Amazon Considers Drones, Intuit Acquires DocStoc, and More

It’s been a busy week with lots of news relevant to the small business community. Here’s a collection of top stories from the Small Business Trends editorial team.

New Technology

Amazon mulls drone delivery. The ecommerce giant says it may be employing flying drones in the not-to-distant future to cut costs and improve service. This could mean trouble for small businesses and the shipping companies that support them.

Local bakery uses business intelligence to grow. Knowing how many customers have come through your door is great. Figuring out how many are repeat customers can be even better. Sugar Lane, the New York City-based bakery, has found a way to learn even more.

Move over Siri, it’s Donna. A new generation of virtual assistant has arrived. And this one will do a lot more than tell you the nearest place to buy mushrooms. Check out what Donna has to offer the busy small business owner.

Small Business Services

Intuit acquires DocStoc. Intuit, the accounting software leader behind the popular QuickBooks brand, has announced plans to acquire DocStoc. The Santa Monica company founded in 2007 provides proprietary and user generated documents for small businesses and claims 40 million registered users worldwide.

SurveyMonkey launches employee survey service. SurveyMonkey has been known for the kinds of surveys you give to your customers. They’ve been used primarily to gather feedback for your marketing efforts â€" until now.

Entrepreneurship

FUBU founder offers mentoring tips. FUBU founder and Shark Tank investor Daymond John will offer ecommerce hopefuls in a contest run by Shopify plenty of advice over the coming months. But he’s also got some tips about starting with nothing for all entrepreneurs.

Customer Relations

Customer ejected over Google Glass. The Seattle-based entrepreneur who said he’d keep Google Glass users out of his establishments has done just that. Now the fallout begins. The question is where other business owners will draw the line.

AT&T and T-Mobile chief duke it out over customer. Did we mention all this happened publicly over Twitter? In the end, T-Mobile CEO John Legere’s actions are seen by some as decisive. But some tactics can also easily backfire.

Revenue

A look at the earnings behind Spotify. Lots of people are using the service known as Spotify to get their fix of music from their favorite bands. But a few artists have pulled their recordings as a protest over the way they are compensated for their work. Small Business Trends CEO Anita Campbell has more.

Policy

More trouble coming from Affordable Care Act. The ACA has already been grabbing headlines for all the wrong reasons, with a malfunctioning website and termination of many people’s coverage. But Scott Shane claims more trouble is coming.

Reading Photo via Shutterstock

Apple Acquires PrimeSense for $360 Million

Turn the channel on your new Apple TV with just a wave of the hand. Or make a purchase on your favorite ecommerce site with another simple swipe. These are just some of the wonders PrimeSense, an Israeli-based company specializing in 3D sensor technology, believes it can bring to pass.

The company has just been acquired by Apple Inc. for an estimated $360 million.

On its website, PrimeSense explains the uses of its innovative products:

“By giving digital devices the gift of sight, PrimeSense technology is powering the evolutionary path for a wide range of industries and markets. Our technology is already powering more than 24 million devices around the world. With it, we’re enabling Natural Interaction between people and devices and between devices and their surroundings for robust, user-friendly experiences.”

A video demonstrates applications of the technology both now and in the future:

Apple follows search engine giant Google into the gesture technology space. Google acquired gesture technology startup Flutter earlier this year for around $40 million.

PrimeSense could be used in any number of future Apple projects including rumored Apple television and smartwatch development, said All Things D. The site reports both companies have confirmed the sale. But neither has specified future plans.

PrimeSense first rose to fame helping Microsoft develop Kinect, used to integrate players’ motions into actual gameplay on the Xbox, All Things D reports.

The acquisition is another good example of how small companies that develop unique technologies or products can generate great interest and even lucrative acquisition offers. That interest is among much larger tech companies hoping to use the new companies products or innovations longterm.

Apple Photo via Shutterstock

Your Business Needs Network Security and User Management: Skydog Is Here

I bought Skydog a few weeks ago to manage my growing home network.

Skydog is an appliance that connects to your existing network and enables you to manage your entire network. You can filter web traffic, assign bandwidth to users, setup various zones (for maybe guests, or other purposes).

If you have a small home network or a small corporate network, you’ll want an easy to manage solution that you or an admin can manage.

Skydog is $149, with a 3 year subscription to it’s online management service.

I took the appliance out of the box, connected it to my router (Verizon Fios) and was up and running in a few minutes. The support is pretty good, with easy to understand videos liberally sprinkled through the interface.

