RAY KURZWEIL TO SPEAK AT WORLDFUTURE 2004

Home-Based Businesses Restricted By Regulations:

IRS Rules And Local Zoning Ordinances Impose Heaviest Burden

Home-based businesses face daunting restrictions from both federal and local regulations, according to a research report.  The report documents the difficulties of complying with complex and confusing IRS rules for home office and equipment deductions.  It also describes many of the zoning restrictions faced by the 53% of small businesses that are home-based.

"Home-based businesses are a significant part of our economy," said Thomas M. Sullivan, Chief Counsel for Advocacy.  "Our research shows that federal regulations already have a disproportionate impact on small business.  This report shows how local zoning regulations can have a big impact on small business, as well.  Since a majority of businesses are home-based, these restrictive regulations should be reviewed by policy-makers at all levels of government," he said.   

Released at the Washington offices of the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) the report, Home-Based Business and Government Regulations was written by Microeconomic Applications, Inc. and funded by the Office of Advocacy.  NASE represents and is a resource for the nation's self-employed and micro-businesses.   

At the federal level, the report found that IRS regulations penalize home-based businesses in their treatment of deductions.  In particular, claiming a home-office deduction is complex; the depreciation is spread over an unrealistically long time; and returning the space to full residential use generally entails penalties.    

The report examined state and local regulations in Arizona, California, Illinois, Iowa, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.  It found that the most restrictive regulations are at the local zoning level.  It also notes that some states have begun to enact legislation that is supportive of home-based businesses.  Vermont, Maryland, and California were cited for such legislation.    

The Office of Advocacy, the "small business watchdog" of the government, examines the role and status of small business in the economy and independently represents the views of small business to federal agencies, Congress, and the President.  It is the source for small business statistics presented in user-friendly formats and it funds research into small business issues. For a complete copy of the report, visit the Office of Advocacy website at www.sba.gov/advo/

Democrats Call on Administration to Reopen Small Business Loan Program

WASHINGTON - Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.), Ranking Member of the House Small Business Committee, in a letter to the White House signed along with her Democratic colleagues, called on the Bush administration to "act swiftly to resolve the crisis and reopen the loan program so that America's entrepreneurs do not continue to suffer."

In an unprecedented move last week, the Small Business Administration (SBA) issued a policy notice marking the agency's shutdown of its most important lending initiative - the 7(a) loan program - as pending applications were to be returned to small business owners across the country.  This came shortly after the SBA announced a cap of $750,000 in late December on the 7(a) loan size.

"These actions have seriously and irreversibly injured thousands of small companies at a time when the nation's economy is struggling to create new jobs and move forward," Congresswoman Velázquez and Committee Democrats wrote to President Bush.  "Most disturbing about this occurrence is throughout 2003 your administration repeatedly ignored signs that loan demand was exceeding SBA's available funds and chose not to act, instead delaying action until Congress adjourned for the year.  Rather than preventing this crisis, one of the federal government's most important economic development programs was shut down."

Congresswoman Velázquez and her Democratic colleagues on the Committee demanded immediate action to get the program up-and-running again by pushing the White House to reprogram any and all available funds.  In addition to pressuring the Bush administration to make a supplemental appropriation request to ensure that demand for 7(a) loans can be met in the future, Velázquez also requested that those small business owners who were awaiting action on applications during the shutdown be given priority once the program resumes.

"If the SBA does not honor its commitment, such action will undermine the standing of the program in the long-term and call into question the administration's integrity in operating its flagship loan program," Congresswoman Velázquez wrote.  "Under no circumstances should the administration be permitted to shirk its responsibility to those small businesses that have been harmed by its decision to cease operations of the 7(a) loan program.  Small businesses are responsible for driving job creation and contributing to positive economic growth.  This is especially important now as recent reports confirm that the economy is failing to create new jobs.  A real commitment from the administration to the small business sector would stimulate growth in communities across the country."

HOW MINORITY BUSINESS HAS CHANGED IN 30 YEARS:

Executives from PepsiCo, PSEG, Johnson & Johnson and Educational Testing Service agree with Lynda Ireland, President of the New York/New Jersey Minority Purchasing Council who says, "Thirty years ago, was the beginning of affirmative action. Corporations saw hiring minority businesses as a give-away and something they had to do. Now, they see it as good business because minorities are their customers, in their communities and among their employees.
"Thirty years ago, most minorities were in the construction business. Today, minorities provide anything from IT to professional services," Ireland noted.

The executives from Johnson & Johnson, PSEG and Educational Testing Service agree with Fred Candy, director, MBE development and procurement at PepsiCo that prospective small business and minority business partners must have the following qualifications:

• The ability to work and communicate with technology.
  
• The ability to come in at the right cost. (Involves having business plans and knowing exactly how low you can go.)
  
• Knowledge of the corporation they are approaching.

Susan Hogan, supplier development manager at PSEG (Public Service Enterprise Group), adds she also evaluates suppliers, including MBEs (minority business enterprises) in terms of :

• Size of job and annual sales volume of MBE.
  
• Ability to service job in terms of logistics.
  
• Stability of MBE business.
  
• Safety record of MBE.
  
• Equipment vis a vis the job.
  
• Local references.
  

U.S. Small Business Administration administrator Hector Barreto said,"I would like to congratulate the NY/NJ Minority Purchasing Council for the work they have done over the last 30 years on behalf of minority businesses in the New York/New Jersey area. In order to have a vibrant economy, it is important that businesses from all communities are participating in the free market system and I know this is a central goal of the council. Now more than ever, minority businesses are making important contributions to our nation's economy and the future is full of promise." For more info on the Council, visit their site at: www.nynjmpc.org.

WHAT FUTURE WILL YOU CREATE?

If you've ever experienced one of the World Future Society's exciting
annual meetings, you know how inspiring and empowering they can be. You'll be inspired and you might even come up with ideas for your small business.

"Creating the Future Now!" is the theme of the next meeting, "World Future 2004," and the workshops, presentations, and special events promise to give you not only the inspiration to create a better tomorrow, but the tools--and the aides-de-camp--to build it!

WorldFuture 2004 will be held July 31 through August 2 at the Grand
Hyatt Washington; the Professional Members' Forum follows on August 3.

