Looking for Android and Windows on One Device? Don’t Hold Your Breath

The initial news was exciting â€" “was” being the operative word.  Chinese phone maker Huawei had announced plans in late February to offer a smartphone with dual operating systems, i.e., both Windows and Android, on the same device, to the U.S. market.

For those who use Windows in business but love Android, a device that gives you a choice of operating systems seemed like a great idea.  Android is by far the most popular and widely used phone operating system. But Windows Phone may be more compatible with the rest of your business technology. That assumes you use a Windows operating system on your business laptop or desktop computers.

Huawei’s Chief Marketing Officer Shao Yang originally told Trusted Reviews that his company would release a combination Android/Windows Phone device in the U.S. this spring. Yang said:

“We are definitely using a multi OS strategy. We think the dual OS can be a new choice for the consumer.”

Well, scratch that bright idea. Huawei has now backed off those plans.  Huawei subsequently told Fierce Wireless that:

“. . .most of our products are based on Android OS, [and] at this stage there are no plans to launch a dual-OS smartphone in the near future.”

Huawei is not the only manufacturer backtracking on dual operating system plans.  Asus apparently abandoned plans to introduce a dual operating system laptop and tablet.  It originally announced its plans at the highly visible Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January.  But according to the Wall Street Journal:

“Facing pressure from Google and Microsoft, Taiwanese personal-computer maker Asustek Computer Inc. has indefinitely postponed plans to sell a high-profile device designed to simultaneously run both Android and Windows software, people familiar with the matter said.”

It’s not in the interests of either Google (maker of the Android operating system) or Microsoft (maker of Windows) to get too close together.  Each has more control and power by keeping the device operating systems separate.  By staying separate, Microsoft protects its prize operating system.  Google protects its dominant position in the mobile apps market.

Don’t look for these dual operating system devices to proliferate anytime soon.

In the case of Huawei, it has bigger issues related to the U.S. market.  Despite being the third-largest smartphone maker in the world, the brand is not well known in the United States.  It has been making a push for a larger U.S. presence.  The company recently introduced several new devices, some of which will eventually be available in the U.S.

But the recent cross-allegations of spying â€" that Huawei was spying on U.S. companies, and that the NSA was spying on Huawei â€" may throw a monkey wrench into Huawei’s U.S. marketing plans.

Choice Photo via Shutterstock



How the New Overtime Law Changes Will Affect Small Businesses

President Obama recently signed an executive order calling for new rules on overtime pay. Currently, salaried workers in executive, administrative and professional positions aren’t eligible for overtime pay if they make over $455 per week. The President suggested $600 or $640 as the new threshold - the current standards for New York and California.

Let’s put this in layman’s terms. There are many arguments for this new overtime law change. According to the White House, only 12% of salaried workers are currently legally required to receive overtime pay, and the threshold hasn’t been raised since the mid-1970′s. Additionally, following the economic downturn, company profits have bounced back, with profits of S&P 500 companies doubling since 2009. However, wages haven’t followed suit.

President Obama said:

“Overtime’s a pretty simple idea â€" if you have to work more you should get paid more. If you go above and beyond to help your employer and help the economy succeed, then you should share in your success.”

What About Small Businesses and the New Overtime Law?

Unfortunately, these new overtime law changes, if put into effect, will most likely disproportionately affect small businesses. While most large firms can absorb new regulatory costs, small businesses have less revenue to spread the costs across. As Marc Freedman, the Executive Director of Labor Law Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce explained:

“Similar to minimum wage, these changes in overtime rules will fall most harshly on small and medium sized businesses.”

It is predicted that some small companies will see a significant increase in their payroll costs as lower-level employees working 50 or 60 hours a week become eligible for overtime.  In the current economic environment, many small businesses don’t have the available revenue to cover these additional costs. The overtime pay changes could also potentially devastate startups, which often depend on long hours and under-paid dedication from their employees in order to get off the ground.

This new overtime law change will also negatively impact many small business employees. The changes would endanger employee jobs (as many small business owners will be forced to cut back the number of workers they employ) while ignoring the many legitimate reasons why employees may work overtime even without extra pay - like getting experience, developing their skills, or positioning themselves for a promotion.

What Are Your Options?

While a proposed rule is not predicted to come out until the fall, small business owners should start thinking about how they might mitigate these costs now. Some companies may have the revenue to just pay for their newly eligible employees outright, but many small businesses don’t have that luxury. Those already under financial constraints may need to consider raising their prices or reducing their employee numbers.

There are also some other measures small businesses should consider to mitigate these possible regulatory costs. Instead of hiring full-time employees to provide a needed service, small businesses can save money by hiring contract workers or outside service providers. These entities are dictated by contract law rather than employment law, and so are not eligible for overtime or benefits. They can also dictate their own payment terms.

As Paul Christiansen explains in a recent article:

“The corporation is the magic strategy that can open up opportunity, freedom, flexibility and choice for both startups and their service providers.”

