A day of inspiration...of the business kind

by Heather Gurewitz

Mendocino Women's Business Center Director

Sometimes we go through our routines (no matter how un-routine they may be) and things just seem stagnant.  And then there are days of inspiration...

Like when you see a client make a huge leap in their business development, launching their website, online store, and making sales! Such is the case with Delphine Davidson of Days Pharm.  She came to me with her product, Ultra Pure Breast Cream, and although we had some shaky moments I have seen her follow through with her plan, launch her business, and start selling her very unique product. Something that is always inspiring to the business consultant. (read more about Delphine in our client spotlight)

And then there are the youth at Shelter Cove. While I wish I could say I knew from the beginning that it was going to be a wild success, it has been a difficult project.  While we planned well and had great help from Matson's Building Materials and design help from Wheeler Munroe, I have to say I was really nervous until Ray, our dedicated volunteer showed up to help us.  While I wasn't surprised, I was more impressed that the students were able to pull together and complete the construction of a dog house in a day, yes, there is still work to do, but the day was a major accomplishment, and extremely inspiring.  Oh, and of course we still have two more dog houses to sell.  You can order on their website.

Everyone's work can be stressful, but on days when the magic happens and all that hard work actually pays off, it is all worthwhile!

Pseudo-phone numbers, a Must for Start-Ups?

by Heather Gurewitz
Mendocino Women's Business Center Director
As more people are looking toward starting a business and self employment, there are some conflicts of interest that come up. For example, for professionalism as well as personal safety you want to have a separate business line, something different from your personal number or your house phone. However, a new business line can be expensive to set up, cost prohibitive in most cases, and in many ways less efficient. Yet, especially for women entrepreneurs, having a published personal number is not desirable, especially if you plan to have flyers pasted all over town. So, how do you maintain personal safety and privacy and a high level of professionalism? Technology to the rescue! Both Google and Skype are offering FREE "phone numbers" that you can link to your existing telephones. While I am not as familiar with the Skype version, with Google it is very simple. You set up your Google voice number so that it rings your home, cell, and/or other number choice. The best part is, if you have caller ID, you can have your Google number show up when calls come through so you know how to answer. And, if you decide a year down the road to get a business line in your new building, you don't need to necessarily change your number. You can just forward it to the new business line. Did I mention this was free?

If you are starting a business, there are a number of free online tools to check out. These are great ways to make your start-up experience more seamless and reduce those hefty expenses. For more on starting a business take our Building a Better Business series!

QR Codes: Post Purchase Power?

by Heather Gurewitz


Mendocino Women's Business Center Director

I recently noticed a QR code on the inside of my phone bill, inside the container of my commercially grown strawberries, and on some other products for post-purchase clicking. So, is there value to post purchase QR codes? I think there may be...

One of the fundamental questions I always tell my clients to ask themselves is: "Are you making it as easy and convenient as possible for people to give you their money?" If the answer is not yes, the next question is: "How can you make it easier?"

If you are sending someone an invoice with "due on receipt", it probably still goes into a pile with other bills that are due on receipt and require the writing of a check. Even if you have a "pay on-line" option, that person still has to go find your online payment system, probably set up an account and make the payment. However, if you generate a QR code (which takes about 15 seconds) to put on every bill you send out that takes people directly to their balance due with the option to pay immediately with a credit card, paypal, or even checking account, imagine the possibilities.

Your client, instead of putting the bill in the stack, clicks on the QR code which takes them to your online PayPal, Google Checkout, or other merchant account, and allows them to pay immediately via their smart phone. I wish I could offer a guarantee that this would work, but hey, it's the world of business so instead we have to review risk versus potential outcome. So, what do you risk? 15 seconds of time making a QR code and maybe another 30 pasting it into the proper spot on the invoice. What's the reward? A faster turnover of accounts receivable means more available cash for the business, resulting in you sleeping better at night because you don't have to worry about your rent check bouncing.

While I still agree that QR codes are imperfect, as mobile technology grows, so does the market. In our recent survey most people said the cost was prohibitive, but as the efficiency, applicability, and access to the technology grows, more and more people are going to be using it, especially those with purchase power. So, if they have the power, let them purchase! Make it easier for people to give you their money. It's good for your business.

