Disaster Recovery Planning It sounds a bit melodramatic, but disasters come in many forms, but all of them can be terminal for a small business or start-up. A brief glance at any newspaper will show that ‘disasters’ of one kind or another are more or less the norm today. In any case, for a start-up or any small business, a ‘disaster’ doesn’t have to be very big to be very disastrous.

The Normal Insurance, if you have contracted it, will indemnify you for physical damages or injuries, but unless you contract specific insurance, it will not indemnify you for the ‘Consequential loss’ defined by Investopedia ace

The amount of loss incurred as a result of not being able to use business property or equipment. If property or equipment is damaged due to a natural disaster or accident, only certain types of insurance can cover the owner for loss of business income.

‘direct damage’ They are covered by different types of insurance, such as property/casual or fire insurance, but when your business is closed for days, weeks, or months while you fight to get everything back up and running, all the while you are spending money and losing income.

Just sit at your desk and see how little you would have to ‘miss’ to stop your business: your journal, your address book, your laptop, your server.

And what happens if you or a key worker gets sick? Can your business continue to operate?

And if you lose your data, it may not even be possible to “go back to square one” unless you have an effective Disaster Recovery Plan, ideally in writing, in place. Even small setbacks can stop your business.

When you set up your new business, you typically have little time and even less money to assess the impact of critical incidents, let alone plan how to respond to and recover from them. However, it is essential that you have some type of disaster recovery plan, sometimes known as business continuity, on hand.

As a generality, this plan needs two main axes:

Operational

• Can your business work if you are disabled?
• Is there equipment without which your business would stop?
• Who among your staff are key to the operation of your business?

and you.

• Could the unavailability of a piece of equipment or location mean the loss or inaccessibility of your key data?
• Is there someone within your organization besides you who knows how to access your data?

This list is not intended to be exhaustive. Every business is unique and each will have its own list of risks. At a minimum, you must define the critical areas, people, equipment, and data in your organization and protect them.

By definition, employee empowerment is giving your staff the freedom to make decisions without the authority of a manager, after they have received proper training. Make no mistake, giving up responsibility to employees because you’re too busy, too lazy, or too important to do it yourself isn’t empowering—that’s what we call dumping.

While true employee empowerment carries many valuable benefits, few leaders use it as a means to raise the bar and drive excellence within their team. So why don’t managers empower their employees? Well, there are four fundamental reasons:

they are too busy. Too often, managers are so involved in “doing the job”who lose sight of the fact that they may very well have a team of talented employees who can perform those tasks with just a little training and direction – freeing him to be the visionary leader he was hired to be.

They think it takes too long.Many managers feel that in the time it takes to train an employee on a new task, they could have done very well themselves. Unfortunately, this is short thinking because your employees “never learn to fish” in this way, and they must continually interrupt them for petty matters that they should be able to solve on their own.

They think it’s too risky. Some managers fear that their employees will make costly mistakes; in essence, these managers are unwilling and afraid to take the risk. They don’t want to suffer the consequences of a poorly executed decision, even if it is a valuable learning experience for the employee.

They are secretly bullied.. Some managers question, “What if the employee makes a decision that makes him seem smarter than me?” These types of managers don’t want to wake up any movers and shakers within the department; therefore, mediocre or marginal performance from employees is okay, and it’s the most they get out of the team.

So if you’ve noticed that your boss rarely empowers you to make decisions or delegates challenging tasks to you, there may be an underlying reason. On the other hand, if you’re the boss who rarely empowers staff to handle routine problems within the department, you might identify with our top four reasons above.

In short, creating and maintaining a culture of excellence cannot be accomplished without fully engaged employees who feel they are part of the organization and who are truly valuable contributors to the organization’s success. For training tips and strategies on how to properly empower your team, delegate new tasks effectively, and win back your valuable time, check out some best practices posted on my website.

In Part I in this series, we discussed the state of Medicaid and the EPSDT — the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment benefit — which covers most American children with disabilities from birth until 19 (21 in some states) years of age. Since 1989, EPSDT has required each state in the Union to provide each child with “all medically necessary services” that were available under the federal government’s Medicaid program, even if that state did not offer that service to adults. This coverage is broad enough to dwarf most private insurance.

