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It's fair to say that the Paycheck Protection Program's launch hasn't been perfectly smooth. The adjustment period as lenders familiarize themselves with unprecedented terms and the enormous volume of demand created a significant bottleneck. As some experts have warned, banks are prioritizing applicants with whom they have existing relationships. The systems to process all of this didn't immediately exist. After weeks of lobbying, FinTech (technology that supports banking and financial services) companies, including PayPal, Intuit, and...

13 April, 2020

In a moment of totally disrupted customer experience, marketing efforts risk coming across as not only irrelevant but downright crass. How can businesses continue to communicate with customers and share value? Focusing on mission statement and values in order to re-enforce marketing strategies is more important than ever. Information is Crucial Each customer purveying your business’s website needs to understand your hours of operation, any limitations to service and what is being done to ensure cleanliness.  Providing...

09 April, 2020

There has been a lot of confusion around how independent contractors engage with the Paycheck Protection Program.  See, for example, this letter to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin y Forbes Senior Contributor Tony Nitti delineating some vexing points. To clarify, independent  contractors are not included in an employer's PPP loan amount. "As an employer and borrower, what you pay independent contractors and 1099s does not count toward your payroll cost in calculating how much you can borrow and how...

07 April, 2020

Be careful to avoid fraud schemes, cautions New Mexico Small Business Development Center Executive Director Russel Wyrick. Information about around relief programs for small businesses is changing at a dizzying rate right now. Unfortunately, some scams are already attempting to capitalize on the confusion. In a webinar hosted today by the New Mexico Economic Development Department, Wyrick shared some tips for avoiding traps and scams. Additionally, if you've applied for an EIDL, all communications will include...

03 April, 2020

What are the relative merits of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) options? This question comes up a lot lately amidst the whirlwind of new information about business relief programs.  The infographic below, by Live Oak Bank, provides a helpful and concise comparison. Steve Mariani, President and Founder of Diamond Financial Services, shared some additional insights in a webinar hosted by the International Business Brokers Association. Key takeaways from Mariani's...

02 April, 2020

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has published concise and helpful resources to help small businesses navigate the details of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Under the Paycheck Protection Program initiative of this law, $350 billion have been allocated to help businesses stay afloat, and particularly to help businesses sustain employment. As we mentioned in last week's overview of the CAREs Act and its intended impact, these loans come with forgiveness terms...

31 March, 2020

Congress recently passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Here is a summary of provisions dealing with employee absences, especially the Emergency Paid Sick Leave and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act. These are relevant to small business owners. As we mention in our last Resource Roundup on the CARES Act economic relief package, sustaining employee headcount correlates to dollar to dollar forgiveness on relief loans. Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act: The Act is...

30 March, 2020

With the $2 trillion CARES Act economic relief package just passed in the House and President Trump expected to sign the bill into law today, small business owners will have access to new channels of support and payments. How can your business take advantage of these opportunities and be strategic during this time? U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer Neil Bradley shared insights and advice this morning in a virtual Town...

27 March, 2020

The second in our series of resource roundups is dedicated to managing remote work. Tech and Security Make sure you have the technology you need. Good internet, a dedicated phone (and reception), account access and passwords, programs – all are easy to take for granted from a work computer with saved login credentials. There are a ton of apps to help with project management, workflow, productivity, and communication. Try to get your team on the same page...

25 March, 2020

Here is the first in a series of resource roundups of helpful information. COVID-19 BUSINESS AND NON-PROFIT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Small Business Administration- Disaster Loan Assistance The Small Business Administration (SBA) is providing up to $2 million in disaster assistance low-interest loans. This funding is now available to all New Mexico small businesses. Apply online: https://disasterloan.sba.gov, call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. State of New Mexico – Help for Businesses Negatively Impacted by COVID-19 The State of New Mexico...

24 March, 2020

It has often been said that valuing companies is an art, not a science. When a buyer considers the purchase of a company, three main things are almost always considered when arriving at an offering price. Quality of the Earnings Some accountants and intermediaries are very aggressive when adding back, for example, what might be considered one-time or non-recurring expenses. A non-recurring expense could include costs like meeting some new governmental guidelines, paying for a major lawsuit,...

13 March, 2020

Business acquisitions are red hot, and all kinds of businesses are being snapped up.  Some people are under the impression that only large businesses are being acquired, but this is far from the reality of the situation.  It would surprise many to learn that so much of the “action” is, in fact, small businesses buying other small businesses. In his Forbes article, “Take Advantage of the Golden Age of Business Acquisitions,” author Christopher Hurn explores the...

05 March, 2020

When the variable of family is added to the equation of selling a business, the situation can get rather messy.  Family usually complicates everything and businesses are, of course, no exception.  Ken McCracken’s recent article “Family business: to sell or not to sell?” 6 questions to help you make the right decision,” seeks to decode the complexities so often associated with family businesses. Consider the Market  The foundation of determining whether or not now is the right...

21 February, 2020

There are plenty of benefits to purchasing an existing business, but running a successful business can become overwhelming. If you’re considering buying a small business, but don’t know if you have enough time to commit to a significant venture, then a turnkey business model might be the right fit for you. Continue reading to discover if you’re someone who should buy a turnkey service business. 3 People Who Should Consider a Turnkey Service Business Turnkey opportunities exist...

12 February, 2020

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is increasingly seen as something that companies of all sizes need to be aware of, so let’s take a closer look at a few of the finer points. There are 4 basic pillars in CSR: the community, the environment, the marketplace and the workplace.  The community pillar of CSR refers to your company’s contribution to the local community; this contribution can take a variety of forms ranging from financial support to personal...

24 January, 2020