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16
Strategy and Planning / 10 Basic Strategies for Growing Your Business
« on: July 13, 2019, 10:32:22 AM »
10 Basic Strategies for Growing Your Business

It’s not uncommon for businesses to get a bit ahead of themselves when it comes to growth opportunities. But you need to have the basics covered before you can really experience success. The tips below include some insights from members of our small business community about some basic business strategies you may have overlooked.

Say Thanks and Build Engagement
Thanking your customers isn’t just good manners. It can also be a way for you to boost engagement. This Process Street post by Benjamin Brandall explains how you can use your company’s thank you page to boost engagement among website visitors.

Establish a Realistic Work Schedule
You need to establish a schedule that allows you to put your all into your business without burning yourself out. Take lunch breaks, for example. You need to take a long enough break to recharge your batteries, but not so long that your work suffers. You can share how long you normally take for your lunch break in the poll in this Small Business Trends post by Executive Editor Shawn Hessinger.

Write Persuasive Business Content
If you use content as part of your marketing strategy, you need to learn to be persuasive. In this Enchanting Marketing post, Henneke Duistermaat shares some power words you can use to spruce up your content. You can also see discussion surrounding the post over on BizSugar.

Make Sure Your Content Stays On Brand
Content marketing can be a great way to get the word out about your business. But if you want to create content that’s part of a strategy and doesn’t confuse your customers, you need to keep it on brand. Scott Pittman of Reef Digital shares thoughts on keeping content on brand in this post.

Simplify the Payroll Process
Payroll is essential if you’re running a business with employees. But the process doesn’t need to be overly complicated. In this CorpNet post, Charles Costa includes some tips you can use to simplify the process of setting up and managing your business’s payroll.

Avoid These Blogging Mistakes
Blogging has been a popular content marketing tactic for businesses for years. But plenty of bloggers and entrepreneurs still make mistakes when it comes to blogging. Here, Mike Brown of The Blogging Buddha lists some of the most common blogging mistakes made by experienced bloggers and entrepreneurs. And BizSugar members comment on the post here.

Get Started With CRO
CRO, or conversion rate optimization, is an important part of running an ecommerce business. But it doesn’t have to be complicated. Even newbie business owners can get started with CRO using the tips in this Search Engine Journal post by Andrew Raso.

Avoid Offering Review Incentives
Positive online reviews can be very beneficial to your business. But that doesn’t mean you should offer incentives to your customers to leave them. As Mike Blumenthal points out in this GetFiveStars post, there can actually be several downfalls of seeking positive reviews with incentives.

Don’t Underestimate the Appeal of Snapchat
Social platforms like Snapchat can gain popularity really quickly. And in those cases, you don’t want to realize the viability of a platform too late. In this Better Than Success post, Ileane Smith shares why Snapchat’s appeal is spreading beyond just millennials. And BizSugar members discuss the post further here.

Use Employee Referral Incentives to Build Engagement
Building a great team is an essential part of running many types of businesses. And if you want to build a team that’s actually engaged with your business, you might consider utilizing employee referral programs. McKenzie Stephens of Marketing Innovators details how those programs can benefit businesses here.


Reference:https://smallbiztrends.com/2016/07/10-basic-strategies-growing-business.html

17
Corporations / 8 Pros and Cons of Corporations
« on: July 11, 2019, 10:37:59 AM »
8 Pros and Cons of Corporations

In forming a business, there are several things to consider, such as capital, target market and location. Apart from these, an aspiring entrepreneur has to make one important decision. What business form does he have in mind?There are three choices: single proprietorship, partnership and corporation. In this particular discussion, we will explore the benefits and drawbacks of a corporation. While all forms of business have advantages and disadvantages, corporations tend to be more complicated and it will help to know the positive and negative views of supporters and critics.

List of Pros of Corporations
1.Security of Personal Assets
Advocates for corporations posit that this is the safest and most effective business form in terms of protecting your personal assets and properties. This is because if and when a corporation goes bankrupt, the personal savings and other finances of the owners will not be affected. If the business owes money, creditors will go after the business.

2.Business Continuity
Business people who prefer corporations say that even if the owner or owners and shareholders leave the corporation or if owners die and the business is going great, it can still continue to be in operation except for some documents that need to be filed. Other than that, corporations will still continue to exist.

3.Investors
Corporations have the potential to grow and expand because of the presence of investors who will join the company with their money and skills. Moreover, corporations are more likely to attract more potential investors. The more investors are there, the more credibility a corporation has.

4.Stock Options
Larger corporations give options to employees to own stocks and this can motivate more potential high performing employees to apply and join the these corporations.



List of Cons of Corporations
1.More Complicated
Unlike Sole Proprietorships and Partnerships where owners are limited, corporations require more people and the process is more complex, in terms of requirements, documentations and operations. Articles of Incorporation should be prepared, investors should be convinced and lawyers should be hired. Corporations are also more expensive to set-up and bigger capital is needed to run these company.

2.Tax Liabilities
Another disadvantage of corporations is in terms of tax liabilities. Larger corporations have shareholders need to pay taxes for any earnings they receive and the profits from sales will be taxed. That said, taxes will be higher and investors will end up paying more taxes as opposed to sole proprietors and partners who are receiving salaries instead of dividends. This is on top of having to get professional help from experts like lawyers and accountants.

3.Government Regulations
Compared to Sole Proprietorships and Partnerships, corporations have to comply with more regulations of different government agencies. These requirements include environmental compliance, tax regulations, and insurance policies. Moreover, larger corporations have many employees. This means that there will be more risks for potential legal problems related to work as well as insurance claims.

4.Too Many Decision-makers
Corporations have many people involved, such as directors, presidents, investors and shareholders. When it comes to making decisions, the process might be long since there are many people to decide.Corporations offer benefits but there is also a flipside to this. It may work on some businesses but may not be advisable to some. Potential business owners should research and look at the pros and cons of setting up a corporation before deciding on it.


Reference:https://greengarageblog.org/8-pros-and-cons-of-corporations


18
Capital Market / Difference between Money Market and Capital Market
« on: July 11, 2019, 10:19:21 AM »
Difference between Money Market and Capital Market

MONEY MARKET
Money Market is the market where short-term funds are provided to fulfill the needs of the investors and borrowers. It is the important segment in the financial system which deals with close substitutes of money i.e more liquid and can be converted into money easily. Money Market deals with short-term funds up to 1 year.The money market is the main tool through which the central bank fixes interest rates in an economy. It is mainly a market for short-term debt requirements which have the low risk factor and high liquidity to convert into money. Most of the money market transactions take place on telephone, fax or Internet only.Money Market acts as a market for credit instruments such as promissory notes, bills of exchange, commercial paper, treasury bills, call money etc. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is known as the leader of the money market in India. The Money Market is usually dominated by the banks and financial institutions present in the country.The Indian money market is divided into two segments namely organized sector which is regulated by RBI and unorganized sector. The unorganized sector comprises of unregulated non-banking financial institutions, individual money lenders, etc.

CAPITAL MARKET

Capital Market is the market where long-term and medium-term funds are provided to fulfill the needs of the capital requirements of the business enterprises. The financial assets which are traded in Capital Market usually have long or no maturity period.Capital market normally acts as a market for marketing and trading securities of the organizations to raise the capital from the public issue. The securities traded in the capital market are Equity shares, debentures, bonds, and preference shares etc. The capital market is usually dominated by stockbrokers, mutual funds, financial institutions, underwriters, and individual investors.The market in which securities are traded is called as Securities Market. It is divided into PRIMARY MARKET which deals with the fresh issue of securities and the other one is SECONDARY MARKET which deals with the sale of existing securities which is known as ‘Stock Market’ or ‘Stock Exchange’.


