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Welcome to SCORE!
Greetings! SCORE, Counselors to America's Small Business offers free counseling to St. Louis area small businesses. Get back to business. See all SCORE has to offer.
For more information contact us at 314-539-6600 Ext. 242 or www.stlscore.org to learn more about what SCORE offers.See Our Website

| St. Louis SCORE 200 North Broadway Suite 1500 St. Louis, MO 63102 314-539-6600 x242 http://www.stlscore.org
St. Charles Office 636-447-5000 St. Charles EDC 5988 Mid Rivers Mall St.Charles, MO 63304
Kirkwood Office 314-800-1527 Inside PNC Bank 333 S. Kirkwood Rd Kirkwood, MO 63122
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IRS News
New Free Electronic Mail Service for Payroll Providers is Available
Sign-up for the new e-News for Payroll Providers to get information about legislative changes, new employment tax procedures and other information specifically affecting federal payroll tax returns.
More from the IRS - Electronic Payment Options
Electronic payment options are convenient, safe and secure methods for paying taxes. If there is a balance due, you can e-file the return and payment authorization in a single step - Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), free from the U.S. Treasury. Pay all federal taxes electronically - on-line or by phone 24/7. Visit www.eftps.gov to enroll.
- Online Payment Agreement The Online Payment Agreement (OPA) allows eligible individuals to apply for an installment agreement to pay off their tax liability. To qualify, you must have your bill from the IRS and have filed all required tax returns. You must owe less than $25,000 and be able to pay the entire liability within 60 months. To use this application you must have filed a Power of Attorney for all taxes that are unpaid and have a copy of the taxpayer's bill from the IRS.
- IRS e-file Made Easy - A Tax Professional's One-Stop e-file and e-Pay Shop
Your link to all things e-file and e-pay including e-Services. Designed as an easy to follow, one-stop resource center for IRS e-file and e-payment information. We've included everything you'll need to get started in IRS e-file as well as links to other valuable information for tax professionals
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Managing: Hosting a Small Business Holiday Party Without Busting the Budget
Get the Most Out of Holiday Gatherings
Here are some holiday party ideas that will help even the smallest company create a special and memorable event:
Go home. Employees will always remember the year they got invited to the boss's house for the holiday party. Your home doesn't have to be fancy-it's the fact that you're willing to open it to your staff that counts.
Get everyone involved. If you're really on a tight budget, consider hosting a pot-luck party in the office. Come up with a theme, like everyone bringing a dish from their family recipes.
Make it fun. Whether you host your party at a posh restaurant or your office, don't just sit around and eat. Have games, speeches or contests to get employees involved and interacting.
Invite clients. Inviting clients to your company party is a great way to cement relationships. It also enables clients to mingle and get to know each other, as well as your staff.
Get creative. Your party doesn't have to be at a hotel, restaurant or even in your office. Think outside the box by hosting a mini-golf party, beach barbecue (depending on where you live), or paintball party.
Give back. Volunteering for a charity is a great way to start off your holiday celebration. Your staff can spend part of the morning serving a charity group together, then bring everyone back to the office for a festive holiday celebration.
Looking for more ways to reward your employees? Talk to the experts at SCORE about ways to engage and encourage the people who make your business grow.
Rieva Lesonsky, GrowBiz Media
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Make Sure Prospects are a Fit for Your Business
Zachary Karr and Joe Pessetto, Financial Advisors with Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, felt stuck with their financial advisory business. They had a full roster of clients but found they were working so hard; they had no time left to grow their practice. So they took a step back and analyzed their time log and client list. They found that 80% of their clients were generating only about 20% of their sales, but taking over 90% of their time. They decided to take a radical step to get them out of their current rut and transitioned the majority of clients to other advisors or do-it-yourself solutions.
Zach and Joe then clearly defined their ideal client (the remaining 20%) and the elements that made their working relationship so mutually beneficial. They wanted to connect with clients on a personal level and invest in a long-term meaningful relationship.
