If your profession requires you to stamp a lot of documents or correspondence everyday, you probably understand how a stamp pad and other related accessories play an important role in this process. However, it does not mean that to realize this you have to be an office employee or a notary. Many people do like to indulge in stamping whenever they need to send out letters, invitations and even give out gifts. The point is that along with a stamp, the related stationery also demands a certain amount of importance!

When it comes to stamping, most people prefer a stamp that comes with a stamp pad. Better to say they prefer getting a traditional stamp. When you consider having such a stamp, you are bound to take care of all the things that are required to stamp your documents and other correspondence. Thus, like you look for the best stamp, you should also look for quality accessories, like stamp pads and stamp pad ink.

Getting quality stamping accessories means you are making your stamping experience more enjoyable. You will find many shops around you that offer stamp pads and accessories. Their items are very thoughtfully designed in an attempt to give customers a great stamping experience. Along, they are very durable and convenient to use.

When you want to give your stamp a different look, considering new stamp pads and accessories can help you to a great extent. They would definitely meet your requirements. For example, for a different look of the stamp, you can change the color of the ink that you are going to use on the stamp pad. There is no doubt it would look very different and innovative. Likewise, you can discover a lot more things in order to personalize your stamp of approval. Getting a bit creative would help you come up with innovative ideas!

Thus, for different personalized look of your stamps, you do not need to get several stamp pads. Getting a quality stamp pad and accessories can prove to be the best way to do the same. You can use them in your office for authenticating documents and at home to personalize your belongings and gifts. Change the color of ink whenever you feel like, keeping in mind the concept of the events! Isn't it a good idea?

If your association has decided to have an advocacy day, you're probably wondering where to start. Sending advocates to visit Congress or their state legislature can be a daunting task, from getting the meetings scheduled to making sure your advocates can effectively deliver your message.

Here are a few tips to help improve your advocacy days:

1. Have a clear message. The decision to have an advocacy day usually comes from some legislative activity that is important to your association. But you need to be clear about the purpose of your event. What is the ask? Do you want support for a bill, increased funding for a program? It's acceptable to have "meet and greet" advocacy days, where your group comes in and says, "this is who we are and this is what we do," but you can do that only once. If there is nothing in particular that you want from legislators, why have advocacy days?

2. Hit your targets. Because time is limited during advocacy days, you want to make sure that your legislative targets are covered. Find out which legislators sit on the committees that are in charge of your issue and make them the priorities. That means making sure that constituents from their districts are in attendance. If you see holes in your targets, go through your membership roster and find people from those districts and invite them to your advocacy days. Your database cannot do this for you. You have to pick up the phone and ask. It's amazing what people will do if you just ask.

3. Be flexible. When scheduling meetings for advocacy days, remember that it is not like scheduling a meeting with the dentist. Legislators are busy and your events may be planned for days when members are in special hearings or committee meetings or when they aren't in session until late in the day. Don't fill your advocacy day with luncheons or special speakers. That will make it difficult for you to say yes when you're offered a meeting at the only time the legislator is available. As part of remaining flexible, your advocates need to be available from early morning to early evening. Make sure they aren't planning to leave early or arrive late.

4. Train your advocates. When it's all over, advocacy days are only as good as the training. Your advocates don't need to know the history of the bill or how a bill becomes a law, but they need the background on your ask so that they can be confident in their discussions with legislative offices. Some statistics and financial figures are helpful, but don't weigh your advocates down with information that they don't really need. During the training portion of your advocacy days, it's crucial to show your advocates how to connect the data and their stories to the ask. Many associations use a demonstration, some use role play, but before you send them on meetings, make sure they know what the ask is and how to get to it.

For more information about successful advocacy days and other programs to maximize the potential of your grassroots networks, visit http://SoapboxConsulting.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Angela_R._Taylor

People start businesses for a variety of reasons. Some just dream of getting rich. Others are sick of working for somebody else. Still others think they know a better way, so they embark a venture all their own. I even know a few people who simply started businesses because of some happy accident. They didn't really intend to start a business. It just happened through a series of circumstances they never planned.

Over time, businesses change. What may have once been the very passion of their life become a 100 pound weight hanging around their neck. They now feel enslaved to a business that no longer serves their life goals. They're trapped inside their own business, with no apparent way out.

If that sounds like you, this list of thoughtful questions might help you get unstuck.

1. What's changed - in your business?

If your business is no longer scratching your itch, what changed? Think about the changes that have happened. When you first started, what caused the rush of adrenaline? Is that "cause" still around? Or maybe it's you who changed. Maybe the things you once needed have now been fulfilled and you have a new itch that requires a new type of scratch.

2. What's changed - in your life goals?

We all experience changes in our life. Our goals when we start our career are very different than our goals after 30 years of work experience. Make a list of the things you now hope to accomplish. List your current goals.

3. What activities in your business hinder those goals?

Yes, it's a negative approach, but if you're struggling with your present business you may as well face down reality. You could approach it like this, "What activities in your business advance those goals?" We're approaching this from a "what's wrong" approach though - not a "what's right" approach. We're trying to fix things.