Reference:http://topdifferences.com/difference-between-money-market-and-capital-market/

19
Branding / 5 Inexpensive branding strategies for small businesses
« on: July 09, 2019, 09:54:36 AM »
5 Inexpensive branding strategies for small businesses

As a small business owner, you might think branding is something that’s best left to the Apples, the Googles and the McDonalds of the world. But the truth is, it doesn’t matter how big (or how small!) our company is; if you’re in business, you need to think about branding.Larger companies have larger budgets to spend on branding. But you don’t need an Apple-sized bank account to build an effective branding strategy from the ground up. There are plenty of things you can do to help your business stand out, grab your customers’ attention, and make your business memorable without blowing your budget.Let’s take a look at five branding strategies that will help you take your small business to the next level:

1.Define your brand identity
Branding is more than just a logo you slap on your website. Your branding is who you are as a company; it’s your values and your mission, it’s the way you treat your customers, it’s the look and feel of your visual assets. So, before you can move forward with the more tactical steps in your branding strategy (like designing your logo), you need to take the time to get really clear on who you are as a company—or, in other words, your brand identity.

There are a few steps to the process:
Figure out who you are
If you already have a clear idea of who you are as a brand, that’s great—but if you don’t, that’s ok, too. It’s just time to do a little corporate soul-searching.Asking yourself some deeper questions can help you figure out who you are—and who you want to be—as a brand. When you’re defining your brand identity, ask yourself questions like:

Thinking Captain Logo
1.Logo design by Bila Designs.
2.If I had to describe my company in three words, what would they be?
3.What do I want to be known for in the marketplace?
4.What are my company’s core missions and values?
5.What kind of difference do I want to make in my industry?
6.The more clarity you get on who you are and what you’re about, the more you can infuse that identity into your branding—and the more your brand will stand out and grab customers’ attention as a result.

Figure out who your target customers are
It might sound obvious, but there are tons of small business who put so much focus on figuring out who they are and what kinds of products or services they want to deliver that they completely neglect figuring out who they’re trying to sell those products or services to—and their branding suffers as a result.Take some time to define your ideal customer. Who are they? How old are they? What kind of income and education do they have? Are they predominantly one gender? What are they looking for in the companies they do business with? What matters to them? When would they use your product or service—and why would they need it?When you know who your target market is, you can use it to guide your branding strategy—and the end result will be a brand that truly connects with the customers you want to work with most.

Establish your POD (or brand “special sauce”)
No matter what your business does, chances are, there are already other companies doing the same thing. So, if you want your business to stand out, you need to figure out what makes it stand out.The thing that makes your business different from your competitors is called your point of difference (or POD). Your POD is what makes you special; it’s what makes a customer choose your company to do business with over your competitors—and it should be infused into every part of your branding strategy.Your POD doesn’t have to be something earth-shattering. Think of it this way: if your company is a Big Mac, your POD is your “special sauce;” it’s what makes your company uniquely you. Do you only use ethically sourced ingredients in your products? Do you have the best customer service in the biz? Has your family business been serving the community for multiple generations? Whatever it is, figure out what makes your business stand out—and build that POD directly into your brand identity.You want your branding to stand out and be different. But if you want to have the most effective branding strategy, you also need to keep your finger on the pulse of what’s working (and what’s not working) in your industry).Take stock of your competitors and what they’re doing. Do you notice any trends? For example, let’s say you’re launching a new financial consulting company—and when you check out your competitors, you notice they all have neutral color palettes in their logo design or they all focus their marketing efforts on Facebook instead of Instagram. While you (obviously) don’t want to steal or rip off your competitors’ branding, taking stock of industry trends can give you a sense of what’s connecting with your ideal market (and, just as importantly, what’s not)—and you can build out your brand identity accordingly.

2. Get visual with your branding
Once you’ve defined who you are, who your customers are, what makes you special, and what’s working in your industry, it’s time to start actually designing your brand.

Here are a few things you’ll need to create the look and feel of your brand:
A brand style guide. Before you start designing, it’s important to figure out the details of your design strategy, like your brand color palette, fonts, and design do’s and dont’s. A brand style guide is a great way to organize your design details and make sure you, your designer, and anyone else working on your brand is on the same page with your brand’s direction.
A logo. Your logo is like the face of your company; it’s the first thing most of your customers will see when they encounter your brand—and it’s the visual asset that will be most closely tied with your business. Your logo should be the first thing you design, as it will act as the jumping off point for all of your other visuals (like your website and your business cards).
Business cards. If you’re in business, you need a business card—and the design should match your logo and your other design assets.A website. Your website is like your company’s piece of digital real estate—and when people visit your website, the look and feel should be consistent with the rest of your branding.Depending on your business, you might need additional branding assets (like product packaging or corporate letterhead), but the most important thing to keep in mind? No matter where a customer encounters your brand—whether it’s by seeing your logo or visiting your website or checking out one of your products in store—the look, feel, and design should be consistent. If your branding isn’t consistent, you risk confusing your customers—and, if they’re confused, you could lose them to the competition.

3. Establish yourself as a subject matter expert with the right content
As a small business, you might not have a huge advertising budget. But luckily, you don’t need to spend millions in ad dollars in order to get yourself in front of the right people. There’s a better, easier, and more affordable way to get your name out there—and that’s content marketing.Content marketing works on so many levels. First, it gives you the opportunity to show off your industry expertise; by establishing yourself as a go-to resource and subject matter expert in your field, your audience will come to trust you—and, when it comes time to them to choose a company to do business with, you’ll be the first place they go.Content marketing is also a great strategy because it gives you an opportunity to strengthen your branding. By developing a strong brand voice (and then carrying that brand voice throughout your content) you reinforce who you are and what you’re about to your customers—which strengthens the relationship and helps to drive business.And if you need another reason why content marketing is so effective for small business? It’s affordable—so even if you’re working on a shoestring budget, you can make content work for you.The key to success with using content as a marketing strategy is to create the right content. Do your research to figure out what kinds of questions your customers are asking—and then create content that answers those questions.So, for example, let’s say you own a local bakery and, after some research, you realize your customers are searching for recipes and guides to make their own bread. You could create a branded blog post or video that outlines the basics of bread making; the science behind bread, the ingredients you’ll need, and how to get the perfect rise and crust. That kind of content provides serious value for your audience—so, when the time comes that they want to actually go out and buy bread (because, let’s be real—no one wants to make their own bread all the time), you’ll be the first place they visit.The point is, there is a ton of information about your industry that your customers want and need to know. And if you can add value and answer their questions through your content, you’ll build trust with those customers—and that trust will translate into business.

4. Look for partnership opportunities
People like to do business with brands they trust. But if you’re a new brand, establishing that trust can be time consuming. But a great way to speed up the process? Look for partnership opportunities with other brands your customers already work with.Think of it as trust building by proxy; if your customers are introduced to your brand by a brand they already know and trust, they’re much more likely to extend that trust to you—and give you their business as a result.The key to success with this strategy? Finding business with similar—but non-competitive—audiences. So, for example, let’s say you’re launching a new energy bar targeted towards endurance athletes. You could look to partner with local races to include your bars in their gift bags, leave samples at local running stores, or offer to write guest posts on popular endurance blogs. All of those companies have the audience you want to target—endurance athletes—but none of them are direct competitors, which will make them much more willing to work with you.