What is ‘Medically Necessary’?

One important difference is that most states adopt a definition of “medically necessary” that only includes those services that “improve or eliminate a condition,” at least for adults. But the EPSDT definition includes services that “correct or ameliorate defects and physical and mental diseases and conditions.” It may not sound like a huge difference, but it is huge.

This is because ‘correct or improve’ includes services that stabilize someone who is medically unstable (ie, vital signs are not consistently within the defined safe range). So if he is 20 years and 262 days old and his epilepsy lands him in the hospital because he hurt himself badly, EPSDT kicks in and all the services needed to stabilize him are paid for. If you’re 21 at seven hours when you land in the hospital, that (usually pretty massive) bill is sent to your parents’ insurance, and all of a sudden, significant copays and deductions apply.

Similarly, ‘correct or improve’ includes services that maintain function in someone that would not normally function without specific ongoing intervention. (Maintenance is not ‘improve or remove’). By far the most common example is ADHD medication, which is covered under EPSDT up to age 21 and thereafter, depending on your precise prescription, the cost can go up to $300 per month with no assistance available regardless of your tier from income.

A state of exposure

States have fairly wide discretion when it comes to designing the benefit packages they offer to adults enrolled in Medicaid. They are required to provide coverage for a specific list of services, including (but not limited to):

• The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) program,

• Inpatient and outpatient hospital care,

• Medical services,

• Use of the Health Center, Rural Health Clinic and Nursing Home,

• Services of Nurse Midwife, Certified Pediatric and Family Care Nurse and Independent Maternity Center,

• Use of laboratory and X-rays, and

• Transportation services (only for medical reasons).

This means they are not required to provide Medicaid programs that cover:

• Prescription drugs,

• Clinical services (ie any non-hospital medical facility),

• Therapy services, including physical, occupational, behavioral, etc.

• Dental, vision, speech, hearing and language services,

• Respiratory care,

• Podiatry,

• Prosthetics, and

• Private duty nursing services.

As you can see, if you’re an adult with Medicaid, you may be very well cared for if you live in the right state…or you may be almost completely without coverage for the services you use most, even if your state agreed to Medicaid expansion. . Remember in the first post in the series we mentioned that the majority of children using EPSDT used it for developmental, mental, or emotional disabilities? Do you notice that they all fall under the “optional” services under this heading? We’ll talk about what this means in more detail in the next post.

As a lawyer, I am often asked by newcomers to riding lessons what a buyer’s legal rights are when purchasing a horse. You are governed by contract law as defined in your state. It is imperative to have a contract in writing so that your agreement is less ambiguous and easier to define.

Generally speaking, and one of the most important riding lessons is that the buyer buys a horse “AS IS”, which means that you, the buyer, have a duty to examine the horse prior to purchase. Any unrecognized defects found after purchase are not grounds for action to sue the seller. It really is a “buyer beware” situation!

Of course, any agreement may change the “as is” nature of the transaction. You can include in your purchase contract, for example, that the horse is 8 years old and suitable for a child to ride. If you later find out that the horse is 15 years old and was used by the seller like in gymkhana events, you may very well have a cause of action against the seller!

1. The more you can get in writing, the better. At a minimum, you should expect to receive a bill of sale identifying the horse with its name, age, breed, color, sex, and any other identifying traits that distinguish it from another horse. If any of those elements of the contract are later found to be untrue, you may have a cause of action if the breach is material. For example, if the horse is said to be 6 years old and is actually 5 years old, you may not be harmed in the eyes of the law. If the horse is said to be 6 years old and is actually 18, you would be at a loss because you are buying a horse whose lifespan is significantly less than you expected.

2. If you can prove (that’s the hard part) that the seller committed fraud, you can beat a written contract just like other civil contract cases. However, fraud is difficult to prove because it requires you to show that the seller made an intentional misrepresentation designed to get you to buy the horse. For example, if the seller knows that the horse has navicular disease, but tells the buyer that he is completely healthy, the buyer has a cause of action if he can prove that the seller was aware of that fact.

