Bill Wortman

As the Chief Business Consultant at BizCoachingOnDemand.com, Bill has over 40 years of business experience. He's held multiple executive-level positions and fulfilled the role of CFO at large, publicly-held (NYSE, NASDAQA, and AMEX) corporations. In addition, he's also been an owner of several successful private ventures in real estate and in the automotive industry.

Latest

How do I get a Dun & Bradstreet number for my new greeting card business?

Just like with other types of products, there is significant competition for shelf space at retailers to display greeting cards – gift shops, grocery stores, drug stores, department stores, etc. Also, the approved supplier and purchasing processes vary based on the size and type of retailer – independent, franchise, national chain, etc.

How can I sell one of my restaurants as a franchise?

If you are planning to sell more franchises, then franchising your restaurant concept will be a consideration. However, if you are not planning to expand your restaurant business beyond the two current locations, then a form of partnership or other business structure may be a consideration with your lawyer rather than establishing a franchise system.

Business Licensing Tax Implications

Becoming a licensed business is an important step that every startup must take when it comes time to sell a product or service. Here are a few ways that obtaining a license will impact your business.

Can we dock employees pay for poor work quality?

As a general rule, the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act, or FLSA, prohibits docking the pay of employees (nonexempt or exempt) for poor quality work or work resulting in rework.  Nonexempt employees are employees who are subject to the FLSA’s minimum wage and overtime pay requirements and are typically paid on an hourly basis.

I am looking at buying a franchise-based business, what are the major concerns to look for with owning a franchise company?

Due to the risk and work involved in starting a new business, many new entrepreneurs choose franchising as an alternative to starting a new, independent business from scratch. Also, surveys show that the success rate of franchised businesses is much higher than for businesses started from scratch.

What’s the best way to differentiate myself and still be profitable?

In such a competitive business environment, it may be very important that you differentiate yourself from the other locally successful screen printer/embroidery shop in order to capture enough of the market share.

We are looking to purchase a software product, but the current owner is in a foreclosure status. What legal and/or financial issues might we face?

We have provided general business comments and considerations below; however, you will need to consult your lawyer for legal input regarding due diligence, asset liens, purchase contract terms (ownership warranty, liability indemnification, etc), and the other legal issues with your planned software purchase.

Can I put a lien on my client’s property without a written contract?

Due to the specific requirements and general complexities with mechanics lien laws, it would appear that you will need to consult your business lawyer to determine if a mechanics lien is available for the specific landscaping work performed and for assistance with a lien filing.

 

What are the down sides about using a PEO (Professional Employer Organization)?

Disadvantages of Using Professional Employer Organizations for Staffing: Many small businesses have been utilizing Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs) for insurance savings and other staffing cost management solutions.

How do I market my new product to wholesale purchasers?

Channel marketing is tough. I learned the hard way from years working with big box office stores and computer stores. I don’t know your market but in my market each of the major retail chains had a preferred distributor and wouldn’t buy from anybody else.