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Business Advice
Product/market fit: an early-stage startup's top priority
Paul Graham -- the founder and CEO of startup accelerator, Y Combinator-- has a simple mantra: "Make things people want." This seems obvious when read, but is much more difficult in practice for any new startup. Practically any company starts…
Preparing for, and accepting, the changing workplace
I couldn't help but notice a subtle jab directed at LinkedIn, the social media website dedicated to professionals, and the not-so-subtle poke at social media in general by one of this paper's frequent and most cogent contributing writers ("Are you…
A word of warning to bond buyers
A new client recently came to me, having bought a bond fund almost a year ago at a local branch of a large bank. His goal was to invest in the bond fund for a short period of time and…
Estate planning for the business owner
There are more than 10 million small business owners in America. Seventy percent of family-owned businesses fail shortly after the transition to the next generation, often as a result of family discord, taxes, lack of liquidity or inexperienced management. A…
Companies face privacy and data security challenges
Technology is engrained in every aspect of our business and personal lives. Society can hardly move fast enough to adopt today's technologies before tomorrow's arrive in our workplaces, homes, cars, and palms of our hands. Along with such tremendous new…
Legislature changes the New Hampshire reasonable compensation burden of proof
On June 25, 2011, Senate Bill 125 (Chapter 207, Laws of 2011) was enacted into law without Governor Lynch's signature. It makes several significant changes to the standards governing the compensation deduction under the Business Profits Tax for proprietorships, partnerships…
Be cautious when using social media in hiring
Social media networks have grown to be one of the most powerful recruiting and screening tools. According to Jobvite's Social Recruiting Survey 2011, employers are increasingly using LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to find and vet prospective employees. Of the 800-plus…
I-9 Compliance - Employers beware
The recent explosion in I-9 audits and fines lends credence to the adage "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Employers need to be fully aware of the consequences of non-compliance with the I-9 laws because of…
An ounce of prevention: Conducting a self-audit of your classification practices
When times are hard, employers, like everyone else, look for an edge that will allow them to remain profitable despite the tough economic climate. The temptation to classify workers as independent contractors is strong. Independent contractors are not covered by…
Beyond the idea: Setting up your new business in New Hampshire
Congratulations! You've come up with a plan for starting your dream business. But having the right idea for launching your business is only the first step toward success. Here are some important issues every business owner needs to consider when…
Workers' compensation and new businesses
In the early stages of starting a company, small business owners have many factors to consider. What your business does and what it requires of an employee has consequences from a workers' compensation perspective. Understanding what exposure your company may…
N.H. Department of Labor - Top 10 violations
For those looking to conduct a wage and hour "self-audit," the New Hampshire Department of Labor's "Fact Sheet - Top 10 N.H. Labor Law Violations" is a good starting point. Don't wait until an inspector is knocking at your company's…
How to maximize your Tri-City Expo investment
Continuing the tradition of a fun and useful tradeshow experience, the 23rd Annual Tri-City Expo will feature a circus theme that adds a little something extra to this year's unique show, which takes place on Sept. 22, 2011 from 3…
The Scanlon Report: Misery, opportunity: opposite sides of the same coin
My practice includes tracking what is going on in the private real estate investment world, especially retail. In broad terms, privately held investment real estate includes properties with a value of between $1 million and $10 million. These days, I…
The Scanlon Report: Is your investment real estate properly insured?
A client recently sought some advice on the types of insurance that should be in place for a cash-flow investment property, and it occurred to me that it could be a good time to review the basics. Keep in mind…
The Scanlon Report: Is it time to sell your investment real estate?
We are often asked by investors we work with whether it’s a good time to be selling. This question usually gets an “it depends” answer, because the particular facts and circumstances of each situation are so different that the answer…
