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Sample A 

6 Tax Planning Actions to Help Your Business Grow

As everyone knows, taxes are inevitable. Yet, dread and fear of taxes and tax time are not inevitable. The solution is a simple one: planning. Former President Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “Planning is everything.” Match that up with this African proverb: “For tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.” Planning is a prime way to help move your business forward. But without careful tax planning, you could set your business back significantly.

What is Tax Planning? 

Good tax planning is the ongoing process of preparing for and then properly paying taxes. It includes looking at tax options to determine when and how to manage various business transactions in order to reduce tax liability and to pay taxes in a timely fashion, fulfilling all legal requirements. And, it must not be left to the last moment as you prepare for tax season in order to be most effective for your business.

Possible Tax Planning Strategies

There are many tax planning strategies that can be used. Some focus on the owner’s individual taxes and some focus on the business itself. But the strategies used can accomplish some or all these goals:

• Reduce the amount of taxable income
• Lower your tax rate
• Take advantage of available deductions
• Time any income that could be advantageously delayed
• Claim all available tax credits
• Control the timing for taxes to be paid

6 Tax Planning Actions

Use these six tax planning actions to potentially save a lot of money, save time and help your business grow:

1. Create a business plan. Determine what you want your business to accomplish and define the steps that you will take to meet your key goals. Make your goals realistic, achievable, and specific, with measurable indicators of progress. Use this as a dynamic document that you and your team will reference frequently.
2. Review all your accounting practices. Make sure your records are kept in a well-organized fashion, that all transactions are documented and that all entries are very timely.
3. Examine your financial statements carefully. Your Balance Sheet, Income Statement, and Cash Flow Statement all need to be correct and current so that you can analyze and understand your financial condition and thus make good financial decisions.
4. Manage all possible deductions. Find out which deductions you are eligible for and make sure to correctly record them.
5. Defer income. If you near the year’s end, identify if there is any income that you can defer that would lessen your tax liability.
6. Meet tax filing deadlines. Don’t get penalized with late fees or time-draining last-minute scrambles.

Seek Professional Tax Planning and Preparation Assistance 

Work with certified tax planning professionals throughout the year to make sure you meet your business and financial goals. Contact Schwartz & Associates, CPA in Turnersville and Mt. Laurel, NJ, serving corporations and small businesses throughout South Jersey. We help businesses succeed with strategic tax planning and tax return preparation.

Sample B

Signs that You are Ready to Buy a Home

Just about everyone likes music. Maybe you feel like these (modified) words to a popular old song, “I’ve got that moving feeling.” If that’s you, take heart. Buying a home is a big decision but it can have many potential benefits. Gaston Bachelard, French philosopher and writer said it beautifully: “If I were asked to name the chief benefit of the house, I should say: the house shelters daydreaming, the house protects the dreamer, the house allows one to dream in peace.” Check these signs that you are ready to make that big move and then select expert Bay Area movers to assist you.

Here are the Signs to Guide You

1. You are tired of landlords, restrictive property rules, lack of space, lack of customizing opportunities and lack of privacy. Wow, did I really say that out loud? You are feeling that you are ready for and want something that you can treat (and love) as your very own.
2. You are ready to tackle the move. Moving takes planning and effort, so consider that upfront, then choose the exact help you need from among Bay Area moving companies to get your move done right.
3. You anticipate staying in your new home for a while. Since a home purchase involves investments in closing costs and the move itself, you’ll want to give yourself time to recoup those investments in the increased value of the home. Conventional wisdom suggests that three years is a good time horizon to plan toward.
4. You have a good employment record, including being currently employed with 2 years or more at the same company.
5. You have a good credit score. The better your credit score, the more and better choices that you will have for lenders and good lending rates.
6. You’ve got enough money for the down payment. Check mortgage calculator resources and crunch the numbers to see what you need.
7. You can afford the projected mortgage payment, insurance and taxes.
8. You can handle the responsibilities and costs of home maintenance.
9. You know (at least somewhat) what you want in a new home and in your potential new location. Selected Sacramento moving companies and Bay Area moving companies, can service your packing moving and storage needs.

Moving to a New Home Calls for Great Bay Area Movers

No matter where you plan to settle, don’t plan to move alone. Also, don’t burden or risk injury to friends, family or neighbors. Instead, call the professionals at Magic Moving, an expert Walnut Creek local and long-distance moving company. They’ll give you a free quote for all your moving services.

