New Partnership to Connect Small Businesses with Corporate Supply Chains

From the SBA -

New Partnership to Connect Small Businesses with Corporate Supply Chains

A new private-public collaboration will help small businesses strengthen their revenue streams by gaining access to more than $300 billion in combined supply chain spending by a consortium of 15 of America’s largest corporations.

 

Supplier Connection, created by the IBM Foundation, is designed to help bridge the gap between small, nimble businesses looking for new opportunities and large corporations looking for innovative new ideas and diversity in their supply chains. Studies have shown that small businesses that are part of large corporations’ supply chains experience increased revenues and employment.  SBA is committed to helping small businesses identify new tools and resources to become part of these supply chains. 

 

Supplier Connection is a free, online portal created by the IBM Foundation that allows small businesses to send information about their products and services to 15 large private sector companies.  The 15 companies participating in Supplier Connection are: AMD, AT&T, Bank of America, Caterpillar, Citi Group, Dell, Facebook, IBM, JP Morgan Chase, John Deere, Kellogg’s, Office Depot, Pfizer, UPS and Wells Fargo.  Together, these 15 companies have a combined purchasing power of $300 billion and now they will have full access to the profiles of small businesses that have registered for Supplier Connection. 

 

The American Supplier Initiative is a call-to-action to the private sector to invest in their supply chains through small businesses.  The initiative aims to address four key areas in which small business need help in order to become successful suppliers in the private sector: access to mentorship and counseling services, increased market and revenue opportunities, ready sources of capital to fund their growth, and a highly skilled workforce.  For more information on Supplier Connection, please visit: https://www.supplier-connection.net.

“Shared Secrets of Visual Merchandising”

“Shared Secrets of Visual Merchandising”

Robert Sharpe

March 13, 2012

6:15 – 8:30 PM

 

Join us and find out the value of visual merchandising and how it will increase your sales volume.

 

At 6:15 PM gather at the Reidsville Chamber of Commerce, 112 Settle Street for a brief opening statement.

 

The group will then walk around to La Boutique at 209 S. Scales Street and then move on to Cakes and More at 136 S. Scales St.

 

Brought to you by the Reidsville Downtown Corporation,  Rockingham Community College’s Small Business Center and the Reidsville Chamber of Commerce.

 

Contact:  Terresia E. Scoble 

                  NC Main Street Manager

                  Phone:  336-347-2307

                  tscoble@ci.reidsville.nc.us

Ten tips for filing taxes in North Carolina

Ten tips for filing taxes in North Carolina

 

Tax season is here and making it easy for taxpayers to understand and file their taxes is a top priority for the North Carolina Department of Revenue.  Providing the correct information and remembering a few simple tips will help ensure you have an error-free tax return that can be processed quickly and correctly.

 

NCDOR offers the following easy tips and recommendations as you prepare your taxes this year.

 

1. Extended filing date- Individual income taxpayers will have until April 17, 2012, to file returns, extensions and payments normally due on April 15. The extension is to accommodate Emancipation Day, a legal holiday in the District of Columbia. Get more details on the extension.

 

2. Gather all your income and tax documents before you file- Filing before you receive all W-2s and 1099s often leads to errors that require you to file amended returns once you have the correct information. Employers are required to mail W-2s and other documents by Jan.31.

 

3. File electronically and request direct deposit for refunds-This is the most convenient, accurate and the fastest way to file your taxes. Electronic filing will identify common math errors and direct deposit to your bank account means you get your money sooner. Some taxpayers may qualify for free or low-cost electronic filing. Find out how to E-file and if you qualify for low-cost filing.  Some taxpayers with low-to moderate- incomes may qualify for free tax preparation through the Volunteer Tax Assistance Program. To locate the nearest VITA site, call 1-800-906-9887 or visit the IRS website.

 

4. File electronic federal and state returns at the same time-Failure to file both returns at the same time could require taxpayers to amend North Carolina returns if the IRS detects any errors with their federal return.

 

5. Check your address-Every year, thousands of refund checks are returned to the Department of Revenue because of incorrect addresses, and the law forbids the forwarding of those checks. Carefully check the mailing address you provide on your return.

 

6. Do not file photocopies of tax forms-Use pre-printed or downloaded forms from the department’s website. Photocopies may not scan correctly and could cause delays in processing your return. Taxpayers can request forms online, download forms from the NCDOR website, or call 1-877-252-3052.

 

7. Make checks payable to the N.C. Department of Revenue if you owe state taxes-Some taxpayers mistakenly send checks made out to the Internal Revenue Service for their state taxes. Payments may also be made on-line through our secure website. Just visit www.dornc.com and click on Electronic Services for Individuals.

 

8. File on time regardless of ability to pay-Make sure you file on-time to avoid the automatic failure-to-file penalty of five percent per month, up to a maximum of 25% of what you owe in state taxes. You are better off filing your taxes by the April 17 deadline and contacting the department at 1-877-252-3052 to arrange a payment plan if you cannot pay all at once.