3. In addition to the written contract, also look at the advertisement the seller has posted. The ad could contain specific statements that could be construed as part of the deal. For example, a buyer who bought a horse advertised as “no vices” could probably successfully sue the seller if, immediately after purchase, the horse turns out to be a lousy sieve. Even if the contract says you’re buying the horse “as is,” the written notice would probably still give the buyer recourse.

4. If the seller has a specific higher duty for you, then you too can appeal. If the seller was also your instructor, they have an affirmative duty to help you purchase the correct horse beyond the seller’s normal contractual obligations.

5. Determine if the seller is subject to the UCC? The Uniform Commercial Code governs the sales of goods by “merchants.” In the horse business, a trader would be someone who earns a regular income from horse transactions, such as breeders and stock agents. If the UCC applies, then the transaction will come with two implied warranties: merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. This will mean that regardless of the contract, the horse must be reasonably sound and sound, as well as fit for the buyer’s purpose. These can only be excepted if this is done in writing in the contract. So, look up that language!

Do not lose your head when buying a horse. This is the first riding lesson that everyone should learn! Think things through and get it all in writing!

For more information on contracts, visit http://www.horsebacklessonsguide.com or http://www.equestrianriderguide.com

If your debts are too high but pride prevents you from seeking protection under Chapter 7 bankruptcy, then Chapter 13 may be the option for you. While Chapter 7 allows you to start fresh, Chapter 13 is a court-supervised repayment plan. If you fall into an income category or are currently unemployed, the court will also allow you to pay only a portion of the total medical debt. Most people who file for Chapter 13 have much higher income than Chapter 7 allows.

The repayment period under Chapter 13 bankruptcy is around 3 to 5 years. One advantage is that you get to keep your non-exempt property, which would have been sold to pay off creditors under Chapter 7 procedures. People who file for Chapter 13 have one thing in common:

• They want to pay their medical bills, but their current situation doesn’t allow them to do so.
• Because of their medical bills, they are behind on their mortgage or car loan payments.
• You already filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy last year or seven years ago. You can only renew a Chapter 7 petition after eight years.

There are other requirements for filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy medical bills, but an attorney will be better able to explain the limitations and benefits of the procedure. For example, you can’t file Chapter 13 if your debts have already been paid off more than two years ago. Filing bankruptcy medical bills also does not automatically eliminate taxes, alimony, child or spousal support, student loans, or criminal and civil liabilities.

It is important that you consider all of your options and reflect on the advantages and disadvantages of filing for Chapter 13 or Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Do not rush into a decision without first consulting your family, friends, co-workers, and attorneys. Remember, you will end up dealing with the consequences of your actions, so no matter how valuable your advice is, the decision whether or not to file for bankruptcy is ultimately up to you.

Linda Katz sells tumbleweeds. You read well. Tumbleweeds. Dry, dead, brown tumbleweeds.

Linda sells tumbleweeds online and she sells a lot. Last year alone, she sold more than $40,000 worth of tumbleweeds, all from the comfort of her rural Kansas home. Who the hell buys tumbleweeds?

Ralph Lauren, for example. And Pottery Barn. Both companies have used Linda’s tumbleweeds in store windows. A couple of major Hollywood studios get their tumbleweeds from Linda Katz. Miramax played her tumbleweed opposite Johnny Depp in “Finding Neverland.” They have also appeared on “Barney & Friends.”

NASA is a big fan. In fact, the US federal government is its main customer. When they were designing and testing their “Tumbleweed Rover”, NASA purchased all of their tumbleweeds exclusively from Linda Katz.

He has clients in Paris, Dubai and Japan. Selling tumbleweeds to an international clientele and earning enough money to support herself and her family is an incredible achievement. But it’s not the most incredible part of Linda’s story. The really amazing thing about Linda’s success is that it happened completely by accident! Linda never planned to become the world’s largest provider of tumbleweeds. It was a complete fluke!

