The Health Benefit of Beans

Beans come in a variety of shapes, colors and tastes. These staples are often overlooked in restaurants and home kitchens alike. Perhaps, this is, in part, due to the popularity of restaurant-style refried beans, which often contain lard, despite the fact that refried beans can be prepared in a more health conscious way. Get out your chef apparel and prepare to learn more about the magic of beans.
While you're putting on black aprons and letting you beans soak, let's talk about a few of the health benefits before separating the pinto beans from the garbanzo beans. Looking over the Dietary Guidelines for Americas, there are seven recommendations for a healthy diet that will reduce the possibility of many diseases. It is no surprise to the bean lovers of the world that beans meet six of the seven suggestions.
At lunch hours across the country, men and women in business uniforms can be found enjoying bean-based lunches in soups to spreads. But what is it in beans that make them good for you? First of all, beans possess an abundance of soluble fiber and are naturally low in fat. Soluble fiber has been proven to assist with the lowering of cholesterol. Beans have also been proven to help people with diabetes. The growing obesity epidemic in the United States has also lead to a parallel increase in coronary heart disease and high blood pressure. Beans also have been proven effective in fighting colon cancer. Current data shows that by including beans as a part of your daily meals delays feelings of hunger and makes people feel full for longer periods of time.
With the multi-million dollar diet industry offering many costly means to weight loss, the bean remains a cost effective friend. A bag of dry beans at your local grocery store can be purchased for just a few dollars; and a pot of beans will easily last an entire week. But in addition to the myriad of health benefits, beans provide a cost effective alternative to meat. Beans are such a powerhouse of nutrition that the USDA Food Pyramid Guide has placed them in the both the vegetable group and the lean meat and nuts group.
To get started on your pot of beans you will first want to rinse the dry beans thoroughly. Next soak the beans in cold water. (Note: The longer you soak the beans, the faster they will cook.) When you have the time, soak the beans overnight. From black beans to pinto beans, you have the tools to get started.

Zombie, Inc. - How To Profit From The Zombie Craze

Crazy Startup Of The Day - PickyDomains.com

http://zombietools.net/

Call it an artisanal arsenal. In Montana, a crew of 10 blacksmiths are forging handmade edged weapons to fight the walking dead.

The folks at Zombie Tools offer a selection of customized blades, including the Traumahawk for $235, and the Mack Daddy-O (a word play on the dan dao, a Chinese broad sword), which goes for $450. They make about 150 swords a month, many of which are exported to Europe and Asia.

"There are a lot of underemployed guys in the service industry who hate what they do and dream of making something with their hands," says Zombie Tools co-founder Chris Lombardi. "We're the guys who made that dream real."

http://www.hornady.com/store/Z-MAX-Bullets

Ammunition maker Hornady conveniently has a Zombie Max brand of ammo that's "specifically designed to vaporize zombie varmints," according to its website. There's even a Zombie brand ammo box.

Hornady's website boasts that Zombie Max "makes dead permanent," but it also features lots of warnings that this is live ammo. To wit: "Zombie Max ammunition is not a toy, but is intended only to be used on zombies, also known as the living dead, undead etc."

http://www.montiegear.com/Zombie-Apocalypse-Slingshot.html

"Be ready when the Zombies arrive!" So says the ad for the bright green Zombie Apocalypse sling shot from Montie Gear, an online retailer in Morrisville, N.C.

Montie Roland, president of Montie Gear, says he sold 600 of the $135 slingshots last year. He admits that the Y-Shot isn't really for killing zombies, but he does contend that it's "also a great way to run off those pesky deer that are eating your suburban garden or shrubs."

http://www.zombiesak.com/

Everybody needs a bug-out bag for the next big disaster, whether it's a hurricane or a zombie apocalypse. A company in Somerville, Mass., called Zombie SAK, which stands for Survival Assistance Kit, sells a variety of go-bags tailored for surviving the undead anarchy, containing multi-purpose tools, water bottles, medical kits and hatchets.

"It actually started as an idea as a wedding gift for my sister and her husband, because they both really like zombie stuff," said founder Ben Lewis.

Deluxe kits also feature extra zombie-chopping options like machetes and Gurkha-style kukri knives, but Lewis advised against wielding them "until the government tells us that there actually are zombies."

And of course there's world famouse The Zombie Survival Guide

[Via - CNNMoney]

Non-related but worth reading:

Best Free Google Sites Alternatives

Enterprise Social Networking Tips

Free Marketing Tools You Should Be Using

Guide To Free Intranet Instant Messaging And Videoconferencing Solutions

Need Free SugarCRM Alternative?

Best Free Google Sites Alternatives

Few products are as crappy as Google Sites. Google bought JotSpot in 2006 and (Google Sites is based on JotSpot) there haven’t really been any significant improvements for the service since. The good news is that there are a ton of Google Sites alternatives you can use and they are free. Let’s take a close look at them.

1. Bitrix24.

Bitrix24 is probably the best/most known Google Sites alternative, at least among free ones, if you planned to use GoogleSites for collaboration or as intranet. It has all GS features (wikis, etc.) but it’s more social (Bitrix24 is a free private social network) and comes packed with collaboration tools as well as business tools (HR and CRM). I’ve been using Bitrix24 for almost two years, so I can give you a very detailed description for this one. Here’s what you get with Bitrix24:

Documents: doc management, file sharing (private and public, multi-user online editing, version history tracking records management, Bitrix24.Drive (Dropbox clone) 5 GB free. MSOffice/Office365/GoogleDocs/LibreOffice/OpenOffice.

Collaboration and social: activity stream, intranet search, extranet, private social network, enterprise social network, likes, badges, posts, comments, blogs, instant messaging, videochat (one on one), videoconferencing, screen sharing (WebRTC), following, tags.

Project Management: workgroups, tasks, to-do lists, time tracking, Gantt charts, task reports, task counter, task reminder, personal calendars, shared calendars, group calendars, company calendar.

CMS: cloud (free) or on-premise ($2299), source code and API for on-premise version. 430+ free modules available, Bitrix Intranet for intranets, Bitrix CMS for regular site (non-intranet, non-collaborative use).

Knowledge Management: wikis, workgroups, intranet search, employee manuals, idea management, eLearning, training courses, knowledge base.

CRM: contact management, core CRM, invoicing, click to call, IP telephony.

