Iowa has never been the hot bed for franchisors but it seems as though some Iowa franchisors are really picking up steam. According to the Des Moines Register this morning Chocolaterie Stam stores have expanded to Ames, Chapel Hill N.C., and Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Upcoming stores including Minneapolis and Steamboat Springs (that would be my personal
Guest Blogger: Mike Colwell of BIZ on Business Mentoring – Lessons Learned!
Looking back on the first year of work at the Business Innovation Zone (BIZ), I have met with over 60 potential clients ranging across a wide variety of business areas. I have learned much on this path. First and foremost, I have learned to never prejudge an idea. I must say that some of the
LLCs Are Not Always Better Than S Corps
I have seen many articles on the Internet which state that you absolutely need to form a limited liability company (LLC) if you are a small business owner. The S corporation, once the darling of small business entities, must now feel like the red-headed step child.
But as New York attorney Derek Underwood points out
Landlord Reminder
Kyle Kruidenier provides a good reminder for landlords over on the Iowa Law Blog.
Tips on How to Avoid Wage & Hour Lawsuits
Recently I have been discussing the rise in wage and hour litigation. See here and here.
According to the Department of Labor approximately 70 percent of businesses are out of compliance with wage and hour laws. That’s right – 70 percent! According to Shanti Atkins of the Compliance Training Blog, some experts believe
Mark Cuban: You Only Need to be Right Once
Thought I would share this article from Seeds of Growth following up on Mark Cuban’s talk at Blogworld.
Remember: In business, you only need to be right once to be a success.
Did you know that a certain Central Iowa patent attorney also appeared at Blogworld? Quite a feather in Brett’s cap.
Writing Good Job Descriptions
Accurate and properly written job descriptions can be an invaluable aid in hiring well and legally. But bad job descriptions . . . well that can be worse than none. Inaccurate descriptions, and those that an employer allows to become outdated only confuse the hiring process, complicate employee reviews and make accommodation under the ADA
Don’t Lose That Deduction for Business Expenses
On IowaBIz.com, West Des Moines accountant Joe Kristan shares a story about what happens when you try to take personal deductions for corporate expenses.
The moral of Joe’s story:
If you incorporate your business, run it like a business. The corporation pays the corporation’s bills, or your deduction vanishes.
Great advice indeed!
Franchising in the Iowa Small Business Zone
Doug Mitchell interviews Steve Reese who is the owner of Fitness Together franchise in Clive, Iowa in his first podcast of the Iowa Small Business Zone. Listen and you will find that Steve is an enthusiastic proponent of franchising. I was also impressed with Steve’s impression of the potential benefits of blogging from someone who is new
Single Member LLCs Allowed in Iowa
For some reason I am not having any success at getting people to comment on a couple of issues: here and here.
But I am receiving a number of requests recently for information on specific subjects. It’s actually fun and gratifying to receive email from readers who say they have been following the blog and