4. What can you do about those activities or things that hinder your personal goals?

Brace yourself. The answer may come back, "Nothing!" If that's the case, you likely understand your options. Get out. How? Well, that's a different list and a whole "nother" story.

But, maybe there are things you can do to get the business back on track and in harmony with your personal goals. Not long ago I was working with a dealer who wanted to walk away from his business. However, his goal was a target price that simply wasn't founded in reality. His need, or goal, had little to do with the actual value of the business. Result? No sale. Just one miserable business owner.

A better approach is to figure out how you can realign your goals with your business. You should absolutely make changes in your business to get things back in alignment with your personal goals. However, only do that if it will enhance the business. Don't do anything to put your company at risk because you're having a mid-life crisis.

I've known some 30-something business owners who inherited the business from a retiring father and their personal goal was to buy a $100,000 sports car. The business wasn't helping them reach that goal fast enough, and they got stupid. Putting your business at risk for such selfish goals aren't exactly what we're talking about. We're talking about more "this isn't what I want for my life" type goals.

Change what you can, if it will also make the business better. Face the realities of the things you can't change. Decide if you can live with them. If you can't, start building your exit plan.

5. Be careful what you wish for - you just might get it.

"I want to move to the coast and golf," said the owner. He sold the business and did just that. He and his wife of 40 years sold just about everything they had. They left behind the kids and grand-kids. They moved to their dream house in their dream city. For a year, they did what they wanted. After a year, bored completely out of their mind, missing friends and family - they moved back. The coast and the golfing were only things they thought they wanted.

Make sure that your life goals are truly what you want. There are countless men and women who thought they wanted something, only to have obtained it and found tremendous disappointment. Carefully examine your life goals.

Business isn't just about money. It's not just about the things money can buy. It's fundamentally about something more powerful, desire. It might be the desire to determine who we interact with. Maybe it's the desire to live where we want. Maybe it's the desire to determine our own schedule. It can be a thousand different things. And it's not possible to have it all. Don't believe that lie. Every desire comes with a price tag. Your job is to make sure you're willing to pay the price for whatever you desire.

Businesses exist only because somebody wants them to. Make sure you still want yours to exist. Before you dismiss those thoughts, think about two other groups of people who have a vested interest in your decision: your employees and your customers! Get what you need, but don't be too selfish.

Randy Cantrell is the President of Bula Network, LLC, a business accelerator for independently owned small businesses. Read his blog at http://bulanetwork.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Randy_Cantrell

In the last part, you learned some of the very basic facts about business finance. In this part, I will tell you how to deal with the problem of cash shortage and an array of other such factors that contribute to the success and failure of your overall business venture. Here you go.

Cash Is King
When you encounter a cash shortage problem, the first thing that you should do is to inform all the people who are going to be affected because of this. For example, you can start by giving a call to your suppliers and explore your options for renegotiating the credit terms, such as by creating a provision for installments or by extending the due date - something that you can afford. This will not only help you battle the problem efficiently but you will also be able to restore people's trust in your business.

Strictly Follow A Set Procedure For Payment
While you are documenting the terms and conditions for sales, make sure to include payment terms as well. Follow this payment procedure strictly. If a customer is asking for credit, you should grant the same only after checking their background thoroughly. For example, you can do this effectively by getting references from other suppliers that the customers are dealing with.

How To Chase Debts
Chasing the debts the right way is also very important for your business finance. You must follow a set procedure for it as well. For example, an effective way is to sending a duplicate invoice mentioning the due date for the payment and when the due date expires, you can follow up by giving a telephone call to the customer.

Realistic Forecasting
Forecasting can be a good thing for your business as long as you are realistic and not conservative about it. Always remember, realistic forecasting is the foundation for ordering raw materials, negotiating premises, and raising money. While you are estimating about the various components, make sure that your analysis and estimation is based on some facts. At the same time, you also need to be consistent about this forecasting. For example, monthly or weekly forecasting is much better than just one annual forecasting.

Keep Proper Records For Everything
Keeping thorough records for each and everything is also essential for the health of your business finance. If you do not have enough time to do it yourself, you always have an option to hire a professional bookkeeper for this purpose. The objective is to keep a firm track on where your money is going out and coming from. Computerizing your accounts is a good way to do that. There are lots of software programs available in the market that can make the process much easier and more efficient for you.

Last, but not the least, you should always keep in mind that everything is negotiable - whether it is payment terms with your suppliers, the rate of interest payable to bank, and the due date of the debts, and the amount of installments for loans. So, negotiation is also a good part of healthy business finance.

Gaining good control over your business finance is the key to success in your venture. You can visit my website for more business finance tips that will eventually give your business a solid base.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alexander_Miller

Small business loans are helpful to safeguard business against losses or adversities. They are very beneficial to all small business entrepreneurs. Small business loans provide capital to increase the profit margin and aid in production capacity. To run a small business is a Herculean task, more so when there is such hard competition. It becomes very difficult for a small business to survive among the race without proper fund. Thus opting for small business loan is a smart decision to overcome this hassle.