HR: Core Human Resource Information System, searchable company directory, dynamic orgchart tool, internal job board, employee self-service portal.

Mobile and apps: Android, iPhone, iPad, Mac desktop app, PC desktop app (works as free Dropbox alternative).

Bitrix24 has over 35 free tools built in, so expect to spend an hour or so studying them all, if you plan to use Bitrix24 as Google Sites alternative.

2. SharePoint

$5K+, ton of integrations available, cloud or on premise

3. Jive Software

Supergood for large organizations, can get pricey ($50K+)

4. Huddle
Nice suite of collaboration tools, $20 user/mo.

5. Wiggio

Free (ad supported), student oriented.

Online Shoppers Habits That You Should Know

What do we really know about online consumer shopping habits and their preferences? What they buy and why?Our small business community has some answers you may find helpful.



Online Consumer Shopping Habits

Mars and Venus: Not All Online Shoppers are the Same
As you might expect, online buyers differ in many ways. But one of
the greatest differences online merchants should be aware of is the

Bean Bag Chairs - The Perfect Piece of Home Decor

Bean bag chairs are quickly becoming a must have piece of furniture in homes all across the world with their fun designs and extreme comfort. They come in all different shapes and sizes from small bean bags designed for children to extra-large bean bags that can hold up to two full-grown adults. They are a suitable seating choice for anyone of any age and make for a stylish addition to any home. Known for their ability to provide comfort and relaxation, they are a perfect piece of furniture to sit down on after a long day of work or when unwinding on the weekends. They are available in large variety of patterns and upholstery materials depending upon where the bean bag will be placed inside your home and how durable you will need to the bean bag to be.
Before picking out a bean bag upholstery, it is important to first determine who will be using the bean bag the majority of the time and your overall home environment. If you are purchasing one for your children, you will want to be sure to choose one that can withstand wear and tear that can occur from jumping, spills, plopping down with too much force, or being moved around often. The materials used for construction should be strong and able to hold up for years to come. Look for bean bags that are constructed with double stitching, polystyrene filling, locking zippers for child safety, and double zipper security. A bean bag is a similar investment to any other piece of furniture, you want to make sure it will last for years to come and is constructed with the utmost quality.
After you have found a company that offers quality bean bags, it is now time to determine the upholstery material you will want. There are many different options available and it is important to familiarize yourself with both the advantages and disadvantages of each before making a decision.
Vinyl
Vinyl bean bags are perhaps the most common upholstery material available and come in just about every shade of every color imaginable. They are a great choice to consider for homes with children as they are easier to clean and take care of than other upholstery materials. When spills or accidents occur, the vinyl material can be easily cleaned and will not get stained during the process. While they may not be as comfortable as a real leather, they are a much more affordable option
Marine Grade Vinyl
Marine grade is a top of the line vinyl that can be easily cleaned with soap and water, is mildew and anti-fungal resistant, UV protected, and is oil stain resistant. These bean bags are most suitable for environments in which the chair will be used frequently such as public libraries, museums, businesses, in any outdoor environment, or even if they will be used by water. They are usually a bit more expensive for their quality upholstery but will also last longer than nearly any other material, especially if they will be used often.
Suede
Suede bean bags are a popular choice for many as they are one of the most comfortable fabrics to lean against and soft to touch. Suede is a durable material that is also arguably the most comfortable to sit on, however it is also one of the hardest to clean. If a spill were to occur, it is much more difficult to clean and restore than a vinyl would be. They are best suited for home environments such as living rooms or bedrooms where food or drinks will not pose a threat to its upholstery.
Fabric
Fabric or cotton bean bags are another popular choice for any room in your home or for any business. They are the easiest to match with other furniture because they have the most colors and patterns available. They are a great choice for kids as they can pick exactly what design they want their bean bag to have with the abundance of choices available. Just like suede, fabric is also difficult to clean should a spill or stain occur, and they also get dirtier faster than other upholstery materials. Most fabric covers allow for the buyer to remove and wash if needed, which can be advantageous over other materials that can only be dry cleaned.
Faux Fur
Faux fur bean bags are soft to touch and among the most comfortable materials to lie down on. They come in a variety of colors and designs which include the always sought-after animal prints such as tiger, cow, zebra, leopard, and other bright designs. They are harder to maintain than vinyl or leather but they are also more affordable. Faux fur also gives off a sophisticated vibe and look more expensive than they actually are.
If you are in the process of re-designing your home or just simply want to update your furniture, bean bags are the perfect addition to any home. They are also a viable choice for businesses as well, especially places where children frequent such as schools, libraries, day cares, museums, and retail stores targeted towards children. They are a great value for how often they will be used and how long they last, making it a practical investment. Bean bags are very inexpensive compared to other pieces of furniture even though they are designed for the exact same purpose, as a place to sit and relax. You can also rest assured that they will be the most versatile and comfortable pieces of furniture you will own.

Best Free SugarCRM Alternatives.

Any way you slice it – SugarCRM is one of the best CRM solutions out there. I have only two objections with SugarCRM. Thirty five bucks per user per month to start with is a bit steep. Second, free open source sounds good, unless you have no programming skills. That's when you realize that when paying $150-$250/hr for even minor modifications or integrating SugarCRM with other tools quickly ends up with a huge bill.

The good news is there are many SugarCRM alternatives, including free ones. And I don't mean other forks like vTiger or other free open source initiatives, like FatFreeCRM, which come with the same type of disadvatages as Sugar. Rather, these are alternatives that come close to SugarCRM in terms of features and functions, but are either free (or better priced) or are easier to work with for a non-techie type.

Bitrix24
Free – 12 users. $99/mo – unlimited users, 50 GB. Online or self-hosted. Source code available. API avilable for cloud and self-hosted. Features: contact managment, core CRM, invoices, sales funnel, sales pipeline, mobile CRM (fully functional), reports, Send'n'Save email, email connectors (Gmail, Outlook, Exchange, etc), shared calendars, tasks and project management, doc manangement, file sharing, workflow integration (business processes), activity stream, flexible access rights, phone calls from CRM, video conferencing, time tracking, HRIS, recruiting.

