| |
| |
|
Small Business Information |
|
|
|
Government Does Not Pay Its Bills on Time
Many small companies work very hard to get new accounts. Occasionally they try to get government contracts to supply products or services. Some small business people believe this will help them in case of recession, because the government has to keep going no matter what. They therefore seek a contract as a protection security blanket and guaranteed income to pay their own bills, make payroll and have the cash flow they need to survive at a time when over regulation and hostile litigation is taking its toll on small businesses. What many small businesses do not understand is that the government pays very slow and often holds payments back due to their own budgetary mess. Often they will be in the rear some 120 days. Ninety plus days is very typical and should be expected for any small business doing business with any branch of government; city, county, state or the federal clusterfuck. I speak from total experience and out of frustration having run a 23-state wide franchise company; all of our franchisees of course, small businesses. The government wants things, doesn't everyone? They have needs, which they are too inefficient to do themselves without blowing more taxpayer's monies inefficiently, so they seek the power of the small businesses to help them get the job done. In my experience there were so many jobs that the government, due to their inherent ineptness; needed from our franchises to service that they could have kept most of them busy full time, yet after such services they were very slow to pay. How slow, so slow in fact that any normal business would have been cutoff and put on cash basis from our accounts receivables twice or three times had they not paid. I can remember one account, which was 180 in the rears and they had claimed that they lost the paperwork, needed tax ID numbers, more information, even though all that information was on the face of the 110-page solicitation and actual contract. Go figure, the paper work whores lost their paperwork? No small business should ever seek business with the government and if you think that the contract will protect you for quick payment you are wrong. Our contracts generally say "contractor will be paid no later than 30 or 45 days," often they say "2/10, net 30" and 1.5% per month on non-paid invoices. This is no guarantee of timely payments or interest on your money. There is no worse customer than the United States Federal Government, yet if you are in a business and they find a violation on your premises they will put you in jail if it is not taken care of on time. Cities and County even state governments are no better. Procurement officers, purchasing agents and buyers turnover is much too fast to develop relationships to get paid on time and it is worse than anything Dell, Wal-Mart or the atrocities of Sears pulled in years gone buy to stringing out vendors. If you take on a contract with the government, you better have the cash flow for 4-6 six months and expect them to renege on their contracts in a similar fashion to Islamic Governments in peace treaties or Oil Mineral Rights royalties. The government is a horrible customer, does not pay its bills on time and is the most hypocritical parasite on the planet when it comes to their token gestures to small businesses in this nation. It is completely disrespectful of government agencies to treat small businesses this way when we are holding up the economy with 70% of the employment base, which pays the taxes into the system. I personally cannot figure out which is worse the ponzi scheme we call Social Security where the payments go into the general fund or deliberate drowning of small businesses in past due times ten accounts receivables for prior government purchases of goods and services. What a complete and utter sham. It is unconscionable for the government to tout small business and then abuse the hard labor of these mom and pop firms who built this great nation on the blood, sweat and tears. If you disagree with this article you can go to hell, because I have proof thru reality based observation and experiences. Ask any company who does business with the government at any level. What a bunch of hypocrites and jerks, that hold themselves out to be helping our small businesses when they bend them over and screw them like this. What a complete fraud being perpetrated on the small business community. What a complete lie it is for the podium pusher politicians to promote themselves thru positive small business speeches and rhetoric when all the government ever does is use and abuse America's greatest assets. Thank god we still have freedom of the speech and press to point out these lies, abuses and this hypocrisy to future upcoming entrepreneurs. God bless the little guy, the government, well they are busy blessing themselves with our money. Think on this, because it pisses off every time I do. "Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs
MORE RESOURCES:
Small-Business - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
How to Find Success in the Import Export Business Take advantage of world politics today and start your own import export business. Are you organized, efficient, and ready to make your future in an opportunity all your own? Import Export Business Opportunities are expanding and there is room for you!In the early nineteen eighties, one of the most popular things in Soviet Russia was American made blue jeans. How to Create an Employee Manual Large corporations use employee manuals to both educate employees about policies and protect themselves legally. Whether or not you need an employee manual is your decision, though it can be a great tool for keeping your policies consistent. Finding the PERFECT Alliance Partner Where do you look for the appropriate alliance?One of the most asked question is "Where do you find a good alliance partner?" It is actually fairly easy. You can find potential alliances by taking some time to research potential partners. Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Joining a Professional Association I'll be the first to admit that I went a little nuts when I moved I moved recently in terms of going all-out to participate in a variety of professional associations. I had some experience with most of the groups that I visited in other places I had lived, or had clients who had positive experiences with certain groups. Patient Records - Your Responsibilities As a practise gets larger & larger the associated problems that you inherit increase with that growth. The Practise Manager finds it increasingly difficult to tend to his duties and look after the administration of the Practise. Image is Everything - Secrets to Cleaning Car Fleets A recent survey indicated that clean Taxi Cabs Fleets have higher tip rates and repeat customers. How do you wash a taxicab? You do them four at a time and you go up and over and up and over when you are drying them. Conquering Confidence Killers for Small Business Success "The way to develop self-confidence is to do the thing you fear". -- William Jennings BryanWhether you're generally a self-confident person, or someone continually plagued by self- doubt, you'll recognize some of these confidence killers if you:? Are overly dependent on the thoughts or opinions of others;? Avoid meeting new people because you're afraid you won't fit in, be liked, or be accepted;? Focus on unrealistic expectations ("I must do each job perfectly"; "If one person is unhappy then I have failed");? Have an 'all-or-nothing' attitude;? Pay heed to the internal and external naysayer;? Use the word SHOULD most often in relationship to your business;? Assume that if you don't get the client, they didn't like you;? Assume that you must be as talkative, outgoing, friendly, smart, old, young, educated, attractive, as someone else in order to succeed;? Avoid implementing new ideas because they may not work;? Can recount all your shortcomings each day. Detailing Business Options So you want to get into the auto detailing business and are not sure what options are right for you? It is a difficult choice indeed and there are so many options. Let me tell you a few having been in the industry some 27-years, we have seen a lot of businesses come and go and we have seen what works. Why Small Businesses Need Both A Logo And An Identity System Experts urge small business owners to "brand" their business - to use a logo and a set of consistent marketing materials. But, they rarely go into the reasons behind this advice. Too Many Lawyers in Franchising Today Attorneys and Lawyers are ruining the franchise industry. It is too bad too, because franchising represents over 400,000 businesses in our country and accounts for just over one-third of every consumer dollar spent in this country. Increase Productivity and Business Success - Take Responsibility Are you responsible for your results?What comes to mind when I say that?When you hear that you're totally responsible for the results you produce in your business and in your life---you might jump to a conclusion. You may think that I'm suggesting that you should take the blame for your results. Shocking Experienced Copywriter Reveals Little-known Secrets To Closing BIG Ticket Deals! Hogwash!That's what I say to people who tell me that their business is purely and solely a "cheapest price business."People who stubbornly insist that "MY business is different" are right, but not in a good way. Franchisee; Vacation Managing Do you own a franchised business? Over 400,000 franchised businesses currently operate in the United States, which is a true testament of free enterprise. There are many advantages of franchised businesses, which anyone who owns a small business has thought about. Sexual Harassment - Its just not on! Sexual Harassment is a disturbing part of employment life in the modern era and is unacceptable! From junior clerk to boardroom it continues on in its various guises from seemingly harmless fun to stalking.In most countries there is comprehensive legislation that clearly prohibits this form of behaviour and puts business and individuals on notice that sexual harassment will not be tolerated. More Business Card Marketing If you are worried about how many different business cards you should carry, let me speak from experience, you need only ONE!The best way to confuse a potential customer is to present them with more than one business card. You may be doing a number of things and have cards for each one (even have several businesses where you do work) but you need to focus on what it is that you do best. How to Achieve Real Success in Business: Five Breezy Tips Achieving real success should be the goal of any good businessman. But what is real success? I believe that it is no just money, or instant growth. Hiring A Virtual Assistant Can Help Your Business Grow Are you a home or small business owner and you're Webmaster, receptionist, and assistant all in one, but you've found that there isn't enough time in the day to complete all of these administrative tasks? A "Virtual Assistant" could be your answer.In today's tough economical times it's hard to think of hiring someone else to assist you, but it may be more cost effective than you think. How to Sponsor an Event for Fun and PROFIT How do you sponsor an event and get personal introductions at the same time?So how can sponsoring help you to be visible to the business community and gain the right contacts? It is actually quite simple, you need to find events that are visible to the audience you are interested in.Find out: Whom you wish to do business with Which sports they like What community events they like Where the upper management families live and their community involvementThe events that they watch are the ones that you should sponsor. How to Use Graphs and Charts in Your Business Plan Many people ask how many graphs or charts they should have in their business plans. As with most other business planning questions, the answer is "it depends. Small Business Success Secret: Focus on Your Genius Work? Do you know what your genius work is? It's the highest and best use of your time. It's the best leverage your business has in the marketplace.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