 

9. Check to see if you qualify for common credits, deductions or exemptions-You could qualify for popular credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit both federally and with the state.  Some severance pay may also be exempt if you were laid off from your job.

 

10. Find and use a reputable tax preparer- Taxpayers get billed for millions of dollars in state taxes each year as a result of deliberate errors made on their returns by fraudulent tax preparers.  Be wary of preparers who: claim they can obtain larger refunds than others, ask you to sign a blank tax return, base their fees on a percentage of a taxpayer’s refund and who are reluctant to offer references.  If you see information on your return that is wrong or confusing, you should question the preparer and if not satisfied with their response, called the NC Department of Revenue at 1-800-232-4939. 

 

Questions, need more information or don’t have access to the Internet?

If you have any questions or need more assistance, please call our Taxpayer Assistance Center at 1-877-252-3052.

 

SBA Elevated to Cabinet | Get Ready for Reporting Season: Filing W-2s, 1099 Forms, and More

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Small Business Administration sent this bulletin at 01/19/2012 10:52 AM EST

 

SBA Administrator Elevated to the President’s Cabinet New Plan to Make Government Work Better for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners   Friday, January 13 was an important day for America’s small businesses.  President Obama asked Congress for the authority to reorganize and modernize government and he elevated Karen Mills‘ position as the SBA Administrator to Cabinet-level status. These actions are a reflection of the importance he places on small business, economic growth, and job creation.   > Read more Get Ready for Reporting Season – How to File W-2s, 1099 Forms, and More Did your small business hire employees for the first time in 2011? Did you use the services of an independent contractor? Or do you simply need a refresher on the ins and outs of wage reporting season? Here’s what you need to know about your annual employer reporting obligations.   > Read more Got Competition? 6 Tips for Dealing with a New Competitor on the Block Has someone opened up a competing business in your town? Are you worried that your business may be at risk? Not sure how to react to the new competition? Here are some tips for dealing with competitors and, quite possibly, collaborating with them!   > Read more    General Business Liability Insurance – How it Works and What Coverage is Right for You If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times: if you’re starting a business, you’re going to need general liability insurance. But what does that mean? How do you determine your coverage needs? Here are a few answers about liability insurance to help guide you through the process.   > Read more    Sorting Out Confusion About Tax Information Returns Information returns are tax-reporting forms required to be submitted to the IRS. In turn, the IRS uses the information to cross-check reporting by taxpayers. According to the IRS, information returns greatly increase the compliance rate. Here’s what you need to know so you can get things right on your 2011 tax return.   > Read more    SAVE THE DATE! National Small Business Week 2012  National Small Business Week 2012 is May 20-26, 2012.   SBA will host a conference in Washington, D.C. to honor outstanding small businesses and host panel discussions on a variety of topics. You can follow along on our website or via hashtag #SBW2012. Registration for the event will open in February.

Small Business Taxpayer Recovery Program Information

Beverly Eaves Perdue  

Governor               

State of North Carolina

Office of the Governor

20301 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-0301 

Nov. 30, 2011

Contact: Chris Mackey

Office: (919) 733-5612         

Recovery Program Now Helping More than 1,000 Small Businesses

RALEIGH –  The Small Business Taxpayer Recovery Program launched by the NC Department of Revenue and the N.C. Small Business Commissioners Office in July is now helping more than 1,000 small businesses get back on their feet after facing financial hardships during the economic downturn.

“Our top priority is creating and sustaining jobs in North Carolina, and we all know that small businesses are the primary engine of job growth,” Gov. Bev Perdue said. “More than 1,000 small businesses are now able to keep their doors open and their employees working. These are the types of programs that ease regulatory burdens and make doing business with state government more efficient.”

The program offers penalty and fee waivers, as well as longer-term payment plans to companies that have fallen behind on sales, withholding and other trust taxes. With a total cost savings of almost $6.8 million in fees and penalties, 1009 businesses are now participating in the program. 

“Companies from the mountains to the coast are benefiting from the state’s help during these tough economic times,” said Secretary of Revenue David Hoyle.  “We have everything from restaurants, automotive centers, and healthcare services to landscaping and building companies that are using this program to get back on their feet.”

Businesses with 200 or fewer employees qualify for the program and must agree to use the counseling services of the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) or the NC Small Business Center Network (SBCN).  Both organizations are available to assist with financial planning and other business needs.   All services are confidential and protected from public information requests. 

The program runs through June 2013.

Interested business owners should contact the department at 1-877-252-3052 and visit the “Information for Businesses” section of www.dornc.com to learn more about eligibility and participation.

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Mark Johnson

Deputy Communications Director

Office of the Governor

1 East Edenton Street

Raleigh, NC 27601

919-733-5612

919-520-0311 cell