Nimble CRM
Free – 1 user, $15/mo each additional user. Online only, no source code available. API for cloud service available (contacts). Features: contact managment, core CRM, social CRM (!), social listening, activity management, no mobile app (-), reports, e-mail integration (ConstantContact, Awebber), Social Media Management (basic), tasks (no project management), calendars, phone calls from CRM, basic activity stream.

Insightly
Free – 3 users/2500 contacts, $2-10/mo each additional user. Online only, no source code available, API for cloud service available. Features: contact managment, core CRM, basic social CRM, activity management, mobile app, reports, e-mail integrations (Mail Chimp), file sharing, web to contact, calendars, tasks and project management, calendars, phone calls from CRM, basic activity stream, following, tags.

Of course, there are a ton more CRMs out there but these three give a good idea what types of SugarCRM replacements are available. Overall Bitrix24 is probably the best free SugarCRM alternative out there, especially if you have 10+ salespeople, need mobile CRM, require on premise CRM and want to have access to the source code just in case. If you do a lot of social media marketing, social listening and use Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn as sales tool, NimbleCRM is superior to SugarCRM in many ways. Finally Insightly is a good middle of the road SugarCRM alternative for small sales teams (under 10 people) that don’t do social media marketing and don’t require all the powerful functions that Bitrix24 (or Sugar) offer.