Running Rivers and Businesses, Keys to Success

by Heather Gurewitz
Mendocino Women's Business Center Director

If you've worked with me, you probably know I love kayaking. After spending four and a half intensive days on the American River in a whitewater kayak I learned a lot about how to be a good paddler which also applies to being a successful business owner:

1. Scouting... From the water, a rapid may look like just fun moving water, but if you take the time to pull off the river, get out and have a look, you may find there are dangerous spots you want to avoid, and some fun spots you want to go through. Even if you don't get to get out, you want to plan your path. In the business world, we call this business planning. Take the time to step out of your work and plan where you want it to go before you get there. It can save you a lot of grief in the future.

2. The set up... When you are going into the rapids you have to set up early, get your speed, angle, and edge right, and commit to your route. If you go in right it is much easier to have a fun ride and a lot less work. When you start your business, make sure that you are positioned for a successful experience. Not having enough capital, lacking key skills, or starting at the wrong time of year can ruin the business before it even gets started. Even if you do, sometimes the river takes you somewhere you didn't intend to go. Or what you thought was the right speed, angle, and edge, turns out not to be.

3. Always be ready to correct... Sometimes you miss, and the next thing you know, the world is 180° in the wrong direction. What do you do? First off, DON'T PANIC! If you're facing upriver and you should be facing down river, one powerful stroke in the right direction can set you back on course, and if you are 180° upside down, some powerful hip action and a good torso rotation can get you back upright. If you panic, you will probably end up swimming, which leaves you in a much higher risk position. When you are off course, it doesn't matter if it was the boat, a rock, an eddy, or just exhaustion. The key is to assess your current situation and as my coach, Jeff Laxier says, "Fix the problem." When you are safely upright and cruising down stream you can go back and analyze the situation.

4. Have the skills you need before you get there... When you are upside down in a kayak, instinctually, you want to lift your head out of the water first so you can take a breath and pull on your paddle to lift your body out of the water. Unfortunately, it is pretty much  impossible to roll your boat up that way. I've spent a year and a half learning how to roll. It has taken time, commitment, and a LOT of practice and it has been a challenge. If you are in business, choosing the wrong corrective action could make a bad situation much worse. West Company offers many affordable classes to help you expand your knowledge so that you can properly assess situations and make good decisions.

5. Now, I talk to people who learned how to kayak by getting in a boat and going down river. They have some interesting stories. I chose to take classes from professionals who have taught me how to have fun and be safe on the river. The truth is, anyone can get in a boat and go down stream, BUT, not everyone makes it to the take out with their boat, paddle, and body intact. Same with business, anyone can get licenses and permits and open a business, but starting a successful business, that is a whole different story and the main reason West Company exists. Through the Small Business Development Center and the Women's Business Center programs, West Company offers classes and free one-on-one consulting to help you acquire the skills and knowledge you need to become a successful business owner. For more information, visit our website.

QR Codes: Trash or Treasure?

by Heather Gurewitz
Mendocino Women's Business Center Director

Recently, we had a workshop about marketing to people with mobile technology and in particular QR Codes. Since then, a number of people have been so kind as to share articles with me critiquing QR code technology and questioning their value. Are QR codes a passing fad or the new Facebook? Now, no one can tell the future, but here's my personal opinion on the future for QR Codes.

I will definitely admit that QR Codes are not perfect as is the case with any technology, but note that never stopped anyone from using Microsoft products. So, yes, I believe that the technology will change and mature, but this kind of mobile technology is the future of marketing and of great value to local businesses, and here's why:

Imagine two bowls, side by side on a shelf. One is priced $49.99 and the other $99.99. The bowls look the same, and based on price, the decision is easy right? The consumer flips the bowls over, the $49.99 bowl says "made in China" on the bottom and the other bowl has a signature of an artist. Well, maybe that starts to account for the price difference, but, in today's economy where people are concerned about spending, is it enough? Now, imagine the artist's bowl has a tag with a QR code, the consumer whips out their iphone/android and clicks on the QR code which takes them to a 1 minute youtube video that shows the creation of the bowl and the artist talking about the significance of the piece. In one FREE postage stamp sized square and a click, the consumer has made a direct audio visual connection with the artist and now understands the significance of the piece and the work that went into it. Suddenly the $49.99 bowl is a cheap knock-off made in China and there is no denying it.

