By Mark Heidelberger

 The old way of operating is dead. In your parents’ day, one would have to go to a brick-and-mortar office to conduct their business with vendors or clients via telephone, faxes and in-person meetings. Equipment was often heavy and consumed large amounts of space. Bulky desktop computers ran at slower speeds and a robust Internet marketplace had not yet been created. Data was presented on vast reams of paper, rolodexes contained typewritten notecards and analytical tracking tools were available only to the wealthiest, most advanced corporations. 

In contrast, business owners today can and must have constant access to real time data, tools, information and applications in order to effectively compete in an ever-expanding digital world. Access must be quick, simple and mobile. Those who steadfastly remain attached to a linear, analog style of business like their parents engaged in risk becoming dinosaurs. 

One of the more fashionable tools businessmen and women have come to embrace is the iPhone. Making phone calls has become almost an afterthought as professionals seek more useful and powerful iPhone applications that can assist them in efficiently managing their businesses. And studies conducted by respected organizations like Baseline and PCWorld reveal several apps that business owners have come to find indispensable in their daily routines. 

Evernote: This free app helps users easily keep track of all aspects of their business. Functions include the ability to create and edit task lists, record voice and audio notes, search for text inside images, save and share files and “tweets,” organize notes and maintain financial records. In addition, it reduces paper clutter by allowing the user to take snapshots of business cards, labels and documents. 

iTerminal: Sales transactions can now be done anywhere and anytime with this app that allows the user to accept credit card payments right on their phone. Credit accounts are verified instantly via a 3G or Wi-Fi network, and the app is compatible with all major credit card brands. Users must incur a monthly fee and per-transaction charges though. A card swiper that plugs into the phone is sold separately. 

FlightTrack Pro: This is a must-have for frequent fliers, checking FAA airport closures, flight arrival and departure times, local temperatures and weather conditions, last-minute delays and gate changes. Over 1,400 airlines and 5,000 airports are listed, and an offline mode allows for in-flight use. The app price averages anywhere from $5 to $10 depending on the version.

Gist: Business owners can use this free all-in-one contact repository to store business profiles and emails from various inboxes, address books, social networks and other sources. It also adds and prioritizes news stories, blogs and updates about contacts, allowing the user to see information they may not have known existed. This eases one’s ability to perform due diligence and monitor the competition. 

Analytics App: For less than six bucks, website owners can easily track their real-time traffic statistics while on the go. By entering your Google account details, you can access an extensive array of Google Analytics reports, from bounce rate to page views to total unique visitors over a given period. In fact, the well-organized interface offers 47 report types, including customized ones for multiple accounts. 

AroundMe: This free app allows the user to quickly find information about his surroundings, offering a B-to-B solution for professionals who routinely find themselves in foreign places. The nearest bank, hotel, restaurant, gas station, rental car agency, shipping service or supply store can be located at the touch of a button, along with routes and distances from the user’s current location. 

LinkedIn: Millions of business professionals use this social networking site to display their resumes, solicit recommendations and network with industry contacts. Now, iPhone junkies can use the LinkedIn app to access their entire account while receiving up-to-the-minute updates. Moreover, exchanging business cards will become unnecessary since users can add each other right on the spot. 

QuickOffice Mobile Office Suite: Unfortunately, the iPhone does not interface well with Microsoft Office documents. Users can often open but not edit them. For around $15, this app permits the viewing, exchanging, creating and editing of Word and Excel documents for those on the move. A complementary app also allows for easy file sharing, emailing and transferring. 

iSchedule: A $3 one-time fee and a HotSchedules account allow managers to efficiently oversee the work shifts of their employees. App functions include the ability to create, swap and update schedules as well as respond to incoming schedule-related requests. A log book helps keep track of employee activities throughout the day. The ultra-secure app is also compatible with the iPad and iPod Touch. 

eBay Mobile: Online buyers and sellers both know the importance of anytime accessibility, and the eBay app provides that. Users can instantly place bids, check item prices and answer customer questions with fluidity. The app costs nothing, although an extra buck gets you an eBay profit calculator that determines your net gain after fees and expenses are deducted. 

Jump Desktop: This $15 app allows users to sync their iPhone to their desktop or laptop computer, be it a Mac or PC, providing secure and reliable remote access from anywhere with no network configuration needed. Easy-to-follow instructions will have users audio streaming, remote printing and accessing files in no time. Foreign language options include Chinese, Japanese, French, Russian, German and Spanish. 

ClockIn: This simple program is essential for freelancers who need to keep track of the time they spend with multiple clients or on various projects. And at just a couple dollars, it’s affordable too. Users can punch in and out, track their shift details and easily export Excel-compatible data via email. And ClockIn knows you’re punched in even if you exit out of it. 

With so many convenient and affordable apps available for your iPhone, there’s really no reason to continue operating in the dark ages. I mean, what are you waiting for? An OK from your parents? 