The Secrets of Starting Business Successfully

Starting Business Secrets will help you to start your own business successfully.
The American Dream is, and always will be, to come up with an idea, start a business and become rich from your own efforts. Based upon this motivation, thousands of businesses fail each year, due primarily to not being familiar with the basics involved in running a business.
This report will enlighten you, and give you a number of suggestions you can use to better guarantee your chances for success. This report is written with the warning that any and every business venture contains certain inherent risks, and any number of alternatives. We do not espouse that any one way is the right way or that our suggestions are the only way. On the contrary, we advise that before investing any money in a business venture, you seek counselling and help from a qualified accountant and/or attorney.
Just about the first thing you should consider before deciding to start or purchase a business is the legal form you'll be operating under. There are basically four choices: sole proprietorship, partnership, limited partnership, and/or corporation.
Each has a number of advantages and disadvantages. We'll try to enumerate some of them for you.
As much as anything else, for many people starting a business is a form of ego-gratification, and they form a corporation for some sort of prestige gain - just to say, "I own a corporation."
With just a little bit of observation, you'll find that one of the major causes of business failures is due to the founder wasting start-up capital on frills, such as an impressive store- front office, expensive furnishings, and corporate legal costs.
One of the basic traits you must develop it you're going to be successful in business, is a tight hold on your expenditures. In fact, a good rule of thumb is that anything that does not make money for yo or protect your investment, should not be purchased at this time. Very definitely, this applies to the expense of setting up your own corporation.
Unless you have a partnership and start your business as such, the only real advantage to forming a corporation would appear to be that a corporate structure will semi-protect the property you personally own.
As an example, you own a home and car. You form a corporation to protect these possessions from business losses. Yet, if you can be found guilty of misusing corporate funds, your business creditors can pierce the corporate shield and come after your possessions.
Basically, if you invest everything you have in your business, as most newcomers do, you don't usually need a corporation because you have nothing to protect. Your household possessions, personal belongings, generally your car, and even a portion of the equity in your home is protected by the homestead provision of the Federal Bankruptcy Act, and cannot be taken away from you.
As a sole proprietor or partner of a business you'll be paying taxes on your overall earnings, much the same as if you were holding down a salaried or hourly paid job. Whether you do or don't take out money as a salary will have no bearing on the earnings of your business and tax return.
The often advertised advantage of incorporating, that you can manipulate your salary in order to save on tax dollars, is real because of corporation laws. However, the IRS frowns on this practice. When your business is successful and making a lot of money, definitely check with your accountant on the advantages of incorporating.
As a corporation, you'll be subject to a number of other drawbacks as well: generally higher state taxes, stricter laws concerning the operation of your business, more elaborate accounting procedures, and legal papers that are required just about every time you make a major move or sign almost any contract. Thus, your legal and accounting fees will be much higher as a corporation than will those required for a sole proprietorship type of business.
As a sole proprietor or partnership, you'll find many areas require the registration of your business name. The cost however, is minimal, ranging from $5 to $100. About the best way to find out what laws apply in your area, is to call your bank and ask if they need a fictitious name registration card or certificate in order for you to open a business account.
Selecting a name for your business is quite important to you and particularly relative to advertising. Your business name should describe the product or services you offer. Fancy names such as, Linda's Clipping Service will lose potential "walk-in and passing" customers to the beauty shop across the street that calls itself, Patti's Beauty Salon or Jane's Hair Styling Shop.
The advantage of using your full name in the title of your business, such as Johnny Jones' Meat Lockers, has the advantage of making credit somewhat easier to come by - provided you pay your bills on time - but it also includes the disadvantage of confining your services to a local or at most, a regional area.
Should you buy, lease, or rent a space for your business? think twice before you make any decision along these lines. Most businesses tend to grow quickly or they never get off the ground.
There are a few exceptions, but only a very few, that tend to grow at a modified rate.
So, buying a piece of property and setting up your business on or within that property, obligates you to ownership regardless of what happens to your business.
Leases are almost always very strong contracts written by attorneys to the advantage of the property-owner. When you sign an agreement to pay someone for the use of their space over any length of time, you're "nailed in" to paying for that space regardless of what happens to your business.
In the beginning, it's wise to either get the shortest-term lease possible, or arrange to rent with an option to lease at a later date. This does not apply to a retail business, unless your particular business happens to be an untried one.
Definitely, you should open a business bank account. In selecting a bank for your business, scout around and look for one that can, and will help you. Determine what your banking needs will be, and then via telephone, interview the managers of the banks in your area. The important convenient bank to your business location.
A point to remember: the closer you can make the relationship between you and the bank manager, the better your chances are going to be for approval on loans and/or special favors you may need at a later date.
Try to become acquainted with as many of the bank employees as possible. The better you know them, the more courtesies they'll be extending especially to you in the course of your association.
Just as a doctor is a specialist in his field, and you go to him for medical problems, your banker is a specialist in his field and you should go to him for your money problems. In business, you'll have to learn that everyone is an expert in his own line of work, and in your associations with other business people, refrain from acting like a "sharpie" and/or pretending that you know exactly how everything works in someone else's specialty.
You'll find that very often, different banks specialize in different types of businesses. As an example, you're sure to find banks that specialize in real estate transactions, export- import businesses, and even manufacturing operations only.
What I'm saying here is that if you're planning to sella fairly expensive item, your customers will probably need and/or want financing. It will behoove you to select a bank familiar with your type of product that will afford your customers, through you, contract financing.
Some of the questions you should ask of your banker include the following:
Is it necessary to maintain a certain balance in your account before the bank will approve a loan for you? What qualifications must you have in order to obtain a line of credit with the bank?
Does the bank limit the number of loans, or types of loans it will approve for small businesses?
What is the bank's policy regarding the size of a check you might deposit that requires holding for collection?
And what about checks less than that amount - will they be immediately credited to your account?
In almost all types of businesses, it will be to your benefit to set up with your bank, a method of handling VISA, Master Charge, and regional credit cards. The important thing here is to ultimately set up your account in the bank that will service all of these credit transactions for you - one stop for all your banking needs. In most instances, you'll find that having the capability to fill orders/make sales via credit card transactions, will increase your volume of sales appreciatively.
Once you've made the decision as to which bank is going to handle your account, you'll need your Social Security Number or your Federal Employer's Identification Number, your driver's license, the fictitious name certificate, and if you're requesting a VISA or Master Charge franchise, you'll also need a financial statement.
For corporations, you'll also need a corporate resolution approving of the opening of your business account.
