Business Information for Entrepreneurs by an Entrepreneur

"Apps" are today's buzzword, with everyone from Whole Foods to Facebook and even your local neighborhood Realtor asking you to download their mobile app for your iPhone, Blackberry, and Droid. With all this talk about apps, what is happening with mobile websites?

A mobile website is not a downloadable app, but rather a very abbreviated version of your actual website on a mobile domain. It usually looks like m.your-domain.com. These mobile websites are designed specifically for mobile smartphones like Blackberry, Droid, or iPhone users who prefer not to download more apps.

Why should you build and publish a mobile domain? The simple reason is that you want your online presence to be accessible to anyone at any time. Your small business website may have elements like Flash, Java, and large photos or images that may not be interpreted well by a mobile browser. By designing a mobile website with the following elements in mind, you can keep your website at your visitors' fingertips, no matter what device they are using.

Percentage Screen Size

Your m.domain.com website should be able to load onto any mobile browser from any mobile device. That includes smaller screens like Blackberries or any other smaller mobile phone with web access. Other devices like the iPhone or Droid have larger screens and can even be turned horizontal, while devices like the iPad can use up a lot of real estate.

To accommodate all these varying screens, be sure your mobile website does not use a fixed pixel width, but rather a percentage.

Easy Navigation

With a much more concise website, you should have fewer links on each page. Your main mobile web page can contain a larger selection of links to other web areas. However, all your other mobile web sections should have not more than three links, as well as a link back to the main page.

Brief Content

With very little browser real estate to play with, you must make every word count. Your text should be very brief on each page.

In addition, with mobile sites, avoid images. If you must, use very small and compressed graphics.

Quick Links

Make your links count with bigger font sizes. Also, use drop down menus as links so mobile users can better pick their navigation without using all that precious screen space.

With more and more people using their smartphones to access the internet, a mobile website ensures that your company is accessible from anywhere.

Now that your business is in full swing for 2011, it's time to start preparing to pay your final tax filings for 2010. Here are four helpful tips that can easily save you time and money on preparing for your taxes.

1. Review your accounting system

   Do you save receipts in a shoe box? Or do you have a more sophisticated method of keeping your accounting books? Even if you use accounting software for your small business, it may behoove you to review and make a change.

   Some of the more popular business software packages like Quick Books or Peachtree help you along the way when you enter transactions. It will ask if a particular transaction is tax deductible. That way, all you have to do at the end of the year is run a report to show all your tax deductions in various categories.

2. Don't forget charitable contributions

   Did you give money or donate products or services to a charitable or non-profit corporation? Even if you donated just parking space to a non-profit, you can get fair value for your contribution.

   Be sure that the non-profit you work with provides you with a charitable donation tax receipt. In addition, be sure to claim every little donation or contribution you made during the year.

3. Deduct your maximum mileage

   All the miles you drive on your company vehicles or even private vehicles for business purposes should be used for the maximum tax deduction. Remember that the IRS sets the standard business mileage rate, and due to higher fuel prices, the deduction amount has been steadily increasing. For 2010, the standard mileage rate is $0.50 per mile.

4. Deduct your equipment purchases

   Don't overlook the special incentive tax deduction passed through the stimulus bill. You can still deduct your equipment purchases, including computers, vehicles, and heavy machinery, as fully depreciated for the year. This can save you considerable tax dollars for your new capital purchases.

Now that you are past the holiday sales rush and fully into the swing of the new year, you should have a strategy in place already to save your business money through your budget.

If you haven't prepared your money-saving strategies yet, don't worry. There is still plenty of time to start saving on expenses and increase your profits for the year! Here are a few tips.

Save the Lights

The lights in your office, retail store, or warehouse may not be on your radar during work and off hours. However, when the lights are on and not in use, it wastes money. The first step is to install energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs in your lighting fixtures. These bulbs can last up to 10 times longer than standard iridescent bulbs.

Part two of saving the lights is installing motion sensors in your building spaces. These can be set to automatically turn off the lights when no motion is detected in a room. These little steps can have a dramatic effect on your electricity bill.

Turn off Computers

The computers your employees use drain a great deal of electricity as well. Be sure to set a policy to shut down all computers before employees go home.

Reduce Interval of Office Supplies

Do you end up buying pens and paper clips every week? Take the time to buy supplies in bulk purchases to save on your overall costs. That may mean finding a suitable and large enough storage cabinet or room, but buying more at a time can save you considerable cash.

Rent Your Extra Space

Do you have an extra empty office? Or even a corner of a warehouse? Your unused space could mean dollars in your pocket when it is rented out to others who can use it. Simply renting an empty office could bring in $100 to $500 a month, which can help pad your bottom line. An empty space is a wasted space; put yours to good use.

Utilize Your Community Involvement

You can save on your advertising or promotion budget simply through the contacts you make through your community. Get involved with the local Chamber of Commerce. Join the Lions Club. Get involved with other business organizations where your network of contacts draws business to you, and you may find that word-of-mouth gives you the best ROI.