The Top Ten Most Business Friendly States of  2011

By Mark Heidelberger

With the national economy struggling to regain its once sure footing, several states have made moves recently to attract entrepreneurs searching for friendly, pro-business environments. Areas vital to business owners typically include the availability of labor, hard costs, taxes, regulatory conditions, growth potential, the current economic climate and the overall quality of life. Based on these factors, ten states stood out in a 2011 US Chamber of Commerce report as being positioned to give businesses of all sizes the best chance to succeed, regardless of the nature of the business itself. In addition, these states appear poised to continue facilitating healthy pro-growth environments through 2012. 

Utah: The Beehive State has one of the lowest corporate tax rates in the country, reducing it from 7% to 5% in 2008, and its $400 million deficit is comparatively small by state standards. Energy costs are 35% below the national average and the workforce is highly educated, with 9 in 10 people holding a high school diploma and 1 in 3 being college educated. Poverty rates are low, quality of life is generally high, and the Pacific Research Institute rated its business-friendly regulatory environment the second best in the nation. In addition, an advisory committee formed to generate greater efficiency in state government reduced unnecessary red tape and practically eliminated wasteful duplication of services. 

North Dakota: The Peace Garden State’s economy expanded faster annually over the last five years than any other state and was rated in a CNBC Special Report as the most fiscally healthy state in the nation. The state is flush with cash based on a large 2011 budget surplus, with another expected surplus in 2012, so tax rates are not expected to rise anytime soon. The corporate tax rate is anywhere from 2.1% to 7% depending on the type of business (taxes are highest for financial institutions) and the unemployment rate is far below the national average at 3.2%. Additionally, a ballot measure recently passed creating a long-term savings fund for tax revenue generated from oil extraction. 

Kentucky: The Bluegrass State has the lowest cost of living in the country, and officials are looking to capitalize on that in order to draw more businesses. The corporate tax rate is anywhere from 4% to 6%, and the legislature has balanced the state budget eight consecutive times without significant tax increases. A 2011 survey among site location consultants ranked it first in competitive utility rates, and the cost of industrial electricity is 27% below the national average. Other attractive offerings include a small business tax credit program and one-stop online interface that simplifies business filings. 

Missouri: The Show Me State is home to major employers such as AT&T and Boeing, which take advantage of its 6.25% corporate tax rate. Only income generated in-state is taxed, and manufacturer’s inventories are exempt from property taxes.  The state continues to do well fiscally despite a projected budget shortfall of $700 million in 2012. Recent pro-business legislation that has been enacted includes strong tort reform laws and comprehensive changes to the workers’ compensation system. Also, the state boasts the sixth lowest gas taxes in the nation. 

Texas: The Lone Star State’s 2009 GDP per capita of $43,032 was among the highest in the country. The state has no individual income tax, although a fluctuating franchise tax may be levied on certain businesses, and property used for manufacturing machinery, goods in transit or pollution control is tax exempt. All of this combined with an extremely low cost of living and enterprise-friendly climate championed by Governor Rick Perry means that Texas has been adding private sector jobs at a much faster rate than other large states. As a result, the market has attracted upwards of 4.3 million job seekers during the last decade alone. 

Indiana: The Hoosier State has rebounded from near insolvency in recent years by enacting a series of government reforms that reduced waste, increased efficiency and turned bi-annual budget deficits into a $1 billion surplus. Indiana has the fifth highest rate of commercial freight traffic in the nation, moving more than 1.1 billion tons per year, and has a workforce of over 250,000 logistical professionals. New legislation has also lead to an inventory tax exemption, statewide telecommunications upgrades, a fully funded 10-year transportation plan and low corporate insurance costs. 

Alaska: The Last Frontier is becoming the first frontier for business owners looking to take advantage of a graduated tax rate that starts at 1%, with additional incentives for oil and gas exploration and a two-year suspension of the motor fuel tax.  The state’s $12 billion in savings is a strong hedge against fluctuating fuel prices, enough for two full years of operation, meaning it won’t be looking to increase tax rates anytime soon either. As a result, the GDP per capita topped a whopping $63,864 in 2009. Banks are also offering more flexible loan terms and higher interest rates than in other states. 

Wyoming: The Cowboy State has no corporate tax rate, no projected budget gap in 2012, and an unemployment rate of just 6%. The property foreclosure rate in May of 2011 was far below the national average at just 1 in 2,331 households, while the 2009 GDP per capita was the highest in the country at $65,199. Low energy costs and an excellent quality of life continue to attract entrepreneurs from neighboring states, and tax-friendly legislation such as an exemption on manufacturing is intended to help diversify an economy heavily reliant on tourism and agriculture. 

South Dakota: The Mount Rushmore State has the friendliest business tax climate in the US, with no corporate or personal income, inheritance, personal property or business inventory taxes. Qualified business-building projects can also receive refunds of sales, use and excise taxes. The state sales tax is just 4% and a graduated tax structure for financial institutions starts at just 0.25%. The unemployment rate is a mere 4.8% and May 2011 foreclosures were just 1 in 3,974. Despite a deficit of $127 million going into 2012, Governor Dennis Daugaard’s budget calls for a 10% overall tax reduction to be paired with spending cuts. 

