Archive for October, 2008

Trade Secrets: What are they and how do you protect them?

Monday, October 27th, 2008

Every successful business has intellectual property, or trade secrets, that should be closely guarded. These secrets can be anything from a method, formula, device, or any information that gives you a competitive advantage over your competition.

Trade secrets are not only important for your company’s growth, but its survival as well.

Examples of trade secrets include business plans, R & D information, inventions, manufacturing techniques to name a few. Each small business will need to sit down and identify their specific trade secrets they believe need to be protected.

Next, you should review the Uniform Trade Secrets Act and remember while every state recognizes some form of trade secret protection, the extent of that protection may vary from state to state.

Communication, as always, is vital to successfully guarding your trade secrets. Company policies need to be carefully outlined and access to trade secrets should be limited to those who “need to know”.

Online incorporation service MaxFilings recently added a series of informative articles on the subject. Start by looking at examples of trade secrets and if your small business has any, find out how to protect them.

Reasons to Consider Starting a Small Business in a Recession

Thursday, October 9th, 2008

The idea of starting your business during these uncertain economic times may be a non starter for most. You shouldn’t let bad economic times deter you from making that leap, especially if you have a stellar idea. Now may be the best time to incorporate or form an LLC online according to Heleigh Bostwick for the following reasons.

First is the idea, which can be difficult during a recession. One way to consider this is do you have an idea that answers needs for people during an economic downturn? Everyone is looking for ways to get the most of their hard-earned dollars, especially these days. A business that can help folks in that effort would be very valuable.

The next criterion is credit, which is tightening due to the ongoing financial crisis in the U.S. Nevertheless, having low or no balances on your credit cards and an excellent credit rating can be a tremendous plus, allowing you to negotiate good terms for loans and business credit cards.

Continuing on the credit theme, possessing good negotiating skills is a must have in this environment, and even more critical if your credit is less than perfect. Being a good negotiator and providing the bank with a strong marketing plan can be a big help in obtaining favorable loan terms.

Beyond the idea for your small business and financing, managing money is very important. Getting by on a shoestring budget is good practice anyway but a big plus when incorporating a business. And being disciplined and avoiding impulsive decisions is especially important in this current environment.

In the final analysis, if you’re ready to incorporate your business, don’t let the recession stop you. Many of today’s successful companies such as Hewlett-Packard (1934) and Adobe Systems (1982) got their start during major economic hardship in the U.S.