she regularly baked for family and friends, she wasn’t planning to turn her side-hustle into a full-fledged business. But just a few months after attending her first farmer’s market, Erica was selected to become an official snack vendor for Google. Suddenly, she needed to make gr8nola on a whole new scale. How did Erica launch her business? Step one: Assess the market, nail the product I had to feel confident that my recipe was exceptional and that it met the needs of not just myself, friends and family but of the market. First and foremost, would people buy it? And more importantly, would they come back and buy again and again? I decided that selling gr8nola at my local farmer’s market would be the quickest way to get this feedback. I also knew my recipe had to be consistent. I had to figure out how to scale up from baking a two-pound batch of gr8

Welcome to Community Conversations! Today I’m sitting down to talk with two amazing women - both of whom happen to be named Julie - about what’s great and what’s tough about working for yourself. You’ll hear loads of ideas, insights and inspiration. Sit back, listen and learn! Here’s what you’ll find in this episode of Community Conversations... Julie Goldman is the founder of the Original Runner Company which sells bespoke, non-skid aisle runners for all of life’s “grand entrances.” Julie shares some of her secrets to building a wildly successful company: Believe in yourself and your product, be persistent and try to provide the best customer service ever.   Julie Gordon White is an award-winning entrepreneur, business coach and host of QB Community’s Momentum to $1 Million group. Julie explains why “high-impact pricing” will help women, in particular, reach new levels of business success and why it’s time to say goodbye to your low-paying clients. Want more from both of th

  There is no better resource for a business owner than another business owner. These are some of the questions your peers are asking about running and growing their businesses. Do you have answers to any of these questions? Great! Do you have questions in need of an answer? Also great! Tell us in the comments below.   GETTING NOTICED & LEVERAGING SOCIAL MEDIA      Stacia Guzzo, owner of The Handcrafted Honeybee, natural skincare products: “A couple of my biggest goals for the business are to grow my social media followers and build my email list. Does anyone here have tips on how to find the right people to target for my products? I’d love to hear them!”     David Minnery, owner of Manzanita Kids, wooden baby toys: “When I have the choice of sitting at a computer or making things in my shop, I always choose the shop. However, this leaves a gap in our marketing. I currently spend roughly 30 minutes a day on social media, but I'm wondering if

You have questions about running a small business, and our QB Community members have answers! Everyone here knows the importance of building meaningful member-to-member relationships, and there’s no better way to learn, discover and get inspired as an entrepreneur. Best of all? When members share what they know, everyone benefits. Check out this recent QB Community conversation, and you’ll see what we mean!     @JTcarpentry  asked: Hello, we are still a newer company but have been in business for 4 years, running as a sole proprietorship. Does anyone have some quick and simple advice as to why maybe an S corp would be beneficial to me?      @Acupuncture4U answered: An S corp or LLC protect you against lawsuits. Your business can be sued but your personal property is protected and untouchable. With a Sole Proprietorship if you are sued your personal property becomes a part of the law suit.   @MorganB answered: I'm glad you turned to us here in th

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You can't buy happiness . But that feeling of confidence and security you get from receiving an all-important delivery on time, every time? Worth every penny. Tell us...  How do you show your appreciation for the people who provide the products and services that make your business possible?

  For an entrepreneur, the line between work and non-work (also known as “life”) is often quite blurry. Where does work end when you are your own boss? And where does life begin when you and your business are inextricably intertwined? When you work for yourself, finding a work/life balance that protects and preserves your financial health as well as your mental, physical and emotional health can be as tricky as staying upright on a tightrope. Yet, every day, countless people opt to work for themselves. When it comes to getting the most out of both work and life, do the benefits of entrepreneurship outweigh the drawbacks? Intuit decided to find out.   The company recently conducted a survey of 1,000 self-employed people on the topic of work/life balance. Some of those surveyed (56%) were wholly self-employed, while the rest were also working either part- or full-time jobs in addition to being self-employed. Let’s find out what they had to say!   Stop! Before you re

September 13 is National Defy Superstition Day! I’m not totally sure, but I suppose that means today is the day to walk under a ladder or spill salt without expecting any adverse outcomes. Many superstitions are based on the idea that if you do X, a bad thing will happen. But then there’s another kind of superstition: if you do Y, the outcome will be good. Think: MLB players not shaving their beards during playoffs, or performing the sign of the cross before a dive.   It’s not just athletes, business people also have a ton of superstitions! From assuming the power stance before big presentations, to framing the first dollar your business made, to Lucky Cat watching over your store, to wearing the same tie/socks/undies to important meetings -- all with the hope that things will go the right way.   So, QB Community members, what are your superstitions? And, do they work?

We are a used vehicle dealership and I am having the issue of invoicing customers who have a trade.  We put a trade allowance on a vehicle being traded for another vehicle and on the back end we will give it an ACV (actual cash value) which typically results in a loss of profit.  From all the forums I have read, it says I should receive payment against the invoice for the trade allowance and to create a dummy bank account for it to be deposited into and then turn around and pay for the trade in inventory out of that same dummy account.  My question is how and where do you record the loss between trade allowance and the ACV ? 

Who: Sharon Coleman What: Lemon and Honey Gifts When: September 2018 Where: Mill Valley, CA Why: A two-time cancer survivor, I knew all-too-well going through chemo can be grueling and scary and lead to all sorts of unpleasant side-effects like nausea and mouth sores. I wanted to help others as they go through chemo by sharing carefully curated gift boxes lovingly packed with helpful, purposeful products. How did Sharon launch her business? Step one: Check out the competition Once I hit upon the idea, my first step was market research. Was anyone else offering gift boxes for cancer/chemo patients? I discovered a handful of competitors but quickly realized none had my unique business perspective as a cancer survivor. Mindset: “We’ve all been touched by cancer, but I sat in the infusion chair many times myself. I knew that would set my business apart.” Step two: Collect inventory I started collecting products that were meaningful to me because they’d helped me when I was going through c

  Ever look up at the clock after a crazy busy day and immediately wonder, "Where the heck did all those hours go?"    Yeah, it happens to the best of us.   Time is a scarce resource, especially for small business owners and self-employed professionals like us.    Here's what we learned from you!   Productivity Apps Are Your Best Friend     There's a reason for the saying "There's an app for that." You shared with us that, overwhelmingly,  your most useful apps are the ones that make everyday tasks easier and less time consuming.    Anything you can automate = more time for you to spend on the parts of your business that you love.   Rachel Ritlop uses a handful of tools to automate her business. Here are some of her favorites: Calendly: Save time by letting your clients snag slots on your calendar instead of chatting back and forth endlessly about your schedules. Hootsuite: Lots of folks here use Hootsuite, w

Ever feel like you're just running from fire to fire, (hopefully) putting them out one by one? Sounds like you need Eisenhower's Box, a handy how-to for those of us who struggle with what to do when - and what to do never.     Makes sense, right? As 34th U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower once memorably said...   "What is important is seldom urgent, and what is urgent is seldom important."   But how do you decide what's what? The answer can mean the difference between hitch-up-your-pants efficiency and pants-on-fire pandemonium. So.   On a scale of 1 to 10, how do you rate your ability to prioritize tasks on a daily basis without getting derailed by seemingly urgent but not necessarily important things? Any tips to share?

Hi, I don't really want to rehash the numerous problems I've been having with Quickbooks Online. It's really too painful and you all probably have your own stories.  My question is have any of you explored cloud based alternatives. I'm crowdsourcing. Please share with me your recommendations and any drawbacks that you find. Thanks! Liz