Real Estate Information

Cyber thieves target places travelers trust with credit card info

British insurance firm Willis Group Holdings says the greatest number of cyber-attacks last year targeted hotels, resorts and tour companies -- the very places that business travelers entrust with personal data and credit card information. "Large hotel chains are most vulnerable because hotel management companies may not be able to monitor how data is collected and stored at dozens or even hundreds of properties throughout the world," Hugo Martin writes. Los Angeles Times (8/14)

Does your business qualify to claim the R&D tax credit?

A wider range of businesses can claim the research and development tax credit than many realize, Karen Klein writes. "The rule of thumb is, if you have an engineer on staff, you probably have research and development expenses you should be capturing," said CPA Sean Haggard. Logging research time and holding on to documents such as diagrams are important for keeping tabs on research expenses, he said. Bloomberg Businessweek (8/16)

Samia Morgan is proud to be listed with the Better Business Bureau - 
BBB Accredited business since 03/01/1994

Your San Mateo Real Estate Advisor

BBB - TrustBrief - Advancing trust in the marketplace

Build trust with customers through more personalized communication

E-mail can be a valuable tool, but it's not good for building trust with potential consumers, writes executive coach Lenann McGookey Gardner. Instead, try communicating with a more personal touch, such as by leaving a voice mail or meeting in person. Business Review USA(8/11)

How to figure out what you can deduct from your home office

Determining what is tax deductible in a home office can be a headache, and there are no clear-cut answers. Because of the judgment calls involved, it's wise to rely on an accountant, Denise Abdun-Nur says. "In order to deduct an expense, it needs to be necessary in order to bring the business owner more profit, and ordinary, in the sense that other business owners would have the same expense. ... I didn't deduct the TV or iPod I have in my exclusively used home office, but someone who's more aggressive might have," tax preparer Jan Zobel said.Los Angeles Times (8/15)

Samia Morgan is proud to be listed with the Better Business Bureau - 
BBB Accredited business since 03/01/1994

Your San Mateo Real Estate Advisor

BBB - TrustBrief - Advancing trust in the marketplace

How to make your website more trustworthy

In the untamed wilderness of the Internet, trust -– not the fancy flash animation on your site -- is your company's most valuable asset, writes Eric Wyatt. To reassure customers, keep your SSL certificate up to date, consider having your checkout system verified and make your privacy policy available on every page of your site, he writes. Technically Easy blog (8/2)

How the IRS distinguishes between contractors, full-time employees

Contracting out work instead of hiring full-time employees can help small-business owners save money by not having to withhold taxes or pay certain benefits; businesses should take care, however, to make sure they are classifying their workers correctly, writes management counselor Ron Consolino. Contractors must be allowed to determine when and where they work and have the freedom to pursue other clients, or else the Internal Revenue Service may view them as full-time employees and hit your small business with fines when you file your tax returns. Houston Chronicle (8/5)

Samia Morgan is proud to be listed with the Better Business Bureau - 
BBB Accredited business since 03/01/1994

Your San Mateo Real Estate Advisor

BBB - TrustBrief - Advancing trust in the marketplace

Small businesses are often blamed when cybercriminals raid bank accounts

Small businesses' bank accounts, which have become prime targets for cybertheft by Eastern European organized gangs, typically aren't covered by insurance as personal accounts are. This means that small and midsize account holders are often held responsible for online thefts that they could have done little to prevent. According to Dell security expert Don Jackson, these types of accounts are losing a combined $1 billion a year to cybertheft. Bloomberg(8/4)

Battle over an Internet sales tax moves to Capitol Hill

The Main Street Fairness Act introduced in the Senate seeks to standardize the collection of state and local sales taxes on Internet purchases, but large online retailers such as eBay are opposing the law. The bill comes on the heels of a California law requiring a sales tax for certain online purchases that prompted Amazon to cut ties with affiliate companies in the state. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model)/In Charge blog (8/5)

Samia Morgan is proud to be listed with the Better Business Bureau - 
BBB Accredited business since 03/01/1994

Your San Mateo Real Estate Advisor

BBB - TrustBrief - Advancing trust in the marketplace

If you are interested in the article, click here.

