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News from SCORE

November 2014

SCORE Fox Valley Chapter 289

From your co-editors Mike Toland and Bruce Marino. Ask us a question and get an answer in (24) Hours!

jmichaeltoland@gmail.com bwmarino@hotmail.com

Thanks to those who completed our survey last month. We did have one specific question and we wish to answer:

Question -

More ideas/suggestions/help for independent contractors or sole proprietors. I am a speaker/educator/consultant. What I sell is me (to give talks, teach workshops, consult on the field in which I have expertise). Many of the business workshops do not apply to me (I have no employees or overhead, I do not make products to sell, etc.).

Answer - Yes, I will look specifically for information to provide, also sent this information to chapter president and branch manager for future ideas.

I look though over 300 articles a month for the newsletter and will focus more on sole proprietors and look for more ideas/suggestions/help.

Article 1: Tax Deductions Opportunities (Con't)

Article 2: Work Shops

Article 3: Start with a Simple Plan

Main Article

Continued from last month:

Tax Deduction Opportunities Small Business Owners Must Not Overlook

Last month, 5 of the Top 10 tax deduction tips were introduced. Those addressed tax relief techniques for the following expense areas:

Auto Expenses
Business Start-Up
Bad Debt

Business Entertaining

Interest

Upcoming Webinars

The 8 Rules for Hiring in the Health and Wellness Communities- 12/4 at 1pm Eastern/ 10am Pacific

How to Really Start Your Own Business - 12/9 at 12pm Eastern/ 9am Pacific

Bit by Bit: Creating Content for Your Website in Stress- Free Chunks - 12/11 at 1pm Easter/ 9am Pacific

Develop a simple lean plan first.

by Tim Berry

Start with a lean business plan. That's my name for a business plan that's simpler and easier to use than the formal ones that most people think of. I define a lean plan as one for your eyes only. It includes just four essential parts: a bare-bones strategy summary; a list of tactics to execute the strategy, such as the pricing, marketing plan, selecting sales channels and product-launch dates; concrete details of assumptions, tasks and milestones; and basic forecasts for revenue and spending.

� Read more:

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Check These Business Articles:

Link (5) Reasons Pivots are Crucial Today

Link Leadership Accountability positive simple approach

Link Here is Why Founders should Care about Happiness

Link Start With a Simple Business Plan and Grow It as Needed

Link Find the Best Lawyer for Your Startup with This Off-the-Record Advice

Quote of the Month:

Solutions sell, technology doesn't."

-- Tom Hogan and Carol Broadbent, founders of Crowded Ocean, writing at VentureBeat

Video of the Month:

"WHY"

https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action

Has SCORE helped your business? Give back to SCORE to help entrepreneurs succeed: Donate today.

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