Stay tuned for the next blog on how to effectively use a QR code. Did I mention that they are free and really easy to make?

To learn more about QR Codes, join us for "Marketing 2 Mobile" with Matt Brown in Ukiah on July 19th from 4:00-5:15.  Register here!

The Silence of the Blog

by Heather Gurewitz
Mendocino Women's Business Center Director

Given the number of workshops, consulting, and new programs we have been delivering, our blog has been somewhat on vacation. But, if I were one of my clients, I would tell myself, "You can't let your blog rest! It has to be working for you 24/7. Just put something short up, anything that is valuable and interesting, it doesn't have to be a full blog." And yet, with all the excitement around here, it seems to have fallen through the cracks.


Now I could offer some useful tips on how to make sure you get your blog done in busy times, but then, that would seem pretty hypocritical. However, looking back, I ask myself, "Am I really stressed about the more-than-month long silence of the blog?" No, and here's why:

The purpose of our blog is to share information and continue to develop West Company's reputation as a resource for micro and small businesses in Mendocino County. While our blog is an important part of that strategy, it is part of a whole mix of things that we do, including the actual "pedal to the metal" consulting and training. What really makes West Company a valuable resource isn't my half hour words of wisdom, but rather the work we do with clients. And we have been busy with all kinds of great events. We've been offering our "Building a Better Business" workshop series both on the coast and in Ukiah and we've been bringing in some experts to help those in business to expand their existing knowledge so they can keep up. So, while the silence of the blog has been nagging at me, it is more important to focus on the work that is going to get you closer to reaching your goals.

Developing Discipline

by Hannah Alexander, Administrative Support

A recent article on elephantjournal.com asks: When Did Discipline Become a Bad Word? When, indeed? A timely question when tiger mothers are making headlines alongside entrepreneurs.


Nationally, interest in small business has increased of late, which means that one can find entire sections of newspapers devoted to “Entrepreneurship” and “Small Business”, while in other parts of the newspaper fierce debate rages over how much discipline a parents exercise with their children. These two issues have a common thread: Discipline. Like it or not, discipline is necessary in both parenting and running a business.

Self-discipline is a key skill for entrepreneurs. Not in the beating-with-a-stick sense, but in the sense that you can make yourself work on your business plan when it’s a beautiful day outside, or refrain from buying billboard advertising when you really need Yellow Pages advertising.

When running a business, even when in the exploratory stages of starting an enterprise, the discipline it takes to honor commitments, combined with the ability to complete your least-favorite tasks in as timely a fashion as your favorite tasks, will serve you very well, long into the future.

You can explore what skills and talents you need to be a successful business owner with West Company in the Building a Better Business series of workshops happening now through June 2nd in Fort Bragg, running May 27th through July 28th in Ukiah. For more information call 969-7571, or, you can register online here for Fort Bragg, click here to register for Ukiah.

"Marketing Expert to Present in Fort Bragg"

By Heather Gurewitz

Women's Business Center Director
West Company

I wish I could say that our economy is going to magically going to recover, but as I tell my clients, I don't have a magic wand and I don't have a crystal ball, so I can't guarantee anything. Yes, things have been tough lately and somewhat depressing, but as a business owner, it is critical to your success to think positively about the future and position your business so that you are the master of your market niche. No, there are no guarantees, but, if you don't plan for success you are guaranteeing failure. True, people are saving right now, and also true that our economy is in a major shift, but there is a tomorrow, and the one thing you as a business owner cannot afford is not to be ready for what's coming.

West Company's purpose is to help businesses grow and expand to create jobs and create strength from the ground up, which is why West Company, through the City of Fort Bragg Community Development Block Grant is offering a two hour seminar with marketing trends expert Rieva Lesonsky of GrowBiz Media. On Wednesday, May 11th from 1:30-3:30 pm, join West Company and Rieva at the CV Start Center for "Travel, Weddings, and Luxury Products: Trends for the Future."

