FastUpFront: Small Business Blog
FastUpFront: Small Business Cash Advance - Financing & Loan Option Information Blog
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Top 30 Excuses for not Coming to Work
Want to take a mental health day but are having trouble coming up with a good excuse? I scoured the web in search of the best excuses for not coming to work, and here are my top 30 finds. If by the end of this list you still need more inspiration, check out this site. If it is all the same to you ...
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The Worst Mistakes to Make When Applying for a Bank Loan
At a time when the American economy is reeling from the effects of unfettered credit card debt, housing foreclosures, and price increases on everything from a gallon of gas to a can of tuna, bank loans are fast becoming a shrinking commodity. According to a recent Federal Reserve survey, the bankin ...
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Handle With Care: Managing Employees Who Must Wear Multiple Hats
It is common among small businesses that employees learn to become expert jugglers who must successfully manage numerous, often unrelated positions and responsibilities. And as the current economic downturn continues to hinder sales and cut into profit margins, this trend is only getting stronger. ...
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The Top 13 Most Influential Celebrity Entrepreneurs
Does the daily grind of running a small business leave you feeling like you need a little inspiration? Here is a star-studded line-up of the most influential celebrities in business. Some of these pop icons basking in the limelight have used their personalities and business acumen to become successf ...
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Where Does Obama Stand? A Small Business Primer
In about two months, the responsibility of running our country will be put into the hands of President-Elect Barack Obama. For me, as a small business owner, the thought of a new administration in the White House automatically conjures up a funny mixture of hope, anxiety, and nervous anticipation. ...
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Top Worst Mistakes to Make When Applying for a Bank Loan
At a time when the American economy is reeling from the effects of unfettered credit card debt, housing foreclosures, and price increases on everything from a gallon of gas to a can of tuna, bank loans are fast becoming a shrinking commodity. According to a recent Federal Reserve survey, the bankin ...
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Going Green Today A Different Kind of Environmental Impact
In recent months, the demand for organic products may have dropped, but it should not be taken as a sign that the go-green movement has met its demise. Expect a transformation instead. Whether you subscribe to the drive for all things organic and sustainable, are unabashedly opposed to it, or fall ...
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Bucking the Trend: Who is Thriving in the Credit Crisis?
With concern growing over the health of the global economy, many consumers and businesses alike are doing whatever they can to ride out the impending storm- and that can spell growth and financial opportunity for those who can capitalize on it. So which sectors should still thrive in the current cre ...
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Does Palin Help or Hurt the Image of Working Mothers?
The recent announcement of Sarah Palin to the Republican ticket has spawned much discussion and debate about the ability of working women to balance motherhood with careerism. Women traditionally have felt and still feel that they need to change themselves in order to succeed in the working world. ...
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Sensitivity In the Workplace: Funny Business Comic
Sensitivity in the workplace is an important issue for many large companies and small businesses. The wrong words, actions or discourse can result in a dysfunctional working environment, human resource nightmare or a dangerous legal matter. Workplace sensitivity training is becoming common practice ...
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Step 1 to Effective Disaster Planning: Dont Learn from the Government
No matter where you turn these days, you will get the message that the state of the economy is hanging in a critical balance. Many recognize that the problems engulfing the U.S. financial system have reached the level of crisis- not only does the situation need to be fixed, but it must be done quick ...
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Video Conferencing Etiquette: Practical Guidelines and Tips
With the cost of business travel soaring ever upward, video conferencing has become a practical and popular alternative to face-to-face meetings. But even if you are not meeting in person, you should not leave your etiquette behind. Here are a few guidelines and tips on making the most of your video ...
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An Obama Presidency = A Headache for Small Businesses?
[image source: Anthony Baker] With a sputtering economy and an uncertain future, issues such as tax reform, health insurance, and workers benefits are weighing heavy on the minds of entrepreneurs and small business owners. For many, how the candidates for the US Presidency stand on these issues alon ...
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How is Your Favorite Business Effecting the Environment?
Climate Counts, a nonprofit organization committed to reversing climate change, recently posted their second annual Company Scorecard . The Scorecard rates 60 leading companies in nine major consumer sectors (Apparel/Accessories, Beverages, Consumer Shipping, Electronics, Food Products, Food Service ...
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Capitalize on Call Avoidance
This may sound familiar You need to make a phone call, yet are dreading the possible response. As you are dialing, you hope and pray that the other person wont pick up - wouldnt it be great if you could just leave a message and avoid the whole conversation? Now, you can! I recently found out abou ...
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Happy Birthday to the Blog
This August marks the first birthday of the Fast Up Front Blog. Over the past year we have written on average about three posts per week covering a wide range of topics of interest (hopefully!) to the small business owner. Id like to highlight some of the topics we covered, and our evolution as a ...
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Getting Killed By Your Competition
Staying ahead of your competition is not always easy. Life as a business owner can become increasingly difficult if your market is divided by your competition or your competitions offer renders your product or service obsolete. I created this comic for those small business owners who understand this ...
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Small Business Dress Code - The Whats, Whys and Hows
Summer-time tends to bring many things, among them: new office dress codes. Whats the connection? When employees start wearing flip flops and tank tops into the office, many employers decide that it is time to clarify just what is meant by casual attire. The reasons to clarify a dress code are ma ...
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Brighten Your Cubicle with Funny Office Toys
Another boring day at the office? Is tension at work running high? Are you tired of staring at the same four walls of your cubicle? If so, check out these wacky gadgets to lighten and brighten your office. Nabaztag Wi-Fi Connected Rabbit. This little creature can provide you with a lot of inform ...
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Beat Your Debt Stress - Keep Your Health
Americans today are shouldering an enormous economic burden, and it might not just be having effects on our pocketbooks. Research shows it could be effecting our health as well. A slowing economy, rising energy and food prices, and a slump in the housing market combined with a flurry of home forecl ...