4 Trade Show Tips For Startup Companies

Startup companies have a lot of things to worry about as they strive to become successful. Trade shows are practically foolproof in that endeavor, but only if you know what you’re doing.

Think about the potential of introducing your new business to that many people. With the right techniques, you can theoretically triple your sales with just one or two shows and there are tips you can use to accomplish this.

Get Busy with the Legwork

Your work begins way before the show takes place. In addition to planning your budget and setting up a goal list, you have to get started on the legwork. While trade shows are excellent places to network, you can begin networking beforehand.

Reach out to current customers, investors, vendors and anyone who helped your startup along the way. Let them know you’re setting up a booth, invite them to come, and invite them to invite others as well.

If you take down contact information from even one-time customers, then send out notices utilizing social media and newsletters advertising your appearance at the trade show.

Make an Investment in a Great Booth

There are all sorts of trade show booths available. If you have the finances and think you’ll attend lots of shows, a custom design is worth the investment. You can make your logo stand out, choose your colors, and make sure you have as much space as you need. All the details are up to you, and although you’ll certainly pay for it, it’s a worthwhile investment if it brings in more business.

As a startup, however, you may not have the budget for an expensive booth. But, that’s okay because you can still make a good investment. Here are some criteria for buying a trade show display:

• Start small if it’s your smartest move.
• Go for a pop-up display or a banner.

As long as your signage is vibrant, visible and interesting, your booth will serve you well.

Be as Eye-Catching as Possible

You have to grab the attention of all the people passing by your booth. The display itself, the colors, the signage, and the product placement are solid places to start, but that’s not the only way to create an eye-catching booth. If you want to have a steady stream of visitors, you need to:

• Put together swag bags, giveaway items, or other promotional materials.
• Create an attraction or gimmick that piques the interest of passersby, such as a display of food, a PowerPoint presentation or a TV display.
• Carefully scout the perfect location, one that guarantees lots of foot traffic. Make sure your display stands out and draws a crowd.

Don’t Get Lazy After the Show

Just because you got a lot of leads and prospects at the trade show doesn’t mean you’re done. The worst mistake a startup can make is to get lazy, because people will forget about you.

At your booth, invite people to share their contact information, or at least their email addresses. After the show, send out letters and follow-up messages, giving them a personal touch when possible.

You can give your business a significant boost if you attend the right trade show events. Just remember that those sales don’t come cheap, so you have to work hard to generate and maintain relationships.

Your Business Needs Network Security and User Management: Skydog Is Here

I bought Skydog a few weeks ago to manage my growing home network.

Skydog is an appliance that connects to your existing network and enables you to manage your entire network. You can filter web traffic, assign bandwidth to users, setup various zones (for maybe guests, or other purposes).

If you have a small home network or a small corporate network, you’ll want an easy to manage solution that you or an admin can manage.

Skydog is $149, with a 3 year subscription to it’s online management service.

I took the appliance out of the box, connected it to my router (Verizon Fios) and was up and running in a few minutes. The support is pretty good, with easy to understand videos liberally sprinkled through the interface.

Teenager’s Fledgling Business and Your Business: Success Strategies are the Same

My son Tim Ray has launched his own illusion (card tricks) business.

I’m impressed.

He’s done lots of card tricks on his college campus, and now raised his profile by working with a local coffee shop to do tricks there - all to attract traffic to convert to sales.

He doesn’t see it this precise, but he’s getting it.

Check out his Youtube Channel (like it and comment) and see my video about this below or here.

How to Close An Inactive Business Before It Really Begins to Cost You

Alex’s franchise business was running at full steam when he received a letter from a collection agency from out of the blue. Unsure about where he could possibly be delinquent, he learned it was for a “Business Registration Fee” and further investigating uncovered that it was fees for an old business he once started a decade ago and never did anything with.

The moral of the story is that any business, once officially launched, must be officially closed. In Alex’s case, he quickly lost interest in that original company, stopped advertising, didn’t look for clients, and had no revenue.

But just because you’re not actively working on a business doesn’t mean it’s closed.

You’ll need to formally close your LLC or Corporation. Otherwise, you can still be on the hook for filing your inactive business’ annual reports, filing state/federal tax returns, and keeping up any business licenses. All of these will take time and money - and savvy entrepreneurs don’t like to pay any more than they absolutely have to. As Alex learned, the fees and obligations will catch up to you eventually.