This dynamic presentation by one of the nation's top experts in marketing trends will address: What visitors to the coast will be looking for in seasons to come; who is getting married next and how to reach them; where and how to market art, crafts, gourmet food, and other luxury products made in Fort Bragg and on the coast.

Prior to co-founding GrowBiz Media, Lesonsky was Senior Vice President/Editorial Director of Entrepreneur Magazine. A nationally recognized speaker who regularly addresses audiences across the country, she has appeared on hundreds of radio shows and numerous local and national television programs, including CNN, Good Morning America, and the Today Show. A driving force in small business across the country, Lesonsky served on the Small Business Administration’s National Advisory Council for six years, and was honored by the SBA as a Small Business Media Advocate and a Woman in Business Advocate.

There is no cost to attend "Travel, Weddings, and Luxury Products: Trends for the Future" but registration is required. To sign up call 964-7571 or visit our website.

Pondering Procrastination

By Hannah Alexander, Administrative Support

Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task. ~William James

As a future small business owner, you have more to gain by overcoming procrastination then the average human being (and that is saying something). Because your business success will rely heavily on your being on top of your affairs, a tendency to put off less desirable tasks will have a deleterious effect on your small business’ success.


We human beings procrastinate for many reasons. Most of those reasons, plainly put, are rooted in fear of success and a lack of personal mastery. Take a moment to sit back, place your two feet on the floor, and breathe deeply. Consider: What have you been putting off? Very quietly and with compassion for yourself, consider: Why?

Interestingly, it takes patience not to procrastinate. We have to have patience with ourselves as well as patience with the task.

For more information about procrastination and how to manage it, see this link and this one.

Speaking of things you may have been putting off, the next Building a Better Business series kicks off soon with “Does Your Idea Make Cents?”, wherein you learn how to assess the feasibility of your business idea!
Find out more and sign up on line here.

"Your accountant is only as good as the information YOU give them."

By Heather Gurewitz
Mendocino Women's Business Center Director

Let's face it, taxes don't exactly whip people into a frenzy of excitement, but, bringing Keith Hall virtually into our conference room last month to share his wealth of knowledge is one of the most important things we can offer. While you need your accountant to help you with all that tricky depreciation stuff, and figuring out those home office deductions, there is one simple truth you should always remember at tax time:

"Your accountant is only as good as the information YOU give them."

I will emphasize some of the key points I got from TaxTalk:

1. Do The Paperwork - I know, it isn't fun, but hey, if you think about all those deductions you can take, you can save a lot of money. But if you don't have the documentation you could end up owing more in the end (don't forget penalties). If you are guesstimating that you drove 6,000 miles in your personal vehicle for the year, you had better have something to prove it to an auditor. Your accountant won't make a mileage log for you, you have to do it.

2. Red Flags - Lately I have had clients coming in saying they are hesitant to take a deduction because they heard it was "red-flagged" by the IRS. Yes, there are some things that are red flagged by the IRS, and you don't want the IRS to accuse you of FRAUD, which is why you only claim what is legitimate and what you can document. The long story short being, yes, you should be careful with deductions, and if you have a legitimate deduction, see #1 above.

3. It Doesn't Matter If You Have an Accountant - Okay, it does MATTER if you have an accountant, but not in regards to how you organize your finances. You are not the only person who walks into your accountant's office on April 1st with a box of receipts or a book full of penciled in numbers and a sheepish grin. Well, okay, maybe you went in February 1st, but still, your accountant is now sitting at their desk with piles of receipts, books, and a looming deadline for them all. You are essentially telling them to set your financial management system for the last year and expecting them to know how you operate and manage your business. If something goes wrong, you are responsible. In fact, you will have to pay your accountant again if you want them to help you through an audit, and if you don't have the proper paperwork, it won't do any good.
So, do you have that sinking feeling in your stomach, like, maybe you should have gone to TaxTalk? Well, have no fear, by popular demand, we are bringing Keith back on Wednesday, March 30th from 10am-12pm to both Ukiah and Fort Bragg. This is not a class on how to fill out a Schedule C (we give you a book that tells you how to do that and the IRS provides a  virtual workshop and information resources on filing). This is a class on how you can save money and protect your personal and business assets. Try our new easy on-line registration system, and save your space now!