5. Be a superhero for your customers
If you want to truly stand out in today’s hyper-competitive market, it’s not enough to talk to the talk—you need to walk the walk, too.Your branding is about more than your logo, your marketing strategies, or how you grab customers’ attention—it’s about what you do once you’ve connected with those customers. The reputation you gain—and what customers say behind your back—is the most important part of your branding.Which is why if you want to succeed in the long term, you need to be a superhero for your customers—and make living and breathing customer service your top priorityThink about it. What better to be known for than providing the highest level of service to your customers? If your customers have a positive experience every time they interact with your brand, they’re going to keep coming back—and they’re going to tell their friends, too.Now, one thing to keep in mind is that customer service is bigger than any single interaction or department. If you truly want to live and breathe customer service, you need to provide a consistently positive experience for your customers no matter how, when, and why they interact with your brand.Look for opportunities to improve customer experience within your business. Is it confusing to place an order on your website? Revamp the design to make it more intuitive for your customers. Is it a hassle to make a return? Send customers a prepaid return label and clear instructions to make the process easier and more straightforward. The point is, the better you can make your customer experience, the more you’ll be known as a company that cares about its customers—and the more customers you’ll get as a result.

Kick start your branding strategy
You don’t need to spend an arm and a leg to effectively brand your business. All you need is a little creativity and some good, old-fashioned hard word.And now that you know how to effectively (and inexpensively!) brand your small business, all that’s left to do? Get out there and get branding!


Reference:https://99designs.com/blog/business/cheap-branding-strategies-small-business/

20
10 Opportunities for Entrepreneurs offered by The Innovation Hub

1. Maxum incubation programmes – Which provide an enabling environment where start-ups from the knowledge-intensive sectors including sustainable development, green economy information and communications technology (ICT), biosciences, electronics, and advanced manufacturing and materials, are fast tracked to compete in the global village.

2. CoachLab@HUB at The Innovation Hub – Gives a unique experience, where entrepreneurship and innovation are instilled in tomorrow’s business leaders. The unique and exciting CoachLab@HUB program will assist you to enter the market place as an active, industry-ready knowledge worker. You will become part of South Africa’s world-class skills resource base with finely honed business skills to help you make your mark in the dynamic, fast-moving business sector.

3. The Innovation Hub – Is running four high profile innovation competitions for Gauteng-based researchers and entrepreneurs with plans to be global leaders in the Green, Medical, ICT, and Biotech sectors. Entries for the competitions open throughout the year to access more than R3 million in seed funding and incubation services.

4. Green and Sustainable Development Projects –  This program is responsible for identifying, stimulating and supporting green innovations that have strong socio-economic impacts, with the ultimate aim of being absorbed into a green economy. It identifies, stimulates, supports R&D commercialisation and innovations in priority sectors of the green economy, to be fully mainstream into the Gauteng economy.

5. Climate Innovation Centre –  The CIC supports innovation by offering a full suite of financing and capacity building services to technologists, entrepreneurs, and SMEs that address challenges in starting and scaling up their climate technology ventures. In addition to incubating promising start-ups, CIC intends to bridge local funding gaps by providing dedicated proof-of-concept and seed funds to entrepreneurs. In parallel to funding assistance, the CIC also provides business advisory and training services, market intelligence products, access to product testing facilities, and government engagement on policy. In this way, a centre acts as a national focal point, coordinating efforts in promoting the growth of locally relevant climate sectors. The CIC provides a platform to create international business-to-business linkages, enhance knowledge sharing, facilitate trade, and achieve national green growth objectives.

6. mLab – Is a mobile applications laboratory, which incubates innovation and entrepreneurship in the mobile channel. Encouraging and supporting the use of mobile solutions in government service delivery, the facility at The Innovation Hub is the headquarters of a regional initiative covering Southern African countries.

7. OpenIX – Is an Open Innovation Exchange that delivers tangible solutions to real challenges posted by solution seekers in government and the private sector, and connects leading African researchers and entrepreneurs with new opportunities to commercialise their innovations. OpenIX is managed by The Innovation Hub, Africa’s first internationally accredited science park with the IASP and a subsidiary of the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA), an agency of the Gauteng Department of Economic Development

8. Brown Bag Sessions – The objective of the Brown Bag networking events is to facilitate and strengthen communication, collaboration and co-creation amongst resident Hub Community members, in concert with the goals of a science and technology park. In order to strengthen collaboration and co-creation, the Brown Bag events are pitched so as to provide updates on developments within the innovation eco-system or sectors relevant to the Hub community. Thus, from time to time the Brown Bag Events comprise educational, informational as well as networking sessions.

9. Enterprise Development – Accelerates enterprise development to support the establishment and growth of knowledge based  enterprises. It provides innovation best practices, organization design, and leadership development.

10. Business Support and Development – Business Support Services enables residents to concentrate on their core activity: innovation. The services not only free the entrepreneurs from back office and administrative tasks, but also contribute to lowering the cost of doing business.


Reference:https://www.youthvillage.co.za/2015/02/10-opportunities-entrepreneurs-offered-innovation-hub/

21
Buzz Marketing / 5 Types of Buzz Marketing Appeals
« on: July 08, 2019, 02:32:38 PM »
5 Types of Buzz Marketing Appeals

For buzz marketing to work, you need to get people talking about you. And, to get people talking about you, you need to give them something they’ll be excited to talk about.There are 5 different types of “appeals” you can use that will immediately grab user interest and increase the likelihood of getting them talking and sharing.

1.The Controversial
Want to get people talking immediately? You can’t go wrong with diving head first into controversy. The more taboo, the better, you just have to be careful with how you approach it.People love to talk about controversy. It feels a little scandalous and it’s sure to get people riled up enough to talk about you– one way or another.This why you see posts declaring that “Facebook is dead” every few years. It’s a “controversial” (if  inaccurate) idea that is sure to get people to click and then talk about it.For controversial content to work, you need to do a few things correctly. You need to make sure that your stance is well-researched and that you defend it well in the post, or people will be coming after you with pitch forks and torches.It’s also essential to explain why your controversial stance matters. You get bonus points if you can explain why most people don’t agree with you…and why they’re wrong.

2.The Secret
You don’t have to look hard to find examples of how people use “secret” content or insider tips to leverage views and jumpstart conversations. Everyone has FOMO and we all want to feel like we’re in the know–knowing big secrets is included in that.

So what counts as “secret” content? Here are a few examples:
Sneak peeks of upcoming content, but only peeks. Tieks uses this strategy to announce new colors of their flats before pictures are released, which typically generates excitement amongst customers.Behind-the-scenes content, or facts about you, your employees or how things run when the customers aren’t there. This encourages customers to feel like they’re really getting to know the “real you.”“Secrets of the industry” that have helped you become successful. If you saw Mark Cuban promising to give a talk on the secrets of managing money, wouldn’t you want to jump at the chance to get tickets?Many people feel like brands or individuals who are successful have a lot of “secrets” they want to know. Offering to share those secrets is a sure-fire way to get people interested in what you’re doing and talking about it.

3.The Bizarre
There’s a fire tornado that’s whipping through California as I write this post and I saw it shared on Facebook four different times before my boyfriend called to tell me about it. This is a bizarre, outlandish thing that’s happening and everyone is talking about it.Can you do the same with the content for your business?Bizarre appeals often work best for extreme campaigns, businesses with a sense of humor and marketing styles like guerrilla marketing.Imagine walking through New York, for example, and seeing a charging bull statue wearing a pair of enormous boxer briefs. You’d likely take a picture, share it on social and start talking. Why is it here? How ridiculous is this? Have you seen this?Another good example is BlendTec’s “Will It Blend” YouTube campaign, which has been around for more than a decade.These videos feature a “scientist” using the blender to obliterate everything from iPhones (which made me want to cry) to Justin Bieber CDs (which made me want to cry tears of joy). It’s so ridiculous and outrageous…but clearly it works.