Small businesses owners should also consider investing in an automated time-tracking system. If the new overtime law is changed, it will be more important than ever to track how employees are spending their time in order to ensure that no unnecessary overtime hours are logged. A fully integrated system can also show small business owners which employees are profitable to the company, making any budget-induced staff cuts more straightforward.

If the new overtime law changes take effect in the coming year, many small businesses will face additional payroll costs. But with the proper preparations, these costs can be mitigated.

Obama Photo via Shutterstock



10 Apps to Assist with Your Small Business Taxes

Tax time is almost here. And as with almost anything else in your small business, there are apps designed to get you through it.

You can use some apps for filing your tax returns. Others can be used to keep you better organized throughout the year â€" by doing things like tracking your expenses.

We’ve identified 10 small business tax apps you may find useful as a small business or microbusiness owner, an entrepreneur, or a solopreneur.

FreshBooks

Many small business owners may need help with accounting and an organized accounting process can really prove beneficial at tax time. FreshBooks is one of several all-in-one accounting apps used for tracking expenses, producing invoices for your customers and tracking payments.

FreshBooks is available on Android and iOS devices. New users get a free 30-day trial. Monthly plans after the trial period start at $19.95 per month, according to the FreshBooks website.

TurboTax Home & Business

This is probably one of the most recognizable names on the list. TurboTax, from Intuit, offers an app for small business owners that costs $99.99. That price includes the cost of one e-file of a tax return.

The online app claims that using it allows you to identify and get the most money for your tax deductions, especially those specific to small businesses. You can also use it to create W2 and 1099 forms for your employees. Throughout the year, you can use this app to help track expenses, too. There is also a feature that accounts for value depreciation of your assets.

TaxCaster

Intuit also offers a companion app for your mobile device called TaxCaster. The app is designed to give you a glimpse at any possible tax return you can expect.

IRS2Go

This app comes directly from the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS2Go mobile app is available for both iOS and Android devices. The app is supposed to allow you to track your refund. It also provides you with tax prep information. And you can request tax return information and account transcripts through the app.

When the IRS receives your request through the app, they’ll send you the information you requested in the mail.

MoBu

This is a Windows app designed to run on desktops or mobile devices. The cost for the MoBu app is $6.99, but there is a free version with limited capabilities.

Like many of the apps on this list, MoBu uses charts and graphs to give a picture of your finances. Although MoBu is marketed toward personal finance, self-employed people can also use some of the features.  This is how a description on the Microsoft app store describes it:

“When other applications only offer you to enter and track your expenses and income, MoBu lets you in addition define expenditure and savings budgets, and fully analyze your financial wealth and simulate the future.”

Mint

This is a free app from Intuit Inc. that has the sole aim of tracking and organizing your expenses. Mint organizes your expenses to let you know where your money is being spent. It presents this information in easy-to-read charts and graphs.

Mint would be a good app for any entrepreneur keen on controlling expenses. Forecasting features allow you to get a glimpse at future expenses and savings.

inDinero

This app is designed for both desktop and mobile use. inDinero claims it can perform all your financial tasks, from your accounting to tax returns. The app uses graphs and charts on an online dashboard to present your business’ financial information.

inDinero offers three levels of paid service, based on the size of your business. It charges a flat fee. But not just any business can use this app. inDinero requires that you request an invite to use its services. It will review your application.

TaxACT

This popular tax software has online apps for small businesses filing their federal and state taxes. TaxACT says small business owners can file their 1065, 1120, 1120S and 1040 Schedule C returns using its app. A free trial has limited services but does allow you to file one federal return for free through e-file. Premium offerings start at $12.99 and include assistance with filing your business taxes.

Record keeping, or a lack thereof, could make tax season even more arduous on small business owners. Below are several mileage, receipt tracking apps you can use to accomplish this.

Expensify

This is a free app you can use on desktop or mobile. Expensify has a service designed specifically for businesses. This app allows you and your employees to track your expenses by taking photos of receipts. It also tracks employee mileage through GPS.

This app even allows you to reimburse employees for their expenses from inside Expensify. The app also integrates with some popular accounting software, which should come in handy at tax time.

iDonatedIt

If you’re a charitable person or have donated anything in the course of a year, use the iDonatedIt app to calculate the value of that donation. If you track your donations throughout the year using this app, accounting for them at tax time should be easier. It is available for both Android and iOS devices.

While some of these small business tax apps are free to use, others obviously require an up-front cost. But remember, as tax professional J.K. Lasser points out, the money you spend on a tax prep app like those in our list is tax deductible.

Using App Photo via Shutterstock



Be Great by Learning “What Great Brands Do”

There are many who think that if they hire a great graphic designer to create their logo and website, that they would have established a great brand; until reality sinks in. A brand is so much more than a logo or design element that visually represents your business. A brand is your story, what you ...

The post Be Great by Learning “What Great Brands Do” appeared first on Small Business Trends.



Be Great by Learning “What Great Brands Do”



Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)