Ask the Editors Archive - FORTUNE Small Business Magazine

FORTUNE Small Business:

Cash and a strategy for growth

May 19: Oursourcing your production can help take your business to the next level, Ask FSB's experts say. (more)

Bringing all your properties under one LLC roof

May 16: Whether or not you need bank approval to brin properties into your LLC depends on your financing situation. (more)

How to stand out on the Internet

May 15: A good business idea is just the beginning (more)

Setting rates for your services

May 14: Location and demand are major factors in how much you should charge. (more)

Setting the budget for your Web site

May 12: Ask FSB's tips for getting the right Web site at the right price. (more)

How much equity do my investors deserve?

May 9: That depends on the investors and their roles, say our experts. (more)

How can I keep my retirement plan?

May 9: FSB's Anne Fisher reveals how to set up the right solution for your business. (more)

Shopping for the best business insurance policy

May 8: What you'll need varies depending on where you work and what you do, but Ask FSB's experts weigh in with a road map for determining your insurance needs. (more)

Payroll 101 for new-business owners

May 7: These online sources help small-business owners navigate payroll and tax issues. (more)

When to pay for an advertising campaign

May 6: Picking the right agency takes time - and you shouldn't spend a penny until you're convinced you've found a good fit. (more)

Scrimping on your salary? Beware an audit

May 5: Ask FSB's experts explain when it's illegal for business owners to take only dividends. (more)

Launching a public-speaking career

May 1: Ask FSB explores how professional public speakers can land representation and gigs. (more)

How to avoid deadbeat clients

May 1: Consistent problems getting paid may indicate deeper problems in your business model. (more)

Beware of hidden transfer taxes

Apr 30: Moving real estate to an LLC could hurt (more)

Building your first business Web site

Apr 29: Advance planning will help you ensure that your tech investments pay off. (more)

Growing an LLC

Apr 28: How to add partners and operate in multiple states (more)

A startup checklist for new businesses

Apr 25: Ask FSB's answers for banking and legal questions. (more)

Where side businesses blur ethical lines

Apr 25: When parlaying your on-the-job experience into a side business, mind your ethical obligations to your employer and your customers. (more)

Got an idea that could make you rich?

Apr 24: What you should know to protect your intellectual property. (more)

Filing taxes on a closed business

Apr 24: Ask FSB investigates the tax liabilities of a defunct business. (more)

Passing on a family business

Apr 23: Giving your company to your kids could be more complicated than you think. (more)

Should this bra business flee the suburbs?

Apr 22: A lingerie retailer wonders if a city location would boost her sales. (more)

Finding funding for rural businesses

Apr 21: A satellite business seeks loan and grant resources. (more)

Lots of money but always broke

Apr 21: The importance of creating (and understanding) a cash-flow statement. (more)

Changing an LLC into an LLP

Apr 18: The process varies by state. Here's how to do it in Illinois. (more)

Two businesses, one marriage - can it work?

Apr 18: A small business owner asks FSB for advice on mixing love and work. (more)

How to value your business for a sale

Apr 17: Ask FSB helps a reader prepare to sell a piano school (more)

Profits down? Time for a price hike

Apr 16: Think you can't raise your prices while the economy is in a recession? Think again. (more)

Tips for a successful loan application

Apr 16: Ask FSB checks with the experts for the rundown on DUNS numbers and other credit must-haves. (more)

How to switch an S-Corp to an LLC

Apr 15: It's easy enough - but the experts say you should think twice about making the conversion. (more)

Tax breaks for real-estate losses

Apr 15: Ask FSB guides an owner of rental properties through the legalities of writing off losses. (more)

How to get your product on Whole Foods' shelves

Apr 14: An entrepreneur seeks advice from Ask FSB on marketing her natural products (more)

How to write off defective imports

Apr 14: FSB's Anne Fisher helps small-business owners get answers to their questions. (more)

Should I split the family business?

Apr 11: We advise a small Texas plumbing firm on the pros and cons of dividing into three LLCs. (more)

How to confront a distracting coworker

Apr 11: An office worker checks in with FSB on workplace etiquette. (more)

Which corporate structure is best?