DETAILS: http://www.wfs.org/2004main.htm

REGISTER and Save $200 before December 31:
https://www.wfs.org/2004regfrm.htm

EMPLOYEES WILL STAY ON THE JOB FOR WORKPLACE HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS

Keeping employees happy may now mean keeping them healthy. In a recent study commissioned by the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses Inc. (AAOHN), more than 50 percent of those surveyed stated they would remain at their current job if their employer offered a health and wellness program. This finding tops the AAOHN survey of 500 full-time employees nationwide.

Indicative of today's tumultuous work environments, stress continues to drive employees' work-related health concerns, which is a probable reason why the majority of respondents (78 percent) claim they would participate in a company-sponsored program to help their overall health and wellness.

"Companies today need to do what is necessary to survive, and demonstrating a commitment to employee welfare is one important way to maintain trust and loyalty," said Deborah V. DiBenedetto, president of AAOHN. "Today's employees are clearly dealing with a lot of pressures such as the effects of 9/11, an unstable economy, national security threats and work/balance issues. There is a real opportunity for employers to serve as an ally to their employees by providing them with resources to better manage their physical and emotional health - anything from stress management seminars to nutrition and exercise counseling."

Topping the list of most interesting program topics cited by employees is stress management (85 percent), closely followed by screening programs (84 percent), exercise/physical fitness programs (84 percent), health insurance education (81 percent) and disease management seminars (80 percent).

In its 60th year, AAOHN is a 10,000 member professional association dedicated to advancing the health, safety and productivity of domestic and global workforces by providing education, research, public policy and practice resources for occupational and environmental health nurses. These professionals are the largest group of health care providers serving the worksite. For more information about AAOHN's health and awareness study, call (800)-241-8014 x 105 or visit www.aaohn.org.

• Improved Usability and Enhanced Help Features
  
• Credit Card Genie for downloaded Card Data
  
• Enhanced Project and Billing Support
  
• Tax Reporting: Value-Added, Goods and Services and Harmonized Sales
  
• Improved Expense Report Formats
  
• Mileage Analysis Reporting
  
• Airline Ticket Analysis Reporting
  
• QuickBooks Canada and QuickBooks Online Edition Integration
  
• Guided Set-up for QuickBooks Integration Customized Expense Report Formats for Fee
  

ExpensAble 6 is available through OneMind Connectís online store (www.expensable.com).The list price for ExpensAble 6 is $79.95. Current users of ExpensAble Version 3 or later can upgrade to ExpensAble 6 for $39.95 through the OneMind Connect online store.

• demonstrable on live television
  
• solve an everyday problem
  
• appeal to a broad audience
  
• have unique features and benefits
  
• are topical or timely
  

Everyone is welcome but advance registration is necessary. Log onto www.qvcproductsearch.com to register and for more information. Registration deadline is July 24, 2003.

In 2002, QVC held a product search at the Mall of America. Over 1,000 entrepreneurs pitched their products to QVC representatives. To date, six products have appeared on the e-commerce channel generating more then $1.4 million in sales.

New Business or No Business

Finding new customers is crucial to every business. Today, more than ever, access to qualified sales leads can mean the difference between thriving - or surviving.

Offering sales executives, investors, employers, job-seekers, and recruiters the very latest information, Lead411 (www.lead411.com) is a news-based lead generation service - not just a "yellow pages" directory. Lead411 researches a wide variety of industry news sources such as news wires, public filings, and company Websites for news on venture capital fundings, management changes, new hires, resigns, new office locations, mergers, acquisitions, and other newsworthy business events - the kind of news that makes companies more likely to need outside services. 
 
Offered as an online searchable/downloadable database and a daily email, Lead411 provides businesses with timely access to companies that may be actively looking for their products and services. "Sales professionals spend far too many hours researching companies, scouring newspapers and magazines to find new companies to work with," says Lead411 Founder Tom Blue. "Even if they find a company to target, it can take hours to find the correct decision maker to contact."  
 
Lead411 provides detailed contact information on companies for its members’ key decision makers. Lead411‘s daily email service and online searchable database services costs $19.95/month. Lead411 also offers its entire database of 8000+ businesses and 54,000 individual contacts for export to your own database system - whether ACT!, Goldmine, or even Outlook. Updated daily, the download option costs $350 per quarter.
 
Founded in 2001, Lead411 performs research to uncover leads for its members and for delivery via an online searchable database, daily newsletter, or downloadable database. Offering detailed information including phone extensions and email addresses of key decision makers, Lead411.com reports on businesses making news - the kind of news that increase the likelihood of them needing outside services - yours.

• Reducing costs from outside vendors. In fact, 85 percent of respondents feel that they are not getting the best possible rates from their vendors of indirect goods and services, due to issues such as perceived lack of bulk buying power, negotiating staff or aggregated spending data.
  
• Reducing internal expenses. A major priority for 75 percent of survey respondents is to contain or reduce indirect expenses ? such as office supplies, express shipping, telecommunications, travel and entertainment (T&E), computer equipment, and other non-production services and goods ? which they rate as being equally important as finding new sources of revenue.
  

"With cautious to negative economic expectations, most senior financial managers polled in our survey will rely on containing costs as much as growing revenue to maintain the financial health of their organizations during the next year," said Anré Williams, Senior Vice President and General Manager, U.S. Middle Market, American Express Corporate Services. "This is a marked departure from the late 1990s when companies placed phenomenal growth and increased revenues over cost containment. In today's environment, in order to put their houses back in financial order, executives have refocused their attention on expense management."

American Express Corporate Services helps mid-size and large companies manage purchases of travel and entertainment (T&E) and other non-production (indirect) goods and services, such as office supplies and professional services. The leading commercial card issuer in the U.S., American Express' clients include more than 70% of Fortune 500 companies, along with tens of thousands of mid-size companies, who use the company's Corporate Travel Services, Corporate Card and Corporate Purchasing Card programs. More information on expense management tools from Corporate Services can be found at www.americanexpress.com/corporateservices.