They designed, therefore, a sales process (FIT) that quickly helped qualify upfront which prospects would make great clients:
The first meeting, the focus is on communication and walking the individual or couple through a series of questions meant to uncover a complete client picture.
Next they present all their fees upfront as well as their schedule and process for client reviews and communications. Prospects get a clear picture of the process and value they will receive in engaging their services.
These steps allow Zach and Joe to keep their client list, and service level, of highest quality. You can use their method too in order to get the correct "Fit" :
Your Next Best Three Steps?
1) Be Picky in Selecting New Clients. What are the characteristics of your best clients? What are the characteristics of the clients that drag you down? Describe the first with as much detail as possible 2) Design and Communicate Your Game Plan. Spend the time to design, and then put on paper, the process by which you will work with a client. If you have an online business, the process can still be communicated up front. This gives the client confidence and often can distinguish you from the competition. 3) Be Clear with Fees Up Front. After knowing the specifics of the product/service package you are offering, clearly communicate everything up front. Studies consistently show that "unexpected" fees, no matter the amount, leave clients angry and distrustful. Jeanne Rossomme, Roadmap Marketing SCORE Guest Blogger |
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Time is Running Out to Get Your Deal Approved! Jobs Act Provisions Expire December 31! Make certain you submit your loan application to the SBA processing center in advance of the December 31 deadline to ensure you take advantage of the 90% guarantee and fee waiver. After December 31, the 90% guaranty and fee waiver provisions expire; the guarantee portion of your deal after that date will be 85% for loans up to $150,000, and 75% for loans above $150,000. Borrowers using SBA-backed financing will once again pay the standard one-time guarantee fee. Since the Small Business Jobs Act was signed into law September 27 restoring those provisions, 97 loans have been approved in the eastern half of Missouri, representing more than $34 million in loan volume. To take advantage of the Jobs Act provisions, your loan must be approved by the SBA - not just submitted - prior to the deadline. The St. Louis District Office is happy to help you get your deals through the SBA process in time to take advantage of the Jobs Act provisions. PLEASE DO NOT WAIT!
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Upcoming Events SCORE Chapter 21
Workshops to Improve Your Business!
REGISTER NOW !
"How to Start and Manage Your Own Business" Saturday Jan. 8, 2011 8:15 A.M. to 3 P.M Fee - $50.00
St. Louis Community College at Meramec 11333 Big Bend Blvd. St. Louis, Mo. 63122 Room SO - 107
To learn more about any of these courses and dates, times and how to register - CLICK HERE
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Resources For You
Secrets Revealed. Get inspired by meeting real-life SCORE Success Stories. Watch and learn from the video series "I am Small Business & This Is My Story." Tune in today.
| .Quick Guide to Economic Indicators The Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC) has developed a new economic indicator "cheat sheet" to help users navigate labor market information on the web. This quick reference guide outlines resources and websites for employment, labor force, wages, demographics, and career planning data. Read more...
St. Charles Economic Development Center

SCORE Social Media
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Success Storie s: A Patriot Act When Kevin McDermott and Steven Smits left the Air Force, neither knew life would lead them down an entrepreneurial path. With SCORE's help, they learned fast and aviation lighting company Patriot Taxiway Industries was born.
"SCORE was there at a crucial moment in our startup process. Patriot has since attended SCORE talks on business finance, website marketing, legal issues and several others, each providing us with invaluable tools to apply in our business model. We appreciate the time and great knowledge the SCORE counselors bring from their own business experiences."
Find out more. Watch their success story.
Kevin McDermott and Steven Smits, Patriot Taxiway Industries Website: www.patriottaxiway.com
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Brought to you by SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business," a nonprofit association and resourc e partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration. SCORE is dedicated to entrepreneurship and the formation, growth and success of small businesses nationwide. Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 8 million entrepreneurs.
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