There are different policies exercised in just about every state regarding installation/hook-up charges by the telephone and utility companies. Some require a deposit, and some don't.
You'll find that a great number of city business license departments are there solely for the purpose of collecting another tax. Depending on the type of business you're asking a license for, the building and zoning people may inspect your premises for soundness of structure and safety. Generally, you won't encounter any difficulties - you simply pay your fee to operate your business in that city, and the clerk types your name onto a city license certificate.
Relative to sales tax permits and licenses, each state's rules and regulations very widely. The best thing to do is call your state offices and ask for information concerning registry and collection procedures. Many states require an advance deposit or bond, and you'll find that some wholesalers or manufacturers will not sell to you at wholesale prices until you can show them your sales tax permit or number.
Should your business entail selling your products or services across state lines, in another state, you're not required to collect taxes except in those where you have offices or stores.
You may find also that your particular business requires the collection of Federal Excise Taxes. For information along these lines, check in with your local office of the Internal Revenue Service.
Some states also require certain businesses to hold state licenses, such as those required in many states for TV Repairmen.
These are known as "occupational permits" and are most often required of barbers, hair stylists, real estate people and a number of other consumer oriented businesses. If you have any doubts, check with your state offices for a list of those occupations that require licensing.
Any business doing business in any type of interstate commerce is subject to federal regulations, usually through the Federal Trade Commission. This means that any business that shops, sells or advertises in more than one state is subject to such regulation, and this includes even the smallest of mail order operations.
Normally, very few business people ever have and contact with the federal regulatory agencies. The only exceptions being when there is a question of your operating your business unethically or illegally.
Any business that sells or distributes food in any manner almost always requires a county health department permit. If your business falls into this category, simply call the county health department and invite them out to your place of business for an inspection. The fees generally range from about $25, depending on the size of your business when they first inspect it for permit approval.
There are also a number of businesses that require inspection by a fire marshall, and fire department approval. Generally, these are those that handle flammable materials or attract large numbers of people, such as a theater. Overall, the local fire department has to be allowed to inspect your premises whenever they desire to do so.
You may also run into a requirement for an air and/or water pollution control permit. These specifically apply to any business that burns anything, discharges anything into the sewers or waterways, or use any gas-producing product, such as a paint sprayer.
Without a doubt, you'll need to check on local regulations relating to advertising display signs. Each city or township makes its own rules and then enforces those rules according to its own thinking -check before you contract to have a sign made for your business.
The design and placement of your sign is very important to your business - specifically to retail establishments - but let me remind you that your business sign is usually the first thing a potential customer sees and as such, it should catch his eye and leave an impression that lasts. It would be a good idea to ride around your town and take a look at the signs that catch your eye, and try to determine the impression of the business that sign leaves on you. This is a basic learning formula for determining the design, size and placement of your business sign.
Some of the other things to consider before opening for business - If you intend to employ one or more employees, you'll be required to deduct Federal Income Taxes, and Social Security payments from their checks. This will involve your filing for a Federal Tax Number and necessitates contact with your local IRS Office.
Most states have "unemployment taxes" which will have to be deducted from the paychecks of any employees you hire. And there are a number of states that have income taxes - disability insurance - and any number of other taxes. Again, the best thing to do is check with your local office of the IRS. And above all else, don't forget to ask for the rules of the minimum wage law, and comply.
When your business grows to the point of needing additional help, don't be afraid to look for and hire the help you need. when you're ready to hire someone, simply run an ad in your local paper and/or register your needs with the local office of your state's employment service. Businesses either grow or die, and those that grow eventually need more people in order to continue growing.
When that time comes, hire the additional people you need, and your business will continue growing. If you don't, for whatever reason, you'll find yourself married to your business and your business growth stymied.
Regardless of how small your business is when you begin, never walk in with the thought in mind that it's something to keep you busy. Anyone with an attitude of that kind is a fool. You begin and make a business successful in order to realize financial freedom. Establish your business. Put it on its feet, and then hire other people to do the work for you. And those businesses that require an operations manager, or someone to run a phase of the business you're too busy to handle, hire the person needed or the business will surely suffer.
To protect the investment of your business, you need business insurance. If you've never had any experience with business insurance, simply look under the heading of "business insurance" in your phone directory. Ask for bids from several different companies or agents...Primarily, you should have a policy that gives you general liability, fire, workmen's compensation, business interruption, and vehicle coverage. You amy also want coverage against possible losses related to burglary, robbery, Life & Accident, Key Man, and Fidelity Bonds.
As the sole proprietor of a business, you won't be paid as an employee, so there will be no income tax deducted from whatever you withdraw from the company's earnings. What you'll have to do is a gain check with the IRS Office for a Tax Guide For Small Businesses Handbook, and probably end up filing an estimated tax return on a quarterly basis.
The minute you open your doors for business, you'll have to spend some time engaged in the work of bookkeeping. Exactly how, and using what forms, you keep books, should be on the recommendations of a good tax counselor...The same holds true for your overall business and/or payroll accounting system. Look for an experienced CPA that knows the accounting problems to your particular kind of business, and solicit his advise/counseling.
If your business is going to involve the possible purchase or lease of operating equipment, again seek the help of your tax counselor for the most advantageous method of obtaining the needed equipment.
Basically, arranging for your suppliers to give you materials on credit will depend upon your honesty and personal financial statement. The best way is usually a personal visit to the person with the power to approve or disapprove of credit at the company where you want to set up a credit account. Show him your financial statement, and explain your prospects for success. Then assure him that you've always honored all of your obligations, and that if ever there's a question or problem, you'd like for him to call you at home. And of course, give him your home phone number.
We won't go into the exigencies of advertising your products, services or business here, but there is something along these lines you should always keep in mind. The best kind of advertising your business can receive is that you don't really pay for - publicity.
When something unusual happens to you, your business, or your employees - that's news, so be sure to tell the news media in your area about it.
The most important ingredient of your eventual success will be the soundness of the planning you did before you started your business. Any number of bad things can really throw your business into a tailspin, but it you've done your homework well - really set up a detailed business plan before starting - your losses or setbacks will be minimal. Success takes planning, and within this report, you've got a basic checklist...The rest is up to you...Good luck, and may your life overflow with success in all that you undertake from this moment forward.