PATENT PENDING IN 24 HOURS

That's the name of a new book by Rich Stim, an intellectual property and licensing attorney and an editor at Nolo, and David Pressman who has more than 40 years in the patent profession. Their collaboration is a valuable guide to anyone out there who wants to get a patent for their invention.

The book shows that there is an inexpensive way to protect your invention before filing for a patent. The reader will learn how to file a provisional patent application, a shortened version of the regular patent application that can be used to establish proof of who first invented something. It's new--only introduced within the last 5 years. As soon as you file this inexpensive easy-to-prepare document and file it with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, you establish an effective filing date for your invention--plus you can use the term "patent pending" on it.

The book can be ordered by visiting www.nolo.com. Check out their other helpful book, too.

ARE WE AS HEALTHY AS WE THINK?

As we get ready for the partying, eating and drinking that comes along with the holiday season consider the findings of a new study sponsored by Oxford Health Plans, Inc. The study tells us that nearly one in five American workers thinks he/she is in excellent health yet:

• Is at least 25 pounds overweight (55 percent),
  
• Smokes (31 percent),
  
• Never exercises (36 percent),
  
• Each day drinks three or more glasses of alcohol (21 percent) and Four or more cups of coffee or tea (29 percent),
  
• Sits at his/her desk the whole day (37 percent),
  
• Take no breaks once he/she gets to work (41 percent),
  
• Most likely to lose sleep over work (18 percent) and Most likely to feel that he/she is considered a workaholic (28 percent).
  

Employees who actually maintain healthy lifestyle habits such as frequent exercise and good diet are:

• Most motivated at work (8.9 on 1-10 scale),
  
• Most useful on the job (9 on 1-10 scale),
  
• Least likely to lose sleep over their jobs (10 percent),
  
• Least likely to miss personal or family activities due to work (13 percent).

The random telephone survey of 1450 adults was sponsored by Oxford Health Plans, Inc., of Trumbull, CT. It was conducted by Central Marketing Inc., of New York City.

Gearing up for tax season?

Contact the Internal Revenue Service at www.irs.gov and find out if they are hosting a free IRS e-file seminar in your area.

The seminars are valuable for tax professionals and for small business owners. You'll get an overview of federal and state e-file, electronic payments, self-select PIN's, earned income ITC awareness, handling reject codes, e-file marketing products and third part authorizations for 2003. Check it out.

NEW EDITION OF POPULAR DIRECTORY

Check out the latest edition of the International Franchise Association's (IFA) Franchise Opportunities Guide. The guide contains information on thousands of franchise opportunities with material on financing, legal aspects, and state and federal regulations governing the sale of franchises.

The guide spans 75 industries and contains only those franchises that have met the association's qualifications for membership.

The guide costs $23, including shipping. Visit www.franchise.org to order your copy or to learn more about this great group.

PR HELP AT THE CLICK OF YOUR MOUSE

Need some assistance on using public relations as a marketing/business tool? Visit www.emergingtechpr.com. It's an educational site created by Hilary Kaye Associates, a public relations firm based in California.

The site is updated each week and features sections such as: Question of the Week, Top Ten Tips, PR Lingo, and PR 101.

THE TRICKLE UP PROGRAM

The Trickle Up Program is designed to help the lowest-income people worldwide take the first step up out of poverty by providing seed capital in the form of conditional grants, along with business training, essential to the launch of a microenterprise. This provden social and economic empowerment model is implemented in partnership with local agencies.

The organization was founded in 1979 by Mildred Robbins Leet and her late husband, Glen Leet. The Leets traveled to Dominica and used $1000 of their own money to help entrepreneurs start 10 businesses.

Since then more than 100,000 businesses have been started with help from Trickle Up. To learn more or to make a contribution, visit www.trickleup.org.

NEW BUSINESS TREND

A recently released study confirmed what many health officials have been saying for years: kids in the U.S. are overweight.

The rate of overweight children has grown by 120% between 1986 and the late 1990s.

This phenomenon has set off new interest in programs that help kids and parents learn more about health and nutrition. And, it's inspired entrepreneurs to start exercise, dance and sports programs to help kids have fun while they get in shape and tone up.

THE NEW STANDARDS

The Internet has been called the pinnacle of advertising metrics. Some categories are common to the three main media types: Internet, television and print. The common denominator, cost per thousand (cpm), for example, designates the cost of delivering 1000 ad impressions (Internet), viewers (televison), or readers (print).

There are many other metrics that are similar in intent, but differ across these three media. Let's sort out a common metric:

Internet

Impression: the count of requests of ad ad from an ad server, regardless of whether or not it was viewed.

Television

In TV land this is called "cable penetration"--the percentage of homes within a given area that subscribe to cable.

Print

In print this number or metric is called "circulation." It's the number of copies distributed of a magazine or newspaper.

What is the definition of a small business?

Many definition exist but the Office of Advocacy often defines a small business as a firm with fewer than 500 employees. It's easy to see that small businesses, therefore, represent more than 99% of all employers in the United States.

If you have questions about small business, visit www.sba.gov.

FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS

Small businesses….

• represent more than 99% of all employers
  
• employ 52% of private-sector workers, 51% of workers on public assistance, and 38% of workers in high tech companies
  
• represent nearly all of the self-employed, which are 7.2% of the civilian work force
  
• provide about 75% of the net new jobs
  
• represent 96% of all exporters of goods
  
• obtain 28% of federal prime and subcontract dollars
  
• are 53% home-based and 3% franchises
  

Help With Background Screening

Corporate Investigations, Inc., a leading employment background screening company, has introduced its new website which provides comprehensive information to help companies more effectively screen prospective employees. CII's new site, www.ciilink.com, provides information on its investigation services, which include criminal searches, credit reports, employment verification, listed and developed references, education verification, motor vehicle reports, social security searches, federal record searches and workers
compensation.

A feature of www.ciilink.com is its innovative CorpNet® System, which provides a 24-hour, seven-day a week secure Intranet site for CII clients that enables access during each phase of the background screening process. This timesaving system allows them to access information quickly and conveniently at no additional charge.

CII's new website will include an Employment Update section, which provides the latest information on hiring practices and current legislation, and a Help Line, 1-800-600-0244 Ext. 300, which employers can call for more information on how specific background screening procedures can help them make the right hires.