4.The Hysterical
If you’re able to create something hysterical, people are going to be over the moon talking about how funny you are. This will help your brand seem more relatable and fun–in addition to getting you all that buzz.I can’t tell you how many people I’ve heard reference Allstate’s “Mayhem Man” commercials, which so funny that they’ve become a staple in pop-culture.Need another example? Wendy’s social media has almost become more popular than the actual fast food chain. With their endless stream of hilarious (if savage) takedowns of hecklers and competitors alike, people actually follow their channel just to see what they’ll say next.Every six months or so Wendy’s does something so ridiculous that actual articles are written about it. Talk about buzz marketing in action!

5.The Inspirational
We all love a feel-good story and content that is truly inspirational will generate the buzz you’re looking for. Inspirational content fills us with hope, but it also supercharges the emotional side of our brains that makes a more lasting connection.
As a result, your content will stick in the minds of viewers and they’ll be more likely to share or discuss it with other people.
Great inspirational content is more than “feel-good” quotes or empty cliches.Instead, be real and tell actual stories of how you got to where you are, how the business overcame hardships, or how you came to create your business (and it’s mission).


Reference:https://www.disruptiveadvertising.com/marketing/buzz-marketing-strategies/

22
Buzz Marketing / How to Create Buzz Marketing
« on: July 07, 2019, 01:14:40 PM »
How to Create Buzz Marketing

Create Partnerships
The people who have the most influence in getting others talking are the top bloggers in your niche.Your customers may be singing your praises on their own blogs and social profiles, but if they don’t have a large following, not many will hear what they have to say.Top bloggers can send out a single tweet or publish a single post and get thousands of people talking.Create partnerships with the top bloggers in your niche to get them to share information about your brand or your products and services. You may be able to create a program together, develop a regular content feature, or work out an exchange to promote each other.Brainstorm the possibilities together to find an arrangement that is mutually beneficial.

Encourage Early Adopters
People love being the first to do something. It makes them feel special.When they feel special, they will want to tell everyone else about it You can encourage bloggers and journalists to be early adopters by giving them the first opportunity to try out a new product or service — long before the general public has a shot at it.Reach out to the top influencers in your niche to offer this first try. If they like what they experience, they may write a review or post about it on social media.Some people will want to charge you to write an official review. In many cases, the cost is worth it since you’ll get huge exposure from the review. Just consider the size of the site’s review and the type of placement you’ll get for the review.

Post in Chat Forums
If you want to see what people are talking about before it becomes a trending topic, you need to go to chat forums.Think of these places like the water cooler or street corner of the Internet. Long before the story hits the news, the people are talking about it.One way to make sure that your brand is part of the next big story is to get people talking about it in these chat forums. Go to online message boards, chat rooms, forums, and fan clubs and post your content.Make sure that you are a regular contributor on these sites. Otherwise, people will see through you and know that you are only there to promote your site. They will then ignore anything you post as advertising.Contribute value to these sites in addition to information about your own brand.

Tie Content to Your Offerings
A lot of buzz marketing is about creating viral content, such as funny videos or stories about unusual people and things.While these stories may get people talking, they won’t get people talking about your brand unless they are connected in some way.
Find and create content that is not only interesting and attention-grabbing but that is also related to your product in some way. For example, if you write about a rare type of mite that looks like a red, furry spider, you can tie it back to information about how to protect families or dogs if you are an insurance company or lifestyle brand.Make sure that your products or services are a natural fit for the content. If you try to force the connection, your readers will know and they will think of the story as a gimmick and nothing more.

Ask for Referrals
Who better to create buzz about your brand than customers who are already happy with your business?Encourage customers to make referrals by offering them incentive to do so. That might include a discount on their next purchase or some type of freebie.Customers might recommend you to their friends and family. If your customers are bloggers or business owners themselves, they might write about your brand to try to get the referrals.The more enticing your offer is, the more customers are likely to make the referrals — and the more convincing they are likely to be to get the people they tell about your brand to reach out or to make a purchase.Buzz marketing doesn’t have to be difficult. Choosing the right user engagement tools and following these tips can help you create a strategy that gets results and increases awareness of your brand
.

Reference:https://www.codefuel.com/blog/create-buzz-marketing/

23
Social Marketing / Social Marketing Planning
« on: July 07, 2019, 12:46:14 PM »
Social Marketing Planning

Social marketing planning requires understanding and applying the 4 P's of marketing into program planning. Social marketing is critical because it looks at the 4 P's and provision of health services from the consumer's viewpoint. The 4 P's of marketing from CDCynergy Social Marketing Edition are:

Product represents the desired behavior you are asking your audience to do, and the associated benefits, tangible objects, and/or services that support behavior change.

Price is the cost (financial, emotional, psychological, or time-related) of overcoming barriers the audience faces in making the desired behavior change.

Place is where the audience will perform the desired behavior, where they will access the program products and services, or where they are thinking about your issue.

Promotion stands for communication messages, materials, channels, and activities that will effectively reach your audience.Sometimes there is a fifth "P" – Policy. Policy encompasses the laws and regulations that influence the desired behavior, such as requiring sidewalks to make communities more walkable or prohibiting smoking in shared public spaces.


Reference:https://www.whatworksinyouthhiv.org/strategies/social-media-and-marketing-strategies/strategies-social-marketing-campaigns

24
Examples / 5 Awesome Human Resources Form Examples
« on: July 07, 2019, 12:13:15 PM »
5 Awesome Human Resources Form Examples

1) Job Application


Customize this job application form to quickly gather resumes and cover letters from top talent. A scrollable description box at the top lets job searchers refer to the job description as they fill out the application instead of having to switch back and forth between tabs. After you finish gathering application data with an online form, quickly share that information with team members by exporting applicant data to a PDF or Excel file.

2) Employee Benefits Survey

To keep your employees happy, you need to listen to their feedback. Online forms can make this process super easy. With this employee benefits survey, you can quickly gather the thoughts and opinions of your employees on your company’s benefits packages. What benefits are actually important to them? Do they feel like their benefits information is easily accessible? Get answers to all of these questions and more by just setting up a simple online form.

3) Employee Referral Form

Why not make the application process smoother by allowing your employees to recommend potential candidates? Setting up an employee referral form allows you to quickly gather information on qualified candidates and keep tabs on which employees deserve some recognition for bringing in good talent. No need to rifle through tangled email threads to find that one candidate your IT manager recommended.

4) 360 Degree Feedback

Annual reviews are critical for communicating praise and constructive criticism amongst your employees, but getting all the reviews done can be a time-consuming task for everyone. The 360 degree feedback method has become popular because it lets employees review all the appropriate people at once, including their managers, subordinates, and peers. Translate this method to an online 360 degree feedback form, and you have a fast and efficient way to collect and organize annual review feedback from every person in your company.

5) PTO Request

You’re probably getting tons of requests from employees, whether it’s getting permission to travel or ordering new office supplies. The email threads that result can be vast and overwhelming. But why accept requests through email when you can just send everyone to one online form? This PTO request form is a great example of how you can streamline administrative processes. If people want some time off, just send them to this form, and you’ll have all the information you need to approve or deny requests
.

Reference:https://www.formstack.com/blog/2016/human-resources-forms-examples/

25
5 EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES TO QUICKLY RAISE MONEY WITH CROWDFUNDING

1. MAP OUT YOUR PLAN OF ACTION
While it’s tempting launch your campaign as quickly as possible, the best approach is to take some time and prepare a fundraising plan.The more time you spend before you launch your campaign, the less time you’ll have to spend smoothing out all kinks when you reach a lull in fundraising. With a plan in place, you’ll already know what action to take to keep your campaign going strong until you reach your goal.Depending on your situation, you might need to ask someone else to lead your fundraiser. Crowdfunding campaigns do take time and energy to gain awareness and attract donors, and you may need to devote your resources to the emergency you’re fundraising for.Recruiting a close friend or family member to manage your campaign means you’ll have someone dedicated to your cause, rather than you trying to juggle both a crisis and a campaign.Once you’ve decided on your campaign leader, it’s time to map out your course of action in as much detail as possible.

