Small Business Resources

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Trying to figure out how to keep your business afloat during this pandemic can be extremely stressful.  To ease your stress a little we have put together some resources for you to try and pump up your business.

Make it easy for customers to call you on the fly with the Click to Call tool in Google Maps. As Google’s popular “Near Me” search continues to gain traction, it’s crucial for businesses to tie in an online Click to Call option to ensure customers can reach you quickly and easily.

For reputation management and social monitoring, consider using ListenPort. This tool watches the internet for discussions and reviews of your business and alerts you right away to dissatisfied customers. Resolve complaints and issues promptly via a free SMS number to let customers know you’re attentive and you care.

Yelp for Business Owners is a good resource to help SMBs make the most of crowdsourced reviews, engage new and returning customers, and offer exclusive deals.

Hubspot’s Website Grader. Grader lets you know what you’re doing right and which areas of your site need some attention.

If your business has multiple social media accounts, you can simplify the way you manage them by using SocialOomph.

Google Keyword Planner is an oldie but goodie; it’s designed to help analyze and research keywords and optimize SEO.

Canvas to design great visuals that are the cornerstone of today’s effective digital strategies.

To make a  logo for your SMB, check out the free logo maker Spaces.

Marvel allows remote teams to work together on designs and prototypes on any platform and from any device. Marvel has Dropbox and Google Drive integration.

U.S. Small Business Administration website is a treasure trove of information for entrepreneurs of all kinds.

The free online courses at ALISON let you learn at your own pace and on your own time.

Learn finance and managerial accounting from the ground up with a series of no-cost online courses from MIT Open Courseware.

 

 

Carol A. Lawson, Esq., 28870 U.S. Hwy 19 #300, Hodusa Towers, Clearwater, FL 33761

Phone: (727) 410-2705;   email: [email protected]

 Clearwater Bankruptcy Attorney, Clearwater Bankruptcy Lawyer, Clearwater Bankruptcy, Clearwater Estate Planning Attorney,  Pinellas Estate Planning Attorney, Pinellas Probate Attorney #FileLocallyDontOverpay #ClearwaterBankruptcy #ClearwaterBankruptcyAttorney #ClearwaterEstatePlanning #ClearwaterProbate

 

 

Why You Should Not Use Legal Zoom Or DYI Programs

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Estate planning is not one size fits all, if you use these programs you may not end up with the results you desire since your individual family circumstances may differ from the ones laid out in the form document.   A one size Will or Trust definitely does NOT fit all.

That’s where we come in. Our office can help you see the blind spots in your plan and,  unlike the DYI forms, we can help you formulate a custom, effective transition plan to ensure your desired wishes are carried out in the future.

You need to build flexibility into your estate plan and review your plan at least every five years,  sooner as future circumstances and family and financial situations evolve over time.

We also recognize that all of the pre-planning in the world won’t do you any good if you are unable to legally sign your documents in the presence of the required witnesses and notary (digital execution of estate planning documents won’t become legal in Florida until at least this summer).

We are still offering live signings appointments at our office taking extra safety precautions to keep our clients and staff safe.  You will need to wear gloves and a mask for your appointment.  Also to make sure you do not have a temperature or any flu or pneumonia symptoms the day of your signing.

 

Carol A. Lawson, Esq., 28870 U.S. Hwy 19 #300, Hodusa Towers, Clearwater, FL 33761

Phone: (727) 410-2705;   email: [email protected]

 Clearwater Bankruptcy Attorney, Clearwater Bankruptcy Lawyer, Clearwater Bankruptcy, Clearwater Estate Planning Attorney,  Pinellas Estate Planning Attorney, Pinellas Probate Attorney #FileLocallyDontOverpay #ClearwaterBankruptcy #ClearwaterBankruptcyAttorney #ClearwaterEstatePlanning #ClearwaterProbate

Thank You Corona Virus ! !

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So if you are anything like me the  Corona Virus has shut down your business, or stopped your income and your wondering, what the hell do I do now to pay my bills??

This post is to explore several options that may be available to you.

  1. SBA Loan for Women.   Minimum 620 credit score, no bankruptcies, no foreclosures, no defaulted student loans, no defaulted federal loans of any kind. https://www.fundingcircle.com/us/resources/small-business-loans-for-women/   https://www.sba.gov/size-standards/?ms=nid4788 If you can meat the requirements $25k- $500K they also want collateral like your personal residence. Basically not user friendly at all. For women-owned business loans under $25,000, either 7(a) or Express, no collateral is required.  A personal guarantee is required. Other SBA loan programs https://www.fundingcircle.com/us/resources/sba-loans/ most programs like credit scores of 700 or above. https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options 
  2. Bank Loan.    This type takes into consideration your debt to income ratio and your credit score.
  3. Unemployment.    Yes even if you are self-employed you can now apply under the Department of Labor’s Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program,  make sure you mark the reason as COVID-19. If you are applying in Florida do it at 2 am. Trust me, it took me 15 hours to figure this out, the damn site crashes continuously at normal hours.  connectmyflorida.com   
    UPDATE : They are now shutting down the website at 8pm every night and it is not accessible to 7 am the next day.  Also, they seem to be shutting it down on weekends.
    UPDATE:  You must  file a separate pandemic claim if you are self -employed, and send your 10999, and tax return within 21  days of filing it to  FLDEO.
  4. Stimulus Check.   A one time check $1,200 if you earn up to $99,999, and $500 for each child 16 and under. If you are on social security or disability and don’t file taxes you still should be getting a check.
  5.  Small Business Loan.    There are multiple programs available.  https://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/023595_comm_corona_virus_smallbiz_loan_final.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0Ezms22WuTWHvJLRoaSWvRUgwo7MYfOCrHG7q0ds18P5cpMTAnyiM_lFA%F0%9D%97%A3%F0%9D%97%A3%F0%9D%97%A3
  6. County and City Programs.  Some Cities and Counties have established programs to help their local small businesses. Tampa is one such city.

 

 

Carol A. Lawson, Esq., 28870 U.S. Hwy 19 #300, Hodusa Towers, Clearwater, FL 33761

Phone: (727) 410-2705;   email: [email protected]

 Clearwater Bankruptcy Attorney, Clearwater Bankruptcy Lawyer, Clearwater Bankruptcy, Clearwater Estate Planning Attorney,  Pinellas Estate Planning Attorney, Pinellas Probate Attorney #FileLocallyDontOverpay #ClearwaterBankruptcy #ClearwaterBankruptcyAttorney #ClearwaterEstatePlanning #ClearwaterProbate