YOUR CREDIT REPORT

How long do negative postings remain on your credit report? It all depends on the type of posting. Late payments and payments that you've failed to make that have been turned over to a collection agency remain on your record for 7 years.

Previous credit report requests (from lenders to whom you've applied for a loan) will stick for one or two years. Bankruptcy postings depend on which chapter you've filed. Chapters 7,11 and 12 remain for 10 years; chapter 13, in which you pay part or all of your debts under a court-approved plan, stick for 7 years. Tax liens and court judgments against you, stay on your credit report for 7 years.

New Study Finds Small Business Owners Optimistic

Homestead Technologies, Inc., the leading provider of website building services, today announced the results of a study that show small business owners’ attitudes toward the future, the economy, and the Internet. According to the survey conducted by Lewis, Mobilio & Associates, 86% of small business owners feel optimistic about the future of their small business, and only 9% feel that they will do worse in 2002. In addition, 67% of small business owners feel optimistic about the U.S. economy.

Moreover, small business owners feel that the Internet will be an integral and critical part of their success in 2002. Seventy-seven percent of small business owners who have or plan to have a website agree that a website is a “must have” for small business in 2002, and 60% say they wish they had built a Web site for their business sooner.

While small business owners are optimistic, they are also realistic. Only 23% think the economic situation will noticeably improve for the country as a whole within the next six months. That said, 64% believe the statement, “I ’ll make it through; I’ll survive,” represents how they feel about running their business today.

According to the survey, 56% of small business owners feel that the events of September 11 have made them more determined to succeed.

THE NEW TAX LAW

The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 is the largest tax cut package in nearly 20 years. Here's what the new laws mean to your retirement savings:

Under the new law, participants in most types of tax-deferred retirement plans will be able to make bigger annual contributions. In 2001 the contribution limit is $10,500. The limit rises to $11,000 in 2002, to $12,000 in 2003, and increases by $1000 each year before it tops out at $15,000 in 2006. Thereafter, the limit will be indexed to inflation.

Traditional and Roth IRA contributions presently max out at $2000. In 2002, that ceiling rises to $3000. In 2005, it will go up to $4000, and to $5000 in 2008. In following years, the limit will be subject to indexing.

CASHING IN ON MEMORIES

Family history scrapbooks are the latest hobby in the U.S. Making a scrapbook from pictures, ticket stubs, vacation planners, birthday party invitations, etc. has become a $300 million industry in America.

Scrapbook stores, websites and memory-book parties are appearing all over the country. According to the Hobby Industry Association, scrapbooking is the new quilting bee.

NEW SURVEY FROM MAGNET COMMUNICATIONS

Consumer spending strategies can be expected to change and levels of spending lowered, based on a national survey measuring the current consumer mindset. The Concerned Shopper Syndrome survey sponsored by Magnet Communications polled 1000 Americans about spending in general. The number of concerned consumers has increased by more than 35% since the terrorist attacks of September 11.

As for travel plans, the survey revealed that 35% of Americans will drop their vacation plans entirely in response to the economic climate, and only 11% of concerned consumers said that financial difficulties would not affect their vacation plans. Half said they would seek alternatives to their current plans.

Another popular option was simply to reduce the frequency or duration of vacations. 86% said that they would reduce the number of vacation trips they take each year, and 79% said they would reduce the length of their vacations.

Magnet Communications is a national, full-service communications firm headquartered in New York City.

FREE, UNBIASED HELP ON UTILITIES & TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES

Our Justice Department and the Federal Communications Commission are keeping utilities and telecommunications services competitve and OmniChoice (www.omnichoice.com), offers the free, unbiased BizOptimizer to help small business owners evaluate the many options. Entrepreneurs can now evaluate and purchase telecom, utilities and Internet services from a single location.

The BizOptimizer is a sophisticated free web service that is the source for unbiased, customized decision tools for communications, energy and cable/satellite services.

This unique tool, exclusively available from OmniChoice, will allow businesspeople to quickly evaluate and purchase telecommunication, utlities and Internet service plans from a single location.

READ ALL ABOUT IT!

Clip Genius, an Alexandria, Va.-based company, has launched a unique Internet news clipping service that users can customize and tailor to their specific professional needs at a very cost-effective price. Clip Genius, www.clipgenius.com, which tracks stories on more than 150 news web sites, sends its clients the most up-to-date information and solves the growing problem of information overload.

Public relations firms, law and lobbying firms, advertising and marketing firms, and other companies and organizations in a variety of fields are paying often many thousands of dollars for clipping services. Clip Genius, with a starting price of just $39.00 per month, becomes an exceedingly cost-effective alternative.

Mobile Billboard Ads Roll In The Dough

Ads On Wheels (www.adsonwheels.com) a nationwide provider of mobile advertising services that include, mobile billboards, auto wrapping, bus wrapping and trailer-side advertising, announced Tuesday the opening of its newest branch office in Kansas City, Kansas. Ads On Wheels has plans for opening offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Calgary, Canada before the end of the fourth quarter.

The company has also enjoyed successful growth with auto wrapping which allows advertisers to place their company logos and media on company and even privately owned vehiclesthroughout the country. Ads On Wheels offers its services nationally and has plans to move into the European market within 18 months.

For a full listing of the company's products and services visit them online at www.adsonwheels.com

LOAN RANGER

Dell Financial Services L.P. (DFS) has two new payment options designed to help Dell's small business customers easily and rapidly obtain the technology they need to manage and grow their businesses.

The new financing options, known as QuickLoan(a) and QuickLease(b), are paperless transactions that enable customers to quickly submit all parts of a financing transaction without a signature through Dell's secure Web site.

With a QuickLoan, small businesses can finance up to $25,000 for technology purchases including servers, desktop and notebook computers. QuickLoan offers interest rates as low as 12.49 percent to qualified small business customers based on the customer's credit standing.

DFS' financing programs provide small business customers potential tax benefits(c) and the flexibility to increase their computing capabilities while preserving cash for day-to-day needs. DFS has been an innovator in paperless finance options, first offering a "signatureless" loan to Dell consumer customers in November 2000.