In your plan, you should:
Determine your fundraising goal and set a realistic deadline. Your goal should account for any platform or payment processing fees that most crowdfunding websites charge.Assemble materials for your crowdfunding page. Choose elements (images, videos, stories, etc) that will clarify your story, evoke emotions, and help donors connect to your cause.Make a list of people you plan to ask for donations and how you’ll reach out to them. This list can include people you know as well as influential leaders, local business owners, and other community members.Before you publish your campaign, spend time figuring out all the details so that you’re prepared to raise money during a tight deadline.

Takeaway: Don’t rush into your campaign even if you do need to raise money fast. Putting some time and effort into your fundraising plan will help keep your fundraiser running smoothly (and quickly!).

2. CREATE A CROWDFUNDING PAGE THAT’S EASY TO FIND
The key to a successful crowdfunding campaign is the fundraising page. Donors will learn about your cause and donate through your crowdfunding page. As such, your page needs to be easy to find on search engines so that more donors encounter your campaign.

When making your page easy to find, you should focus on the following elements:
Campaign title. Many campaign creators overlook the importance of a great campaign title. However, with some thought, you can create a title that draws your donors’ attention and communicates why you’re fundraising. Keep it simple—a long title is often a deterrent for most donors.Visuals. Images and photos can add to the experiences and encourage donors to give. But most importantly, they draw donors in and help your page appear professional and legitimate. You should at least include one image in your campaign, but if you want to raise money fast, include multiple images and even a video.Description. Your crowdfunding description, as well as its length, plays a huge role in increasing your campaign’s visibility on search engines. With that said, your copy should not only add value but also be concise enough to keep donors engaged.The key is to create a page that’s easy to find and persuades donors to learn more. When your crowdfunding page is easy to find, more donors are likely to encounter your cause and contribute.

Takeaway: Optimize your crowdfunding page to help donors find your campaign so that you can raise more money for your cause.

3. MAKE IT EASY FOR DONORS TO FORM QUICK DECISIONS
Your fundraising page might be the only location where you can accept donations for your campaign. Therefore, you should make the donation process as convenient as possible and encourage your donors to act.When you’re creating your copy, you should use direct language and be clear about what you want your donors to do.If you want donors to contribute, don’t be afraid to ask for a specific amount. This will save donors time as they won’t have to guess how much to give.Additionally, focus on making your cause easy to understand. For instance, if a donor has unanswered questions or doesn’t have a clear understanding after exploring your crowdfunding page, these points will likely cause the donor to postpone giving.Therefore, you should address everything that donors will want to know before they contribute. In your description and updates, clarify:How you will use the money. Get into the specifics and list out exactly how you plan to use the funds. When you’re transparent about how the money will be used, donors will feel more comfortable giving.How donors’ contributions impact beneficiaries. To truly connect to your cause, donors will want to know how their support will affect those in need. Instead of fully explaining this with words, use images and videos to quickly get your message across.How the campaign is progressing. When you continue to update your campaign, donors will not only get more information about your cause, but it will also show them that this campaign is important to you.Provide donors with specific and transparent answers to the questions they’re most curious about. Many crowdfunding campaigns have a FAQ section at the end of their description to clear up some of the common questions that weren’t already addressed in the fundraising page.When donors have all the facts after reading your crowdfunding page, it will make it easier for them to come to a decision.

Takeaway: The easier you make it for donors, the more likely they are to give to your campaign. Be direct about what you need and provide answers to your donors’ most common questions.


4. USE ONLINE AND TRADITIONAL METHODS TO SPREAD THE WORD
If you want to complete your goal quickly, you’re going to have to exhaust every method when asking for donations. As such, you should use both online and traditional ways to solicit donations.

Let’s look at 3 ways you can reach out to donors:

Social Media
Social media is the most common way to share crowdfunding campaigns—and with good reason! On social media outlets, you can reach out to your connections and new supporters. Plus, the ability to link to your campaign makes it easy for donors to find your page and contribute.

To help increase your reach, use the following best practices:


1.Use hashtags to help potential donors find your cause.
2.Keep your message short and concise.
3.Include an image, video, or another visual to draw your readers’ attention.
4.Always link to your campaign.
5.Email and Direct Mail
Sending out letters is a great way to approach people you already know or companies and foundations that might donate to your cause. With letters, you have more opportunity to express your need and evoke your donors’ emotions.The key to writing a great donation request letter is to be specific and let your donors know what you want. And don’t forget to address your letters with each recipient’s name.You can use email and direct mail solicitations to announce the launch of your campaign and at significant milestones (i.e. at the halfway point or a few days before the end of your campaign).

Local Media Outlets

If you want to help your campaign pick up speed and raise awareness for your cause, you should consider reaching out to your local newspaper or other media channels to see if they’d be willing to highlight your campaign.You can provide them with information about your cause and why it’s important. That way, you can reach people on the channels they already trust and respect to get your community involved in supporting your cause.

Takeaway: Take advantage of not just online channels but also more traditional platforms to reach out to donors. Get creative and think through the best ways to get more people aware of your cause

5. THANK YOUR DONORS FREQUENTLY
The last thing you can do to raise money fast? Thank your donors and acknowledge them often. Don’t wait until the end of your campaign to complete this step. Instead, you should thank donors within 1-3 days after they contribute.Showing your appreciation can help speed up your fundraising because it shows donors that you’re grateful for the support and that you care about the person behind the donation, not just the money. When donors see how grateful you can be, they’re more likely to continue to support your cause by sharing your page with their friends and family members or making additional contributions.You can use many quick and simple ways you thank your donors. For instance, show your appreciation by sending donors a handwritten note.Alternatively, you can publicly thank donors on social media or in your crowdfunding updates to show your gratitude to all your donors at once.Nevertheless, make sure your thank-you letters are personal and unique to your cause. That way, you’ll make the most memorable impression on your donors.

Takeaway: Make your donors feel appreciated because they’ll be more inclined to support your cause so that you can meet your goal.Individuals and even organizations sometimes need to raise money fast. Crowdfunding is a great option because it’s easy to set up your page and share your campaign.Use these 5 tips to help you raise the funds you need in record time!For more advice on how to fundraise online, check out these additional resources:Crowdfunding Websites. Before you can raise money, you need to find a platform to host your campaign. Picking the right website can contribute to your campaign’s success, so check out this list of top crowdfunding websites to find a platform that fits your needs.
Keep Your Crowdfunding Momentum Going. Is your campaign slowing down? Use these tips to spark more interest in your fundraiser!Amazing Crowdfunding Campaigns That Met Their Goals. Use our list of top crowdfunding examples to get inspiration on how to build your crowdfunding page.


Reference:https://blog.fundly.com/quickly-raise-money-crowdfunding/

26
10 Funding Options To Raise Startup Capital For Your Business


According to a recent study, over 94% of new businesses fail during first year of operation. Lack of funding turns to be one of the common reasons. Money is the bloodline of any business. The long painstaking yet exciting journey from the idea to revenue generating business needs a fuel named capital. That’s why, at almost every stage of the business, entrepreneurs find themselves asking – How do I finance my startup?Now, when would you require funding depends largely on the nature and type of the business. But once you have realized the need for fund raising, below are some of the different sources of finance available.Here is a comprehensive guide that lists 10 funding options for startups that will help you raise capital for your business. Some of these funding options are for Indian business, however, similar alternatives are available in different countries.