Sample C

6 Home Remedies to Get Rid of Baby Dandruff

Parents and caregivers of precious infants have a lot to worry about. Babies are so beautiful and delicate! One of the possibly troubling occurrences is that of baby dandruff, more commonly called cradle cap. However, cradle cap is common and happens normally in newborns and children under the age of one. It usually is not serious nor painful and normally clears up on its own after a while. It is not contagious and is not a result of poor hygiene habits.

What is Cradle Cap?

The medical term for cradle cap is seborrheic dermatitis. It reportedly affects 10% of infants up to the age of one month, peaks to 70% by the age of three months and then drops off to about 7% by the age of one year. Infants obviously have very delicate skin which makes it easy for their skin to become dry and irritated. Cradle cap may start like adult dandruff—dry, flaky skin on the infant’s scalp. Cradle cap becomes somewhat more severe in that it results in crusty patches or crusts of scaling on the scalp. It may involve mild skin redness, skin flaking, oily or dry skin covered with flaky white, yellow, or brown scaling areas that are rough to the touch. These areas of skin dermatitis may also be present on the eyelids, ears, nose, armpits, and groin. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cradle-cap/symptoms-causes/syc-20350396

What Causes it?

Causes of cradle cap can include:

• Hormones from the mother, passing into the baby before birth causing and over-production of oil in the oil glands and hair follicles.
• A yeast or fungus that grows in the oil glands along with bacteria.
• Excessive drying of the skin caused by using a harsh non-baby shampoo, extreme weather, or sunburn on the baby’s scalp, or not rinsing the baby’s head adequately after shampooing. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/218942#what_is_cradle_cap

What Home Remedies Can I Use?

Here are six simple ways for parents and caregivers to take care of infants and their cradle cap conditions:

1. Use a gentle baby shampoo rather than the stronger shampoos intended for adult hair. Baby shampoos are specifically formulated to cleanse sensitive baby hair and scalp and to soften and rinse away the flakes or scaly skin associated with cradle cap. Rinse out the shampoo completely then dry thoroughly.
2. Keep baths short so that the baby’s tender skin does not dry excessively, thus leading to baby dandruff and cradle cap. 10 minutes is a good bath time, even if the baby really enjoys the warm water. And, keep the water temperature to around 98 degrees—the best temperature target for healthy baby skin. It is certainly fine to give babies a soothing and beneficial daily bath, just keep them short and use baby-friendly cleaning products. If a baby’s skin is excessively dry, baths can be reduced to three or four times per week, with proper after-diaper cleansing.
3. Apply baby oil to the baby’s scalp. Apply just a few drips to the baby’s head and massage-in gently with your fingertips. That will moisturize and sooth a baby’s scalp. Coconut oil is a natural treatment for cradle cap. It is rich in fatty acids and has good anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties. It can reduce the oil on the skin and in the hair follicles as well as nourishing the skin. Massage it directly and softly onto the baby’s scalp and leave in on for about 20 minutes then rinse off the oil and using a soft brush, gently remove any visible flakes.

Other types of oils also help hydrate the scalp and hair follicles: olive oil, jojoba, and almond oil work. Try a small amount on the baby’s scalp first to see if any of these oils cause irritation.

4. Give the baby a gentle head massage. That will be soothing and will be a soft and gentle way to cause dead and flaky skin to become detached and fall off, thus allowing new and healthier skin cells to replace those that flake or fall off. Simply rub gently, using the fingertips. Don’t apply any pressure as the scalp is rubbed softly. Remember that the baby’s skull is not fully developed so sensitive touch and the absence of pressure and aggressive motion are important.
5. Use a humidifier. This will not only help a baby when they have a cold or congestion that causes difficulty breathing but will help the baby’s skin to be moist and prevent it from drying out.
6. Brush the hair and scalp carefully using a brush that has extremely soft bristles. This can be effective in removing the scales. It is best to brush after applying baby oil or another type of oil to hydrate the skin and loosen the flaky patches of skin on the head. Simply brush slowly in one direction at a time to remove some of the dead and flaky skin.

