Dec. 9: SBA Web Chat to Focus on Year-End Tax Planning for Small-Business Owners

It's not too late for business owners to reduce their 2010 tax bills and plan ahead for 2011. The U.S. Small Business Administration’s December Web chat -- to be held from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, Dec. 9 -- will focus on tax preparation for small-business owners. Participants can get useful year-end tax tips and information, and learn more about tax deductions and credits that can help to reduce their taxes.

Edward S. Karl [pictured], vice president of taxation for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants [AICPA], will host the online event, "Year-End Tax Essentials for Small-Business Owners." Chat participants can get valuable information on how to prepare now, with useful tax-savings tips and mistakes to avoid. Karl will answer questions on how to get the most out of year-end tax planning.

SBA’s Web chat series provides small-business owners with an opportunity to discuss relevant business issues online with experts, industry leaders and successful entrepreneurs. Chat participants have direct, real-time access to the Web chats via questions they submit online in advance, and during the live session.

Participants can join the live Web chat by going online to http://www.sba.gov/, and clicking "Online Business Chat." Web chat participants may also post questions before the Dec. 9 event by visiting http://web.sba.gov/livemeeting/chat.

To review archives of past Web chats, visit online at http://www.sba.gov/tools/monthlywebchat/index.html.

SOURCE: U.S. Small Business Administration
____________________

Need a Commercial Financing Loan?

Verve Inc. Introduces Sugar-Free Glee Gum

GoodBiz113 profilee Verve Inc. ["Verve Inc. Puts Sustainable Bite on All-Natural Chewing Gum and Educational Candy-Making Kits for Kids"] has just introduced a new product: Sugar-Free Glee Gum.

Sugar-Free Glee Gum is sweetened with 100% xylitol, a sugar alcohol made from birch bark. It looks and tastes like sugar, but has fewer calories and breaks down differently. While the company's xylitol comes from birch, this swell sweetener also is found naturally in the fibers of fruits and veggies; e.g., corn, raspberries, plums.

Verve Inc. chooses to use xylitol because it is all-natural and also because it benefits dental health. Studies have shown that xylitol can help fight cavities, reduce plaque, and even clear nasal passages. And it’s a safe choice for lots of folks on restricted diets.

Sugar-Free Glee Gum comes in two brand new, refreshing flavors: Refresh-Mint and Lemon-Lime. Like the rest of the Glee Gum line, Sugar-Free Glee is all-natural with no artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners or preservatives. It’s free of all major allergens, and it’s Verve Inc.'s first product that’s also corn-free!

For now, Sugar-Free Glee is exclusively available on GleeGum.com. But keep your eyes peeled for its imminent arrival at a store near you.

For those who love regular ol’ Glee Gum, fear not. Company officials tell us that they will continue to produce its standard Glee, sweetened with organic cane sugar and brown rice syrup. But, now you have the option to go Sugar-Free. Yippee!

SOURCE: Glee Gum
____________________

Still Shopping for That Special Young Person? Order Verve Inc.’s Make Your Own Chewing Gum Kit: The Chemistry Lesson They Can Chew On. Ages 10+. [Amazon affiliate link]

May 10-12: U.S. Department of Energy to Host 12th Annual Small-Business Conference

This just in: The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization will present its 12th Annual DOE Small Business Conference & Expo at the Kansas City Convention Center, in Kansas City, Mo., on May 10-12, 2011.

The event will feature plenaries, educational workshops, an exhibit hall with 200-plus exhibitors and sponsors, as well as matchmaking sessions. Over 1,600 attendees will represent all levels of federal, state and local government agencies, large/prime contractors, small businesses and more.

The largest civilian contracting agency within the federal government, DOE spent over $25 billion in contracts in FY 2010. The 12th Annual DOE Small Business Conference & Expo is a great opportunity for small-business owners and large companies alike to network and partner. Registration for the event will open later this month.

For more information, check the event website http://smallbusinessconference.energy.gov/, or e-mail DOE at: InfoDOE@aetherquest.com.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utililization
____________________

HostGator.com: Green Web Hosting Made EASY and AFFORDABLE. [affiliate link]