Serious About Writing A Business Plan... Start A Business Plan Library

Tap these treasures of ideas. The best money you can spend
is money invested in your business plan education. Don't
shortchange yourself when it comes to investing in your
dream. Start gathering samples of business plans and collect
business plan books and get a business plan library started,
it can change your future. Here's what your library needs to
show: that you're a serious student of business strategy and
planning, finance and economics, selling, and writing.
Sample Business Plans
Start by gathering sample business plans. Look at the annual
reports and S-1s, S-4s, 10ks, or 10Qs filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of companies in
your industry. See how they present their case, explain
their business, and discuss their industry and competition.
What exactly are these forms and how do you get them? Good
question.
These are forms that public companies must file with the SEC
in order to register their securities or to maintain the registration
of previously registered securities with the SEC. You can find
these forms by going to http://www.sec.gov, clicking on the Edgar
database, and searching for a public company in your industry.
The key is to find the most helpful filings. These are the ones
labeled S-1, S-4, 10K, and 10Q. They usually contain
descriptions of the business, its products, industry, competitors
and strategies. Sections that should sound familiar to you if you
are planning to write a business plan.
Go to these sections and read how the company presents their
business and its products. Look at how they describe the industry
and their competitors. I encourage you to read as many filings in
your industry as possible. See what the "big guys" are saying, the
issues, challenges, and trends they see in the industry and how
they're attacking them.
Be careful though about mimicking what they write. Many of these
documents are written in legalese despite the SEC's protestations
and push for plain English. Just remember, you're doing this
exercise to see how other companies have built their case to
business investors.
Another approach is to gather and read professionally
written business plans of companies in your industry and use
them as guides to prepare your plan. Try to avoid generic
business plan templates. They're too general and often not
worth the investment. Either way. Start filling your
business plan library with business plans and registration
statements. Keep them close by and refer to them often as
you write your business plan.
Strategy
Now, here's a good book to start your business plan library
with. It's called: Competitive Strategy by Michael Porter.
In this landmark book, Competitive Strategy, Porter shows
you how to identify the forces that drive competition in
your industry. Learn what moves your competitors are likely
to make within it. Competitive Strategy provides a framework
for evaluating the competitive alternatives you must
consider and for thinking about how to change the rules of
the marketplace in your favor. Competitive Strategy is the
bible venture capitalist, investment bankers, and business
development executives use when analyzing an industry or
business venture. I use this book as the centerpiece of my
business plan library. So I'm just asking you to take a look
at Competitive Strategy by Michael Porter. If it suits you
fine, if it doesn't suit you, keep looking till you find
something that helps you understand strategy.
Opening your mind to strategic alternatives is a creative
process. You can never have too many books on strategy in
your business plan library. Read as much as you can to learn
why some companies can sell their products more cheaply than
others. Why others provide the best products...products that
are just far superior to their competition. And, why some
companies just always seem to provide unmatched service.
Fill your business plan library with business books that
inspire, challenge and answer these questions. Read. Read.
Read. And, study too. Find out how some companies are
reinventing competition in their markets and obtaining
funding while others are seemingly oblivious to the changing
world around them.
Michael Treacy and Fred Wiersema set out to find answers to
these types of questions in their book The Discipline of
Market Leaders. Although the authors won't appreciate this
comment, I found the underlying fundamentals in The
Discipline of Market Leaders to closely parallel those laid
out by Porter in Competitive Strategy. Perhaps that's why I
like it so much. The difference, however, is that they
present their material in a less academic, more engaging
way. And, they provide excellent case studies that are sure
to generate many aha's! The Discipline of Market Leaders
will make you think about what it is your company or new
venture does better than anyone else; what unique value do
you provide to your customers? How will you continually
increase that value? If you can't easily answer these
questions about your business, The Discipline of Market
Leaders is required reading and a must for your business
plan library. The business owners and entrepreneurs that can
answer these questions are not only raising the value bar in
their industries, they're raising capital for their
businesses!
Finance and Economics
Be sure to keep your business plan library well balanced...
Let me give you a sense of that balance. First is finance
and economics. We all have got to have a sense of how to
make money...the universal laws of business success, no
matter whether you are selling fruit from a stand or running
a Fortune 500 company. Finance and economics are the basic
building blocks of business. Your business plan library
needs a few books on the numbers. When you understand the
basics of finance and economics its possible to bringing the
most complex business down to the fundamentals. You become
empowered to focus on the basics and make money from your
venture.
Here's a good book to help you in this area: What the CEO
Wants You to Know by Ram Charan. What the CEO Wants You to
Know captures the basics of finance and economics and
explains in clear, simple language how to do what great
business owners and entrepreneurs do instinctively and
persistently. Charan explains the basic building blocks of
business and how to use them to figure out how your company
can, does, or will make money and operate as a total
business. Learn how to use these building blocks to cut
through the clutter of day-to-day business and the
complexity of the real world. What the CEO Wants You to Know
by Ram Charan. This little book is only a 137 pages: but I'm
telling you, it's so well written you'll be as intrigued as
I was. What the CEO Wants You to Know by Ram Charan. Get it
for your business plan library.
Writing
Next is writing. You have to be able to get your thoughts
down on paper. Businessese, academese, legalese - all appear
too often in business plans. Often preventing a
knowledgeable writer with good intensions to fail at getting
the message across to an intelligent, interested reader. For
some reason, when people write business plans they are
compelled to write "commence" and "prior to" instead of
"begin" and "before." If you want to write an effective
business plan, your business plan library must have books on
how to be an effective writer.
Start with Edward Baily; he wrote a surprisingly
straightforward book called The Plain English Approach to
Business Writing. This book, The Plain English Approach to
Business Writing, is about writing as you would talk, which
not only makes your writing easier to read, it's also makes
it easier to write. In a brief, entertaining 124 pages Baily
clearly lays out the dos and don'ts of plan English,
illustrating them with examples drawn from business
documents, technical manuals, trade publications, and the
works of writers like Russell Baker and John D. MacDonald.
The Plain English Approach to Business Writing offers
practical advice on clarity, precision, organization,
layout, and many other topics. Best of all, you can read it
an hour...and use it for the rest of your life.
But writing well is only a part of writing. A good business
plan must be persuasive. Listen carefully to what I just
said: persuasive. Not misleading or untruthful, but
persuasive.
Here's a book you need to look at Persuading on Paper. How's
that for a title? Persuading on Paper by Marcia Yudkin.
Yudkin is a writing consultant who coaches small-business
owners and professionals on improving their marketing
materials. In a witty and vivid style, Persuading on Paper
shows you how to use the written word to convert strangers
to prospects to paying customers (or in our case,
investors). What I like about this book is that Yudkin takes
you step-by-step through the process of creating marketing
materials that sell. Don't underestimate the power of
marketing copy in your business plan. You'll be surprised
how her methods and strategies can help create a more
powerful business plan. Persuading on Paper is a must-have
for anyone who wants to attract more clients, customers, or
investors.
Raising Capital
Next is an understanding of the process of obtaining
capital. No business plan library would be complete without
a book on the process of raising capital. Without capital
your venture is destined for failure. You need to learn how
to select the right venture capital firm, make
presentations, and negotiate your deal.
Try this book: The Venture Capital Handbook by David
Gladstone. As an executive officer at Allied Capital
Corporation, a large publicly-owned, venture capital firm in
the United States, David has reviewed many proposals for
venture capital financing. The Venture Capital Handbook
takes you through the entire process from presentation
through negotiations, commitment letters, legal closings,
due diligence, the exit by the venture capital company, to
when the entrepreneur is left to own it all. As a result,
The Venture Capital Handbook provides anyone who wants to
spend the time and money with an insight into what venture
capitalists really want. Prepare for the process of raising
venture capital with The Venture Capital Handbook.
Selling
Finally, study the art of selling. Like it or not, when you
are trying to start a business venture or raise money for
your business you have to sell investors on why they should
invest with you. It's like a rite of passage. But fast
talking salesmanship won't raise the money you need for your
business. You need an approach that respects the power of
the investor...one that builds a relationship with investors.
So, fill your business plan library with books on selling
and presenting.
Here's a book to try: Socratic Selling by Kevin Daley with
Emmett Wolfe. Socratic Selling as the title implies, uses
the Socratic Method: "A method of teaching or discussion, as
used by Socrates, in which one asks a series of easily
answered questions which inevitably lead the answerer to a
logical conclusion" (Webster's Unabridged). Dalely's
concise, easy-to-follow chapters explain how to open a sales
dialogue and go right to the heart of the matter. Socratic
Selling is a fun and informative 162 pages for those of us
who believe selling means talking with, not at, investors.
Study these techniques; they can make you more effective
with potential investors.
If you are serious about writing your business plan...show it.
Start a business plan library that shows you are a serious
student of business plans. Fill it with business plans,
public filings and annual reports of businesses in your
industry. Stay away from those generic business plan
templates. They are too general. And, Read, read, read and
study too about strategy, finance, economics, writing, selling,
and how to raise capital. Spend the money. Buy the books. The
reward can be great...a funded business plan.

