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The Business Report
Sign Up for Clean Energy
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Recently the Bloomfield Town Council voted to buy 20% of their electricity from clean, renewable energy sources making Bloomfield among the first CT communities to make this commitment immediately. By choosing to purchase clean energy, you are helping to reduce greenhouse emissions, and create a cleaner, safer environment for all Bloomfield residents.
WE NEED BLOOMFIELD BUSINESSES TO JOIN IN THIS EFFORT.
The Town of Bloomfield has chosen Sterling Planet because of their commitment to locally generated power, and community education. For each new sign-up with Sterling, Bloomfield will earn a $15 rebate. And with each 100 sign-ups, residential or business, Bloomfield will earn a free solar panel. In fact, depending on the size of the business, it can earn a solar panel for the town on its sign-up alone!!!
To obtain a registration form (see picture, right) or for further details, call Tollie Miller of the Conservation, Energy and Environment Committee at 860.206.9563. Contribute Today towards a Greener, Cleaner Bloomfield!
(Posted 2/2/2008 by admin) |
10 TIPS FOR YOUR 2007 TAXES AND BEYOND
1. Contribute to an IRA or SEP IRA. You still have until April 15, 2008 to make SEP, Roth or Traditional IRA contributions for 2007.
2. Expense now, pay later. The section 179 write-off limit on new capital assets was increased from $ 112,000 to $ 125,000 for 2007 and will be $128,000 for 2008.
3. Deduct more for your business mileage. The standard business auto mileage rate increased to 48.5 cents per mile for 2007 and to 50.5 cents per mile for 2008.
4. Be aware of changes made in December to the Alternative Minimum Tax exemptions.
5. A husband and wife who operate a business together may now elect to be treated as a joint venture instead of a partnership in 2007.
6. Premiums paid for qualified mortgage insurance in connection with acquiring a residence may be deductible as mortgage interest.
7. The IRS has changed mailing addresses for several areas. If you received an envelope with your tax package, use the envelope supplied. Otherwise, use the address listed in the package or check at www.IRS.gov.
8. Instead of selling your excess inventory for pennies on the dollar, consider donating it to a qualified charity. You can deduct up to half the fair market value above cost. This applies only to C corporations.
9. If you haven't already setup a 401(k), HSA or other plans, look into them.
10. Don't overpay. Review your withholding and estimate amounts to make sure you aren't making an interest-free loan to Uncle Sam.
For additional information or to schedule an appointment, call Norman Famely, Certified Public Accountant at 860-243-1373.
(Posted 1/31/2008 by admin) |
2007 Chamber Study - Membership Boosts Business
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A new national study reveals that membership in a local chamber of commerce can significantly boost a business's image among consumers, as well as among other businesses. In a scientific survey of 2000 U.S. adults, The Schapiro Group, an Atlanta-based strategic consulting firm, found positive perceptions of chamber members in a number of areas, including overall favorability, consumer awareness and reputation, and likelihood of future patronage.
The study, commissioned by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), IBM, Administaff, Small Business Network, Inc., and Market Street Services, showed that when respondents were told that a particular small business was a member of its local chamber, they were 44 percent more likely to rate it favorably than study respondents who were not told of the chamber affiliation. Respondents were also 63 percent more likely to want to purchase goods or services from a small business that is a chamber member.
"We discovered that informing someone about a company's chamber membership opens the door to substantial increases positive perceptions of that business," said Alex Trouteaud, Ph.D., senior strategist for The Schapiro Group. "There clearly is a feeling by our respondents that chamber membership is synonymous with quality and desirability."
To tap into this reservoir of goodwill, a small business should not only join the local chamber of commerce and participate, but also make sure consumers and other businesses are aware of that chamber affiliation.
The positive impact of perceived chamber membership is felt by big businesses, too. For example, when consumers believed that a restaurant chain was a member of the local chamber of commerce, they were 40 percent more likely to eat at the franchise in the future. And if a consumer believed that one of the major automobile manufacturers was a member of its local chamber, that consumer was 9 percent more likely to consider purchasing his or her next car from that automaker.
The study results had good news for chambers themselves, where 82 percent of respondents indicated that a local chamber of commerce "creates jobs and promotes economic development."
"The message from this national study is as simple as it is ground-breaking," said Jim Blasingame, small business expert and president of Small Business Network, Inc. "Join your local chamber, be an active participant in your chamber's programs and be sure to let your customers and prospects know you're a proud chamber supporter when they come in your business and when they see your marketing material."
J. Mac Holladay, CEO of Market Street Services, an economic development consulting firm based in Atlanta that helped create the study, said, "It is refreshing to learn what we have suspected for years -- that chamber membership and community involvement are good investments."
(Posted 10/17/2007 by admin) |
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