1) Bootstrapping your startup business:
Self-funding, also known as bootstrapping, is an effective way of startup financing, specially when you are just starting your business. First-time entrepreneurs often have trouble getting funding without first showing some traction and a plan for potential success. You can invest from your own savings or can get your family and friends to contribute. This will be easy to raise due to less formalities/compliances, plus less costs of raising. In most situations, family and friends are flexible with the interest rate.Self-funding or bootstrapping should be considered as a first funding option because of its advantages. When you have your own money, you are tied to business. On a later stage, investors consider this as a good point. But this is suitable only if the initial requirement is small. Some businesses need money right from the day-1 and for such businesses, bootstrapping may not be a good option.Bootstrapping is also about stretching resources – both financial and otherwise – as far as they can. Check out these 30 tips to save money and improve your business cash-flow.

2) Crowdfunding As A Funding Option:
Crowdfunding is one of the newer ways of funding a startup that has been gaining lot of popularity lately. It’s like taking a loan, pre-order, contribution or investments from more than one person at the same time.This is how crowdfunding works – An entrepreneur will put up a detailed description of his business on a crowdfunding platform. He will mention the goals of his business, plans for making a profit, how much funding he needs and for what reasons, etc. and then consumers can read about the business and give money if they like the idea. Those giving money will make online pledges with the promise of pre-buying the product or giving a donation. Anyone can contribute money toward helping a business that they really believe in.

Why you should consider Crowdfunding as a funding option for your business:
The best thing about crowd funding is that it can also generate interest and hence helps in marketing the product alongside financing. It is also a boon if you are not sue if there will be any demand for the product you are working on. This process can cut out professional investors and brokers by putting funding in the hands of common people. It also might attract venture-capital investment down the line if a company has a particularly successful campaign.Also keep in mind that crowdfunding is a competitive place to earn funding, so unless your business is absolutely rock solid and can gain the attention of the average consumers through just a description and some images online, you may not find crowdfunding to work for you in the end.Some of the popular crowdfunding sites in India are Indiegogo, Wishberry, Ketto, Fundlined and Catapooolt.In US, Kickstarter, RocketHub, Dreamfunded, Onevest and GoFundMe are popular crowdfunding platforms.

3) Get Angel Investment In Your Startup:
Angel investors are individuals with surplus cash and a keen interest to invest in upcoming startups. They also work in groups of networks to collectively screen the proposals before investing. They can also offer mentoring or advice alongside capital.
Angel investors have helped to start up many prominent companies, including Google, Yahoo and Alibaba. This alternative form of investing generally occurs in a company’s early stages of growth, with investors expecting a upto 30% equity. They prefer to take more risks in investment for higher returns.Angel Investment as a funding option has its shortcomings too. Angel investors invest lesser amounts than venture capitalists (covered in next point).Here is a list of popular Angel Investors in India – Indian Angel Network, Mumbai Angels, Hyderabad Angels.Also check out the list of individual Angel Investors in India, some of these active angel investors have invested in many successful startups.

4) Get Venture Capital For Your Business:
This is where you make the big bets. Venture capitals are professionally managed funds who invest in companies that have huge potential. They usually invest in a business against equity and exit when there is an IPO or an acquisition. VCs provide expertise, mentorship and acts as a litmus test of where the organisation is going, evaluating the business from the sustainability and scalability point of view.A venture capital investment may be appropriate for small businesses that are beyond the startup phase and already generating revenues. Fast-growth companies like Flipkart, Uber, etc with an exit strategy already in place can gain up to tens of millions of dollars that can be used to invest, network and grow their company quickly.However, there are a few downsides to Venture Capitalists as a funding option. VCs have a short leash when it comes to company loyalty and often look to recover their investment within a three- to five-year time window. If you have a product that is taking longer than that to get to market, then venture-capital investors may not be very interested in you.They typically look for larger opportunities that are a little bit more stable, companies having a strong team of people and a good traction. You also have to be flexible with your business and sometimes give up a little bit more control, so if you’re not interested in too much mentor-ship or compromise, this might not be your best option.Some of the well known Venture Capitalists in India are – Nexus Venture Partners, Helion Ventures, Kalaari Capital, Accel Partners, Blume Ventures, Canaan, Sequoia Capital and Bessemer Ventures.

5) Get Funding From Business Incubators & Accelerators:
Early stage businesses can consider Incubator and Accelerator programs as a funding option. Found in almost every major city, these programs assist hundreds of startup businesses every year.Though used interchangeably, there are few fundamental differences between the two terms. Incubators are like a parent to to a child, who nurture the business providing shelter tools and training and network to a business. Accelerators so more or less the same thing, but an incubator helps/assists/nurtures a business to walk, while accelerator helps to run/take a giant leap.These programs normally run for 4-8 months and require time commitment from the business owners. You will also be able to make good connections with mentors, investors and other fellow startups using this platform.In US, companies like Dropbox and Airbnb started with an accelerator – Y Combinator. Here is a list of top 10 incubators & accelerators in US.In India, popular names are Amity Innovation Incubator, AngelPrime, CIIE, IAN Business Incubator, Villgro, Startup Village and TLabs.Popular business accounting software – ProfitBooks is also a part of Washington based accelerator Village Capital.

6) Raise Funds By Winning Contests:
An increase in the number of contests has tremendously helped to maximize the opportunities for fund raising. It encourages entrepreneurs with business ideas to set up their own businesses. In such competitions, you either have to build a product or prepare a business plan.Winning these competitions can also get you some media coverage. We, at ProfitBooks benefitted a lot when we were regional finalists in Microsoft BizSparks in 2013 and won Hot100 Startup Award in 2014.You need to make your project stand out in order to improve your success in these contests. You can either present your idea in person or pitch it through a business plan. It should be comprehensive enough to convince anyone that your idea is worth investing in.Some of the popular startups contests in India are NASSCOM’s 10000 startups, Microsoft BizSparks, Conquest, NextBigIdea Contest, and Lets Ignite. Check out the latest startup programs & contests in your area. Here is a calendar of various Business Plan competitions.

7) Raise Money Through Bank Loans:
Normally, banks is the first place that entrepreneurs go when thinking about funding.The bank provides two kinds of financing for businesses. One is working capital loan, and other is funding. Working Capital loan is the loan required to run one complete cycle of revenue generating operations, and the limit is usually decided by hypothecating stocks and debtors. Funding from bank would involve the usual process of sharing the business plan and the valuation details, along with the project report, based on which the loan is sanctioned.Almost every bank in India offers SME finance through various programs. For instance, leading Indian banks – Bank Of Baroda, HDFC, ICICI and Axis banks have more than 7-8 different options to offer collateral free business loans. Check out the respective bank sites for more details.In US, sites like Kabbage can help you get working capital loan online in minutes. Unlike traditional lenders, Kabbage approve small business loans by looking at real-life data, not just a credit score.

8)Get Business Loans From Microfinance Providers or NBFCs:
What do you do when you can’t qualify for a bank loan? There is still an option. Microfinance is basically access of financial services to those who would not have access to conventional banking services. It is increasingly becoming popular for those whose requirements are limited and credit ratings not favoured by bank.Similarly, NBFCs are Non Banking Financial Corporations are corporations that provide Banking services without meeting legal requirement/definition of a bank.
Check MicroFinance Institute Network for more details. Here is a list of top MicroFinance companies in India.
 