Additional information on DFS is available at www.dellfinancialservices.com. Customers
can receive a monthly financing price when they shop online at www.dell.com or call 800/BUY-DELL.

GTF SYSTEMS LAUNCHES HRBOOKLET

GTF Systems, LLC (GTF), a provider of Web-based business tools for employers and human resource professionals, announced the launch of HRBOOKLET, the only employee handbook to provide both federal and state-mandated human resource policies in a personalized and easy-to-use
format. HRBOOKLET, which can be obtained in one visit to www.hrbooklet.com.

Developed in partnership with The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. (BNA), a leading publisher of legal print and electronic news, HRBOOKLET provides employers with a selection of policies pertinent to businesses affected by
both state and federal laws and regulations.

Although HRBOOKLET can benefit companies of any size, the resource is targeted at small to mid-sized businesses that historically inadvertently overlook the production and distribution of employee handbooks. In addition to standard state and federal-mandated policies, employers can choose from nearly 30 additional
policies to complement their organization’s culture.

HRBOOKLET, along with quarterly automated e-mail updates, is available for a one-time fee of $225. Visit www.gtfsystems.com for more information.

PRO LOOK FOR YOUR E-MAIL

ABusiness people know how important it is to present a professional image when communicating to prospective clients and suppliers. Their first tool is professional letterhead on all correspondence.

In today's business world, many first impressions are made when responding by e-mail through a website, answering a query through e-mail, e-mail solicitation, or simply as a result of the presentation of a business card. Unfortunately, that means missing the opportunity to make that all-important first impression.This standard business practice is now available for e-mail.

A revolutionary new software product has been developed that actually integrates with your e-mail program and embeds your letterhead into your e-mail. The software allows an unlimited number of letterheads or business forms to be used within the software.

So whether your business is with government, business or organizations, you now have the benefit of letterhead on every piece of correspondence you send, reply to or forward. Please review the website at www.letterhead4email.com for more info.

CHOICE OF COLLEGE CAN INFLUENCE LIFE

A new website questionnaire finds that each college leaves its' stamp on the lives of its graduates, according to a survey by Peterson's. "Parents and students would be well advised to ask what qualities a school teaches and not how prestigious it is," notes Dr. Bob Zemsky, the research specialist who designed the recent Peterson's survey of 40,000 graduates from 80 colleges and universities six to nine years after they graduated.

Take, for example, three colleges that probably compete for some of the same students but which influence graduates in different ways. The survey indicates that Macalester College (MN) graduates an unusually high number of artists. Nearby Carlton College (MN) turns out more engineers than most schools. Hamilton College (NY) is the source of many communications professionals.

These findings have led Peterson's to offer a questionnaire on www.bestcollegepicks.com to help college applicants choose schools based on individual preferences and the track records of graduates of schools. The website also offers a database of $4 billion worth of financial aid sources for college students.

CONFERENCE IN NEW JERSEY

The New Jersey Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators will host a seminar on "Best Practices In Diversity" on September 21, 2001 from noon to 2 p.m. at PSE&G, 80 Park Plaza, Newark, NJ.

The program's moderator will be Carol Patterson Brooks, president and founder of Correct Communications, which provides clients an innovative approach to multicultural marketing communications. Panelists will include: Barbara Frankel, executive editor of DiversityInc.com, Joe Johnson, corporate development and transformation officer of Mercedes-Benz USA, and David Brown, a recruiter for Whitehead Mann Pendleton James.

Some of the topics to be discussed include: why diversity is good for business, how to recruit from a diverse slate of candidates, how diversity affects internal and external communications, the newsworthiness of diversity, how to work with reporters and editors, and how the lack of diversity can affect a company's operations.

To register, call NJ/IABC at 973-267-4328 by September 14. Fee is $10 for members and $25 for non-members. Lunch will be provided.

NEBS ADDS WORK WEAR TO ONLINE CATALOG

NEBS recently added its Company Colors (TM) Work Wear to its online catalog, making its extensive line of small business clothing available through the World Wide Web (www.nebs.com/).

This new feature allows small business owners to custom design and order business apparel such as shirts, jackets and hats online. With a few"mouse clicks" a user can customize a product by selecting its style, color, and logo as well as embroidery typeface and thread color. Once the design is complete, the screen displays a crisp, colorful visual representation of the finished item.

NEBS.com, a comprehensive small business management resource, offers an online small business full product catalog, free website design and hosting services, a free email newsletter, and an online business resource library. NEBS designs, produces and distributes business forms, checks and related printed products and distributes packaging, warehouse supplies, retail merchandising supplies, software and related products through mail order, telesales, direct sales, dealers and the Internet to over 2 million small businesses throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and France. NEBS website building services, online product catalog and other business-building features can be found at http://www.nebs.com

PERFECT TIMING

The National Institute of Standards and Technology in Boulder, Colorado, operates a device that marks time by counting one second as 9,192,631,770 oscillations of a Cesium-133 atom. Twenty million years from now, this "atomic clock" will be off by less than a second. You can set your own computer clocks to atomic standard time by using shareware such as AtomTime ($10) and Tardis ($20). Both can be set to perfect your computer's clock every few hours. Mac users should try FreeTime or AutoClock, which are free from CNET's Download.com.

TAKE A BREAK FOR SUMMER FUN

Running a business is tough and occupies your time 24/7. Treat yourself, your pals and/or your family to a little fun. We all need to "download" every now and then. Visit the following websites for help on planning a late summer getaway:

www.go@orlando.com Golf,theme parks, a romantic getaway are all featured here.

www.nashville.com -- This is the homepage for fans of country music. You'll find updates on the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Vacation planning is also included.

www.thecanyon.com -- You'll find lots of info here on the National Park Service. Tackle the Grand Canyon by air, land or river. You'll learn where to stay and where to eat.

www.surf-sun.com -- The beach is an all around favorite. This website will tell you about the beaches all over the U.S. and help you decide which has the activities (boardwalk, games, etc.) that is right for you.

MAILING LIST IN A MINUTE

NUSADATA, a provider of online applications that simplify and automate marketing processes such as direct mail, today announced it has launched with Minuteman Press International an online service that enables Minuteman Press' store owners to inexpensively and efficiently prospect for new customers.