The people at bean-be-clean have developed a revolutionary scalp massaging brush, a soft, soothing, and safe way to deal with the issues of cradle cap. Regular treatment with this reusable brush will help keep your baby’s scalp clean and healthy. It’s available for purchase from retailers like Costco, Target, Walmart and Bed Bath & Beyond. https://bean-b-clean.com/

Here are some “don’ts” as well:

• Don’t use too much shampoo. That can cause excessive oil production in the scalp and face.
• Don’t attempt to scratch patchy skin. That can cause irritation and lead to infection.
• Don’t over bathe the infant since that will dry and irritate their tender skin.
• Don’t use a conditioner. While conditioners provide nutrients and hydrate adult hair, the ingredients are typically too strong for use on infants.

If the child’s cradle cap is causing discomfort or if the condition seems to persist, it is appropriate to call a pediatrician. He or she may prescribe an antifungal cream or ointment to help treat the condition. https://www.healthline.com/health/parenting/how-to-get-rid-of-cradle-cap#oils  https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325864                                                https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/treating-cradle-cap-in-children#2-5

Closing Thoughts

If you or someone you know has a precious infant with cradle cap, these important suggestions can provide significant help in mitigating the symptoms and providing relief. Know that this is a normal and typically short-term condition. Purchase the unique bean-be-clean brush https://bean-b-clean.com/ to help provide the tender care that the young child deserves and will enjoy.

Sample D

8 Steps to Help Your Small Business Develop a Successful Plan to Achieve Your Goals

You may recall the book “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” originally written in 1865 by Lewis Carroll. The story relates the tale of a young girl named Alice who falls through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world.

In the book, Alice is walking along a road and comes to a junction in the road. There she sees the Cheshire Cat sitting in the tree limbs and asks, “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” The cat responds, “That depends a good deal on where you want to go.” Alice retorts, “I don’t much care where.” Whereupon the cat pronounces, “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.” Alice continues, “…so long as I get somewhere.” “Oh, you’re sure to do that,” said the cat, “if you only walk long enough.”

So it is with running a business. You’ll surely get somewhere if you walk or work long enough, but if you know where you are going; if you have a plan, then you will get where you want to go.

Why Does My Small Business Need a Strategic Plan?

It has been said that a goal without a plan is only a dream. A plan provides substance and momentum to drive the motion of your organization towards your goals. Do all organizations need a strategic plan? Yes--companies large and small. While the depth and complexity of the plans will differ based on business size, a strategic business plan can have as much value to a small business as one does to General Motors or Bank of America, for example.

The 8 Steps

Here are 8 tips for successful strategic planning. The key is to make this process a priority.

1. “Know thyself.” A good understanding of what your business is and what you really want to accomplish is paramount in the planning process. Know what you offer. Know what your competitive advantages are. Define carefully who your customers are.
2. Clearly identify your important goals. You should have a general longer-term view, such as 3-5 years, along with a much more concrete 1-year view. Make your goal statements specific, not something like “better than last year,” for example.
3. Make sure you know where you stand today in terms of operating performance. Review competition.
4. Involve your team members in the planning. Their involvement will increase buy-in, commitment and performance.
5. Look at your resources. Can you accomplish your goals based on your staffing and on your budgets? If not, adjust.
6. What obstacles do you face? Are there key “hurdles” that you have to overcome to achieve your goals?
7. Plan your execution to align with your goals. This is another key reason to involve team members.
8. Measure your progress. Report your progress.

Engage some professional expertise. Call Estess CPA’s in New Orleans, who specializes in serving the needs of small businesses: www.estesscpa.com

Sample E

Charleston, SC, an Undervalued but Not Underrated City

The term “undervalued” sounds negative, but in a real estate or financial sense, being undervalued is a very good thing, meaning that real estate property has greater value than its cost. In other words, a good deal; a bargain. Charleston is undervalued in that very attractive way. At the same time, this great city is not underrated. Rather, it is highly regarded as a great place to buy a home and a delightful place to live.

Charleston, One of the Top 10 Undervalued Cities in the U.S.

For four years running, SmartAsset, a financial technology company, has published a study about undervalued cities. For the last two years, Charleston has appeared among the top ten cities in that study, appearing in eighth place nationally in the 2018 study.                                                                      (See: https://smartasset.com/mortgage/undervalued-cities-2019)

This study evaluates nine criteria including real estate price per square foot, unemployment, crime rates, high school and college education, entertainment opportunities, weather and walkability.