Twelve Green Coffee Bean "Defects" That Will Damage Your Roast

Continuing with our Green Bean Series, this month we're going to take on defects in wet processed Arabica coffee beans; their cause, how to identify them and the effect they have on the roast.
Our "Roasters Tools - Green Bean Series" is a five part evaluation of how the characteristics of green coffee beans affect the outcome of the roast.
Roasters who consistently purchase strictly top grade premium coffees may have only rarely been confronted with defects, while the majority of roasters run across them much too often, even when presented with what is being sold as "Specialty" grade coffees.
The fact is, any one of these dozen defects will negatively affect the quality and alter the taste of the coffee you're producing. These defects are both identifiable and preventable.
The defects in this article are different than the "formation" defects we talked about in a previous article.
With that in mind, we aim to give you a very straightforward, to the point identification of what these defects look like, their causes, and how they can affect the profile of your roast.
The Twelve Key Defects To Look Out For:

1. Faded Beans
2. Amber Beans
3. Coated Beans
4. Green Water Damaged
5. Pulper Damaged
6. Insect Damaged
7. Immature Beans
8. Foxy Beans
9. Triple Center Cuts
10. Stinkers
11. Over-Fermented
12. Diseased

FADED BEANSFaded beans can be a result of either over drying or absorbing excessive moisture, depending on the environment. Either way, faded beans have a low resistance to environmental factors.
The effect on the roast is that they give a dull roast regardless of the roasting profile. The result is a soft bean with musty and woody flavors in the cup. And, the percentage moisture loss will be very high. The color of these beans is pale, whitish brown.
Normally, they result from beans that have a high moisture content (11% - 13%) and when stored in a warehouse, they'll tend to dry out. In the process of drying out, and because they are not in contact with direct sunshine, these beans tend to fade.
Instead of drying, these beans are actually rotting and developing molds inside. It's these molds that cause the beans to dry excessively, producing their pale to whitish brown color.
In addition, during the drying of wet or dry processed beans, the coffee can be negatively affected if not properly exposed to sunshine at the appropriate stage in the drying process.
Another cause is when coffee has been over-hulled using a hammer mill. In this case, the beans will come out with a dull color as a result of the outer cells being bruised and microscopic dust permeating the outer layer of the beans.
One final factor that can contribute to the fading of coffee is from older coffee that has been kept in a warehouse for two to three years or more, causing the beans to dry out, develop molds and other negative consequences.
AMBER BEANS
These beans have a bright shiny gold color. The cause is due to mineral deficiencies in the soil (including iron).
When you roast these beans, the cup will be lacking in acidity, with a flat harsh body and a bitter flavor. Also, the roast produced by these beans will be very dull in color.
COATED BEANS
These beans have a sticky silver skin caused by either overbearing or from being drought affected. The characteristics of these beans look whitish, rough and display microscopic lines from the silver skin.
In the process of roasting, you'll experience soft beans with excessive chaff. The roast can result in negative effects in the cup, including excessively high grassy, hay, earthy, woody, greenish and potato flavors.
GREEN WATER DAMAGED
These are fully processed beans that, when hulled, get in contact with water where a chemical reaction takes place, turning the beans a greenish color. This situation results in the beans becoming moldy and toxic.
PULPER DAMAGED
In the process of going through the pulping machine, coffee beans can get stuck, creating excessive pressure which causes the beans to become wounded.
These wounded beans will burst and then begin to slightly oxidize, become contaminated with water and over ferment, causing molds which result in earthy, leather and musty flavors.
In addition, the roasted beans will be uneven; some will be split, while others will appear round and mixed together with the solid beans.
INSECT DAMAGED
Berry moths inject the coffee cherry in the process of laying eggs, creating a black needle-like hole.
Antestia bugs damage beans causing them to bruise, which produces rough black to yellow-like colored spots.
Beans with these types of insect damage will give a soft roast and the beans will tend to shrink, creating dominant musty, alkaline and salty flavors.
IMMATURE BEANS
Picked under-ripe, often as a result of overbearing and drought affected conditions, the characteristics of immature beans include a rough surface and greenish color with a sticky silver skin and will usually have thin edges.
The roast will be very dull, with open center-cuts, soft beans and subsequently produce no acidity, heavy body, with greenish and grassy flavors.
These beans can also lead to Quakers in the roast; visible only after roasting by their pale appearance and flat peanut butter taste. Avoiding the purchase of immature beans is the best way to avoid contamination by these defective beans.
FOXY BEANS
As you might imagine, the name comes from the color of a red fox.
This rusty-red color is generally brought about by the beans being over-ripe. These beans tend to have a dead embryo and will give you fruity fermented and nutty flavors.
TRIPLE CENTER CUTS
These are deformed beans caused by malnourishment due to either drought affected conditions or lack of minerals, creating ragged beans with multiple center cuts.
During the roast, these beans can split open at their double or triple center cuts. They are fragile, soft and very permeable; which will over roast, creating a heavy body, a flat cup and a smoky, burnt taste.
STINKERS
Stinker beans can have a normal formation, but have a dead embryo and are yellow in color caused by over-fermentation and/or over-ripe. If crushed, broken or cut open when raw, they put off an order that's very unpleasant.
Even one or two stinkers in your roast can ruin the whole batch and give you a foul cup.
OVER-FERMENTED
These beans look soiled and have a tobacco color.
When roasted you'll get a pulpy, sour flavor and unclean, dirty cup; with a smell of rotting flesh or a cow shed aroma. If only slightly over-fermented, your roast may give sour and onion flavors.
DISEASED
These defects are brought about by the coffee being affected by various diseases like CBD (Coffee Berry Disease) and Leaf Rust.
When disease strikes a coffee farm, the mother plant will produce beans that are premature. This will affect the berry before it ripens, usually at the milk stage, and the beans will either not develop at all or only partially develop, with a very small berry or nonexistent berry inside the parchment within the cherry.
The deformed part of these beans looks somewhat brownish to very dark brown in color, often with deformities that resemble a chipped off piece where the bean is left with dark brown marks which go deep into the bean. The deformed part of these beans is generally flaky and ragged in formation.
These small diseased beans will be only partially developed, but can still be harvested and end up mixed with other beans of normal quality, then sold in the marketplace.

Startups To Watch - ContextMedia

Crazy Startup Of The Day - PickyDomains.com

http://www.contextmediainc.com/
Shradha Agarwal and Rishi Shah were writing an article on out-of-home media for their university's business magazine in 2006 when it dawned on them: This would make a great business. TV screens had become de rigueur in taxicabs, shopping malls and high-rise elevators. But the Northwestern University undergrads saw an untapped opportunity to bring multimedia content to a more targeted audience: patients in waiting rooms.

"My grandmother passed away young from diabetes complications," Agarwal says. "Rishi's father is a diabetes specialist. We saw how small bits of information at the right time and place can make a huge impact."

Their idea was to sell doctors' offices prepackaged video segments containing tips on diet, exercise and other lifestyle tweaks patients could make to improve their health. A TV screen in the reception area would broadcast this programming, modeled after segments on shows such as Today, while patients waited for appointments.

To test the idea, Agarwal, Shah and classmate Derek Moeller bought TVs and DVD players, culled content from the internet and distributed the equipment and "shows" to 50 doctors in five states.

The feedback? "This is great. We love it. The information is so useful," Agarwal recalls doctors saying. Patients were sold, too. They appreciated the suggestions, and the videos were helping them ask their MDs better questions. There was only one hitch: Because insurance companies don't reimburse patient education, the physicians had no budget for the service. In other words, no sale.

After considering, then nixing, the nonprofit route, the 'treps decided to offer content free of charge to healthcare professionals and to sell advertisements that would air between segments. Shah and Moeller dropped out of college to launch ContextMedia in Chicago, with investment from family and friends. Agarwal joined her co-founders full-time in 2008 after graduating from Northwestern ahead of schedule. (Moeller left the company in 2009.)

Because it's what they knew best, they started with diabetes. To obtain quality one- to five-minute edutainment videos, they partnered with health-content creators such as the diabetes platform dLife. "Commercial breaks," which last 15 to 120 seconds, make up 25 percent of the content ContextMedia streams into waiting rooms. Among the company's advertisers: health-food companies, gyms, retailers, pharmaceutical companies and makers of medical devices.