Apr 10: Adriana Gardella looks at how LLPs compare to C corps at tax time. (more)

How can we sell in big retail stores?

Apr 10: FSB's Anne Fisher deciphers the various ways to get your product into top retail stores. (more)

The right client for the job

Apr 8: To make a profit, you must attract the right kind of customer, say FSB's experts. (more)

Venture capital 101

Apr 8: The risks and rewards of being an angel. (more)

How to commercialize your invention

Apr 7: Licensing a new product successfully can be tough. Do your due diligence. (more)

Why you should incorporate your business

Apr 7: A sole proprietor asks how to protect her personal assets. (more)

Should I buy a house first, or a business?

Apr 4: Ask FSB weighs in on whether it's wise to buy a house before seeking a business loan. (more)

The licenses you need to start up

Apr 4: Find out exactly what permits are required - from your couch. (more)

How to be an award-winning business

Apr 3: A young entrepreneur enlists ASK FSB to find the path to getting recognized. (more)

Why to be wary of commission-only sales staff

Apr 2: Hiring a salesperson on commission sounds like a cost-saver, but investing in your staff usually pays off in the long run. (more)

When to start filing your business taxes

Apr 2: Ask FSB fields a question about how much money you have to make to file as a business. (more)

Overtime: Should driving time be paid?

Apr 1: State statutes may determine what's legal and if employers need to pay up. (more)

Buy equipment now! 2008 tax breaks

Apr 1: The economic stimulus bill increased the amount you can deduct for new equipment purchased this year (more)

Finding health and retirement coverage

Mar 31: Experts warn against one-stop benefit shopping. (more)

Prepare to hire your first employee

Mar 28: Get hiring documents right - or suffer the consequences later. (more)

Business or hobby? Deductions differ

Mar 28: FSB explains the tax situation and how you can postpone making the distinction. (more)

Cut your tax bill with write-offs

Mar 27: Depreciation bonus helps reduce your tax bill, plus what to spend now for 2008 tax relief (more)

Tips for promoting a new restaurant

Mar 27: Try these tried-and-true methods, and a few more. (more)

How to survive a cash crunch

Mar 25: You need to understand your cash flow cycle, say FSB's experts. (more)

Finding insurance for your business

Mar 25: What you'll need - and how much it will cost - depends on your line of business. (more)

How to handle bounced checks

Mar 24: Hate dealing with rubbery payments? FSB's experts know how to avoid them. (more)

Can I patent someone else's work?

Mar 24: There are other ways to keep copycats from stealing your vendors' products. (more)

Finding the best telecom for your business

Mar 21: Avoid sticker-shock by getting everything in writing - and be prepared to do legwork to find the best bid. (more)

Freebies and cost-cutting: slump survival tactics

Mar 21: Business owners need to do more with less to make money in a down economy. (more)

Profiting from the liquidations boom

Mar 20: A 'human billboard' business looks for tips on expansion. (more)

Cracking the federal procurement market

Mar 20: Ask FSB's experts help a software company put together a plan for expanding into government sales. (more)

Should I file for bankruptcy?

Mar 19: Only as a last resort, say FSB's experts - and beware of Chapter 13. (more)

Calculating the risk of a franchise investment

Mar 19: Get very specific with the numbers - and consider hiring expert help. (more)

Bringing a killer new product to market

Mar 18: The idea is the first step. Here's how to turn it into a business. (more)

Should your business be on Facebook?

Mar 18: Ask FSB's experts help small business owners cut through the social-networking thicket. (more)

Buying heavy machinery - overseas

Mar 17: Ask FSB helps a business in Cambodia source heavy machinery in Japan. (more)

How snack vendors snag in-flight deals

Mar 17: A food vendor quizzes Ask FSB on how to get its snack into the skies. (more)

How to protect your creative work

Mar 14: Protecting a painting from copycats takes more than a John Hancock on canvas, according to ASK FSB experts. (more)

How the bar business handles sales tax

Mar 14: Ask FSB's CPAs have answers on tap. (more)

Sell your business for the highest price

Mar 13: Thinking of selling? Here are some ways to prepare to get the best deal. (more)

Setting competitive fees for your business

Mar 13: An interior design business owner wants to know what to charge (more)

Your business vehicle: lease or own?