By accessing the Minuteman Press prospecting portal, the more than 900 Minuteman Press store owners in the United States and Canada can generate real-time, customized business mailing lists and download them in minutes. Franchisees can then use the lists as prospecting tools or to execute their own direct-mail campaigns. Using the prospecting portal, store owners can pay for transactions with credit cards.

"With the assistance of USADATA, Minuteman Press is helping its store owners improve their prospecting with an automated system," said Ric Murphy, president and CEO of USADATA. "We're pioneering a system for Minuteman that allows franchise organizations to help their member companies grow their businesses."

Week of 07/30
NEBS ADDS WORK WEAR TO ONLINE CATALOG

NEBS recently added its Company Colors (TM) Work Wear to its online catalog, making its extensive line of small business clothing available through the World Wide Web (www.nebs.com/).

This new feature allows small business owners to custom design and order business apparel such as shirts, jackets and hats online. With a few"mouse clicks" a user can customize a product by selecting its style, color, and logo as well as embroidery typeface and thread color. Once the design is complete, the screen displays a crisp, colorful visual representation of the finished item.

NEBS.com, a comprehensive small business management resource, offers an online small business full product catalog, free website design and hosting services, a free email newsletter, and an online business resource library. NEBS designs, produces and distributes business forms, checks and related printed products and distributes packaging, warehouse supplies, retail merchandising supplies, software and related products through mail order, telesales, direct sales, dealers and the Internet to over 2 million small businesses throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and France. NEBS website building services, online product catalog and other business-building features can be found at http://www.nebs.com.

Week of 07/23
ONTRACK ACCOUNCES INTERNET CLEANUP 2.0

Internet Cleanup protects Internet privacy by automatically erasing the Internet data trail and permanently removing tracking devices including cookie's,Spyware applications, cache files, history of sites visited, and much more. Whether the user seeks confidentiality in research or prefers to investigate sensitive or risqué material in private, this product ensures his/her tracks are covered.

Ontrack (www.ontrack.com) is a provider of data availability software and services, helping customers protect, manage, recover and discover their valuable data. Through a variety of tools the company helps recover (or prevent the loss of) lost or corrupted data form virtually all operating systems or storage devices.

The software package is currently available for $29.95 and can be purchased online at www.ontrack.com/internetcleanup/ or at most major software retail stores.

Week of 07/16
NEWS FROM HEWLETT PACKARD

HP's Extended Office offers customizable packages combining the latest hardware and software from HP, as well as expert support, advice and protection for both desktop and mobile computing. For a monthly fee, the service includes options such as:

• A choice of powerful hardware such as HP's Vectra, a high-powered business PC or the Omnibook, as well as monitor and printer options
  
• 24x7 phone support and expert advice with a guaranteed 90-second response time
  
• A complete suite of front-office software; back-office software optional
  
• Secure, nightly on-line data backups
  
• Dependable, exceptional quality IT service and support; anti-virus
  protection
  
• Unlimited Internet access; DSL optional
  

HP's Web Services makes it easy for entrepreneurs to get their business on the Web. The HP Wizard tool offers access to industry-specific content designed to help build and manage a professional looking Web site, while HP e-Store packages provide a safe, reliable and secure way for small biz owners to sell products and services online. Hosting services include:

• E-mail accounts plus generous storage
  
• 55 industry-specific Web page templates
  
• Web expert consulting
  
• Full feature e-commerce tools
  

Visit the Hewlett Packard website for more info.

Week of 06/18
PatentCafe.com
PatentCafe.com has announced that it is launching its new World Intellectual Property Resources Directory for business with DestinationSOHO.com, the new resources portal for small business managers. The new listing is the world's most comprehensive human-powered directory of websites offering products or services related to every aspect of intellectual property. Its "Three-Clicks-To-Info" database structure provides quick, high-resolution access to thousands of hand-selected Web listings in more than 250 detailed categories.

Intellectual Property affects every corner of today's business; from employee invention assignment agreements to protection of manufacturing trade secrets; from patenting new technology to managing trademarks and Internet domain names. By powering DestinationSOHO.com's intellectual property resources link, PatentCafe.com is helping DestinationSOHO.com become the most comprehensive small business resource on the Internet; a one-stop-shop where entrepreneurs can get the latest patent, trademark and copyright information and tools to manage their business.

Week of 06/11
EARTH, WIND & FIRE
Purofirst International, Inc., a leader in the restoration and reconstruction industry based in Ft. Lauderdale, has announced the creation of a new franchise opportunity, Puroclean®. Founded in 1986, Purofirst® has an outstanding business history with nearly 100 franchises in the United States.The franchise is co-owned by its founder Richard Spohn, President and Rory O’Dwyer, Vice President. Purofirst® franchisees provide restoration and renovation services after disasters most commonly caused by wind, water, fire and smoke.

As a Puroclean® franchisee, the primary income will come directly from insurance companies, making them part of that billion-dollar-a-year industry.

As a new franchise concept, Puroclean® offers potential entrepreneurs the opportunity to own a new system that has the outstanding history and reputation that comes from Purofirst®. Because new prospects do not need any work experience or background in the construction and building trades, franchises can be owned by anyone meeting the basic qualifications. The major work that Puroclean® franchisees do will be billable to insurance companies and includes dry downs, restoration and deodorizing. Complete and thorough training will be provided in restoration, water mitigation, smoke and odor removal.

For more information about Purofirst® or Puroclean® call 800-247-9047 or visit www.purofirst.com or www.puroclean.com.

Week of 05/28
Costco Launches Online Initiative
Costco has launched an E-commerce site for businesses. In the greater Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco areas entrepreneurs can shop the site's local delivery option and receive next-business-day delivery from the Costco fleet of trucks. Nationwide, businesses can order online and have products delivered via common carrier. The online shopping site address is www.costco.com.

With more than 34 million Costco cardholders and 86,000 employees worldwide, the Company's sales for fiscal year 2000 exceeded $31 billion. Costco currently operates 352 warehouses, including 253 in the United States, 60 in Canada, 11 in the United Kingdom, four in Korea, three in Taiwan, two in Japan and 19 in Mexico. The Company plans to open an additional 12 to 14 new warehouses prior to the end of its 2001 fiscal year on September 2, 2001.