ContextMedia became profitable its second year in business. Revenue has grown 100 percent year over year since 2010; the company is on track to clear $10 million in EBITDA this year. ContextMedia's videos reach 50 million U.S. patients a year and serve 4,000 hospitals, private practices and other medical waiting rooms, including those at Yale, Stanford, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern and Harvard. The company employs 45 people, including five in its New York office, which opened in 2011.

Agarwal, now 28, is chief strategy officer. She credits ContextMedia's success with the variety and specificity of its library, which contains thousands of videos. The company has content for cardiology, rheumatology, neurology and urology patients and targets the videos streamed to each office based on patient income, ethnicity and medical literacy. "It's always relevant, and patients aren't watching the same thing over and over," she says.

But Agarwal and CEO Shah, 27, aren't satisfied just building a health-media empire. They want to help others succeed, too. Using their personal savings, they started angel investment fund JumpStart Ventures in November 2011. To date, JumpStart has invested more than $1 million in 19 startups working to solve U.S. health and education problems.

"Companies in healthcare and education really struggle to catch the attention of venture capitalists because they're not very sexy industries to be in," Agarwal says. "So we decided, where better to put our fund than to help other entrepreneurs build their businesses?"


[Via - Entrepreneur.Com]

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How the Moisture Content in Wet Processed Arabica Beans Affects the Flavor Profile of the Roast

This month we'd like to share with our friends and colleagues, why the ideal moisture content in green beans is so important to developing a roast that will deliver a high quality and flavorful cup.
First, a little background following the moisture content of the beans from the fresh picked cherry through to the bean's final processing.
WET PROCESSING
In wet processing, coffee beans are harvested from the farm by selectively picking the ripe red cherries. These beans go through several stages. The first major process occurs at the factory, where the beans are separated ripe from unripe, de-pulped to remove the outer cover, and soaked in a fermentation tank to remove the remaining mucilage. After an adequate period of time, the coffee is soaked and thoroughly washed to remove the covering sugars and prepare for drying. The wet beans are fully dried and taken to the hulling plant, where the parchment is removed. Next, the beans go through the polisher to remove the sticky silver skin. Next, the clean beans go through a process where they are graded by screen size. For improved quality, the graded coffee is often passed through a density separator to separate heavy beans from lights.
THE SIX STAGES OF DRYING
At the factory, after removing the outer covering (outer skin & mucilage/fruit) the parchment coffee beans will have a moisture content of 55%.
During the process of drying coffee, six stages are considered to be of prime importance:
1. Skin drying (outside moisture); moisture content of the bean goes from 55% to 45%.
2. White stage (of the bean inside the parchment); moisture content goes from 44% to 33%.
3. Soft black stage (bean is now very elastic); moisture content goes from 32% to 22%.
4. Medium black stage; moisture content goes from 21% to 16%.
5. Hard black stage (bean is very hard and goes from black to the natural color according to the quality of the bean); moisture content goes from 15% to 12%.
6. Fully dried parchment coffee before hulling; moisture content of the bean goes from 11% to 10%.
Throughout this process, the beans are in parchment form. However, after hulling when the parchment is removed, the green coffee beans should maintain the final moisture content as shown above.
At the Coffee Research Foundation in Africa, experiments were conducted to test the suitability of mechanical drying at each stage in the process. The results revealed that at stages 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6, mechanized drying had positive results, with no material affect on the quality. But, at stage 3, sun drying was found to be mandatory in order to maintain high quality beans.
WHY 9.5-10.5% MOISTURE CONTENT IS OPTIMAL
Because raw coffee beans are very susceptible to volatile environmental changes, it's been proven that a moisture content between 9.5% to 10.5% enables the beans to be resistant to negative conditions that can affect the quality (Ref: Coffee Research Institute).
During ocean transport, coffee with ideal moisture content will normally gain 1% and then go back to its original level, while still maintaining its quality and color. If the moisture content is too high, 11%+, the beans will gain 1.5+% causing the beans to become moldy, fade and lose color. As these fungal laden beans dry, they will retain the green water damage and mold-based toxins, resulting in musty and woody flavors in the roast.
An increase in moisture during transport or storage can cause the beans to become moldy, change color and become dark and mottled. When this occurs, a chemical reaction takes place resulting in the beans becoming toxic with Ochratoxin A. Often these molds are inside the beans and not readily visible to the naked eye.
Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced by fungi and occurs naturally in moldy raw coffee beans. It's been found to be highly toxic to the kidneys and potentially carcinogenic in humans, as well as having genotoxic properties.
In coffee, it can be found in raw coffee beans that have not been dried or stored properly. It can also be found in warehoused coffee that has been stored for long periods of time.
**More important to the coffee roaster is that Ochratoxin A can also be found in brewed coffee and isn't completely eliminated when the beans are roasted!**
IMPACT OF MOISTURE CONTENT ON THE ROAST
Roasting of coffee at the ideal moisture content (9.5% to 10.5%) will typically give a dark chocolate color at a medium roast, with a percentage weight loss between 8% and 12%. During the process of brewing, beans of this type will give you a proper extraction which will represent balanced acidity, body and flavor. Beans with a high moisture content (11+%), usually take longer to roast, but more important, the beans will first "bake" prior to roasting.
This baking process creates a light colored, soft bean, which forces over-roasting, giving a light acidity, full body and negative flavors in the cup. Beans that have been baked become soft and permeable. After grinding these beans will give an uneven grind that is highly solvent in water, creating dissolved impurities that build excessive high body in the cup. During this process, the beans will lose desirable acidity and natural flavors.
Brewed coffee from high quality beans with proper moisture content will be clearer to the eye, more like a thick honey color because of having fewer impurities. This type of coffee usually has a sweet balanced cup with good acidity, quality and taste.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
1. Always check the moisture content of the sample during cupping before you buy and look for coffees with target moisture content from 9.5% to 10.5% as a general guideline.
2. Keep an eye out for light colored and mottled colored beans, and internal molds containing Ochratoxin A, which result in soft beans that will first bake, leaving dissolved impurities in the cup.
3. Store green coffee in their original bags in a low moisture environment where there is air circulation. Quality green coffee at the ideal moisture content should stay relatively fresh for up to twelve months in their original bags.

This article is the third in a five-part series describing general guidelines on how to determine quality characteristics of green coffee beans before the cupping analysis.