Equity capital refers to the funds raised by a business in exchange of ownership shares in the company. Ownership, in turn, is represented by possession of stock shares either outright or the right of converting other financial instruments into the private company’s stock. Two primary sources of equity capital for the new businesses are institutional investors and venture capitalists.

Institutional Investors refers to the group of financial organizations (such as investment companies, endowment funds, depository institutions, insurance companies, and pension funds) or high net worth individuals who invest in companies and businesses and fund their start-ups. Venture capital is meant to provide businesses a financial cushion. Equity providers are the last to take a call on a company’s assets. Considering the low priority given to them and in the absence of current pay requirement, equity providers offer capital on high rate of returns.

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Seven ways for tenants to improve their chances before and during commercial lease negotiations.

Many tenants will openly admit to me they are poor negotiators. These people I can help. Its the business owners, retailers and tenants who think they know it all that invariably won’t do any homework. At my seminars, I teach tenants that good preparation is an excellent substitute for brilliant negotiating…so do your homework. This is your assignment:

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Sales calls are an art form. Many new IT Consultants have never had to sell anything before. For the uninitiated, sales calls are intimidating. By gaining the right perspective about a sales call and understanding the possible outcomes, you are on your way to becoming a sales call expert.

The number one trick to sales calls: Don’t Sell.

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Maybe you’re stuck, feeling unfulfilled and unhappy, but not able to make changes
in your life to meet your goals. Maybe you’re vaguely dissatisfied and aren’t even sure why
and where to find happiness. Perhaps you stressed and overwhelmed with work or life in general.

Are you feeling physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted? Do you lack the energy to enjoy the things you love? Do you want to improve your health? Are you longing to have better personal or family relationship? You know you want to change but you can’t get started or don’t know where to begin.

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I want to tell two business-related stories. One has to do with sales tactics gone awry, and the other with customer service issues that leave you with a bad taste in your mouth. Both of these stories are completely true, and happened to us in the same week.

Triple Dog Dare Media is in the midst of obtaining a GSA Schedule 541–in other words, we’re trying to become a certified vendor of Web-based marketing sevices to the federal government. As anyone who has been through the GSA schedule process knows, it’s not an easy thing. You have to jump through a lot of hoops, fill out plenty of forms, and hope that you get it right the first time.

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When you start your own business, you’re handling most of the daily operations yourself. It’s up to you to drum up business, handle customer complaints, manage cash flow and plan your marketing strategy. As your business grows, others will come aboard to help. But, your time will still be limited. You’ll be busy managing others and putting out fires. When legal issues arise, you’ll likely need the expertise and experience of a business lawyer. Here are 4 possible reasons why the help of a well-trained business lawyer can pay for itself.

Reason #1: Corporate Structure

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The current economy is causing most companies to tighten their belts. With limited staffing and a restricted budget, how do you continue to promote your business? The simple solution is the occasional or ongoing use of outside resources such as graphic designers, writers, webmasters, and other creative talent.

There are some real advantages to outsourcing.

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