Week of 05/21
International e-Business Consortium

The US Chamber of Commerce has launched the International e-Business Consortium. Its main purpose is to help small and mid-sized companies use the Internet in a smart way internationally. With the number of Internet users growing faster overseas than in the US, every company serious about international business needs to master the Internet. The Consortium is an exciting way to help them do that.

Companies will be able to join the Consortium at no cost and get:

• information and education about international Internet business
  
• networking opportunities with companies with similar Internet interests and challenges
  
• notification about Consortium-sponsored activities
  
• access to highly qualified companies that can provide valuable services in areas such as law, technology, strategy, public relations, research, etc.
  

Members of the Board include Microsoft, Jupiter Media Metrix, Sonnenschein, Tallan and other major e-commerce companies. The ultimate aim of the International eBusiness Consortium is to become the go-to place for Internet-related information and networking for international businesses. For more information, call 202-463-5465 or email: koollins@uschamber.com.

Week of 05/14
VACATION TRENDS IN THE AMERICAN WORKPLACE

One in six U.S. employees (18%) is so overworked he/she is unable to use up annual vacation time, despite the fact that Americans have the least vacation time in the industrialized world, a national survey by Oxford Health Plans revealed. ( Annual vacation days: Italy 42; France 37; Germany 35; Brazil 34; Britain 28; Canada 26; South Korea 25; Japan 25; U.S. 13., according to the World Tourism Organization.) ·

Some 34% report they have such pressing jobs that they have no down time at work. A full 32% eat lunch while they work.32% never leave the building once they arrive at work. ·14% feel company management only promotes people who habitually work late. ·Some 19% of survey respondents said workplace pressures make them feel they must attend work even when injured or sick; 17% said it is difficult to take time off or leave work in an emergency and 8% believe that if they were to become seriously ill they would be fired or demoted.

"If you take off a week, you've got three times as much work to do when you get back," said Bob Boudreau, a computer analyst in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., who has gone without a vacation in two of the last four years.

"Vacation is not frivolous behavior. It's essential to staying healthy,"said Alan Muney, M.D., chief medical officer and executive vice president at Oxford Health Plans, Inc., said. "Regular vacations are preventive medicine they cut down on stress-related illness and save health care dollars."

The random telephone survey of 632 men and women was conducted by Central Marketing Inc., of New York City. The margin of error is plus or minus 4 percent.Founded in 1984, Oxford Health Plans, Inc. (www.oxfordhealth.com) provides health plans to employers and individuals in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, through its direct sales force, independent insurance agents and brokers. Oxford's services include traditional health maintenance organizations (HMOs), point-of-service (POS) plans, preferred provider organization (PPO) plans, third-party administration of employer-funded benefits plans and Medicare plans.

Week of 05/07
Corbis“ BizPresenter‘ Comes to the Aid of Anxious Presenters

Corbis“ BizPresenter‘ (www.bizpresenter.com) – the leading online resource for business people to find images to create compelling presentations, Web sites and other projects - has announced the addition of several major new features. Most noticeably, BizPresenter now offers a free Expert Advice section with articles and tips to help business communicators to easily produce and deliver visually sophisticated presentations.

Now business people who need tips and advice on creating or improving their presentations can access an archive of informative articles by presentation gurus like Jennifer Rotondo, Art Feierman and our BizPresenter staff experts. Rotondo is a respected presentation authority from Creative Minds, Inc., and is a certified PowerPoint® expert whose ideas and opinions appear regularly in textbooks, periodicals and other media related to creating and delivering effective presentations. Feierman, an expert in effective communications and presentation technologies, is a founding partner of Presenting Solutions, Inc., a company offering presentation equipment and Web site-based solutions for communications and presentations.

In addition, BizPresenter has announced its dramatic increase in the number of Corbis photo images available on the site, now up to 50,000. This selection encompasses the entire Corbis royalty free collection, and along with the cartoons, templates and illustrations exclusively available at BizPresenter, truly opens up the creativity and the power of pictures for use in business projects.

Launched in Sept. 2000, Corbis BizPresenter is the first complete online image resource offering a wide selection of exclusive Corbis photo images, New Yorker cartoons, photo objects, digital illustrations and PowerPoint® templates for business people who desire compelling, visually sophisticated presentations, Web sites or other materials. Typically constrained by time, budget, and design expertise, BizPresenter offers business people the professional-quality visual media they need for projects and makes them quickly accessible and affordable.

Week of 04/26
WHAT WE COMPLAIN ABOUT MOST

The National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators and the Consumer Federation of America put together a list of the industries that draw the most consumer complaints. For the first time, home improvement topped the list overtaking the perennial list-topper, auto sales.

Here are the top 10 complaints:

1. Home improvement
   
2. Auto sales
   
3. Household goods
   
4. Auto repairs
   
5. Credit and lending
   
6. Mail order
   
7. Auto leasing
   
8. Landlord-tenant disputes
   
9. Utilities
   
10. Travel/tourism
    

For more information on how to protect yourself, visit the consumer agencies' website at: www.nacaanet.org. You can also pick up tips on how to be a better provider of these services.

Week of 04/16
FRANCHISE EXPO IN MAY

MFV Expositions, producers of the International Franchise Expo, are looking forward to returning to their traditional venue at the Washington Convention Center on May 18-May20, 2001.

The doors will open at 10 am and close at 5 pm Friday and Saturday, and will be open from 10 am to 4 pm on Sunday. The event is open to the public. Fees are $20 for one day and $30 for all three days, with advance registration discounts.

More than 300 franchisors are expected to exhibit including the hottest fast food concepts and the latest mobile service companies. For more information, call MFV Expositions at 888-872-2677 or email: mfvinfo@mfvexpo.com.

Week of 04/07
HOW TO CREATE E-STRATEGIES

Demonstrating the challenges executives are facing to adapt to an online world, more than half of today's execs are still unclear about how to move their companies forward regarding e-business, according to a recent survey conducted by Sage Software, Inc. a leading manufacturer of business management solutions and accounting software based in Irvine, CA.

