When things are going well, planning ahead in your home based business for any difficulties is not necessarily what you really want to think about when you are riding high. However, planning ahead in your home based business is exactly what you should do at these high points. After all, you never know what is coming around the corner.By paying down credit lines and reducing balances on your home based business credit cards, you can reduce the amount of interest that you are paying out. Also, you can consider obtaining new company credit cards and transfer your balances to a card with a lower rate.Putting money away in a CD or Mutual Fund is a great way to make smart investments with your extra money and be planning ahead in your home based business. You can even pre-pay your insurance premiums so that they will not be a difficulty in the leaner times. Also, your insurance company may offer some discounts for pre-payments.Something else you can do when planning ahead in your home based business is to take note on other ways to save like stocking up on stamps or your best selling products when you can take advantage of large quantity discounts. Just remember that you should make sure you have enough storage space for anything you order.When things are going well, planning ahead in your home based business could involve doing any maintenance on your equipment. Waiting until your equipment breaks can be a disaster, so use the boom to get preventive service done. You can also be planning ahead in your home based business by purchasing expensive office supplies in this time.Doing market research or product testing is perfect when you are planning ahead in your home based business, for it offers you a chance to strategize to minimize the chance of potential downturns. You could also develop a customer or employee appreciation program while you are planning ahead in your home based business.Finally, you can take this time while you are planning ahead in your home based business to test direct mail pieces. Many home based business owners use direct mail to boost business, and take advantage of the extra profit to test new direct mail strategies.Read the rest of the article here: Planning Ahead in Your Home Based Business.Download the Home Based Business Manual (Free $97 Value!) and receive valuable tips, strategies and techniques designed to grow a very successful Home Based Business.
Cut Your Taxes by 30 to 50% With a Home Based Business
You can cut your taxes 30-50% by starting and operating a home based business. There are major tax breaks available to people operating home based businesses.Congress has decided these breaks are necessary because home based businesses provide a safety net to Americans who might lose their jobs or face layoffs during these tough economic times.You are not dodging taxes or tricking the Internal Revenue Service. You are taking advantage of legitimate means to minimize your tax liabilities. The congress wants you to have this incentive because they believe home based businesses will be good for the economy.Your tax refund could grow by thousands of dollars through your home-based business. That should be enough to cover all your start up costs and leave you with 100% of what your home-based business earns.The qualifications are that you work 3-4 hours a week, keep good business records, and prove that you are attempting to be profitable.Having a home office for your business can allow you to substitute thousands of dollars of household expenses for tax-deductible business expenses. As a home based businessperson, you have the following advantages, tax wise.o You can deduct household expenses such as mortgage interest, utilities, and home improvements.o You can get deductions for hiring your spouse and legal aged children to work for your business.o You can deduct automobile expenses if you use your car in some aspect of your business. You can even put a small sign advertising your business on your car and write off gas and travel expenses every time you use it.o Deduct your vacation, if you distribute business cards where you are staying or make business contacts along the road.o Deduct meals with colleagues, even if they live with you.o You can deduct part of your phone bill, cell phone bill, and the bill from your Internet provider.o Any computer equipment like printers, monitors, routers, can be deducted as long as you are using the computer for business.o Office supply costs like pencils, pens, paper, and the furniture in your office space are deductible.This is a great opportunity for many Americans to cut their tax liability dramatically and have the security of knowing they have earning potential to fall back on if things were to go awry for them financially.The best part is that the federal government is offering these tax breaks in the hopes you will take advantage of them and start a home based business of your own.
6 Things You Need to Know About State Special Education Laws That Will Empower Your Advocacy!
Are you the parents of a child with Autism or other type of disability who receives special education services? Are you currently having a dispute with your school district related to your child’s education? Would you like to learn about State special education laws and regulations to use in your advocacy? This article is for you and will be discussing these laws,and information that you need to know to empower your advocacy!
1. Every state is required by IDEA 2004 (federal special education law) to have laws and regulations that will show how they will be complying with the law.
2. State regulations cannot “establish provisions that reduce parent’s rights or are otherwise in conflict with the requirements of IDEA and Federal Regulations.” Federal law “trumps” or is stronger than State law. State law can give a parent more rights but cannot take away rights.
3. Many States laws are not consistent with federal laws.
4. Some states have been told that they must change their state regulations to be consistent with federal law. For example: New Jersey stated in their regulations that school districts had the right to test a child in an area that they did not previously test—if a parent asked for an independent educational evaluation at public expense (IEE at public expense). Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) found this inconsistent with IDEA 2004 (300.502). They have required NJ to revise their regulations and until they do so make sure school districts are not evaluating children in an area not previously evaluated before paying for an IEE.
5. Other States regulations are also inconsistent with federal law but have not been told by the U.S. DOE that they must change their regulations. One example is New York who has a regulation that ESY eligibility is only for children with multiple disabilities and/or who show regression and slow recoupment. This is not consistent with federal special education law and may hurt children by denying them needed services. Another example is in my State of Illinois the parent guide states that parents must “request” an IEE before the testing is done. IDEA 2004 states that parents have the right to “obtain” an IEE if they disagree with the schools evaluation. A letter to the Illinois State Board of Education pointing out this inconsistency was answered with this statement “The office plans to review the identified guidance document and initiate any necessary revisions during the summer of 2012. Your information will be considered during the course of that process.” It is now 2014, and I will not be holding my breath for the State of Illinois to revise their parent guide.
6. OSEP policy letters often address inconsistent State laws and regulations! They are great advocacy tools and can be found at: http://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/memosdcltrs/index.html#topiclisting. I use them all the time to show special educators how the Office of Special Education Programs (at the U.S. DOE) interpret IDEA 2004 and inconsistent State regulations.
By understanding these 6 things about State Special Education Law, your advocacy will be empowered! Good Luck!