Let's face it, you're busy!

by Heather Gurewitz
Mendocino Women's Business Center Director
So, in addition to making your products, delivering your service, you also have to track your finances, manage your books, and well, make your business run. Not much time left for marketing is there? And now, with the "infinitely expanding" marketing universe, it's even harder to figure out whether you should be running that newspaper ad or simply creating a Facebook page. While the economy may be starting to rebound a bit, things are still tight, and as a business owner you have to make the most of every minute of your time. You don't have time to dink around with a blog every week, or spend hours sifting through Facebook. Sure, setting up a Facebook page or a LinkedIn profile is easy. It is even fairly easy to set up a blog and a website these days, but the question remains....

Are they generating any sales?
Are they a valuable  use of your time?

Zero Budget Marketing on Wednesday, March 16th, from 5:30-7:30 is a 2-hour workshop for existing business owners that want to maximize the use of the free marketing tools available. Just because everyone else has a Facebook page for their business, does that mean you should too? Come find out. We will use a decision making model to compare the various avenues you can use to market your business, and come out with some clear actionable goals. And, to make it easier, attendees are eligible for one-on-one consulting (all consulting by West Company is covered through our WBC and SBDC programs at no cost to client) to help you refine and implement your strategy! This workshop is a great investment, its two hours of time that can save you hundreds of dollars and hours.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER with our new online registration system!

Disclaimer: This class is NOT a "how to" class. We won't show you how to create a Facebook page, or tell you how to set your privacy settings, information specific to each business and program will be covered in one-on-one consulting sessions (again, at no cost to client).

Show me the money?

By Heather Gurewitz
Mendocino Women's Business Center Director

There has been a lot of buzz in the news lately about financing, SBA loans, non-profit intermediaries, and getting businesses the capital they need. Locally, a number of loan and alternative financing opportunities are available for local businesses looking to start, grow, and expand. From micro-loans to SBA 504 loans, there are a lot of opportunities. So, how do you decide what to pursue. Here are some basic guidelines to follow:


First off, this isn't "easy" money. Anyone looking to get even a micro-loan must demonstrate that they are financially responsible and will be able to pay back the loan. If it is an existing business, they should have three years of financial statements, showing good profit margins and ability to take on new debt. If it is a start-up business, they should have a well thought-out business plan with 2 years of financial projections with good back-up information to justify the numbers.

Most people assume the first step is to go to the potential lender, but if you don't know how much you need or how much you can pay back, you are wasting time (yours and theirs). Start with a business plan. Unless it is a personal loan and you are collateralizing personal assets with a commercial bank or credit union, your lender is going to require this, and you are wasting time trying to get money without it. Does this sound scary and intimidating? We can help.

Once you know how much you need, it's time to "go shopping." Getting a traditional commercial business loan right now is still a tough, but some alternative financers can't work on a package unless the loan has been turned down by a regular bank, so it may still be worth asking. Depending on where the funds are from, terms will vary greatly. For example, some Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program loans range at 2%-5% interest for a micro-loan, whereas an SBA Community Express loan is going to be at about 7% with traditional banks coming in around 8-9%. (these are examples not actual numbers). Also, the terms are different, as well as the processing time frame, and requirements. (Another reason you should visit with us first, we can help guide you through the programs that are out there so you can make an informed decision about which one to pursue.)

Special note: If you have or will start a business in the City of Fort Bragg, you may be able to take advantage of the City's CDBG MicroLoan program which offers loans up to $15,000 for start-up or expansion of existing businesses. The terms on this are variable, and the loan fund is designed to assist those with low or moderate income. For more information about this program contact Heather at 964-7571.

Now it's time to actually fill out the loan applications and start developing a relationship with the lender. If you can go to them organized and ready to answer questions and support your request, it is much more likely that they will want to lend you their money and consider you a lower risk (which usually means better terms).