9) Govt Programs That Offer Startup Capital:
The Government of India has launched 10,000 Crore Startup Fund in Union budget 2014-15 to improve startup ecosystem in India. In order to boost innovative product companies, Government has launched ‘Bank Of Ideas and Innovations’ program.
Government backed ‘Pradhan Mantri Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency Limited (MUDRA)‘ starts with an initial corpus of Rs. 20,000 crore to extend benefits to around 10 lakhs SMEs. You are supposed to submit your business  plan and once approved, the loan gets sanctioned. You get a MUDRA Card, which is like a credit card, which you can use to purchase raw materials, other expenses etc. Shishu, Kishor and Tarun are three categories of loans available under the promising scheme. Learn more about MUDRA.Also, different states have come up different programs like Kerala State Self Entrepreneur Development Mission (KSSEDM), Maharashtra Centre for Entrepreneurship Development, Rajasthan Startup Fest, etc to encourage small businesses SIDBI – Small Industries Development Bank Of India also offer business loans to MSME sector.
In US, there is a small business lending fund and dedicated portal for Government grants available for local businesses.
If you comply with the eligibility criteria, Government grants as a funding option could be one of the best. You just need to make yourself aware of the various Government initiatives.

10) Quick Ways To Raise Money For Your Business:
There are few more ways to raise funds for your business. However, these might not work for everyone. Still, check them out if you need quick funds.Product Pre-sale: Selling your products before they launch is an often-overlooked and highly effective way to raise the money needed for financing your business. Remember how Apple & Samsung start pre-orders of their products well ahead of the official launch? Its a great way to improve cash-flow and prepare yourself for the consumer demand.

Selling Assets: This might sound like a tough step to take but it can help you meet your short term fund requirements. Once you overcome the crisis situation, you can again buy back the assets.

Credit Cards: Business credit cards are among the most readily available ways to finance a startup and can be a quick way to get instant money. If you are a new business and don’t have a tons of expenses, you can use a credit card and keep paying the minimum payment. However, keep in mind that the interest rates and costs on the cards can build very quickly, and carrying that debt can be detrimental to a business owner’s credit.Also read about Invoice Discounting. Its a good way to manage your cash flow in short term.

Conclusion & Next Steps:
If you want to grow really fast, you probably need outside sources of capital. If you bootstrap and remain without external funding for too long, you may be unable to take advantage of market opportunities.While the plethora of lending options may make it easier than ever to get started, responsible business owners should ask themselves how much financial assistance they really need.

Now the big question is – How do you prepare your business for fund raising? It’s better to start from the beginning with good corporate governance as it might get hard to go back later and try to exert fiscal discipline. To address these concerns, invest in a good accounting software and keep your finances in order.


Reference:https://www.profitbooks.net/funding-options-to-raise-startup-capital-for-your-business/

27
Term Sheet / TERM SHEET FOR SALE OF ENTIRE BUSINESS
« on: July 06, 2019, 11:57:49 AM »
TERM SHEET FOR SALE OF ENTIRE BUSINESS

This Term Sheet summarizes the principal terms of the acquisition in the [Target Company], Inc., (herein referred as the “Company”) by XXXXX Inc., (a California Corporation) directly or through any of its affiliates (“Buyer”). This non-binding term sheet is in connection with a possible transaction whereby “Buyer” would acquire all the business (as defined below) of the “Target.” This term sheet does not create any legally binding obligation or any commitment to invest until the definitive agreements are executed and delivered by all parties involved in the transaction.

Business:
Target’s complete advisory and consulting services, including the proprietary software platform that is used for delivering the final products to its customers. The business also includes the following proprietary products:
1.PRODUCT A
2.PRODUCT B
2.PRODUCT C
 
Role of Target:
The Target will exclusively grant all licenses to the Buyer, which should be assignable and transferable without any royalty payment to make, import, lease, license, sell, distribute or otherwise transfer the products and services.Target to provide transition services to the Buyer for no additional cost apart from what has been described in the “purchase price” section below.Target not to undergo any material changes in the Business prior to the Closing Date.
 
Consideration:
1.Target to transfer ownership of all equity stocks, free of charge to the Buyer.
2.Buyer to be the sole beneficiary and owner of all stocks unless otherwise agreed by the Buyer.
3.Transfer all support contracts with customers to the Buyer.
4.Cooperate with the Buyer and facilitate the transition of vendor contracts.
5.Transfer all vendor licenses in favor of the Buyer on existing terms and conditions.
 
Purchase Price:
The total purchase price shall be USD XXX,000,000.The Net Working Capital at the time of closing should be USD X,000,000 and in case of any deficit, the same shall be adjusted from the purchase price.
 
Payment Terms:
The cash down payment will be 70% of the Purchase Price as defined above.
Earn-outs – 15% will be paid on 1 year after closing date subject to revenue achievement of 90% of the revenue projection as per the CIM and EBITDA crossing at least 18%.
Remaining 15% will be paid within 2 years of closing date subject to revenue achievement of 80% of revenue projected in the Confidential Information Memorandum and EBITDA crossing at least 19%.
The earn-outs will be paid without any interest.
 
Due Diligence:
Buyer would be given an option to conduct due diligence on the Target’s business, proprietary platform, historical and projected financials, legal contracts with customers, legal contracts with vendors, operational and quality procedures, marketing strategy, tax compliance, human resource.The result of the due diligence has to be satisfactory on the understanding of the Buyer’s board and senior management, including the CEO, CFO and Business Heads.
 
Closing Conditions:
1.All the representations and warranties will remain valid on the closing date.
2.The seller is in compliance with all the applicable laws and provisions.
3.The buyer has arranged for financing to fund the transaction.
4.All the equity stocks are free of charge.
5.The buyer is satisfied with the due diligence findings.
 
Governing Law:
This term sheet shall be governed by and in accordance with the laws of State of New York. All the proceedings shall be conducted in English.
 
Fees and Expenses:
All the expenses including legal, professional, due diligence, advisory support, negotiation, etc. has to be borne by each party.
 
Non-Compete:
The Target and its key employees (as defined in Exhibit A) agree not to solicit any of the employees who are getting acquired for a period of 3 years from the closing of the transaction. They also agree not to be part of any organization that is involved in a similar line of business for a period of 3 years from the closing of the transaction.
 
Closing Date:
The closing date shall be within 45 days after the conclusion of the due diligence process.
 
Binding Terms:
For a period of 60 days, the Target agrees not to solicit offers from other parties for any kind of sale of the complete business or part thereof. The Target also agrees to inform the buyer in writing in case the Target is approached for any sort of transaction.
 
Confidentiality:
Each party agrees that this term sheet is for a potential transaction between the Target and the Buyer, wherein the Target would be transferring its stock for consideration that will be paid by the Buyer. It is being signed with the understanding that neither party will disclose this transaction, including the name of the parties involved, consideration amount, business to any third party unless the definitive agreements are signed and executed.
 
Termination:
Either party may terminate this agreement by a simple notice including email before the signing of the definitive agreements. No party is required to give the reasons for the same.
 
Expiration Date:
These terms are valid until and will expire on ­­­_______.
This term sheet is not a contract or a binding agreement but just an expression of a possible business transaction between the Target and the Buyer. No party will be bound for a transaction until and unless definitive agreements are executed by the parties to this transaction.

 

TARGET COMPANY NAME                         BUYER COMPANY NAME

_______________________                                 _________________________

Name                                                             XXXXX XXXX   

CEO                                                                 CEO / CFO

 
Exhibit A:
Key Employees:

1.Peter Crowe, CEO
2.Valentina Tucker, Business Head – Advisory
3.Jack Mani, CFO
4.Daniel Parker, Director
5.Sofia Cohan, Director
 

Disclaimer:
The above sample term sheet is provided for educational purposes only and should not be relied on as legal advice. Nothing herein constitutes the clauses for any real company or any establishment of an attorney client relationship between the reader and the author/ CFI. CFI makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of any information contained in the above sample term sheet.