Today, businesses generate 16% of their sales from the Internet. While 58% of 200 execs surveyed say they are still unsure of the most effective way to move forward, the number who are confident about moving from where they are in e-commerce to where they want to be is rising. Forty-two percent are confident they know how to proceed while six months ago only 35% expressed the same confidence. Look for more on the results of this survey in the July issue of Small Business Opportunities.

Week of 03/19
SAY GOODBYE TO CHAD

VoteHere.net and Compaq are enabling state and local government election officials to provide their voters with secure, accurate and cost-effective elections. VoteHere, the leading innnovator and developer of electronic voting software and Compaq, integrated their strengths to produce a unique, election system that can be customized for any election.

In trial demonstrations, voters were registered on an iPAQ Desktop check-in station, then provided a device with an embedded computer chip containing the voter's authentication information without sacrificing voter anonymity. The voter then proceeded to another iPAQ Desktop which was used as a voting station to vote. After the vote, the voter moved to another iPAQ Desktop confiqured as a check-out station where a "receipt" was printed.

Week of 03/12
MAIN EVENT SCHEDULED

WHAT: Women.future’s Main Event — "The mother of all business events," is the world’s foremost gathering of top women business leaders and visionaries, brought together, for one day, to participate in lively, compelling conversations on maximizing women’s impact and growth in the corporate community.

WHERE: Women.future’s MainEvent will be telecast by satellite from Sony Recording Studios (460 West 54th Street in New York City) to corporate boardrooms, movie theaters and university auditoriums in hundreds of cities across the globe. All attendees will be able to interact directly with the MainEvent 2001 business leaders through e-mail and fax during the course of the discussions. Each site will feature its own panel of local business luminaries.

WHEN: Thursday, April 5, 2001 10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (EST)

WHO: Leaders scheduled to participate are:

• Drew Barrymore, producer and actress
  
• Merle Okawara, CEO of eBay Japan
  
• Betsy Holden, President and CEO, Kraft Foods, Inc.
• Ellen Hancock, Chairman and CEO, Exodus Communications J
  
• .C. Herz, author of Joystick Nation: How Videogames Ate Our Quarters, Won Our Hearts, and Rewired Our Minds
  
• Marjorie Scardino, CEO of the Pearson Group, owners of the "Financial Times"
  
• Tom Peters, author/business guru, tompeterscompany!
  
• Laura Ziskin, independent film producer
  

Topics for Women.future’s MainEvent 2001 will include:

• Attracting and retaining employees in this era of rapid turnover
  
• Leadership qualities which will prove critical for future success
  
• How to market your product to the new female decision maker
  
• Understanding the gender differences in the leadership styles of men and women, and more.
  

HOW: To sign up for this one-of-a-kind event, readers should visit the www.womenfuture.com home page and click on "Register Now."

Week of 03/05
HEALTH INSURANCE AT-A-GLANCE

HHealth insurance is one of the hottest topics in small business today. eHealthInsurance.com (www.eHealthInsurance.com), the number one resource for health insurance online, recently announced an exclusive partnership with the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation's largest small and independent business advocacy group. The partnership will allow small-business owners easy access to major health insurance options nationwide.

"The cost of health care is the single biggest concern of our members," said Jack Farris, president and CEO of NFIB. "We jump at the opportunity to ease the burden small business owners face trying to find affordable health care."

NFIB’s website, www.nfib.com, will have a direct link to www.eHealthInsurance.com, so that NFIB members will be able to quickly and easily research, compare and purchase health insurance plans from a large number of leading health insurance carriers. Members will also have access to online and offline customer support through eHealthInsurance’s customer care representatives.

Week of 02/26
HOW TO FOIL FRAUD ON THE WEB
Here are ways the web can help you foil fraud:
1. Read about new scams online, thanks to the Federal Trade Commission. Visit www.ftc.gov. The Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org can also help. The Federal Consumer Information Center at www.pueblo.gsa.gov will also alert you to the latest scams online.

2. Visit Quatloos at www.quatloos.com before you invest any money anywhere online. This site will highlight current financial fraud. And while you're at it, check out the Security Exchange Commission's fraud site at www.sec.gov/consumer/cyberfr.htm. You'll pick up helpful investment tips and information on avoiding pump-and-dump investment schemes.

3. Learn how to avoid becoming a net victim at the Traderlist site, www.traderlist.com, a forum about auction sellers. The Motley Fool site at www.fool.com offers commonsense tips to investing online. You can also check out Scambusters at www.scambusters.com to learn about more cons or to submit your own warning.

4. If you have been taken online, file a complain with the Internet Fraud Complaint Center at www.ifccfbi.gov, a joint project of the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center. You can also file reports with the National Consumers League's National Fraud Information Center at www.fraud.org or call 800-876-7060. For mail scams, contact the United States Postal Inspection Service at www.usps.gov/websites/depart/inspect/welcome.htm.

Week of 02/19
ONLINE HELP FOR FREQUENT BIZ TRAVELERS
The Federal Aviation Administration has revamped its website and is offering two new features. Fly Smart, which can be found under the heading Traveler Info at www.faa.gov, is designed to assist passengers during every stage of their journey. The Fly Smart site provides info on airport on-time conditions and also includes safety tips for air passengers. You'll learn what to wear for your flight, how to pack your carry-on baggage, how to identify household hazardous materials and more.

The other new feature is at the same web address under the heading Public Inquiry. It provides lists of FAA regulations and answers to most of the questions consumers have about the FAA, including how to file a complaint and how to report low-flying aircraft. You can also email your questions to the site.

Week of 02/12
IS IT LEGAL?
If you find yourself doing a lot of legal research and don't want to spend your days searching through books in a library, do yourself a favor and check out the National Collection at Loislaw.com. It's $179 per month, and provides researchers with a host of great features. You'll find comprehensive law libraries for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. A state library typically includes 50 to 100 years of supreme court and court of appeals decisions. You'll also have access to current statutes, legislative acts from the current year's session and current administrative regulations.

The subscription also gives you access to GlobalCite which provides Citation Research and more. Visit www.loislaw.com for more information or call 877-LOISLAW.