Tennessee: The Volunteer State’s largest employers include UPS, Lowe’s and FedEx, lured by a 6.5% corporate tax rate and sales tax reductions for manufacturers. According to the US Chamber of Commerce, Tennessee has the fourth lowest state and local tax burden in the country, which creates a favorable environment for business owners when combined with a low cost of living and a state legislature that has emphasized deregulation of private industry. Job-creating businesses get breaks on excise and franchise taxes, while large industrial employers can carry losses beyond the state’s traditional 15-year limit.

When you register a new business, you'll need to decide on a name for that business. If you are the only one who owns the business, the legal name of your business will be your name. If you have a partner, the legal name of the business will either be the last names of all partners or the name that was agreed upon and entered into the partnership agreement when the business was registered. If the business is a LLC or Corporation, then the legal name  will be the name that was given to the state government when the business was registered. 

Why Register a Doing Business As (DBA)?

When a business decides to operate under a name that differs from its official and legal business name, the business must  register this new operating name within the jurisdiction where they plan to be conducting their business. Although those who are the sole owner of a business are the ones who are most likely to register a DBA (if they don’t then the name of the business will be their very own, personal name!), partnerships, LLC's, and Corporations also choose to register a DBA name. 

Once you decide on the DBA name, you'll need to file the appropriate paperwork. Depending on the state you'll need to register the DBA name with, will determine the appropriate government agency you will have to file the paperwork with, i.e. county clerk, state government. (Not all states require that you register a DBA name.) 

How to File a DBA Name

Simply visit the government website of the state you'll be conducting business in, and fill out the DBA registration application for that particular state. The average time it takes to process the DBA name is 2 to 4 weeks. You should file for your DBA name as soon as possible so you are able to start using it when you're ready to open for business. Although, some states allow you to start using the DBA name before officially registering it, giving you anywhere from 30 to 60 days to complete the process. 

A Few Facts

DBA aka… Fictitious Names, Assumed Names, or Trade Names. 

DBA Name Restrictions. There are a few name restrictions that restrict a business' ability to mislead the public, i.e. using Inc. or LLC at the end of the proposed name when the business hasn’t been officially registered as such. 

Limit. There is currently no limit to how many DBA names a business is able to register. 

Exclusivity.  If you want to own the rights to the DBA name you've selected, you must register the name as a trademark. 

Banks. Most banks will ask for a certified copy of the DBA name certificate before you can open a business account with them.

As usual, the presidential election is also a leap year and a Summer Olympics year. That seems like a lot for just one year. Perhaps, that is why we get one extra day, i.e. February 29^th.  The extra day is only one day and the Summer Games will take up two weeks starting July 27, 2012 in London. The election, on the other hand, takes up hours of time for months, starting last year, and gathering speed rapidly as we entered 2012. A few debates, some positive promoting, the appropriate caucuses or primaries and the actual Election Day next November would probably suffice, but we end up exposed to much more than that. It is rumored that election years can affect our businesses, but maybe that is only because we allow them to.

Primary or caucus

Iowa revealed the first results with a caucus, a process that is held in lieu of a primary election in fourteen of the fifty states. Texas will hold both a caucus and a primary. Through a caucus the favorite candidate is chosen by representation, while with a primary the population goes to the polls and votes. States have a choice on which one they prefer to use. New Hampshire had its primary election on Tuesday, January 10, 2012. The very first results came from Dixville Notch, before 12:05 AM on Tuesday morning.

Just a notch in the big picture

Since 1960, Dixville Notch has opened up its booths right at midnight to a tiny population – this year only nine voters. Shortly after, the winner is announced. The intriguing point about this event is that every time back to1968 the winner of this small slice of voting history has indicated correctly who will gain the Republican nomination for the general election without fail. This year’s result presented us with a tie, which is interesting for sure.

It’s the little things

What is even more intriguing is that such a small, but consistent, event can put out in the universe such an indication or prediction. Ponder for a minute what that says about the power of intention. That kind of intention is very valuable if you want to influence anything in your life or your business. What is occurring outside of you, including an election year, will not affect you or you business if you keep your powerful intentions guiding your activities until you get the results you want. 

Small actions can manifest big results

No matter what happens with the Presidential race in the upcoming months, you can elect to have a great 2012. Here are some easy activities that will help you follow through with your intentions.

• Maintain all your past successful actions.
• Write up a battle plan that defines all your goals.
• Focus on solving your clients or customers’ problems instead of making money.
• Develop or update your website. We live in a virtual world.
• Don’t do everything yourself – check out Global Business Centers to add all the advantages of having employees, a mailroom, telephone answering services and virtual office space without spending too much.
• Consider February 29, 2012 an extra day and do something special.

Do not underestimate the power of your intentions. Your small efforts will bring big results if you just keep repeating them. Dixville Notch knows this, and deep down you do too.