Mar 13: FSB's Anne Fisher examines the tax pros and cons. (more)

How do I become an LLC?

Mar 12: Lawyer and FSB editor Adriana Gardella helps unravel the legal issues that vex business owners. (more)

Options for selling your business loan

Mar 12: A small business worried about the future asks about selling their "business paper." (more)

Tips for selling a franchise territory

Mar 12: An entrepreneur turns to Ask FSB for advice on selling an unused, undeveloped franchise territory. (more)

Tax deductions for your business SUV

Mar 11: Ask FSB helps a reader through the process - and pitfalls - of depreciating a business luxury vehicle. (more)

Tax credits for hiring disabled workers

Mar 11: The Work Opportunity Credit is a valuable boon - but subcontracting with qualified workers won't make you eligible. (more)

Marketing to college students

Mar 10: Getting home addresses can be tricky, but there's plenty of other ways to reach the collegiate demographic. (more)

Can I fire an unpopular worker?

Mar 10: Unpleasant personality traits can be grounds for termination. (more)

Write-offs for your home business

Mar 7: Ask FSB checks in with tax experts for details on what home-businesses owners can deduct. (more)

Tips for a high-traffic business blog

Mar 7: Conversational marketing is a great new way to introduce customers to your company's products and services. Here's how. (more)

Finding startup cash for your business

Mar 7: Options abound, according to Ask FSB's experts. (more)

Tax obligations for a new merchant

Mar 6: Ask FSB helps a new business owner cut through the tax clutter. (more)

Winning in the wine world

Mar 6: An aspiring winemaker checks with Ask FSB about the success rate for small-town wineries. (more)

What can self-employed workers deduct?

Mar 5: Work clothes, supplies and medical expenses - finding the write-offs (more)

Valuing a business you'd like to acquire

Mar 5: FSB fields a query about the value of a tour business. (more)

Sports marketing 101

Mar 4: Ask FSB helps an athletic video services company expand its marketing strategy. (more)

Writing a winning business plan

Mar 4: Ask FSB's guide to putting yours together. (more)

Climbing out of credit-card debt

Mar 4: A business owner looks for tips on consolidating and eliminating debt. (more)

Growing your business in Denver

Mar 3: Ask FSB's experts point out local resources small business owners can tap. (more)

So you want to expand globally ...

Feb 28: An entreprenur eying a UK expansion checks in with Ask FSB for the lowdown on what to prepare. (more)

If I pay for creative work, do I own it?

Feb 28: An entrepreneur wants to know who holds rights to commissioned designs: the buyer or the artist? (more)

Starting up in a soft market

Feb 28: An entrepreneur planning to open a gift-basket business wonders if targeting business customers would cushion the effects of the economic downturn. (more)

When the housing crunch hits home

Feb 27: A custom manufacturer seeks new business opportunities to offset a housing-related slowdown. (more)

Finding new clients locally

Feb 27: Direct mail, creative partnerships and cold calling are all part of a successful marketing strategy, according to Ask FSB's experts. (more)

Getting the most out of your hourly workforce

Feb 27: A caulking business owner turns to Ask FSB for ideas on motivating foot-dragging workers. (more)

Licensing rules for an at-home business

Feb 26: Licensing is a local matter, so check your city and state regulations to determine whether your business needs a license. (more)

Can I write off my international travel?

Feb 26: A home-based travel agent checks in with Ask FSB for advice on what she can deduct. (more)

Luring prospects to your website

Feb 26: Ask FSB's experts check in with tips for marketing a specialized real-estate business. (more)

Funding sources for women and minorities

Feb 25: Direct government loans don't exist, but a host of support programs exist to help you start or grow your business. (more)