2017 Financial Goals for Small Business Owners

If you are a small business owner, you should be setting goals as early as possible so that you are not caught behind the eight ball as the year goes by. Sweeping changes are expected in 2017, and you’ll need to be ready. For example, it’s predicted that 2017 will be the year that video finally overtakes text as the No. 1 form of communication on the internet. 2017 will also mark the rise of the independent mobile commerce culture, and, of course, virtual reality is on the immediate horizon.

Here’s how to prepare for the changes ahead.

Target Your Niche Even More Precisely

In order to grow your business, shrink your marketing. The major search engines, like Google and Bing, continue to reward localization and punish wide-net marketing strategies. There is also more competition in 2017 than ever before, including premium prices on the best keywords. You will need to stretch out your long-tail keywords even further and delve more deeply into a local or niche culture in order to get that organic traffic that drives the highest conversion rates.

Bother People

Many small business owners believe that the advent of new communications technologies means an automatic influx of customers. Even with the hands-down best product on the market, this is never the case. More robust communications only means more noise as potential consumers are bombarded with a deluge of advertisements and indirect marketing. In order to stand out, you have to personalize your messages – even going customer by customer. You cannot be afraid to bother people, and rejection cannot bother you.

Fundable.com Features International Vintage Watch Company (IVWC) in $1M Capital Raise

LOS ANGELES, March 30, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- International Vintage Watch Company (IVWC), a Los Angeles Based Luxury and Vintage Watch Company, has announced that it has teamed up with Fundable.com to raise a minimum $ 1 Million to help expand its global e-commerce vintage watch sales.   Click here for Fundable.com Vintage Watch Raise.

Based in the historic Downtown Los Angeles Jewelry District, IVWC has quickly become one of the largest vintage watch dealers in the USA.  IVWC specializes in buying pre-owned classic, elegant timepieces in various conditions and meticulously breathing new life into their functions before making them available on several marketplaces worldwide.  Featured vintage brands include Omega, Rolex, Cartier, Patek Philippe, IWC, Seiko, Longines and many others.

"Our team members each have over 25 years of experience in the jewelry industry.  Paired with our own appreciation for classic, quality watches, our operation is a labor of love," said Jack Abramov, co-founder and CEO of International Vintage Watch Company.

IVWC reports that 50% of its sales are International, placing the company in a position to compete with other trusted, American watch dealers in the global market.  The company expects to generate $ 3M in online sales in 2017, more than doubling its 2016 sales of $ 1.2M.

Offerings include 1930's – 1950's collector pieces, 1960's retro models, 1970's classics and 1980's – 2000's modern styles, all professionally cleaned, serviced and restored in stunning detail.

The company features collectable vintage premium Swiss and Japanese watches by the finest brands including: Rolex, Cartier, Patek Philippe, Omega, IWC, Vacheron Constantin, Piaget, Audemars Piguet, Franck Muller, Chronoswiss, Roger Dubuis, Universal Geneve, Bvlgari, Corum, Louis Vuitton, Tudor, Tiffany & Co., Panerai, Breitling, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Hublot, Chopard, Bell & Ross, Breguet, Glashutte, Girard Perregaux, Ulysse Nardin, Baume & Mercier, Sinn, Zenith, Rado, Seiko, Bulova, Gucci, Citizen, Orient, Enicar, Technos, Elgin, Richoh, Milus, Wyler, Fortis, Tag Heuer, Longines, Movado, Benrus, Tissot, Fendi, Ebel, Movado, Raymond Weil, Oris, Hamilton and others.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL VINTAGE WATCH COMPANY (IVWC)

International Vintage Watch Company (IVWC) is one of the largest vintage watch dealers in the United States.  Based in the historic downtown Los Angeles Jewelry District, IVWC is world renowned for its expert restoration and supply of fine premium authentic vintage Swiss and Japanese made watches.   The company has over 1,200 vintage ladies watches in stock and sells its products globally on several e-commerce marketplaces including Chrono24 Germany, Ebay VividLily Store, Tradesy Online and others.

Banquet to highlight Lancaster Mennonite history

Unusual stories about Lancaster County's long history will be celebrated at the annual Lancaster Mennonite Historical Handmade Patchwork Quilts Society banquet at 6 p.m. on March 25 at the DoubleTree Resort Banquet Hall, 2400 Willow Street Pike, Lancaster.

Author and LNP columnist Jack Brubaker will talk about  “Ten of My Favorite Historical Anecdotes about Lancaster County,” and Janneken Smucker, assistant professor of history at West Chester University and author of “Amish Quilts: Crafting an American Icon,” will discuss his love of quilt history at the gathering. The evening will include music provided by the Ukrainian Kravets family.

The Anabaptist influence in Lancaster County extends to the 18th century.

Rolando Santiago, the society's executive director, says “It is important to celebrate Lancaster Quilting County, and to remember the significance of historical reflection.”

Tickets for the event are $30 and can be purchased at lmhs.org or by calling 717-393-9745. The deadline for registration is Saturday, March 18.

What Every Small Business Should Know About 1099s

Every year when tax time rolls around, I field questions from business owners about whether or not they need to send 1099s to their vendors. As common as 1099 forms are, they remain one of the most misunderstood Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requirements.

To make sure you understand the circumstances under which the IRS requires issuing 1099-MISC forms to vendors, I’m going to provide some basic “must-know” information here.

What Is A Form 1099-MISC?

You must issue an IRS Form 1099-MISC to each person you’ve paid $600 or more in services (including parts and materials), prizes and awards, rents or other income payments. The 1099-MISC only applies to payments you made in doing business; it does not apply to payments made for personal purposes.

To Whom Do You Need To Send A Form 1099-MISC?

If your business paid more than $600 to a vendor or sub-contractor [individual, partnership, Limited Liability Company (LLC), Limited Partnership (LP), or estate], you are required to send a Form 1099-MISC to document what you paid them throughout the year. In general, anyone who worked for you—other than your employees—will need a 1099 from you.