If you are thinking about getting a small business loan, a West Company consultant can provide neutral and objective expertise to help guide you through the process and find the option that will build success in your business. Our consulting services are covered by our funders and there is no cost to our clients. Click here to get started!

High Speed Internet for Everyone!

By Hannah Alexander
Administrative Support

One of the things that makes Mendocino County a unique (difficult or wonderful, depending on the day) place to run a business is our very rural setting. While there are many advantages to doing business in Mendocino County, there are some disadvantages. One of them is access to high-speed internet, which many residents of Mendocino County lack. According to the Association for Enterprise Opportunity, 75% of businesses in Mendocino County are self-employed persons. As Heather pointed out in her last blog post, the digital marketing universe is steadily expanding. The same could be said of the digital banking universe, the digital researching universe, and the digital networking universe. Many of these opportunities are best realized over a high-speed internet connection, and this puts rural entrepreneurs trying to conduct their business over a dial-up connection at a significant disadvantage.


The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) is engaged in an effort to identify areas in the United States which either lack high-speed (broadband) internet access completely, or have limited and perhaps unreliable options for broadband access.

Here at West Company, we are very interested in seeing more access to broadband internet for rural areas, so we are encouraging people to send information to the FCC to help identify broadband “dead zones”.

They have even made it easy by offering a short form to fill out. You can respond via the website, also by email, fax or postal mail….

The universe is expanding...

by Heather Gurewitz

Mendocino Women's Business Center Director

They say that the universe is infinitely expanding, and while I'm not much of a science buff, I can tell you that the marketing universe is definitely following this trend. Facebook, blogs, and twitter; social media is now deeply ingrained into mainstream, but it is still changing and expanding. Between Smart Phones and easily affordable net books the digital world is dominating consumer behavior, including that of tourists.

Summer is just around the corner, and if you want to make the most of your summer sales, you don't just need to stock inventory, set new menus, or order  new sheets for the beds, but you need to make sure that you are digitally prepared for your visitors. Now, as I mentioned, the marketing universe is infinitely expanding, so how do you figure out how to spend your already limited time? After all, you have to order your inventory, hire your staff, prepare the bds, and run a business. Who has time to follow the let latest marketing avenues? Well, West Company of course. It's our job to stay on top of the tools available for small businesses, and if you have met with me regarding marketing, you know that I am all about spending as little as possible of your hard earned dollars on advertising when you can do it for free! So, of course I have a suggestion for how to make very good use of your limited time:

Join us for Zero-Budget Marketing! on Wednesday, March 16th from 5:30-7:30 pm in Fort Bragg. Learn how to unleash the power of free marketing tools on and off the web. This 2 hour workshop will give you the tools you need to successfully generate sales and create returning customers even if your marketing budget is zero! We will cover a range of marketing opportunities both on and off the web as well as looking at how to distinguish good marketing opportunities from bad investments. Register now, using our new easy and fast online registration!

Getting the word out with West Company!

by Heather Gurewitz
Women's Business Center Director

Beyond all the great things we do with clients (improving financial management, marketing, increasing sales, increasing profits, starting businesses, buying/selling businesses, hiring employees, etc.), there have been some really great things happening to promote our clients. Through our connections and partnerships we have been able to offer great exposure on a broader scale for some of our clients.

Just the the other day I received a call from the paper. They were getting ready to produce the annual "We Live and Work Here" insert and wanted to know who might be an interesting story. It was exciting to open the insert and see great promo pieces on the businesses that we recommended. 

We've also been working on some exciting media projects. In July, 2010 I had my first foray into the world of YouTube video stories about our clients and our work. My "guinea pig," Becky Ahmadi's story got picked up by the SBA who wrote a press release that was featured in the first business section of the year in the Fort Bragg Advocate News.

Most recently our regional lead office for the Small Business Development Center called to say they are doing promotional stories on SBDC client and asked for a recommendation for a unique business that has been successful with the services of SBDC. This resulted in a video shoot and soon to be promo video for Liquid Fusion Kayaking. Filming was great fun, and I even got to be a kayak movie star for a morning! Click here to see more pictures of the filming.