Why is Charleston Undervalued?

The key feature is a great purchase value for homes, reflecting a purchase price about 54% below its projected cost. In addition, Charleston ranks highly for:

• Low unemployment
• Low violent crime rate
• Great colleges and educational opportunities; a highly educated workforce
• Lack of extreme weather days and low number of precipitation days
• High degree of walkability
• Great dining opportunities

Why Charleston is a Great Place to Live

U.S. News did a study of 125 metro areas in the United States, finding Charleston among the best places to live, ranking it #41 for best places to live and #31 for best places to retire.

Charleston is known and loved for:

• Mild weather year ‘round
• Great beaches
• Rich history and historical preservation
• An attractive arts scene
• Lower taxes
• Sports and outdoors galore, including hiking, fishing, biking, boating and, yes, NASCAR (within a short drive.)
• Wonderful food.
• Wonderful southern hospitality and friendly people (maybe the friendliest people in the U.S.)
• Great colleges and schools, including the Citadel, a prestigious military college.
• Job opportunities, including technology jobs
• Low cost of living
• Good air quality

Seek Commercial Construction You Can Count On

Contact Carolina Service Inc., based in Charleston, SC, a full-service construction company offering expert commercial construction, maintenance and repair, space planning and tenant fit-ups. Build a better business: quality craftsmanship, timely construction, and accurate budgets.

Sample F

Common Strategic Brand Management Steps

People may often think of a “brand” as the logo on a package, the name commonly used in advertising or even as the sign on a building, but it is much more than those. A brand is really the total of all that a company stands for. Brand management is the process of defining and connecting all aspects of your unique identity in a way that achieves customer visibility, understanding and trust. And, it allows the company to differentiate itself from its competitors.

What a Strong Brand Achieves

Brand management defines, positions and helps consistently deliver the elements of a brand so that the brand:

• Becomes distinctive, providing products or services different from the competition.
• Identifies the things that customers can only get from your brand.
• Creates instant recognition of your business for employees, vendors and customers.
• Provokes a recognition of your reputation. Reduces risk. Instils trust.
• Creates reliable and consistent expectations.
• Builds long-term value and business endurance.

The Four Steps of Strategic Brand Management

The process of brand management requires advanced planning. Great brands don’t just ‘happen.’ The following steps can result in the maximum long-term effect:

1. Brand positioning. Decide what the brand represents and determine the position that the brand will achieve in the marketplace. Identify points of difference versus competitors.
2. Brand marketing. Select and develop brand elements that communicate your positioning: logos, colors, slogans, packaging, etc. This includes all the marketing initiatives that will communicate your brand to potential customers.
3. Brand performance analysis. Continually audit your brand’s performance in the marketplace.
4. Brand value. Build brand value over time with constant improvements.

Key Principles

Utilize these key brand management principles to achieve a strong brand.

• Be consistent
• Shape your brand with your employees
• Be relevant
• Make business choices consistent with your brand direction

Get Expert Strategic Assistance

Contact Coherance Strategy Group, based in Dumfries, VA for expert strategic marketing, brand management and tactical marketing assistance. We’ll help you craft great strategy, create a stronger organization and attract more customers. Make your business amazing.

Sample G

Easy Foods for New Braces Wearers to Eat

Congratulations on making the decision to get new braces. Wearing braces can relieve jaw pain, improve digestion, prevent tooth decay and gum disease, straighten teeth and improve your smile. But, in the process of planning to receive these benefits, you may ask yourself, “Will I be able to eat normally?”

Easy Foods for New Braces Wearers to Eat

The good news is that there are plenty of good food choices while wearing your new braces. You’ll simply need to be careful about what you eat. Focus on foods that are softer; that won’t cause you to break a wire, loose a bracket or get your braces filled with sticky stuff:

• Grains: pasta and soft cooked rice
• Fish and seafood: tuna, codfish, salmon, crab cakes
• Dairy: soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks, yogurt, cottage cheese
• Eggs
• Soft breads: pancakes, soft tortillas, muffins
• Fruits: soft fruits like applesauce, bananas, sliced fruits, berries (without seeds)
• Soft meats: soft cooked chicken and turkey, lunch meats, chopped or ground hamburger
• Vegetables: mashed potatoes, soft cooked or steamed beans, corn (off the cob), steamed spinach
• Desserts: ice cream, milkshakes, Jell-O, plain chocolates, soft cookies, soft brownies or cake

As you eat, don’t skimp on the nourishing requirements for your teeth and body, including getting enough protein, calcium, iron and fiber.