To apply for small business loans borrower has two options, with or without collateral. Secured small business loan is offered with collateral. Low interest and small monthly installments are its benefits. Long repayment duration also gives relief to the borrower. He can borrow big amount here, as this loan is secured against your property. Unsecured small business loan does not require any collateral. No security is offered. However borrower has to bear high interest rate and big amount as monthly installments.

Small business loans are also available for people with poor credit history. Earlier these people were turned down by the creditors. Their poor credit was a curse to get them small business loan. But bad credit small business loan has changed the scenario; this loan is designed for people with adverse credit. Small business loan can be taken to meet any business requirements. To get in touch with the lender, you should seek help from internet. It will give you all relevant information regarding the loan and its procedure to follow.

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Small business loans

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joanne_Elizabeth

If you own a small business, as I do, I'm sure that you've often been told, "The check's in the mail." At best, you must wait several days before you get access to the money. This can be a major hardship when the amount is large. What if the check never arrives? Then you have to contact your customer or client and hope that they really intended to pay you. You tell them that their check "must have gotten lost in the mail" and sheepishly ask them to send a replacement. Then the process repeats and you hope that this time the check finally arrives. Even if you do actually receive the check, there is of course a delay until you actually get your hands on it and deposit into your bank account. There has to be a better way!

I've found a great solution to this dilemma. There is now software available that allows you to receive the check information by telephone, FAX, email, web form, or in person and immediately print the actual check, which you deposit right away into your bank account. If the check is from an intra-state bank or the amount is under $1000, my bank gives me immediate access to the funds. Otherwise, there is a 5-day hold, which would also have been the case if I had to wait for the check to arrive by mail. So in most cases, I get immediate access to the funds. Wow! It doesn't get better than that. Using this software has greatly improved my cash flow. It could probably do the same for you.

It works with any laser printer. No special toner is required. Checks produced by this software even have the machine-readable numbers at the bottom and are accepted by every bank in North American and most other places. I recommend that you use the same type of security paper as the one suggested for well-known account software, such as Quickbooks(tm) or Quicken(tm).

That paper is inexpensive and is available at most office supply companies and at the above website. It is specially manufactured with a number of features that help to prevent check fraud. For example, if someone makes a photocopy of the check, the word VOID is plastered all over the copy, making it unusable.

Dr. Rubinstein is a practicing psychiatrist who has replaced the income from his lucrative medical practice through online marketing. He not only offers a wide range of products on dozens of websites, but he also teaches Internet marketing through an online multi-media training program as well as a personal mentoring program.

The software is called "Immediate Check Deposit" and it's available for download at http://immediate-check-deposit.com

Dr. Rubinstein can be contacted at ezinearticles@doctorduplicator.com or (219) 864-2501.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_N._Rubinstein,_M.D.

Although several of the small business owners I have encountered in the past few years thought they were immune from being sued for unpaid commissions by their salespeople, they learned -- too late -- that New York's Labor laws dictated otherwise. As part of their Monday morning quarterbacking, these business owners came to realize that had they invested a modest amount of additional time and resources into drafting a comprehensive and clear commission agreement in the first place, they certainly would not face exposure to paying commissions at a salesman's wished upon (rather than agreed upon) terms, and perhaps could have prevented litigation altogether. After some further analysis, it seems that these business owners' surprise (and Achilles' heel) was the product of their belief in one or more of the following myths:

Myth #1 - Signing bonuses are inherently discretionary - New York's courts have held that where a signing bonus is guaranteed as a term of employment that is tied to the salesperson's job performance (such as the sale of a new account), and further, is not expressly made subject to management's discretion, the bonus is deemed wages under the Labor Law, and thus, cannot be forfeited if earned prior to termination and/or resignation.

Myth #2 - "If it Isn't Written, It Doesn't Exist - contrary to popular belief, just because a commission agreement is oral doesn't necessarily mean it is unenforceable. In that regard, while an employer can change the terms of an at-will employee's agreement prospectively, it cannot change the terms of the agreement retrospectively. Simply put, once the salesperson has already earned commissions at an agreed upon rate, the employer cannot go back and refuse to pay those commissions.

Myth #3 - Termination for Cause Is Cause for Forfeiture of Commissions - New York's Labor Law clearly states that commissions which are earned during employment (i.e., vested), cannot be forfeited as a matter of public policy.

Myth #4 - If It Isn't Clear from the Contract that a Commission is Owed, the Salesperson Can't Collect - a fundamental, and nearly uniform rule of law is that any ambiguity in a contract is construed against the drafter of the contract. As a practical matter, this means that the courts are obliged to side with the salesperson with regard to any provision in the agreement that does not make it patently clear as to whether, and if so, how much, commissions are owed for a particular sale.

As the foregoing makes clear, it certainly pays to have well-crafted and clear agreements with commission salespeople. The short-term cost in time and money will not only help avert misunderstandings, and thus safeguard company morale, but will likely save you untold sums of money by either minimizing, or preventing entirely, the costs of litigation.

Copyright (c) 2008 Law Offices of Jonathan Cooper

Jonathan M. Cooper is an attorney in private practice in New York, and has represented small businesses and individuals in the trial and appellate courts for over a decade. For further information about his firm, please visit http://www.jmcooperlaw.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Cooper