With the success of viral marketing and video stories like that of Penny Ice Creamery in Santa Cruz, the story of small getting big is an opportunity for "mom and pop" shops with a unique story. Do you have a good story to share and want to know how? Contact us for our no-cost-to-client aka free consulting services to find out how you can tell your success story.

Good Books and Tax Time...

by Heather Gurewitz

Mendocino Women's Business Center Director

I know that we talk a lot about book keeping and maintaining good finances a lot on this blog. Any guesses why? There are no words to describe the importance of numbers in a business. Tax time is quickly approaching, and with that, finances are on everyone's mind. I am already working with clients that are coming in with a number of interesting scenarios, which always lead me back to the same thing. If you don't understand your finances, you don't have control of your business.

Knowledge is key in this arena. If you are so fortunate that your business generates enough profit to hire a book keeper or CPA, that is fantastic, but this doesn't exempt you from managing these aspects of your business and at least knowing how they work. If you don't understand your books, how do you know the person you have entrusted them to, is doing them correctly? And let's be honest, we all have bad days and make mistakes, don't assume your book keeper or CPA is exempt from that.

On this point, the single most thing people seem to not understand is that: If you get audited and the IRS comes knocking at the door, no matter who else signed your tax return, you have the ultimate responsibility. It is yours, the buck stops here, etc. They won't take your book keeper's house, and they won't take your CPA's car. If you are not paying your taxes in the correct amounts and at the right times, YOU are the one responsible, and you are the one at risk to lose everything. And believe me, the IRS can seize a lot more than a bank or a collection agency. It is not the place you want to mess with.

So, it's your business, and (hopefully) your asset. That means that you had better be sure you know what your book keeper is doing, and you had better make sure that you have the information to keep yourself out of trouble. Speaking of which...

On February 8th from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm in both Ukiah and Fort Bragg, West Company will be hosting a semi-webinar, "TaxTalk" with Keith Hall, CPA and National Tax Advisor for the National Association for the Self Employed. Keith is a wonderful presenter that will be joining us for a live web presentation that will include: how to have an audit proof tax return, how to save money on your taxes, and changes to the tax code for 2010. I've seen Keith give this presentation in the past, and it is a must for anyone who is a sole proprietor or self-employed. He is not only very knowledgeable, but a great presenter. All participants get a free copy of "Schedule C from A to Z" co-written by Mr. Hall. The cost of the workshop is $25 and you can sign up online at www.westcompany.org. Don't wait space is limited and filling up fast!

There's a no-collateral working capital SBA loan for small businesses! Seriously?

Yes! Ever since the Jobs Bill passed back in September we have been receiving phone calls from clients and community members interested in the new funding available from the bill. Information has been slowly coming down the pipeline but finally, there is a new loan fund established and ready to help small businesses; the Community Express Loan Program.


The new Community Express Loan fund is available to both existing AND start-up businesses. It provides loans from $5,000 - $25,000*, collateral free with interest rates ranging from 7% to 8%. Additionally these loans can be processed as quickly as 4 week after the loan package is complete and submitted.

This is definitely the most flexible program I have seen since I have been working with businesses in the county, and it is a great opportunity for local businesses and start-ups.

Some of the eligible uses include:

• Hiring a new employee

• Purchasing Inventory

• Business construction up to $10,000

• Working capital

Note, though the funding is flexible in its use, it still requires a plan showing that you will be able to pay the loan back within the stated terms set. Additionally, there are some restrictions to the funds. For example, they CANNOT be used for businesses engaged in real estate, agriculture, fishing, medical facilities, mining, religion, or gambling. (see fact sheet link for full list)

West Company does not engage in lending for the SBA, but we do assist our clients through the process of developing their business plans and preparing loan packages. Additionally we offer classes to help business owners write their plans and learn the basic skills they need to be successful. We also maintain a relationship with both banks and alternative lenders to help our clients find the best loan option for their business. If you would like more information on consulting and classes available at West Company visit our website.

For more information on the Community Express Loan including what is eligible and ineligible, check out the Borrego Springs Community Express Loan Fact Sheet:.
*Note: Businesses located in Low Moderate Income (LMI) designated areas are eligible for up to $50,000.