A business, like a relationship, isn’t always meant to last a lifetime. Sometimes, the real goal is to develop something meaningful that lets you move on to something even better. Staying tied to one organization for years out of a sense of loyalty won’t necessarily be the best decision for you. Recognizing the signs that it may be time to sell your business can help you transition from one pursuit to your next big idea. The business has grown and…

When you are being investigated for fraud or may have some role in a fraudulent activity, then you should do everything you can to defend yourself. Fraud allegations are serious. They are often investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and may lead to felony charges.  In Lakewood, an Aug. 27 report discussed the fact that a local priest has been implicated in a case of fraud. Interestingly, the parish priest at St. Rafka’s is being investigated for inappropriate conduct,…

Forming a business is a big step. For many people, going it alone is too scary of a concept and, therefore, may prompt them to bring in a partner. While going into business with your best friend, peer or significant other may sound like a wonderful idea, the truth is you may not be able to count on that relationship if, and when, times get tough. Risks of Informal Business Partnerships Partnerships are the most common and most simple type…

The internet is a very valuable tool for businesses, but it can also do damage to your reputation and revenue quickly. Online brand reputation management has developed into a full-fledged industry of their own, with some companies paying outside specialist businesses hundreds or thousands of dollars to challenge or correct negative reviews and ratings they have previously received. While many people focus their reputation efforts on websites like Facebook or Yelp, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) remains a tool that…

Most business owners understand the value of patents, trademarks and other forms of intellectual property. So it likely comes as no surprise that the world’s most iconic rock songs can command some hefty licensing fees. But what if you learned that dozens of the genre’s greatest solos could be free for the taking? According to an article from Bloomberg Businessweek, that was one possible takeaway from a plagiarism case against Led Zeppelin. The rock group successfully fended off the charges…