We’ve often pointed out that frequent-flyer miles and the different reward cards in the marketplace are a private currency. And doesn’t everyone like their own private (more…)

When is comes to succeeding in today’s
business world, it’s not how much you know, it’s how much you
know ABOUT YOUR NICHE. In her newly launched book, “Riches In
Niches: How to Make It BIG in a Small Market”, veteran business
expert Susan Friedmann teaches entrepreneurs and business owners
that transforming from being a generalist to a specialist can
mean the difference between business success & business
struggle.

Friedmann’s trademarked term “nichepreneur”, meaning one who (more…)

An excellent article on gift cards from CFO (Chief Financial Officer) magazine’s website shows how unused gift cards can boost company income.

One example, Ruth’s Chris, a popular chain of steakhouses, said last summer that it expected to gain an added $2.2 million in operating income this year thanks to unredeemed gift cards.
That, along with growing revenues, helped spur a 33.8 percent increase in operating (more…)

Writing a joint venture proposal is really just a fancy way of saying to your potential partner, “Hey, let’s do a deal.” And brief, to-the-point proposals are just as effective as the stereotypical twelve-page document packed full of corporate jargon…and a lot less work and expense.

The truth of the matter is that regardless of who your potential partner may be–whether they’re a magazine publisher, a competing business owner or even if they’re the CEO of a Fortune 500 company–they’re all going to be asking themselves the same question (more…)

Is running local ads on radio and cable TV as effective as the sponsorship of a golf tournament–giving away caps and shirts, a logo on the program, having signs placed around the golf course during (more…)

The next time you are considering a loan for your business from the traditional source–a bank, you might want want to consider your option…barter. Recently we talked with a client of a trade exchange, who, admittedly, is a staunch proponent of barter credit as a way to reduce his bank borrowing.

He explained that at one time he was a veteran of the banking scene, and had lines of credit as high as $250,000 in the past. No longer, now that he’s discovered barter.

Asked to compare (more…)

The holiday season is almost here and many retailers find themselves low on cash to purchase needed inventory. Since the holiday season can be as much as 40% of a merchant’s yearly sales, this can pose a major financial problem. An exceptional solution to this potential problem is a credit card factoring advance. In essence factoring is the purchase of a small percentage of future MasterCard and Visa revenues.

“This product is very unique,” said Daniel Ollman, President of Crown Financial Services, Inc. “It’s a purchase of an asset, not a loan, so (more…)

Gifts.com, an operating business of IAC/InterActive Corp., has acquired GiveFun.com, an online gift certificate provider. As a result of the (more…)

You never know where the next advertising venue will pop up! For example, CBS is promoting it’s new sitcom, “The Big Bang Theory,” with banners across three washing machines in laundromats in four California cities.

The ads were created by (more…)

Soul singer James Brown did it, so did David Bowie. They each raised $50 million by issuing bonds backed by current and future revenue from their songs.

The use of patents and trademarks for financial flexibility is growing because of the U.S. economy’s shift away from manufacturing. It can indeed be a godsend for smaller companies that don’t want to (more…)