Like many people, Linda understood the importance and power of the Internet. At first, she saw it as an exciting way to keep in touch with her loved ones, and she wanted to create a “family website.” So she Linda took a class to learn how to design websites. As part of an assignment, she created a mock website for a make-believe business called “Prairie Tumbleweed Farms”, where she offered “small, medium and large Tumbleweeds”. It was a fictional business that was supposed to help her learn a new skill. She created a website for her fantasy farm, posted some photos of tumbleweeds rolling in her front yard, wrote some mock product descriptions, and set up an online shopping cart to process credit cards. It was all just for fun… until she started taking orders. Lots of orders! An average of about 15 orders per week to start.

Now, 14 years later, Linda’s online business generates more annual revenue than the average nine-to-five worker. She never leaves the house and her store is open 24 hours. Anyone in the world can browse your inventory and place an order. Scientists, horticulturists, NASA engineers, and Wild West enthusiasts can point and click. The money they spend is deposited directly into their bank account. Every time an order comes through her website, she walks out the front door, grabs a large dried tumbleweed, puts it in a box, and waits for the UPS truck to arrive. (They come directly to her house to pick up the packages.)

Today, Prairie Tumbleweed Farms employs many of Linda’s relatives, who share in the profits. And the whole remarkable affair was completely unintentional.

If Linda Katz can sell $40,000 worth of dead, dry, crusty brown tumbleweeds strictly by accident, imagine what she could sell if she really tried.

The Illinois State Agency that oversees the collection and reporting of state income taxes deducted from payroll checks is:

revenue Department

101 W.Jefferson St.

post office box 19022

Springfield, IL 62794-9022

(217) 785-0970

(800) 732-8866 (in-state)

http://www.revenue.state.il.us

Illinois requires that you use the Illinois form “IL-W-4, Illinois Employee Withholding Allowance Certificate” instead of a federal form W-4 for Illinois state income tax withholding.

Not all states allow wage reductions made under Section 125 or 401(k) cafeteria plans to be treated in the same manner as the IRS code allows. In Illinois, cafeteria plans: are not taxed for income tax purposes; not taxable for unemployment insurance purposes if used to purchase medical life insurance. 401(k) plan deferrals are: not subject to income tax; taxable for unemployment purposes.

In Illinois, supplemental wages are taxed at a flat rate of 3.0%.

You must file your Illinois State W-2s by magnetic media if you have at least 250 employees and you must file your Federal W-2s by magnetic media.

The Illinois State Unemployment Insurance Agency is:

Labor Safety Department

401 S. State St.

Chicago, IL 60605-1289

(312) 793-5700

http://www.ides.state.il.us/

The state of Illinois taxable wage base for unemployment purposes is wages up to $9,800.00.

Illinois requires quarterly wage report magnetic media to be reported if the employer has at least 250 employees reporting that quarter.

Unemployment records must be kept in Illinois for a minimum period of five years. This information generally includes: name; Social Security number; hire, retirement and termination dates; salaries per period; payroll periods and pay dates; date and circumstances of termination.

The Illinois State Agency charged with enforcing state wage and hour laws is:

work Department

Labor Law Compliance

160 North LaSalle, Ste. C1300

Chicago, IL 60601

(312) 793-2800

[http://www.state.il.us/agency/idol/]

The minimum wage in Illinois is $6.50 per hour.

The general provision in Illinois regarding overtime pay at a non-FLSA covered employer is one and one-half times the regular rate after a 40-hour week.

The State of Illinois new hire reporting requirements are that every employer must report every new hire and rehire. The employer must report the elements required by the federal government of:

• Name of the employee
• employee address
• Employee Social Security Number
• Name of the employee
• employee address
• Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) of the employer

This information must be reported within 20 days of hiring or rehiring.
Information can be submitted as a W4 or equivalent by mail, fax, or electronically.
There is a $15,$500 fine for a late report in Illinois.

You can contact the Illinois New Hire Reporting Agency by calling 800-327-4473 or on the web at [http://www.ides.state.il.us/employer/newhire/general.htm]

Illinois does not allow mandatory direct deposit

Illinois requires the following information on an employee’s pay stub:

Illinois requires that the employee be paid no less frequently than twice a month; monthly for FLSA-exempt employees; union contract can provide different intervals.