Additional resources:
This has been a practical guide to term sheets and understanding the most important terms and clauses that are typically included.  To keep learning and advancing your career, check out these additional resources:
1.Simple Term Sheet template
2.M&A process
3.Private Equity vs Venture Capital
4.Financial modeling guide


Reference:https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/templates/word-templates-transactions/term-sheet-guide/

28
Deed/Agreement / The 4 Major Types of Real Estate Title Deeds
« on: July 06, 2019, 11:15:32 AM »
The 4 Major Types of Real Estate Title Deeds

The General Warranty Deed
The General Warranty Deed provides the highest level of protection for the buyer. There are significant covenants or warranties conveyed by the grantor to the buyer/grantee.A common question about deeds, in general, is the nature of a general warranty deed and what rights it conveys to the buyer. In all cases, a real estate buyer is best protected by a general warranty deed. The seller or (grantor) conveys the property along with certain covenants or warranties. It is the grantor who is legally bound by these warranties.

The Special Warranty Deed
The Special Warranty Deed doesn't provide as much protection for the buyer as does the general warranty deed. The grantor provides fewer warranties.With this deed, it is the grantor of the deed that conveys the property, along with two warranties—the grantor warrants that they have received the title, and the grantor warrants, unless otherwise specified in the deed, that the property was not encumbered during their period of ownership.

The Bargain and Sale Deed
With the Bargain and Sale deed, the buyer gets no protection from encumbrances. This deed type has very specialized uses.This type of deed does not warrant against any encumbrances, though it does imply that the grantor holds title to the property. And, because it does not warrant good title from the grantor, the grantee could be in trouble if title defects appear at a later date. This deed is used frequently in tax sales and for foreclosure actions.

The Quitclaim Deed
The Quitclaim Deed provides the least protection for the buyer of the four main types. Its uses are very limited.With a Quitclaim Deed, when the deed is properly completed and executed, it transfers any interest the grantor has in the property to a recipient, called the grantee. The owner, or grantor, then terminates (or quits) any right and claim to the property, thereby allowing the right or claim to transfer to the recipient/grantee.


Reference:https://www.thebalancesmb.com/real-estate-title-deeds-types-2866991



 

29
Angel Investment / Typical Sources of Angel Investors
« on: July 06, 2019, 10:19:05 AM »
Typical Sources of Angel Investors

Angle investors is a somewhat general term, and you can actually find these types of investors in a few different forms. Angel investments normally come from:

Family and friends: This is by far the most common source of funding for business startups that are interested in finding business start up money and is the only option for many. Given the high rate of failure with new businesses, it is also risky in terms of the possible impact on family/friend relationships if the business is not successful. It is important to be upfront about the risk of failure.

Wealthy individuals: Another good source is successful business people, doctors, lawyers, and others that have a high net worth and are willing to invest up to (typically) $500,000 in return for equity. Often this is done by word of mouth through business associates or associations such as the local Chamber of Commerce.

Groups: Angels are increasingly operating as part of an angel syndicate (a group of angel investors), which raises their potential investment level accordingly. Investors contribute funds to the syndicate and a professional syndicate management team chooses the investments.

Crowdfunding: A form of an online investing group, crowdfunding involves raising funding by having large groups of individuals invest amounts as small as $1,000.


Reference:https://www.thebalancesmb.com/angel-investor-2947066

30
What’s The Difference Between Sales Tax and Value-added Tax?

What is sales tax?
A sales tax is exclusively collected by a retailer during the final sale of a good or service. It is paid by the end consumer. Generally, sales tax is only paid on services that are explicitly enumerated. It is only collected a single time, when the good or service is sold to someone for final use.However, this does not mean that sellers and manufacturers never pay sales taxes. For example, if a company produces electronic goods, it would not pay sales tax on the components it purchases to construct the goods, but it would pay sales tax on the purchase of safety equipment used by its staff. The equipment is not a direct part of the final product, so it is not exempt.

The following are typically exempt from sales tax:

● Goods purchased for resale
● Components/ingredients purchased to create goods for sale
● Machinery and equipment that is directly used to create goods
● Containers and packaging used to ship goods for sale

In specific cases, a sales tax may be applied to the same item indefinitely. For example, a consumer might pay sales tax on the purchase of a new car. At a later date, when someone else buys the car, he or she may also pay a sales tax on the vehicle. This will continue as many times as the vehicle is sold.Foreign visitors to the U.S. are often confused when sales tax is not included in the list price of retail goods. Unlike in many European countries, the definition of taxable goods varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction throughout the U.S. and its territories.For example, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Jersey do not place sales tax on clothing. The majority of jurisdictions exempt food and drugs from sales tax. Oregon, New Hampshire, Montana, and Delaware do not have a state sales tax at all.Alaska has no state-level sales tax, but permits local jurisdictions to impose their own regulations. Michigan, Maryland, Kentucky, and Idaho impose state-level taxes, but do not permit localities to impose their own regulations.When the internet became a significant presence in the economy, it caused a number of challenges for tax authorities. The internet made it possible for consumers to easily and frequently purchase goods from other jurisdictions, causing confusion as to which tax rate was applicable to which goods. In 1992, the Supreme Court case Quill Corp. v. North Dakota determined that states could not collect sales tax on goods sold over the internet, unless the seller had a physical presence in the state. In June 2018, the Supreme Court overturned that decision, citing the fact that it is now much easier for internet-based retailers to determine where buyers are located and therefore collect the correct sales tax.

What is value-added tax?
A value-added tax (VAT) is collected throughout a supply chain. That means suppliers, distributors, manufacturers, and retailers collect tax on all qualifying sales. The U.S. has no value-added tax; it is exclusively a consideration of international commerce. Some countries, such as Canada, refer to VAT as a goods and services tax (GST).To illustrate how VAT works, consider the production of a personal computer. A components manufacturer buys raw materials from a supplier. Another organization assembles the computer and adds software. A retailer purchases computers in bulk and sells them to individual consumers. At each stage, value is added to the product. VAT covers the value each entity adds to the product, not the total value of the item. Therefore, when the computer company sells products to a retailer, it remits liability for the value added by the component manufacturer.The above example illustrates an invoice-based VAT method. It is widely used throughout the world. In some countries, such as Japan, another method is utilized. This accounts-based method requires businesses to calculate the value of all sales and then subtract all taxable purchases. VAT is then applied to the difference.

VAT rates vary greatly across the world, as do exemption rules. For reference:

● Germany: VAT 19 percent; duties 5-7 percent.
● United Kingdom: VAT 20 percent; duties 0-15 percent.
● China: VAT 17 percent; duties 0-35 percent.
● Russia: VAT 18 percent; duties 5-20 percent.
● India: VAT 1-15 percent; duties 0-30 percent.

One of the biggest differences between sales tax and VAT is perhaps the requirement of sufficient documentation. In a retail environment, sales tax is established within the local jurisdiction and added automatically. A consumer cannot dispute the tax and can do nothing to change the rate. With VAT, entities must maintain thorough documentation to claim tax credits. The documentation of one entity within a supply chain must match documentation provided by other entities, or the risk of an audit increases. The VAT system imposes a sort of self-regulation, as each entity has an incentive to accurately track its taxes to avoid paying more than it owes or taking on more than its fair share of value. Likewise, VAT exemptions must be well-documented to avoid audits.Tax professionals who work for organizations doing business in multiple countries will need to understand foreign tax laws, as well as domestic regulations. Students in the Online Master of Science in Taxation program at the D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University have the option of enrolling in the taxation of entities track, which features two courses on inbound and outbound international transactions.


Reference:https://onlinebusiness.northeastern.edu/blog/whats-the-difference-between-sales-tax-and-value-added-tax/

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