If you have an inactive business and are certain you’re retiring it, it’s smart to wrap things up and close it officially before the end of the year. That way, you won’t be on the hook for anything in the future and you’ll be free to focus your attention on something bigger and better.

1. Dissolve the Legal Entity (LLC or Corporation) with the State

An LLC or Corporation needs to be officially dissolved. If there are multiple owners/shareholders involved, all business associates need to vote on the business closing. After the vote, you’ll need to file an “Articles of Dissolution” or “Certificate of Termination” with the Secretary of State’s office wherever your LLC or Corporation was established.

• For a corporation: If shares were issued, two-thirds of the voting shares need to agree on dissolving the company. If no shares were issued, the Board of Directors needs to approve. You’ll need to record the final vote in the meeting minutes.
• For an LLC: Each state has specific rules for closing a business and you’ll need to review the “dissolution requirements” in your state’s Limited Liability Company Act. You could also try calling the secretary or state’s office for help, or work with an online legal document filing service.

2. Pay Any Outstanding Bills

You need to satisfy any company debts before closing the business. In most cases, an LLC or Corp needs to settle its debts before any money or assets can be legally distributed to the members.

If your business doesn’t have the resources to pay its debts, talk with an attorney to determine the next steps.

3. Cancel Any Business Licenses or Permits

If you opened any licenses or permits (such as a reseller’s license), you’ll need to cancel them with the appropriate local entity. Be proactive about cancelling these things. The county government won’t know you’re not actually operating a business anymore (and will continue to assess fees) until you notify them.

4. File Your Final Federal and State Tax Returns

You will need to file a tax return for the year you go out of business. For a partnership, corporation, S Corp, or LLC, you can check the box indicating that this is a final return. You can learn more here. And if you have any employees, you’ll need to file the final employment tax returns and make your final federal tax deposits for these taxes.

This list represents the legal steps needed to properly close a business. But there are other things to consider when closing a business as well.

If you still have any active clients, you’ll need to create a closing plan with them. Likewise, you should discuss your plans with any key contractors, vendors, freelancers, suppliers or anyone else who has helped you. Don’t just go dark and make them wonder what happened.

By being considerate and open with your network, people will be more eager to join you for future ventures.

Closed Photo via Shutterstock

Teenager’s Fledgling Business and Your Business: Success Strategies are the Same

My son Tim Ray has launched his own illusion (card tricks) business.

I’m impressed.

He’s done lots of card tricks on his college campus, and now raised his profile by working with a local coffee shop to do tricks there - all to attract traffic to convert to sales.

He doesn’t see it this precise, but he’s getting it.

Check out his Youtube Channel (like it and comment) and see my video about this below or here.

Core Competencies, Core Product, Core Business…and More Core

I often read the business section of the paper to stay up to date and to troll for topics for new cartoons. Generally I read a bit, something hits me, I write it down, and then I keep reading.

One day, I noticed I’d written down a number of phrases that included the word “core.” Core product, core business, core customer… it seemed like that was the word for the day.

So after searching out a few more examples I lumped them all together, added some buggy eyes and I had this core-toon.

(I know, that was terrible. I couldn’t help myself.)

Goodsnitch Keeps Customer Feedback Private

Yelp and other social media and review sites have revolutionized customer feedback. Customers are empowered like never before to express sentiments good and bad about your business.

But the public nature of these sites sometimes invites customers with an ax to grind. And doubts raised over the validity of reviews on Yelp and other sites is another problem.

Now a new app comes at this issue from a totally different direction. Goodsnitch lets customers give you feedback - privately. This eliminates some of the motivation for questionable posts on review sites like Yelp.

The questions can be customized by the business owner to collect the feedback most important to you. Learn more about what customers specifically liked about the quality or experience of dealing with your company. You can reward customers for the feedback they gave you or easily get in touch if you need to do so.

Goodsnitch also lets you collect data from multiple customer responses creating data you can put to use when making improvements in your business for the future.

Here’s a basic video overview of the app in action:

Using the basic app is free but more customized features and installation are available with premium versions, reports the New York Times.

Founder Robert Pace, who is privately funding the app’s development, told the Times leaving feedback takes only about thirty seconds for customers. Pace says Goodsnitch contains a feature called Heromaker. It lets customers focus on a particular employee they feel improved their experience or gave great customer service.

The feature could allow you to create a better company culture by rewarding employees who receive positive feedback from customers. Developers also hope better adoption will allow Goodsnitch to gather more useful data across a variety of industries.

Image: Goodsnitch