Illinois requires that the time lapse between the end of the pay period and the payment of wages to the employee shall not exceed 13 biweekly days; weekly-7 days; monthly-21 days; daily-1 day.

Illinois payroll law requires that involuntarily terminated employees be paid their final pay immediately if possible, otherwise by the next regular payday; next regular payday if furloughed due to labor dispute or laid off and voluntarily laid off employees should be paid immediately if possible; otherwise, by the next regular payday.

The deceased employee’s unpaid wages must be paid when normally owed to the person owed for funeral expenses, spouse, or child after a small inheritance affidavit; Inheritance not greater than $15,000.

Rollback laws in Illinois require that unclaimed wages be paid to the state after five years.

In addition, Illinois requires the employer to keep a record of wages abandoned and turned over to the state for a period of 5 years.

Illinois payroll law requires that no more than 40% of the minimum wage may be used as a tip credit.

In Illinois, payroll laws covering mandatory breaks or meal breaks state that employees must have 20 minutes during the first 5 hours of a 7 1/2 hour shift.

Alabama statute requires wage and hour records to be maintained for a period of not less than five years. These records will normally consist of at least the information required under the FLSA.

The Illinois agency charged with enforcing child support laws and orders is:

Child Support Enforcement Division

Department of Public Aid

509 S. 6th Street

Springfield, IL 62701

(800) 447-4278

[http://ilchildsupport-employer.com/Default.aspx]

Illinois has the following provisions for child support deductions:

• When to start retention? 14 business days after the withholding order is sent to the employer.
• When to send the payment? Within 7 days of payment day.
• When to send a termination notice? “Promptly.”
• Maximum administrative fee? $5 per payment.
• Withholding limits? Federal Rules under CCPA.

Please note that this article is not updated for changes that can and will occur from time to time.

It’s not the easiest thing in the world for a new business to get the money it needs to get started. New business loans can be difficult to obtain unless you have excellent credit and a good plan. If you can get approved, you’ll get the income you need for working capital, equipment, supplies, machinery, inventory, advertising, or maybe even for real estate construction or commercial building rentals.

One thing that many lenders expect you to do is determine your personal wealth. How much of that will you be able to bring to the table? Lenders tend to require that you be able to put up between 20% and 40% of the total amount of the loan you are applying for.

In the 21st century, there are many more options available for business start-ups than the traditional loan from a bank. However, before applying for any type of financing, you must demonstrate that your business qualifies as a small business. Small businesses are generally measured by factors such as number of employees, number of years (less than 2) in operation, number of employees, revenue generated, types of assets and their value, revenue, etc. Most traditional lenders require you to put up collateral and a guarantee that you will pay.

Your credit score and new business loans

If your personal credit score is very high, you may want to get a credit card to use for your business. The line of credit may not be enough to cover everything you need, but it’s a good start. There is no rule that says you must get all your funds from one source. There are a variety of microloans you may qualify for, such as those offered by the SBA and other non-profit organizations. These types of new business loans can be used to purchase inventory/supplies, furniture, working capital, etc.

When it comes to alternative start-up financing options, like grants and crowdfunding, you’ll want to focus more on our business model than your credit score. These types of financing are worth considering if you have bad credit. However, to impress crowdfunders, grantmaking organizations, angel investors, etc., you’ll really need to come up with a great message and marketing campaign.

Once you get all your documentation, files, financial records, financial plan, etc. together, you can start looking for new business loans at US Business Funding. This organization has 95% approval rates and offers flexible payment terms and options.

Starting a company can be daunting, especially considering all the complexities surrounding taxes, intellectual property, partnership agreements, and more. At the start of a company, founding members typically focus solely on bringing their product or service to market. While this focus is important, it is also wise to focus on the long-term strategy and protect yourself from adverse legal action or consequences. Here are three ways that hiring a business lawyer in the early stages can help safeguard the future of your start-up.

