Westfield Bank: Prepare your business for the inevitable hike in interest rates
The laws of physics tell us that what goes up must come down. The reverse is true in today’s interest rate climate. Rates that have stayed low — among the lowest they’ve been in U.S. history — for such an extended period of time will soon begin to climb. “This is a topic that gets […]
Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth: How the JOBS Act makes it easier for companies to raise money
The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (JOBS), passed in early 2012, mandates that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopt rules to help start-ups and small businesses raise capital. Because of this, companies can advertise, market and publicly disclose that they are fundraising. The change also allows companies to raise up to $1 million from […]
Benefitdecisions: How health insurance exchanges are influencing employer decisions
Problems with the launch of the federal health insurance exchange website are removing it as an option for many employers and employees this year. “How can I advise someone whether to enroll in an employer plan or buy from the exchange when I can’t get on the exchange to make a comparison before the employer’s […]
Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth: How to qualify investors when using general solicitation
Rules added through the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act eliminate the prohibition on using advertising and general solicitation to court investors to buy securities in certain unregistered offerings. While this has created possibilities, it has also imposed conditions. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires companies that generally solicit investors to take “reasonable steps” to […]
The 2013 Pillar Awards: Great companies and great employees working for the greater good of Greater Akron
Medical Mutual, along with our co-founding Pillar Award partner Smart Business, presents the 16th annual Pillar Awards. This year, we are honoring an outstanding group of companies and organizations of varying sizes. While this year’s diverse group of honorees may be different in many ways, one thing that they all have in common is their […]
California Bank & Trust: How to access working capital for exports and become a global player
International expansion is a great way to grow as the U.S. economy slowly recovers, and the population and per capita gross domestic product of countries such as India and China continue to rise. But finding funding for exports can be difficult, unless you leverage a government-backed program. “Why turn away sales when you can get […]
2013 SoMe Impact Awards – Emerging Category
SBN Interactive proudly presents the Midwest Social Media Summit inaugural class of SoMe Impact Award winners! These awards recognize marketing executives who took a leap of faith into the groundbreaking world of social media and in doing so, drove substantial value for their companies. Nominations were received from the Cleveland, Akron, Columbus and Pittsburgh regions […]
Sequent: How uncertainty continues to make health insurance decisions difficult
First, the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) health insurance exchange was delayed. That was followed by a delay in the release of community ratings for small group programs. On top of that, there’s confusion about whether businesses with less than 50 employees, which are not governed by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandate to […]
The 2013 Class of Power Players in Columbus
Smart Business Columbus would like to recognizeThe 2013 Class of Power Players in Columbus. This year long luncheon series featured the most influential business leaders in the region sharing their perspective on why Columbus is such a great place to live, work and visit. Meet this year’s Power Players! Janet E. Jackson president and […]
Weaver: How oil and gas companies can capture overlooked R&D tax credits
In 2012, the energy sector spent $17.9 billion on global research and development, more than $6.6 billion of which was conducted in the U.S. Assuming small and midsize businesses perform 20 percent of the U.S. energy sector’s R&D, these companies could incur up to $1.3 billion in R&D expenditures, the benefits of which may not […]