Self Made - The Archive

On April 30th, the Department of Health and Human Services released the new, simplified exchange health care application for both individuals and families.

A buzz has been created recently as reports that the U.S. Treasury’s funding of the Small Business Lending Fund grew by over $1.5 billion between the third and fourth quarter last year. This is exciting as getting funding to local banks and community development loan funds and in the hands of America’s smallest business is a great way to stabilize and grow the U.S. economy. Getting money to the self-employed will lead to more jobs and stronger communities.

Well, it's here. April 15th and the tax return is due today. My guess is that a bunch of us have not completed all of the detail that we had hoped to and now we're not sure what to do. First, don't panic!

Any deduction that is eligible, allowable, and even encouraged, yet for whatever reason was omitted from the return means that a small-business owner is giving more money than is owed to the IRS.

After years and years of being self-employed and working with the self-employed, I know how easy it is to feel stuck and alone with the issues you are facing with your small business.

Last night, President Obama delivered his State of the Union address, outlining an ambitious second term agenda including: immigration reform, climate change, changes to current gun laws, and hope in tackling comprehensive tax reform. However in a startling move, President Obama only mentioned the small business community twice.

Both the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Small Business Administration have recently introduced plans aimed at helping small businesses with government procurement and startup funding, respectively.

The problem for many small-business owners is the thinking that just because they have a website, Facebook page, or LinkedIn presence that customers will be knocking down their doors.

My wife and I ventured out in the snow to watch Lincoln this weekend and really enjoyed the movie. If you haven’t had a chance to see it yet, don’t wait another week. It is awesome. I left the movie saying, “That is what makes our country great. Leadership! And getting things done!”