1. Establish the best legal entity

When you are establishing your corporation, an attorney will guide you through the various legal entity options, including incorporation. Incorporating your company separates your personal finances from your business and protects you from having to personally assume responsibility for the company’s debts. An experienced business attorney will advise you on whether to establish as a sole proprietorship, limited liability corporation, or limited liability partnership. A lawyer will help you choose the entity that is best for you in the long run, so you don’t have to change it in the future and incur additional hassle and expense. Discussing your specific situation with a legal expert will allow you to assess your finances and future goals and help you make the right decision about incorporating.

2. Protection of vital intellectual property

Establishing security measures to protect your intellectual property is essential to the success of your business. Intellectual property is generally defined as unique items created by you that will provide a financial benefit. Intellectual property includes trademarks, copyrights, and patents on your original works, designs, and inventions. A lawyer will help you establish proper intellectual property security so that you can avoid costly litigation in the future. For example, you can protect your logo or mark by having your trade attorney register them as a trademark with the US Patent and Trademark Office. Also, if a competitor copies your logo or mark, your legal counsel can send a letter cease and desist and immediately stop any further damage to your trademark. Cutting corners on intellectual property at the start of your business and failing to get proper protection could cause irreparable damage to your brand down the road.

3. Review of complex legal documents

Starting a business usually involves dealing with large amounts of paperwork. Having a lawyer work with you in the initiation phase helps ensure that all documents, both created and received by you, are correct and ensures that all of your interests are covered. Typical documents dealt with in the initial phases are contracts, insurance policies and partnership agreements. A partnership agreement can be particularly important when addressing common issues among founders of new companies, such as division of responsibilities, division of shares, and profit sharing. Although there are many generic business contracts on the Internet, an advocate focused on your circumstances will ensure that the documents you use provide the unique protections necessary for your specific situation.

You may have started with an amazing idea and a strong chance of success, but without the right advice, your startup could be on a straight course of stress and onerous expense. Consulting with an experienced business attorney will help secure your business and avoid costly litigation in the future.

What is AshMax?

AshMax is a business opportunity created by Ash Musharef, by combining two other successful multi-level marketing companies in their own right: GDI, a website hosting company, and FTS, a rebate program provider.

GDI and FTS products:

1. GDI (Global Domain International), a domain registration and website hosting company, is a fast growing network marketing company based in California. Today almost everyone needs a website, be it for personal or professional reasons. That fact alone makes this home business idea marketable and attractive.

2. FTS (Freeway to Success), an online home business opportunity that offers discounts to a variety of stores. For example, at $10, FTS offers a $25 gift certificate toward a meal at participating restaurants. With the high price of eating out, everyone is looking for ways to save. Other products include how-to guides, e-books, and kits.

The opportunity:

The products make this work at home business opportunity from AshMax very exciting. It is the perfect online business because it attracts a worldwide audience. No inventory needed. All work at home business can be done online. Plus, it has one of the cheapest startup investments, at $25 to get started and $15 per month.

the compensation plan:

The AshMax compensation plan is based on a 5×5 matrix structure. Each participant sponsors at least 5 people in AshMax. The matrix fills 3,905 people, generating $22,300 each month for the subscriber. Some will say, too good to be true. I understand. I really do, because I said so too. But hello! The investment is ONLY $15 a month, for one of the best businesses from home.

The challenge:

Consider the 20-day challenge this time: Each subscriber has 20 days to sign up 5 new subscribers. He will then retire, earning $22,300 a month. He/she can recruit online or by talking to her/his friends and family. After 20 days, if not successful. He/She is removed from the AshMax database and loses his/her account. Financially, you would lose $30 ($20 with GDI and $10 with FTS).

One challenge that has arisen with business flow is the ability to sustain the rapid growth of the business. Some technical problems were voiced by subscribers frustrated with the handling of the flow of adherents. AshMax leadership recently promised relief with a general update to their website.

my opinion:

Over the years I have only been involved in a few (3) network marketing companies. I make sure to choose the top of the line. One of my criteria for choosing a network marketing company is: the opportunity can be carried out entirely online. I want to serve a larger market than my friends and family. The AshMax business opportunity fits that mold, making it very attractive. To put my money where my mouth is, I’m taking the 20 day challenge. And I will keep you informed… To follow in 3 weeks.