Author: Tony Novak
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No, you don’t get to face your accuser (Small business beware!)
Anonymous whistleblower complaints are a powerful government force regularly used against small business owners. Over the weekend Donald Tump tweeted another indication of his misunderstanding of how government works. False Tweets from Trump are hardly noteworthy in themselves but this one hits a nerve for me. As a small business owner I’ve faced at least…
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New problem with cellular internet
Preface: Of course Murphy’s Law dictates that this internet access issue rose to a crisis status in the last two business days before the business tax filing deadline on Monday. I’ve been thinking how ironic it would be if lack of internet access is the factor that finally causes me to leave my home office…
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How to be a millionaire and not pay any taxes
Some may not remember that Steve Martin was once one of our nation’s best known tax advisers. This in addition to his accomplishments as a actor, comedian, writer, filmmaker, and musician. The year: 1978. The show: Saturday Night Live. The skit: You.. can be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes! You can be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes! You say..…
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A primer on the China tariffs
What do you need to know as a consumer about about the China trade tariffs that starts today? This is a short bullet point summary. Legal background Tariffs are taxes authorized under Title 19 of U.S Code in 1930. The tax is based on Constitutional authority “The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect…
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Amazon’s decline can hurt the CFO’s reputation
An article in today’s Wall Street Journal talks about failure of Amazon to maintain quality control over its retail network. I wish it had been published two months ago. I was ‘late to the party’ in adapting Amazon as a preferred provider of supplies for my small business clients but finally made that commitment this…
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Reduce business checking fees
Today’s banking services are less expensive in the past but banks’ revenues are actually greater today. Why? Banks add extra fees for add-on services that can be avoided but only with proper management oversight. For example, most of the nation’s bill payment processors charge a hefty fee for cancelling and replacing a lost check. Many…
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Philadelphia Folk Festival Checklist
Over the years I’ve put together this checklist based on experience, mostly learned the hard way, and am posting it here today – on this 50th anniversary of Woodstock and 58th launch of the Philadelphia Folk Festival – in the event that someone else might find it useful. As I approach 60 and celebrate the…