A "do not do" social media policy is not enough

Businesses can make more effective social media policy for their employees by creating common sense comprehensive guidelines that illustrate a range of situations rather than simply issuing lists of what not to do, says social media expert Sherrie Madia. A policy should aim to help an employee figure out how to navigate social media carefully rather than stay away altogether. BankInfoSecurity.com (8/4)

How the Internet has changed the game for news releases

Businesses once had to rely on print publications to publish their news releases, but the Internet has provided a new outlet, Eric Richard writes. News releases still need the same snappy headlines and clear writing they've always had, but now they can drive Internet traffic and improve search engine optimization by including links to a business' website. StartupNation (8/3)

Samia Morgan is proud to be listed with the Better Business Bureau - 
BBB Accredited business since 03/01/1994

Your San Mateo Real Estate Advisor

BBB - TrustBrief - Advancing trust in the marketplace

BBB warns consumers to be wary of penny-auction websites

Consumers need to be aware that penny-auction websites offering cheap items such as $80 iPads don't guarantee the sale of the item at the listed price, warns BBB. The sites merely sell chances to participate in the auction for something as little as $1 per bid. The auction sites may also bill users in bulk for bids, such as requiring a purchase of $100 for 100 bids. Idaho Press-Tribune (Nampa) (8/4)

How to avoid common financial missteps

Young entrepreneurs who are inexperienced with finances can get into trouble, Diana Ransom writes. Blowing money on items that aren't essential to conducting business is one of seven financial mistakes she explains. "Spend every dollar you have on building a really good product and get it in front of users," said LearnVest.com founder Alexa von Tobel. "If your product isn't good, there's no hope for making any progress." Entrepreneur.com (8/4)

Samia Morgan is proud to be listed with the Better Business Bureau - 
BBB Accredited business since 03/01/1994

Your San Mateo Real Estate Advisor

BBB - TrustBrief - Advancing trust in the marketplace

Mobile malware is an increasing threat to cellphones

Between a half million and 1 million mobile-phone users were victims of mobile-malware attacks in the first half of 2011, according to a report by Lookout Mobile Security. As the popularity of mobile devices increases, malware attackers are using applications and mobile ads to sneak into more and more users' phones. Users should not download apps from untrusted sites and be on the lookout for strange texts or decreased battery life as evidence of malware, say experts. ChannelInsider.com (8/4)

4 things you have to know about accounting

Many small-business owners avoid issues related to accounting and bookkeeping, but "the mistake they make is not thinking about how they can use certain numbers as tools to better manage where their business is headed tomorrow," said Brian Hamilton, head of data-tracking firm Sageworks. Business owners have to understand the difference between debt and profit, how to manage receivables, the ins and outs of the company's expenses and know the moment they break even. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (8/3)

Samia Morgan is proud to be listed with the Better Business Bureau - 
BBB Accredited business since 03/01/1994

Your San Mateo Real Estate Advisor

BBB - TrustBrief - Advancing trust in the marketplace

Arm your business against internal threats

Employees -- not outsiders -- are responsible for most cases of business fraud, which hit small businesses hard, says Comerica Bank's Glenn Lauter. Well-defined policies and procedures can help to stave off fraud, though. Small businesses also should perform background and credit checks on prospective employees, said Lautner's colleague, Paul Orsborn. Smart Business online (8/1)

How cloud computing can save your company money

Cloud computing can help companies cut costs in many ways, writes Linda Johnson, a partner at CCP Global Business Solutions. Technology gives employees more control over buying decisions and gives managers tools to monitor and adjust spending quickly. "Moving to the cloud will put responsibility for company spend into the hands of" employees, Johnson wrote.SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Finance (8/1)

Samia Morgan is proud to be listed with the Better Business Bureau - 
BBB Accredited business since 03/01/1994

Your San Mateo Real Estate Advisor

BBB - TrustBrief - Advancing trust in the marketplace

Why it's best to build customer relationships on a foundation of trust

Building customer relationships on a firm foundation of trust can help companies develop stronger solutions for clients, says Simplify's Bart Beatty. As opposed to a vendor that offers one-size-fits all services, Beatty advocates doing a thorough analysis of new clients, then using strategy sessions to help create two-sided conversations that increase both quality and sales. Smart Business online (8/1)

3 areas where you can save big for your small business

It's easier to trim business expenses than you may think, say professional cost-cutters. First, start using VoIP instead of a traditional wireline for your phone service. Then look into alternative providers for your utilities. Many small businesses don't need to use traditional forms of advertising, so assessing your promotional methods can also turn up ways to save.BusinessNewsDaily.com (8/1)

Samia Morgan is proud to be listed with the Better Business Bureau - 
BBB Accredited business since 03/01/1994

Your San Mateo Real Estate Advisor

BBB - TrustBrief - Advancing trust in the marketplace