Avoid These Things

Things you want to avoid while wearing new braces are:

• Hard crunchy foods like popcorn (the kernels are really bad), chips
• Ice (you can drink with ice, just don’t chew ice)
• Really chewy foods like hard breads and pizza
• Tough meats including steak and jerky
• Nuts
• Raw fruits and vegetables
• Things you bite into like apples and corn on the cob
• Sticky foods, like many candies, caramel, gum

Tips for Care and Maintenance

While using your new braces, use these tips for good care and maintenance:

1. Brush frequently—after every meal and snack, using a soft-bristle toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
2. Rinse out your mouth with water after every sugary item consumed.
3. Make sure the brackets look clean and shiny. Watch out for any loose brackets, wires or bands.
4. Floss daily.

Choose an Expert Orthodontist You Can Rely On

Contact Reese Orthodontics, The Smile People, based in Charleston, SC for superb dental care. Over 11,000 people have trusted Reese Orthodontics to transform their smiles and their lives. Great options. Great service. Great results.

Sample H

“Engagement”—What’s All the Buzz?

If “buzz” signifies a continuing sound, an atmosphere or feeling of excitement, then engagement has buzz in spades! It seems like the internet is full of articles on engagement, and marketing thought leaders are now prolific in prescribing principles and means of engagement leading to the sale of products and services, along with retention of clients. It’s a buzz-worthy topic to be sure!

What is Engagement and Why is it Important?

Engagement can be defined simply as the means by which a company establishes a relationship with its clients, leading to more than one sale and then to loyalty. It represents the on-going interactions between a company and its clients. It also refers to the degree or depth of interactions achieved.

Engagement, while certainly needing to result in sales, must include for a client a feeling of being connected to the brand, being heard, having problems fixed and getting answers to questions. Gary Vaynerchyuk, entrepreneur and author, put it this way, “To get customers (or clients,) you need to go from the heart to the brain to the wallet.” Adds Andrew Reid, “Find a way to get personal with your clients and connect with them on a human level.”

According to studies, up to 2/3 of a brand’s profits may come as a result of effective engagement. Further, improved engagement can result in increased cross-sell, improved up-sell and increased order sizes. Gallup research indicates that a fully engaged client delivers 23% more revenue than average.

Engagement activities are efficient too! Client acquisition costs can run four to 10 times higher than the costs of retention. They prevent client churn and engaged clients spend more as well as being more likely to recommend a brand to others.

Measuring Engagement

Measuring engagement involves considering the following metrics:

• Website traffic
• Audience growth
• Facebook and Twitter audience growth and interaction rates; likes and shares
• Click-through rates in email campaigns
• Client check out rates
• Purchase frequency
• Average order value
• Repeat purchase rate

Strategies for Increased Engagement

Using these strategies will increase customer engagement and reap many business rewards:

1. Obsessively focus on great customer experience, both online and offline. Create a culture of superb service and empower employees to deliver it. What hours do clients need service? How fast can your team respond to questions and needs? How can the order process be improved?
2. Humanize your brand so that clients know you understand their needs and that they can relate well to your business.
3. Be expert and real with social media. Create a persona that gives your business a unique voice.
4. Make sure that communications are personal, not robotic.
5. Create content that is useful and current.
6. Really listen to what clients are telling you. Respond honestly to client complaints.
7. Reward repeat sales.
8. Encourage your best clients to share and refer to your brand.

Avoid Engagement Mistakes

Avoid these engagement mistakes to propel your brand way ahead of your competitors:

1. Don’t rely on stale scripted responses while interacting.
2. Don’t treat clients purely as a “sale number.”
3. Don’t fail to employ all available communication channels.
4. Don’t assign engagement a low priority.
5. Don’t be complacent nor average in all engagements.
6. Don’t minimally manage the client experience. Make the experience excellent.

Seek Professional Marketing and Engagement Assistance

When you are tackling tough marketing challenges, including superior client engagement, contact VisionPATH Marketing. We specialize in inbound, content marketing and social media marketing. Our differentiator is strategy before tactics.